Freaky realization

We were talking about Easter on our way to help some one empty their moving van. 

Usually Easter Sunday is full of music at our ward. But this year Easter is part of General Conference. 

Josh said, "this will be my last General Conference. Then four more and I’ll be back."

I was stunned. I thought I was alone in my scary game about listing out the lasts. 

Next week is April and Josh has an appointment with the bishop. He plans on shaving and I’ll rush him to get his passport photos and a photo for his mission papers. 

It’s happening!

One more in a series of lasts

Today was the last music festival that Josh played a his high school. I sat right in the middle and saw the trombone horn players through the stands. Really just the slide of the horn and the hands as the trombones rested. 

With that visual it was much easier for me to pick out the warm brass tone of the trombone. 

I was watching the hands and the slide of some one who was not Josh. I was hoping it was. 

The band was maravelous. Although they had drug in students to listen and there was one chatty student that talked through the performance right behind me. I was not pleased. I was also wondering where the teacher was. 

Back to the band. The dynamics were wonderful. They played High School Cadets by Sousa. They killed it on dynamics. Shenandoah by Ticheli. A sweet song. So lyrical. First Suite for Band in E flat by Holst. 

I think this was the best I have heard them play. 

Up next was Boaz with his band.

And still the chatty student talks in my ear. 

This is the middle school band. The music was not as intricate as the high school, of course. Affirmation Overture by Robert W Smith. Crosses Brook by Rob Grace. Gates of Orion by Michael Sweeney. 

The first one was a bit of a march again with lovely brass. The second piece was lyrical with great woodwinds. Boaz says the clarinets are great, and they were. The third piece was dramatic. It was fun to listen too. 

Subbing

I began subbing in January. I have been in fun classrooms and crazy, chaotic classrooms that I will not even return to the school. I was in high school one day and kindergarten the next. I have been in special ed classrooms and gen ed classrooms. 

Today I was in a special ed class. One boy had cerebral palsy (at least that was what I identified his condition as). He was non verbal. He had sandy blond, slightly curly hair. He was tall and thin. He had fair skin. He could have been my Josh. 

I watched him for a bit today. He comes to school and his nurses stretch his limbs and ligaments because he is curling up on himself. Then he sleeps. Today I thought about all the hopes and dreams I have for my son. I thought about all his abilities and his own aspirations. I thought about how fast he runs. I thought about the joy he gets from music. I thought about the listening ear he provides to his friends. I thought about the wisdom he displays, even at 17. 

These two boys could be brothers. These two boys could have had the same life. I am so sad for the family of the boy I met today. I am sad for him. And I am so grateful for the children I have. For the young adults they are growing into. For the future they are building. I am grateful for the blessings I have been given. 

He has choices that are simply not available to the boy I met today. 

He will continue to grow and mature. He will leave me behind. His shoulders will carry his own burdens. And I am blessed. 

Nieces and nephews galore

It’s a girl — again. 

My nephew and his wife are expecting their third daughter. He has enlisted in the navy and is currently stationed in San Diego. Yesterday I headed south to see them. 

I was happy to take my latest quilt. 

The girls liked the butterflies on the back. 

We went to lunch and then wandered down the street to see the harbor seals. They have taken over a little beach and the community welcomes them every year. The beach is closed December 15 to May 15. 

Lots of seals were sunning themselves that afternoon. 

The little pup by the seagull was named Rebel by my nephew. They watched his mother try and get him to come out of the water only to have him slip back to the waves several times before he decided he was hungry and followed her out. 

This little Miss is five years old. She has lots of things to say and loves to look at pictures. 

This little Miss will be four next month. She had just as many things to tell me as her sister did. Once I lent out my phone, it was hard to make sure they had equal time. 

I told them to call me when they were headed to the San Diego zoo. I need friends to go with. My boys think they are too old for zoos now. 

Scripture - 3 Nephi 7

There are dangers in division. We seem to hyper focused on what separates us as a nation. We rarely try to find commonalities. 

In this political climate, it is so easy to talk about "them" and not try and find the "we". Sometimes I’m afraid that we are headed to repeat this time from 3 Nephi. 

But all those other scriptures remind me to be faithful and unafraid. 

No matter what happens, no matter how dark it seems, He has overcome the world. 

Homeless look

Josh traded a Hogwarts shirt for beanie for one day so he could complete his "homeless" ensemble. 

I think the earbuds don’t really fit the theme of what he was going for, but this is how he posed for me.

I’m also not really sure why he wanted to look homeless at school. It’s been cold, so he was just wearing warm clothes. 

Weekend trip to Salt Lake City

Roots Tech is a convention for people into Family History. They have a free day after the week long fun. Deb was able to get five tickets. 

I watched the weather nervously for two weeks. Winter decided to appear the last week of February. I didn’t want to have to drive in snow like Craig and I did when we went to the wedding in January. A bit of a miracle in that the weather cleared and I headed north. 

I wanted to drive so I could visit people in Utah County on the way. 

My first stop was to see Joyce. I haven’t seen her since she had her leg amputated last year. Terrible story beginning with falling and breaking her hip a year ago in October, I think. 

Her sister recently died and Willa got this picture at the funeral. I haven’t seen Patty and Brett in years. 

She is looking good and has a good attitude. 

A better picture of me. 

A better picture of Joyce. 

Her stump, amputated above the knee, she calls Stanley. Her prosthesis she defeats to as Stella. 

She wore if for the first time, I think, last week. She said she was able to take about 40 steps with it and a walker. The therapist was impressed that she was able to do any steps at all. She is Hopi g to gain some measure of mobility, but isn’t sure she will return to driving. She has 2 years on her license and is t sure what to do about it. 

We talked a bit about dad. Of course we both miss him. We talked about him waiting for us "up there". We caught up a bit and I was off again. 

Mary lives in South Provo. The last few times I’ve been north, I’ve had to miss her. But this time we connected and had time for a good chat. We shared stories of family member and brought out the pictures. 

I had left the boys home so they wouldn’t miss two days of work and school. But Mary had her son with her. It was a ward activity, so he didn’t have to listen to 2 old ladies. 

I ended the day in Salt Lake City. 

Saturday was the family day at Roots Tech. Pete, Willa, Gena, Deb and I all went. (Dave and Gena are up with Charlie, who is entering the MTC on Wednesday.) we all had our phones, but we didn’t take any pictures. This picture was taken by two sisters who grew up in Mapleton and knew us from back in the day. 

Good thing for Facebook. I don’t know what is wrong with me. I haven’t seen Gena for about six years and it has been even longer since I’ve seen Dave and Charlie, and I didn’t take any more pictures.   

Sunday was church at Deb’s Ward and then dinner at Willa’s. We broke out the cards and played for old times sake. Ivan and Carl came. There were lots of nieces and nephews and still I didn’t take out the camera. But it was a nice dinner. Good food and laughter. 

Monday I dashed home. Trips are fun, but I am always glad to be home after.