Diana and Jordan

Nolan talks about these two quite often. He specifically points them out in pictures. And he was really looking forward to their visit. They're up there with the missionaries on the list of people he adores. I don't blame him. Jordan and Diana are entertaining and lovable without being overbearing. It's so much fun for everyone when they come, especially Nolan!

Family

This Week = Family Reunion.

My not-so-little little brother and his cute wife, Diana, came up for the weekend and ended up staying for almost a week. That's all it takes for my parents to gather all of their children and grandchildren around them. When we're all here... 2 Parents, 4 children, 2 children-in-law, and 2 grandsons, it seems like a lot of us. It's fun. We played games, went to a few parks, enjoyed meals together, took a bike ride, and had a picnic. Jordan took advantage of having a pond and 2 pestering sisters in the same locality and threw them into it numerous times. I love family.

18 Months Old

and pookier than ever.

Jamming in Berryland

I kept saying, "You are my berry piggy boys" as I waded through the hedge in search of the little black jewels we call black berries. They aren't really black berries, but the smaller, seedier version called black caps. I was picking them off thorny bushes for my boys yesterday afternoon. Not a clean or a graceful job. There was nothing clean or graceful about the way my boys ate those berries either. That's why I was calling them piggy. It's also why their hands and faces were stained purple. As soon as they finished a handful, I'd go back in for some more. My stained boys waited safely in the wagon. I had to keep reminding them to stay seated in the wagon. It's tough to be a boy when you have to sit still. Every so often I would call out and say, "There is only one reason I am standing in the prickers to get you berries. Do you know why?" And Nolan would yell out, "Why?" And I'd answer, "Because I Love You." And I think that's the reason behind most of what a mom does.

Hill Cumorah Thunderstorm

Growing up, The Hill Cumorah Pageant was an annual tradition. Some years I attended multiple times. Well worth 3 hours in the car, uncountable mosquito bites, and a very late night. The show and everything leading up to its start was always so exciting.

Parking in a huge field amidst a sea of cars . Worrying about finding your car later.

Protesters with mean signs, yelling offensive phrases in fog horns, handing out their propaganda in ugly pamphlets and newspapers.

The first sight of that magnificent stage sprawled across the face of The Hill.

Snacks.

Frisbees.

Lawn Chairs.

Blankets.

Flags of the nations waving tall and proud.

Reverent music playing loud enough to drown the sound of the picketers across the road.

My favorite pre-show diversion: meeting with the costumed cast members. They mingle and spread cheer for hours before the production's beginning.

In case you don't know, The Hill Cumorah Pageant is an outdoor theatrical performance, telling The Book of Mormon story. It's about a family, hundreds of years before Christ. They leave their home in Jerusalem with another family and are led by the Lord across the ocean to a new, promised land. It follows their struggles to remain faithful and to prosper in the Americas. The culmination of the performance is when Christ visits the people after his resurrection to teach, love, and bless them just as he had in the Old World. The scene of Christ's visit to the Americas always tugged on my emotions, invariably stealing a few tears. From an early age I felt I could identify with those people who believed and waited for Him. My heart just bursts every time. Hundreds of years of faithful waiting fulfilled. They fall down at the Savior's feet.

Oh Wow. I just love The Pageant.

We planned on going Saturday. Part of the plan was to meet a friend and her family up there before the show began. But the forecast made a last minute change in its prediction and suddenly rain and thunder were headed our way. By mid afternoon, that last minute prediction proved itself right and we were greeted by a short, but vicious thunderstorm. I told PTB that I couldn't remember ever attending Pageant when it was cancelled, though I could remember sitting through many productions in the rain. We worried a bit, then blue sky returned and, figuring we'd seen the forecasted thunderstorm, we headed up to Palmyra without even the worry of rain. We parked, tried to memorize the location of our vehicle, packed up our blankets, snacks, and play things, and headed past the protesters over to the flag surrounded field.

There, we set up a blanket and enjoyed our time, mingling with cast members, and enjoying the company of old friends until those nostalgia-inducing-trumpets lauded the opening of the show. And away we went. Nolan was intrigued. Gerret was almost interested. I was loving it. I'm not sure how PTB was feeling, but you can ask him. We got to Alma baptizing in the waters of Mormon and suddenly I was overcome by an anxious feeling as a huge wind seemed to come from no where. I tried to pay attention to the show, but I could not ignore the wind and the eerie feeling creeping over my skin. Then I noticed lightening bolts far in the distance and just knew it was coming our way. So I grabbed Nolan and ran across the grassy aisle to Patrick and Gerret informing them that I was feeling nervous. Without much discussion, we started packing our stuff. We were mostly packed when the thunder cracked and clouds let loose fat raindrops, soaking us in just a few seconds. We were turning our backs on the stage as a man announced over the speakers, "Due to severe weather, the show will be postponed for ten minutes. ALL CAST MEMBERS LEAVE THE STAGE!!" We practically ran/fell to the sea if cars and by a small miracle found ours, which we loaded in a hurry and plopped down in our seats, completely drenched.

A frantic ending to what would have been a lovely, nostalgic night. Oh well.

I Hope They Call Nonoy on a Mission

Upon learning that we were expecting the missionaries for dinner, Nolan stripped and followed me around, naked, as I prepared dinner, petitioning for his missionary clothes. He really adores those missionaries and understands that they work for Jesus. Not a day goes by that he doesn't dream aloud about his future as a missionary or ask me to sing him the missionary song. What a sweet (and goofy) little boy I have. He is so tenderhearted and perceptive. I just love him.

Especially with that goofy grin.

Statistic

Number of times a stranger has asked whether they are twins: 4

And counting.

I'm always a little puzzled.

Dear Provo,

I like it here in New York, but I miss your mountains and people and grid system. Dear Provo, you were so good to this East Coast girl. You welcomed me with my preconceived notions; left me with sweet memories and a subtle longing for an evening at the duck pond. You really set me straight. Yes, I'm back home and I love it, but you should know that I still think about those 5 lovely years spent in your care. And sometimes I wish I could go back.