Family Home Evening

Last night, we invited the Grs to Skype into our FHE lesson.  We wanted the kids to be able to ask their grandparents questions about their childhood experiences, early years of marriage and spiritual experiences directly and to be able to hear their answers.  We are very fortunate to have grandparents who, through the miracle of technology, are accessible and willing to tell their stories and who can still recall with great clarity so many of the details of their early years.  

We weren't entirely sure how the night would go, but after the initial question, a great interview took off with a life of its own and an hour later, grandchildren were connected more fully to grandparents, children were connected to parents, and a couple of missionaries gained a little insight for their future discussions.  It was a successful night.  

Savannah started by asking how the Grs met, where they were married, and what their courtship was like.  It was hysterical to hear Grandpa tell his version of that story and then have Grandma come in and have to make a few minor corrections.  

One of the kids asked about the kinds of chores the Grs had when they were children.  I was shocked to learn that my mother-in-law never had to do any chores as a child and never learned to cook because her mother was a bit of a perfectionist and didn't want anyone else to do those things.  She liked her home to look a certain way and she knew that she was the best person to get the job done.  She preferred not to have an additional mess in her kitchen by inviting little hands to help her.  So all these years later, I have to say, I looked at my mother-in-law in a slightly different light knowing that everything she learned about being a housewife, she learned on her own.   Grandpa, on the other hand, was the oldest of five boys and with two working parents, and therefore was primarily responsible for all of the housework and cooking responsibilities after school.  No wonder he can vacuum and sweep better than anyone I've ever met!

We also asked the Grs about how and when they gained a testimony of the church.  Grandma was very candid in her response and told the kids that she didn't attend seminary regularly and that it wasn't until after she was married and pregnant with Uncle Bret that she had a desire to gain a testimony for herself.  And, as with everything else in her life, she decided to do a thing, made a plan, and went forth and did it.  Grandpa told us a story about how he gained a testimony while he was on his mission.  The missionaries were especially touched by their stories and instantly bonded with the grandparents after that.  :)

I can't tell you how happy I was that this night went as well as it did.  Craig and I weren't sure what kinds of questions the kids would ask or how engaged they would be in the answers.  But our hearts completely melted to see Emma and Megan frantically writing down their grandparents' answers, and all of the kids anxious to have the next turn to ask a question.  

I am so grateful to the Grs for the lives they've lived and the wisdom they are able to share with all of us.  And I'm so grateful to know a little more about each of them.  They may have inspired us to do this regularly!  

"Many people desire to know where they come from, but a sense of belonging is especially important for children and youth. A knowledge about their family history gives children of all ages a sense of their place in the world. It can also give young people something to live up to—a legacy to respect. Family history also provides an opportunity for children and teenagers to make a meaningful contribution to something bigger than themselves. 

Encourage children to talk to their living relatives, especially the older ones. Hearing stories about what life was like in the past helps young people connect to the past. This connection brings generations together and establishes strong family bonds.  

Tell stories about your life and the lives of your ancestors. Young people need more than facts and dates. They need the facts and dates packaged in interesting, meaningful, and memorable ways. The best way to create an interest in family history is by telling young people stories about real people. Fill your stories with interesting information, humorous details, and unusual facts that will capture a young imagination. Sharing family stories doesn’t have to be a big event; make it a common occurrence around the dinner table, in the car, or at bedtime." - familysearch.org

Throwback Thursday

In 2003, just after McKay was born, we sold our beautiful home in Atlanta and moved to Utah.  

Craig had plans to open his own insurance agency once we got to Cache Valley, but there was a transition period while he looked for office space, trained with Allstate, and took a series of licensing exams.  For almost 3 years, we lived in his parents' basement.  Even though my in-laws had a lovely, spacious home and generously shared it with us, I don't often look back on those "basement years" with fondness.  It was difficult for me to live in someone else's house with four little kids and most of our belongings in a storage shed.  I longed for the day when we could buy our own home and I wouldn't have to worry about toys left in the pathway of elderly people.  Eventually we did move into a perfect little house just a few blocks away from the grandparents, and family life returned to normal…for a little while.  

We have moved into and out of three houses since those basement years, and I still don't think about them without remembering a good share of challenges.  But today, when I came across these pictures, I was suddenly filled with so much gratitude for my in-laws, especially my father-in-law.

Craig's dad is an infinitely patient man who adores his grandchildren.  I had forgotten until today about those days when McKay would climb up the stairs to read the paper with Grandpa in the mornings...  

…and how Grandpa always invited McKay to help him fix things.

By far, McKay's favorite place to be was outside.  As soon as the snow melted, Craig's dad was out maintaining his beautiful yard.  And McKay was right there with him.  Every tool Grandpa used, McKay had a matching one.  Every job that needed to be done, McKay was the official helper.  If Grandpa was wearing his work hat, McKay would wear his.  Grandpa rarely made a move in those days without his small shadow right behind him.

And even though there were jobs to be done, and Grandpa was very busy, he always made time to not only include McKay in the work, but also to teach him and talk to him.  They stopped to look at birds and worms.  They talked about the kinds of flowers and trees they were caring for.  They carefully cleaned and put away all the tools they used.  And then they would sit on the deck and have a little lemonade after they were finished and admire all their hard work.  And always, Grandpa would rave about how much help McKay had been to him.   McKay learned from his Grandpa the joy of being outside, the pride that comes from a job that's done well, and the great talent of figuring things out.  At ten years old, McKay is a meticulous sorter and organizer.  He can take apart anything AND put it back together.  And he is eager to learn everything he possibly can.  I'm sure that is, in large part, due to those early years with a Grandpa who was a wonderful example.   

Even though those two and a half years were long for me, they were such a huge blessing.  Having grandparents around definitely eased the burden of keeping four children entertained.  They were our on call babysitters when we needed to escape, and our live-in advisors when we had late night questions about Craig's business and our plans for life.   Our kids were able to forge strong, lasting bonds with their grandparents in those two and a half years that would have taken them much longer had we lived in our own home.

So...ten years later, from a vastly different perspective, I am grateful for the places we've been, the roads we've traveled, the storms we've weathered, and especially for my kind and gracious in-laws for making so much of that possible.  Our lives have truly been blessed because of them.  

Southwest Airlines

You know, there are some things in this life that I would just never get to see or do without a handful of strategically placed relatives in just the right careers.  We spent the afternoon touring the Southwest Airlines headquarters today thanks to my pilot brother-in-law, Bret, who was in town for his semi-annual training.  

I had no idea this place was so cool.  

We spent just long enough in the corporate office to see the lobby and to have lunch in the amazing cafeteria.  I didn't get a picture of it because I was busy eating, but holy crap! this place was so seriously employee friendly, I considered for just a second starting a new career.  

Here's the view from where we sat:

Downtown Dallas on one side.

And the Love Field runway on the other.  

Unfortunately there were only a few planes taking off today because of inclement weather, and I couldn't get all my camera settings ready in time to catch them.  But how cool would that be to get to watch planes take off everyday while you eat lunch!?

We also got an impromptu tour of the dispatch area.  Bret found a super nice man who offered to give us a tour of the area and took so much time to explain everything including highlights from his 33 years at Southwest.  SO interesting!  (That's where I'd want to launch my second career!  Think 43 is too late to be an airport storm chaser/dispatcher??)  They wouldn't let me take any pictures in there so you'll just have to imagine dim lights, and a handful of cubicles with tons of giant computers monitoring weather radar and flight paths.  Amazing!

After the short tour of corporate, we walked over to the training center with Bret.

Also very cool!  We watched flight classes in progress, water evacuation training, and flight simulators in motion!

And this was my favorite part of the whole day...

These goofy little rubber chickens are hanging from all eight of the flight simulators.  Wanna know why?  Well, when the original sims were put in, they kept breaking down.  So someone had the great idea to hang the chickens there for good luck, to ward off evil spirits, and to keep everything in good working order.  

CHICKENS = no problems with the sims

Sometime later, a subsequent head simulator guy thought the chickens were dumb and asked that they be removed. And guess what!

NO chickens = tons of problems with the sims

The chickens were replaced and remain there to this day.  And there have been no major flight simulator problems since.  

Moral of the story:  DO NOT mess with the powerful mojo of the rubber chicken.

I LOVED hanging out at Southwest today.  Everyone was so nice to us and we had SO much fun.  Craig's parents were sufficiently impressed with Bret's knowledge and expertise, and they were so happy to have coordinated their trip to DAL with his training schedule.  

It's been a great week with the Grs.  

Baseball with the Grs

McKay had an amazing game this afternoon.  After the first inning, when I showed up, they were down 5-1.  

McKay played first base until the third inning and made an awesome play.  I have to say, I totally held my breath the whole time he played first.  He doesn't usually play that position and I was a little worried.   When they got up to bat again, they hit 5 runs and were up by 1.

Some amazing hits later and two awesome pitchers and we finally won the game, 13-12!  

Holy cow!  That was the most intense baseball game I've ever been to.  So MUCH FUN for the Grs to watch him do so well.  

George W. Bush Presidential Library

A week ago when we were talking to the Grs about what they might like to do while they're in Dallas, my mother-in-law said she would be interested in seeing the new Presidential Library.  What a great idea!  This amazing museum and tribute to President Bush recently opened at the beginning of the month, so the Scout Master and I were excited to see it, too.

 Craig and his dad helping my mother-in-law with her audio device...it's an iPod!  Coolest thing ever.  Everyone gets one as they walk into the museum along with a brand new set of earbuds.  I asked what they do with all the used earbuds and the guy at the help desk said they sterilize them and send them to local, underprivileged elementary schools.  

I LOVE technology!

 

The 9/11 tribute was the most difficult to walk through.  It was like being there all over again. But it was so beautifully done and the memorial wall was so moving.  Everyone cried through that entire exhibit.

Actual cross beams that were hit by one of the hijacked planes.  

We all loved spending the morning in this beautiful museum.  It filled all of us with patriotism and a great respect for the office of President of the United States.  

Visitors

The Grs came in yesterday afternoon to visit us for the week.  

So far, one or both of them has gone to lunch (twice), to Savannah's choir concert, to the Scout Shop, to the outlet mall, golfing, to mutual to help corral squirrelly Deacons, to McKay's golf lessons, and to run various errands around town.  

I think we've worn them out already...and they still have 6 more days!