Start Spreading The News

I graduated from the University of Utah in 1990 with my MFA in dance performance. For my graduation gift, my dad gave me $1,000 to make my way in NYC. "If you can make it there, you can make it any where!" (Liza Minnelli 1977, Frank Sinatra 1978). I studied at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab in SoHo. My goal was to audition and become a member of The Nikolais/Louis Dance Theatre. I studied at the dance lab for a year, auditioned-and didn't make it. One of the dancers that did make the cut couldn't fulfill her obligation to the company. She quit. I auditioned again. I made it. Long story short (and another story for another blog entry)- I lived in NYC for two years. Dancing with the Nikolais/Louis Dance Company for the second year of my time in New York. However, my musings today are not about dancing in NYC. My thoughts are about "making it".

Darla was my roommate in New York. We had other single friends we met in our church congregation, Marlayna and Cherlynn. We went to the Macy's Thanksgiving parade together, ate in Greenwich village together, worshiped together and shared our dreams with each other. I think it is not a coincidence that the four of us, once living in SoHo and Greenwhich village in New York, now live on the west coast in California. Three out of the four of us live in Nor Cal and Marlayna lives with her husband and two sons in San Diego. Cherlynn came to visit me yesterday. She lives about 25 minutes from my front door. We talked for over an hour sharing our challenges, our hopes, our sorrows. And then Cherlynn shared something with me that touched me deeply and reminded me why I love these girls- profoundly.

Cherlynn has been teaching the four year-olds in her local church congregation. I asked her how she liked it. She said: at first, she really didn't understand why she was there.  For the reader to understand, Cherlynn worked on Wall Street on the east coast for 10 years; eight years in Manhattan and two years in Boston. She continued her work with her Financial institution while she and her husband, Ned lived in Japan. Cherylnn has been engrossed in an adult professional world for most of her working years. Cherlynn has four children of her own and admitted that she would have understood her assignment if she were to teach her own children in church, but why these children? And then her Ned reminded her; "You have a testimony of Jesus Christ. They need to hear it." While she sat on my grey sofa, Cherlynn explained- "I don't bring table cloths, cookies, snacks or treats. But I do have a strong belief of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and that I can share." Wow.  I'm just a bit over four years old- but those words stirred me. I felt Cherlynn's faith and conviction.

I believe God let our paths cross again to strengthen each other. If we can make it here, (insert change of local) we can make it anywhere.

Another story of faith and conviction that I have read about recently is that of Elizabeth Smart. If you were around in 2002, you'll remember the horrific crime that gripped the nation--the kidnapping of 14 year old Elizabeth Smart. I won't go into detail concerning the story. You can read the book. But I did want to share my learning experience. In all honesty, after reading the book. I was extremely disheartened. Reading her story gave me a glimpse of the true evil in the world. For several years, I've been working on not giving into fear. I even started limiting checking on my kids at night because I want to nurture faith and not fear. But after reading Elizabeth Smart's book, I started checking the windows, checking the kids once again. Arg. Not the feeling I wanted after reading her book. I've thought about it and even asked Heavenly Father about it, not on my knees but in my heart. And then on Sunday, I had some enlightenment.

The Bishop of our congregation spoke in our Sacrament meeting about Heavenly Father's plan for us. He used the metaphor of a parent sending a child to school. Of course, the parent doesn't want the child to fail, He sends the child out into the world for growth and experience. The parent knows the child will have struggles and hardships but to become an adult- like the parent, like our Heavenly Father, we- the child must go out from the parent and be schooled. With the child's best interest at heart, the parent will provide a way for the child's success in school. And like our earthly parents, our Heavenly Father has provided a way to overcome the hardships, sadness and evil in our "schooling". God did not abandon Elizabeth Smart. Yes, He could have struck David Mitchell dead. But God allows ALL of His children to choose, good OR evil. If He stopped them, we- the children would not realize our capacity of becoming like our Father or becoming more like our adversary. Elizabeth Smart made a choice and so did her captor. She chose to survive and find the good among the evil. David Mitchell chose his pathway to hell. He was not forced, he was not predestined to fail, he chose.And so did Elizabeth Smart. I believe her maiden name is not a coincidence. "If she can make it here, she can make it anywhere!"

I hope I will continue to choose the good, to survive, to enjoy life and find the divine among the corrupt. Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli were right!! "Start spreading the news...!!"

Star of the Week

Dear Mrs. O's ROCKIN’ Third Grade Class,

Sadie was born in Boise, ID. She is a real Idaho potato girl! However, at 10 months old she left her beloved Idaho potato fields for the mountains and snow of Provo, UT. 

In Provo, Sadie started growing things on top of her head! Not just the normal things a child may grow out of their head such as hair and the like, but Sadie grew Kitty ears, Bunny ears and one day even a pair of swim goggles appeared on top of her head!!

Sadie’s family was perplexed and couldn’t understand why on earth Sadie would start growing ears and goggles out of the top of her head. Was it because it was cold in Utah? Did she think we were cats? Did she have a hard time hearing and needed an extra pair of ears? What could it be?!

One time, during Christmas in Provo, when Sadie was about 4 or 5 years old, she opened a gift and it was a stuffed black kitty-cat with a red ribbon around its’ neck. Sadie named her new friend, Lexi. It wasn’t long after Lexi came to join our family, we noticed the kitty ears growing out of Sadie’s head!

In a different year and a different holiday, Easter to be exact; we noticed Sadie’s hair seemed to be growing longer and longer at a very quick rate. However, this quick hair growth didn’t follow the normal hair growth of a child. Instead of hair growing down her head, her hair was growing UP! And that’s when we noticed her hair wasn’t just hair-it was bunny ears!

Another time, it wasn’t Christmas or Easter or any other holiday, we were just out for a family hike. We were hiking Mt. Timpanogos in the Utah Mountains. We were excited to see the stalactites and stalagmites in the caves found at the top of Mt. Timpanogos. When we came out of the dark cave, Natalie, Sadie’s older sister shouted: “Look Mom! It’s happened again!” I looked over at Sadie and saw a pair of goggles right on top of her head! The goggles were a bit big for Sadie’s head so they kept slipping down over her eyes. Sadie walked down the mountain wearing swim goggles like they were sun-glasses!

 

After moving to Livermore, we reflected on the past years of the events that proceeded Sadie’s unusual ear and goggle growth. We remembered how Sadie was always asking for kitty everything, kitty pillow cases, kitty toys, kitty purses and one day she exclaimed: “I just LOVE kitties!” But that didn’t solve the ear/goggle mystery quite yet.  Several years before Sadie was in your third grade class, she would dress-up like a bunny. She would wear a bunny tail, hop around the house like a bunny and even wiggle her nose like a bunny. She even asked: “how do you spell bunnies?” “Oh, I just LOVE bunnies” Sadie would say as she hopped down the stair case.

I also remember Sadie exclaiming: “Come look at me mom, I’m a mermaid!” when ever she took a bath. I would find Sadie in the bath tub floating and smiling while trying to stay under water. This past summer, Sadie joined the Rhonewood swim team and after winning a trophy for the most improved swimmer, Sadie cheered, “I LOVE swimming!”

Sadie’s dad came to me the other day and said: “I think I know why Sadie has been growing kitty ears, bunny ears and goggles out of her head.” I pleaded, “Please tell me.” Sadie’s dad replied, “Whatever Sadie enjoys, adores or LOVES starts to grow out of her head!” “Oh no!” I replied. “Tonight, Sadie told me she LOVES to do cartwheels!”

Be on alert, Room 18!! Sadie LOVES donuts too!!

The End.

WatsonsWoodwardsWrides.Liddicoats@Ptown.byu

You are smiling right now, right?! Yep, happened to me too.

As soon as I saw this photo, I knew I wanted to blog about some of the incredible families we loved while experiencing graduate school. Of course, there are more families and individuals that touched our lives and smoothed the bumpy road of our BYU journey-but hey, these peeps had photos!

This photo is of the Wonderful Watson family. They are making their home in Germany right now, while the only male in this throng of beautiful women is finishing up his PhD in computer science. Our kids, will always remember carving pumpkins at the Watson home. I will always remember the warm pleasant feeling that was ever abundant in their cozy, cottage home. (And the home-made bread and chicken soup stands out pretty well in my memory too!)

The Woodwards in the woods!!

The Woodwards out of the woods!

Not only have the Woodwards won every tournament, scholarship and contest there is in both north and southern hemispheres,  they won our hearts too! Gary, affectionately called Gaz, was awarded a scholarship from a Tasmanian Educational Trust to study for a year at any University in America and he chose BYU. Lucky us!! Lisa always "championed" me. And when you're not feeling much like a champ, which can be the case when you are living in student housing and cooking fish sticks, having someone to cheer you on is priceless. The Woodwards even came to see us in our Nor Cal home on their way home to Tasmania! P.S. Today is Lisa and Gaz's 17th wedding anniversary.

Honorary members of the state of Utah!

 

Amazing, right?! Yep, this radiant family are the Wrides. They are one of the first, if not the first family we meet in Wyview Student housing. Joseph, their oldest was in kindergarten and so was my Max. When we first met, they had five kids-five years old and under. I was in awe of Tiffanie then- and now, four more kids later, I idolize this woman even more. This picture is missing their latest angel addition: Natalie. Tiffanie is on my list of people who "get it". She is supportive of her adventuresome husband, loving and patient with her gaggle of cherubs and has unwavering faith in her God.

Walking back to our apartment from the children's activities sponsored by the student housing committee,  I heard a familiar dialect. I stopped and asked, "Are you from New Zealand?" Esther flashed that movie star smile and kindly responded, "No, Australia." Standing there with my foot in my mouth, I knew straight-away we would be friends. The Liddicoats lived in the Wymount building to the North of us. David was working on his MBA. Esther and I would talk for hours in the stairwell or on the "hill". There is something beautiful and disturbing about student-housing living. I would look outside to the parking lot and if I didn't see the Liddicoat's van- I would think: "where could they be?" A bit troublesome, don't you think? When the Liddicoats graduated and moved, I would see a van that looked similar to the Liddicoats and think: "Oh, they came back!" for a brief moment and then reality would return. And yet, this obsession with the Liddicoat van has a  happy ending- along with their van, the Liddicoats made their home in the Bay area!!

My friend, Keiko took this photo of our family the spring before we graduated in 2011. When Scott and I made the decision to return to school, I was under the impression that it would be a three year stint. Those three years stretched into six years. I remember nearly hyperventilating when I realized that we were in this for the long haul. Looking back, I nearly hyperventilate from the tears and strong emotion I feel from leaving our beloved student housing family. Long live fireproof steel doors and indoor/outdoor carpet! Go Cougars!!

Who Are The People in Your Neighborhood?

This charming prince, sits watchful outside the entrance of our neighborhood library.

 Living in Northern California ROCKS! The weather is unquestionably beautiful, the people- exceptional and our neighborhood- simply delightful. These are some photos of people and places in MY neighborhood.

The Prince's Princess!

 

 Jennifer, the teen librarian and Joyce, the supervising librarian showing us the latest acquisition in our neighborhood library.

 Sisters Bassett and Schank are the sister missionaries in our neighborhood. These sister missionaries represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And BTW- if you see them wandering the streets of our neighborhood, looking famished, they LOVE crepes with Nutella.

Right- this beautiful structure is not really in my neighborhood. But, it is 32.5 miles from my neighborhood and it reminds me that "goodness will prevail." This is a sacred place of worship. The Oakland Temple sits majestically on the hill tops of Oakland, CA. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Another photo of the temple, standing on Lincoln Avenue

 








 If you have wondered why Mormons build temples watch this video.

Another place of refuge in our neighborhood is Fire Station number six.

 Bob M. and Joel F. are two of our finest firemen.

Last year, seven of these fabulous firemen came to my aid when I shut my finger in the van door at the community center. I wasn't able to talk because I was honing all of my mental energy trying not to faint. The employees at the community center didn't know what had happened, they just saw blood dripping, hence the phone call to 911. Can you imagine seven of these Fab-O firemen looking down at you and all you can say is: "I hurt my finger". Do I hear a Halleluiah for our tax dollars hard at work?!!!

Who are the people in YOUR neighborhood, in your neighborhood in your Neigh-bor-hood?!

Back To School Brunch

Dena, a.k.a. Wonder Woman and her side-kick

Lovely Ladies Lunching

She was the first girl I noticed on our house hunting trip to Nor Cal. Sitting in the pew in front of me at church with her well-behaved, perfectly bronzed, looking like life-guard prodigy children. And she--she had the nerve to have golden skin, blonde hair and blue eyes... GREAT! I thought, exactly the combination that makes this dark haired, pale skin girl from a land-locked state feel insecure!!

That was two years ago and the picture perfect Cal-i-fornia girl is my friend. Dena makes me feel accepted and loved. But I'm not the only one that feels that way. Dena puts on a  PAR-TAY where everyone feels acknowledged, regarded and welcomed. She had a back to school brunch today and invited some of the "girls" from our church congregation. All of these women have inspired, taught and loved me these last two years.

 Diane D. oversees all of the needs of the women in our church congregation. She is a light to all of us.

 Deana J. welcomed me straight-away and impressed me with her ability to create beauty. She invited me to my very first Halloween dinner party. This girl can also PAR-TAY!!

 My very first phone call in our new home was from Pam I. She was hookin' me up with car-pools and friends for my kids...definitely an angel on earth.

And Marney M. is my lovely newly wed, new to California friend. And BTW- she ROCKS as a new step-mother to four children!

Tongue of Angels

Courage

My Courageous Kids

Winter 2010, Provo, UT

This picture is nearly three years old now. It seems like yesterday. They grow up so fast. 

Today was the first day of school for the youngest three. In all honesty, I was a bit more melancholy this year. Maybe because Sarah is a Senior this year, maybe because Natalie started middle school, maybe because when it comes right down to it- I'm a B.A.B.Y.!!

I've realized that these children are courageous and strong. They have and will continue to face hard things and come away the conqueror and at times- the fallen. But I know they will get back up. I love the words of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, in his talked titled; Come What May and Love It, he suggests four principals to help in times of trail, times that require your utmost courage. 

First:  Laugh. Sadie demonstrated this when she was preparing for her first day of school. She left me this note last night:

Wanted: A ham sandwich and a PUPPY!

 Second: Seek for the Eternal

The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints Temple, Oakland, CA

Third: Understand the Principal of Compensation

 The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.

 

Fourth: Trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

 

Courage.