My little bird flies the coop

Today my littlest bird flies the coop. About as far as a person can go. Amy and Todd leave today for Cambodia. They will be in LA for a couple of days and will actually be in the Seoul, South Korea airport the SAME day as Riley but they won't see each other. He is coming back from Mongolia and has a five-hour layover there but they don't get there until after he leaves. He won't see her for four months.

This will be the first time Amy and I have been away from each other longer than three weeks. It's only three months. It's only three months. But still, that's a long time when I've come to depend on Amy for laughs, giggles, crazy faces, a strange doll hiding in my sock drawer, meows, texts, shoulder gnaws, dinners out, talking on the lawn at grandma's with the neighbor's dogs licking her toes and about a thousand other things. She's taking her Wonder Woman attitude (not the underwear, I think it's in a box somewhere) from 3-year-old Amy to the other side of the world.

When Jason left on his mission, I had a hard time emotionally. I knew he was doing what he needed to do, but Taiwan was an awful long way for him to go. I kept an unwashed shirt of his in a zip-loc bag so I could smell "him" when I was missing him a lot. It helped. (I don't care if anyone thinks that's crazy, it helped.) When you have a missionary out you are strengthened by Heavenly Father so the "missing" isn't so bad. It was the same with Andrea who left for 18 months on her mission. I missed her terribly. I didn't know how I would live without her smile, her fun guitar songs, her lively personality. But I did. Two of the best days in my life were reuniting with Jason in the mission home in Taiwan and running down the long driveway at the mission home in Argentina to experience a group hug with Andrea and Amy as Riley took pictures. Back with my kids again. The gap was closed.

Now the gap opens. Todd is shooting a documentary about orphans. They will live in the orphanage with the kids. They will meet the king of Cambodia. They might meet Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - also part of the documentary. They will eat Cambodian food. Amy will teach art and English to little people. What an adventure!

And they will be able to video chat, I hope. Something we couldn't do with Jason or Andrea. I video chat with Riley in Mongolia and it helps but I still know there's a half a world between us. And yet, I want her to go. This is the first great adventure of their lifetime. I'm sure there will be many, seeing as how Todd is going to be a famous international film director. I want her to love the people there, to endear herself with the kids, to teach them as they teach her. I want her to savor the foods, the sights, the sounds and the way of life. One thing I've learned about travel is there is a big, wonderful world beyond Provo, Utah. Like Austin, Texas and San Francisco and Maupiti. And all these places make up the experiences of our life and introduced new beloved friends to our lives. So it will happen for Todd and Amy. They will be a part of Cambodia. It's only three months.

Update on list for July

Riley gets home this Thursday so I still have time to do a few of these. Updates on my to-do list for July:

1) Go to the temple once a week - going tomorrow. Didn't do - The Provo Temple closed two days after I went the first time. I guess I could have gone to the Timpanogos Temple. Guess I could go this week ...
2) Start my book (on winning contests) - I have a list and the beginning. Hmmm. Could have done better on this ...
3) File the paperwork. I hate paperwork. DONE!
4) Put shelf liners in my cupboards (thanks Tamara). DONE!
5) Catch up on ironing. Did this tonight. DONE!
6) Clean out the storeroom - not really clean it OUT, just tidy it up. DONE!
7) Get the Tomb Room back in shape for guests. Amy helped with this and I've almost got it finished. DONE!
8) Eat better and exercise more. Hmmm. Well, I have been walking a couple times a week and weeding the garden - that counts, right? And I did walk 5 miles yesterday with Andrea. Now my hips and feet are paying for it. Eating better? Mostly. I could have lost a few pounds while Riley was gone. But I didn't. Oh well. I am eating more fruits and less candy now.
9) Keep the garden watered and weeded. I'm most proud about this. Every year when Riley is gone I weed twice - once halfway through his trip and once the day before he gets home. After weeding every few days this time, I've realized it's easier to knock out a few weeds than spend hours working at tons of them. Made me think about other crud in life - don't get so deep in negative things that it takes a lot of work to get out. Weed out the mistakes and sins before they pile up. I know. Profound.
10) Finish a project at work. Not done - but closer to getting done. Hopefully it will be done this week.
11) Get family reunion things ready. Hooray - I've done a lot on this. The theme is Wizard of Oz and I've planned some FUN stuff. I got lots of Oz stuff ready this weekend and I've been to the cabin three times to water and clean. My sister went last time and helped so the place is spiffy!

I am a goal setter. A list writer. It helps me to have it in ink so I can look at it and think about how to get it done. With Riley gone I've had a lot of alone time so things should be easier to do. Yet, I procrastinate some things. Looking at my list it seems I can do the tangible, mundane things but when it comes to "me" time - exercise, my book or going to the temple, I put those things last. I need to change that.

Riley on the other side of the world

This is the sixth year Riley has gone to Mongolia for a month. It's usually the whole month of July. I miss him. He left Monday and I was OK the first couple of nights - working Monday, at camp Tuesday, exhausted Wednesday from no sleep at camp. I have plenty to do (I'm going to make a list, wait for it ...) but it's just not fun having him gone. Like the Jerry McGuire movie, he completes me. Corny, but true.

I decided to make some goals for while he's gone:
1) Go to the temple once a week - going tomorrow.
2) Start my book (on winning contests) - I have a list and the beginning.
3) File the paperwork. I hate paperwork.
4) Put shelf liners in my cupboards (thanks Tamara).
5) Catch up on ironing. Did this tonight.
6) Clean out the storeroom - not really clean it OUT, just tidy it up.
7) Get the Tomb Room back in shape for guests. Amy helped with this and I've almost got it finished.
8) Eat better and exercise more.
9) Keep the garden watered and weeded.
10) Finish a project at work.
11) Get family reunion things ready.

I'll probably have to come up with some more goals since I've almost finished a couple. Plus I have fun people to play with this month and I'm sure I'll be needed at mom's. I just don't like not talking to Riley. I have to wait until July 10th or 11th to hear from him now since he's out in the middle of nowhere. Be safe and come home. That should be an easy goal for him.

After the hubbub

It's funny to think the hubbub of April is over. Or that it's ever over. There's more coming this weekend - family staying here, hopefully a birthday party for two Parkers, Amy and Todd's reception, a dinner with my brother's family on Sunday. I guess I like hubbubs. I like quiet times too but I feel most content and satisfied after experiencing a get-together or tackling a bunch of jobs in a couple days' time.

I like lists. I like writing things down, looking forward to getting them done and crossing them off when completed. I'm antsy. I can't sit still for too long. When there is a to-do list I have something to fill my time - I study the list, find something to accomplish and get 'er done.

I love memories. I love looking forward to creating them. I love being in the middle of creating them and I love thinking back on them.

My list these days include more hubbub - getting ready for it, planning each event, listing what needs to be done. And then the memories will come.

The craziest month

April 2011

1. Coming back from Hawaii (yeah, that's a tough one).
2. Two funerals - family member and friend
3. Jason's 30th birthday and my birthday
4. Taxes due
5. Hiring a new staff at the DU
6. Winter semester ends at the DU, grades are due, semester end details
7. Spring semester starts, hire new staff and train them, train new reporters, do all semester start-up details
8. Graduation for Todd and Amy
9. A graduation brunch for Todd, Amy and Andrea
10. Jason and Brandy flying in
11. A bridal shower luncheon for Amy
12. Baby blessings
13. Taking care of my mom while her caregivers are away (graduation/wedding weekend)
14. Cleaning the little apartment for Todd and Amy to move into. Freecycling two couches, a file cabinet, a bed and other items.
15. Taking stuff to DI from our house/mom's house
16. Taking mom/grandma to two doctors - one for headaches, one for foot problem
17. Easter breakfast with out of town Wheeler kids
18. Easter dinner at Todd's mom's
19. WEDDING!
20. Wedding luncheon
21. Putting Jason and Brandy back on a plane
22. End of semester award ceremony for my students/DU employees
23. Yearly scholarship lunch with comms students
24. End of year award ceremony for Todd
25. Yearly Bean Museum women's luncheon
26. Cleaning mom/grandma's yard for ward to haul stuff off
27. Making wedding reception invitation list, graduation brunch invitation list, bridal shower invitation list
28. Doing food for grad brunch, bridal shower, Easter breakfast
29. Serving in the nursery, helping in the Primary, going to regional camp Shalom meetings
30. Going to the temple
31. Taking care of mom/grandma
32. Taking care of regular life at the Nelson house
33. Getting Andrea's car fixed
34. Trying to get dent in our car fixed
35. Getting garden ready to plant
36. Visiting doctor for several health issues
37. Visiting teaching my two young women
38. Little Lincoln's FIRST birthday - party, party, party!
39. Reserving a rubber room at the state mental hospital


I will not only survive, I will enjoy this month and make wonderful memories to think back on!

Really over the rainbow!

Riley and I are in Hawaii. Or on Hawaii, to be exact. We are on the big island of Hawaii for nine days. We only have four days left. Time flies when you're in paradise. We've seen at least six rainbows since we've been here. Real ones. All the license plates have them too but I'm only counting the ones that rise up from the island into the clouds, some with colors more intense than others.

We've seen many other things while we've been here - whales and dolphins in the ocean, turtles and dolphins in the hotel's lagoon, mongeese (plural of mongoose) - little ferret-like animals that look at you and scurry away, wild turkeys and skinny feral cats who have wonky eyes and might want to kill you. We've seen para-sailers, surfers, yachts and kayaks. And helicopters - which we will go up in on Saturday. I'm a little nervous about this but I will swallow my nervousness, take a Dramamine and hope for the best.

We have four days left - we are going to see a lot more of this island and hopefully see a rainbow as we head east, back to our other end of the rainbow.

Riley at the speed limit

Riley is 55 today. I met him when he was 23. He was kind of skinny, kind of nerdy and wore Chukkah boots. Within 10 months of meeting Riley, I married him. That was not the plan when I moved to Logan in the fall of 1979 but Heavenly Father had other ideas. He knew Riley would be my perfect match. Thirty-two years later I wholeheartedly agree. I told him the other day I could probably count on one hand (OK, maybe one hand and a couple more fingers) how many times I've been mad at him. We just get along. We value each other's perspective. We trust each other. We allow each other to be and do whatever we choose, a part of that trust. We don't keep score. If something needs to be done, it gets done. Sometimes he unloads the dishwasher or mends a shirt. Sometimes I take the trash cans to the curb or fix a loose hinge. Yet we know we can ask each other for help and we'll get it.

Today I'm thankful for Winston and Aileen Nelson, Riley's parents. Thank you for bringing Riley into the world. Thank you Heavenly Father for setting us up (it's a long story but He really did). Thank you Riley for the best 32 years. I gave Riley a pair of Chukkah boots for his birthday today. I hope he wanders the earth in them for the next 32 years. And we have all of eternity after that.