First Snow

Watching movies with Toddlers

Dad is in WA DC and of all things, I got the carpet cleaned yesterday.  I waited 3 weeks for an appointment.  So we all ended up on my bed watching the movie.  I am not at all sure that either Kristi or Leanna have a clue what the movie was about.  What a zoo.  And in the middle of the movie, I had to go VTing.  Crazy night.  Kristi and Gemma slept over while Leanna and her sleepy boys went home .  

Today Noah said to me in a very sad voice, "I wish that they had stayed at my house instead.  But we don't have room for so many people."  

He surprised us today.  I was cleaning out my purse and he found a fabric glasses cleaner in a small plastic container.  We talked about what it was and then he said, "It's from Costco.  I can tell."  And sure enough in subdued white print, the word Costco was printed across the plastic sleeve.  He is getting pretty smart. 

The Training Begins

I finally broke down and saw my Family Practice doctor about managing the pain in my arm with torn tendons, torn muscles and a torn rotator cuff.

He gave me a steroid shot in my shoulder and showed me exercises that I need to do to strengthen my arm.  Twelve reps of each, three days a week.

I get to use weights and do exciting exercises such as:  choo-choo-choo, rock the baby, play the flasher and finally play the chicken.  There are also two exercises to do with a surgical tube attached to the door knob.

In ten days I am supposed to call to let him know if the pain level is decreasing.  I'll let you know too.

Much to my surprise the doctor told me that I am really strong.  This to the 60+ woman who is struggling to open jars.

Since Aleve causes me to throw up, he okayed taking Advil - three tablets - three times a day.  He assured me that we would look at my kidneys in some later year.  Sigh.

Some Stories

While he was here, Markku gave a lecture in the professor's class.  He was talking about US-Finnish relations, but started off with some history about his country - Suomi.  Most of its existence Finland has fallen under either Swedish or Russian rule.  Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland was torn apart by a civil war.  There were White Finns and Red Finns.  The resulting conflict was bloody and destructive in this small nation.

During the lecture, Markku showed a black and white picture of men marching carrying flags of two colors.  Half white and half a dark color.  Marrku said that while he was doing his compulsory military service, he wished to go to officer's school.  However, when an instructor asked the class if they knew what the two colors of the flag were, Markku didn't hesitate to answer.  The two colors were white and red.

"No, no," said the instructor.  "The colors are white and blue."
Markku protested and insisted that they were white and red.
Then the instructor asked Markku if he had proof that the flag was white and red.
"Yes, I do." Markku responded.  "My grandmother was only a girl of 15 at the time of the civil war but she made the flags.  I have two flags that she left for her posterity."



Markku completed 11 months of military service but the discussion about the colors of the flag finished all of his dreams for attending officer school.

Another story that I liked was about Finland paying its debts of reparation following World War II.  Finland was the only nation that paid the amount that was placed upon them.  Because of this, Finland became known as a nation of honest people who paid their obligations.  The paying of the debt was not easy for the small nation and was done with sacrifice on the part of its people.  They two were suffering from the results of years of war.

When Ritva and Markku were young, they came to the United States to study in Madison, Wisconsin.  At Christmas time, they decided to travel and see some of the vast nation.  However, they were concerned that they would run out of money while traveling.  They would not be in Madison when their regular funds were paid into their bank account on January 1st.  In order to be sure that they would not be stranded without cash in the pre-credit card world, Markku applied for a loan at the bank.    The bank manager made it very clear that he was not going to advance money to a couple of students. The discussion went on for some time.  Finally the bank manager asked, "What country are you from?"  When Markku replied, "Finland," the manager said, "That's all right then.  Finns always pay their debts. You can have the loan."

Markku said that as it turned out, they did not need the advance on their Fulbright money, but he always remembered the manager's response.

Turk is the sweetest little boy.  He has a smile for everyone.  Last fall Turk and his mother Leanna visited us while we were in Finland.  At that time the two of them met Markku when they visited the professor in his office at the University of Helsinki.

On Monday night most of our children and grandchildren gathered at Leanna's home for dessert.  When Markku saw Turk, he said, "Turk and I are old friends."

Turk responded to the attention from Markku with pleasure and proved that they were indeed old friends.  Markku lifted Turk into the air and put him on his lap and suddenly let Turk drop between his legs as if Turk would fall onto the ground.  Turk responded to all of this with excited laughter and lots of smiles.

For some reason Turk went and sat down with his head on the back step.  As you can see, Markku talked to him and tried to figure out what he was doing.

The next day Markku told us several times that he had enjoyed meeting the family.  And Turk's mother and grandmother were very delighted with the new bond between Markku and Turk.

Visit from Marrku

Deer Stephanie

I was a little surprised to see the painting of the redhead overlooking Salt Lake Valley by Stephanie Deer.  She definitely stood out among the subdued paintings of western landscapes with their muted colors.  However, the more I have looked at her work, the more appealing the paintings have become.

Mission Reunion

I have been dreading attending the reunion for missionaries who served in France under President H.Duane and Sister Leola Anderson.  Sister Anderson's death in an automobile accident has got a lot of attention with Mitt Romney (who was driving the car) running for the president of the United States.  I had absolutely no fear that Mitt and Ann Romney were going to appear.  I have never met them so I have no vanity to protect from encountering them.  It is the people who knew me when I was a much thinner 112 pounds when I got married, that I was worried about.  People like Cecil Ash and Judy and George Keele.

Needless to say, I worried for no reason.  No one said to me, "My, you have put on a lot of weight and a few more chins since I last saw you."  

It was delightful meeting with old friends and meeting others whom I had only heard about from former Elders Fry and Fisher. 

Elaine Fry, Cecil and Linda Ash
w Linda Rane and John Fisher in the background.

Judy Keele and Judy Steenblik talking to George Keele
Rick Anderson, a grandson of Pres and Sister Anderson,
in the right background

Charles (Bill) Ryan with Mike and Barbi Flynn

Barbi Nixon Flynn and Michael Flynn with Dave and Sister Birrell

Craig Frogley and Gerrit Steenblik

Walter Rane and George Keele

Judy and George Keele with Judy Steenblik 

I have heard so much about Elder Rane's art being displayed while on his mission in France.  I enjoyed the opportunity to meet him and especially his wife Linda.  Someone mentioned that Rane's son was the model for Joseph Smith in his painting of the First Vision.  I particularly like this self-portrait.  

Minerva Teichert is a well known LDS painter among early artists in Utah.  Two of her works were on display at the Williams gallery where the reunion was held.  One was Spanish Dancers and the other was Pink Roses.  It was interesting to see works done by her that were not church related.  

Becky's Post: Five Dollar Shoes

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again and again and again “Autism is hard. It’s hard on parents, it’s hard on families and it’s hard on siblings.” Do we love our Bridger more than words can ever express? Absolutely!!! But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s hard. I often wonder about the effect it has on our other kids. How do they truly, deeply feel about having a brother with autism? We don’t talk about it a ton because it’s just our life, it’s what we do. We deal. We love the kisses and the giggles and we survive the tantrums and the inconveniences. Last week I got a little glimpse into how our 12 year old, Sydney, feels about it when she went to a church activity on a regular ol’ Wednesday night.
After school Sydney’s big sister Celeste took her to Walmart to get a 5 dollar pair of plain white tennis shoes. She was taking them to her activity that night where they were planning on painting them. She was excited and I was too. I was wondering what they’d look like, if they’d turn out like she wanted, and if she’d actually wear them anywhere. I was not expecting her to return home with the most beautiful shoes I had ever laid eyes on.
The activity was to make a design on the shoes, any design, any color, anything… Well, our sweet Sydney designed her shoes with blue puzzle pieces. The puzzle piece is the symbol that represents autism. In our house it represents love and passionate support of our Bridger and other children like him. It represents our fight for better programs, insurance coverage and equal rights for a sweet little blonde boy that has stolen our hearts! And THAT, my friends, is what a 12 year old big sister painted on her shoes.
Those shoes said it all. They said “Even though autism is hard, I love you Bridger. I will always love you and accept you just the way you are. And I will fight with everything I have to help you reach your full potential and to create awareness and make others show you respect and dignity.” It was that night and every time afterward that I see her wear those shoes that this mommy is reminded that we are a family. We are united. We all feel the same way about Bridger. We stand behind him as one.
Thank you Sydney for painting your heart onto those shoes in the form of a blue puzzle piece. I’m so proud of you.
“Hold on, to me as we go. As we roll down this unfamiliar road, And although this wave is stringing us along, Just know you’re not alone, Cause I’m going to make this place your home” –Philip Phillips