OUT OF THE ORDINARY

Every seven weeks I venture to Salt Lake to hang out with Karamea.  A couple of weeks ago I received an email from my supervisor at work saying he would like me to attend a Grant Writing Workshop January 26 and 27.  I was already planning to be in Salt Lake for the weekend so as it turns out...I have been in living in the northern haze of Salt Lake City since Tuesday.  While I have missed the sunshine and blue skies of Southern Utah, I have gathered a wealth of information on grant writing and manufactured memories with Karamea. 

Grant Writing Workshop

The best way to describe my grant writing instructor is to say, "his presentation was passionately contagious."  John O'Malley has a wealth of knowledge and his workshop was engaging and informative.  I feel inspired to return to work on Monday and put my new knowledge into practice.  I have pages and pages of notes and John has promised to send all who certified in the class, his power point presentation.  I am excited to study the in depth details of what was crammed into a two day workshop.  

This tool is one that he gave us and can be used in any given situation.

The problem is ________________________________.

It is cause by __________________________________.

The perfect solution is ___________________________.

Without solving the problem _______________________will happen.

John told the class that this exercise was used while he was serving in the Navy.  It is a great tool for strengthening communication skills.

Manufacturing Memories

Karamea and I have been roommates since Tuesday and it has been a delight.  My world is so full of boys and testosterone.  I have thoroughly enjoyed a few days to focus on all things pink.  Wednesday after class we went to the World Market.  I love this place.  A small corner of the store is dedicated to International Foods.  We picked up a few things but the greatest discovery was Herbal Water - refreshing to the last drop.  I must find a way for distribution in St. George.  Thursday after class we became lost in the world of IKEA.  Acres and acres of home decor.  Karamea added to her elephant collection by purchasing an Elephant plant.  I picked up a lamp for my bedroom.  The World Market and IKEA - two places that do not exist in St. George.

Added Bonus

Rakai, Carly and a couple of other friends are in Salt Lake for the weekend.  We are meeting them at Oasis in an hour for breakfast.  I love Oasis!  A few more hours and I will be headed back to St. George and all the surprises that go with it.

CATCHING UP

Between work and children there is little time for blog posting.  I love being a mom...the work part I can do without.  Well, it is work being a mom but it's the greatest work on earth.  The other work I am talking about is the survival kind.  We do it cause we have to.

I spent last weekend in Salt Lake with Rakai and Karamea.  It was the weekend of the Salty Streets Flea Market, created by Karamea, and she was immersed in pneumonia.  Rakai and I drove up to help her and stayed til late Sunday night.

This was an interesting place to spend my Sabbath day.  Karamea has chosen to include a different sort of crowd in her circle of influence. She created the Salty Streets Flea Market so they would have someplace to sell their recycled art.  I was surrounded by tatoos, body piercings and crazy hair all day.  Not to mention the flow of people coming from the Gay Pride Festival.  It was a lot to handle but I did it for Karamea.  Sometimes mothers have to step out of their comfort zones.  I love you Karamea.  And I admire that you choose to associate with and accept all kinds of people.  Just remember who you are and allow your inner convictions to touch the souls of everyone.

Two days later I was on my way to Cedar City for the Utah Summer Games.  Ammon, Asa and Hamilton were each scheduled to play.  I was the only parent that could go so I decided to get a room and stay in Cedar.  The alternative would've been enduring 15 games and living out of my car for 4 days.  Not a good option.  I'm feeling really good that I managed to watch a portion of 13 of those games.  I missed two because of scheduling conflicts...which was not my fault since I'm not in charge of the scheduling. This year we came home with 2 bronze medals and 1 gold.  Utah Summer Games...it's become a tradition.  As long as I have boys that play soccer and as long as we are in Utah, we will be at the Utah Summer Games.

One week after Salty Streets Flea Market.  It is a peaceful Sunday morning.  The boys sleep and I am catching up.  Karamea called late last night.  The pneumonia is clearing but she has pluracy as a result of the coughing.  She ended up in the emergency room.  There is nothing worse than feeling helpless when my children are suffering.   


Pneumonia at the Salty Streets Flea Market, 3 medals at the Utah Summer Games...it has been a week of highs and lows.  The sorrows of motherhood are always overshadowed by the joys.           

WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY

A little bit of girl time in Salt Lake this weekend.  Just me and Karamea.  The Dancing Crane for a bit of browsing and shopping.  This is a wonderful store filled with imports from Thailand and China.  A focus on Buddhist prayer flags, crystals, chakra balancing; products to energize the soul and ease the mind.  

A weekend with Karamea is not complete unless I take her grocery shopping...a couple of hundred dollars later and her fridge is full.  Miraculous how her cupboards and refrigerator seem to be bare every time mom comes to visit.  A movie on Saturday night.  We went to see The Last Station.  An enjoyable film about the final days of the life of Leo Tolstoy.  We liked it very much.

Sunday morning was lazy and lackadaisical.  We slept late then went to the Oasis Cafe for brunch.  They have the most wonderful tea menu.  I ordered Pineapple Guava and Karamea had Ginger Peach...so divine.  We enjoyed conversation and good food then wondered aimlessly through the Golden Braid Bookstore.  

Adventures at the laundromat came next. Karamea needed to wash bedding, towels and pillows.  Usually she does laundry at friends or family so this was her first ever laundromat experience.  

Our culminating event was the Salt Lake Library.  This place needs an entire day but it was getting late so we quickly walked through the Chinese Art exhibit by Yaodong Hu then up on the roof to see the blooming daffodils.

Back to the boys...a calming 4 hour ride and home by 8:00.  

Next visit to Salt Lake - The Living Traditions Festival May 21 - 23.  I can hardly wait! 

CHEERISH THE MOMENT

Rakai...Karamea...Isaac...

I spent the weekend with them in Salt Lake...all together...one last time...and then Isaac will be in Berlin, Rakai will be in New Zealand and Karamea will stay in Salt Lake.

Should I be sad or glad...a little of both I think.

We drove up late last week on Thursday night. I made it to Fillmore then Rakai drove the rest of the way. I collapsed into Karamea's bed at 1am with her next to me and the boys on the floor.

Friday morning Karamea had to work. Rakai was with Simp. Isaac and I went to the Salt Lake Temple for a session and we did a few sealings before leaving. It was peaceful, calm and inspirational. Isaac understands how sealings work. It will be wonderful for him if he experiences a family sealing while on his mission.

Friday night we went to eat. That's us waiting...bored...taking silly pictures...waiting...outside the restaurant. They said 20 minutes...ummm it was 45. But the food was yummy so it was worth it. I went back to Karamea's for the bed. The kids went to play.

Saturday...breakfast with the Petty's. Friends from forever ago. Then Karamea to work, Rakai to Park City and Isaac and I went shopping for more missionary stuff. This is expensive.

Sunday...breakfast with Kenton and Cari...the Golden Braid Bookstore...Whole Foods.

We left Karamea standing alone on the sidewalk. It's okay though. We'll see her next weekend for Isaac's farewell.

I love my children!

WHAT SHE SAID

Karamea's blogpost explains Tuesday and Wednesday of my week. Except she failed to mention what it cost me...more than just a whole lot of love. But at least now I know she is comfortable in her little loft apartment 300 miles from home.

In the last couple of days I have been reminded that downtown Salt Lake in the spring is a beautiful place. There are so many memories there.

Then we went to Provo to watch Dixie play soccer. Uggh! The game was great until some kid on the opposing team decided he didn't like Isaac. Can you say injured at minute 25 and out for the rest of the game? It was awful and even more so because I am his mom and there was nothing I could do. I really wanted to go punch the kid and then go punch his dad.

The Deseret News describes the game like this but they failed to mention Isaac's injury and the fact that Provo would've lost if not for their violent behavior.

JOY FILLS MY SOUL

My Mother's Day morning has been spent looking through files of photos. I selected only a few to share in a slide show. These pictures bring joy to my soul and a smile to my face. I am blessed.

Happy Mother's Day to me and to everyone who has a mother.