Talking to Strangers

I had the most fun experience last week at the doctor's office. I realize that's an unusual thing to say, and it really had nothing to do with the doctor, but rather with some very nice people I talked to in the waiting room. As always, I had a book with me and I was prepared to read while waiting. But the lady next to me smiled and said hello, so we struck up a conversation. It's easy enough in an Ob/gyn office, you just ask the lovely young woman when her baby is due. However, this young woman was accompanied by her teenaged sister and I always enjoy talking to teenagers. So I asked her what grade she will enter this fall. She's a senior and I teach seniors, so we had an immediate connection. Poor girl, I soon found out that her AP summer reading for English is Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It's a wonderful book, but (in my humble opinion) not one to tackle on your own. So we talked about it, about the symbolism and the characters and the "meaning" of the work. It was great. I also told her about a book I assign my kids--How to Read Literature Like a Professor. It was the waiting room reading I had brought along, so she had a chance to look at it and realize what a big help it could be in her studies. We talked until I was called back to see the doctor, and when I met up with her again outside the lab, she had found the book online and the first 80 or so pages were available for free. She was already reading.

It felt so good to help someone, and she was a delightful, bright young lady. I am so thankful that I seem to have a friendly face, because people just tend to talk to me. Years ago, Heavenly Father told me very clearly that one of my gifts is being friendly and He expects me to talk to people. I just love people! I love talking to them and learning about them and I especially love helping them. It was a terrific morning, and I think I really did some good.

A Caveat (did I spell that right?)

I will add that I'm sure Kara now counts Skyler as her greatest, greatest gift, but it is lovely to see sisters who love each other, support one another, spend as much time as possible together, and are so hilarious as a group. Kara and Skyler are embarking on a great adventure and we're all planning to come along.

Kara's Tribute to Her Sisters

A few months ago, Kara wrote a wonderful essay about me (made me cry...but they were happy tears). And now, she has written a beautiful tribute to her sisters. I'm just so proud of all of them and it's a joy to see how well they get along and how much they love each other. We are a blessed, blessed family (even though the girls do admit that their collective IQ drops significantly when they are all together due to the silliness factor). Because of their wonderfulness, and with Kara's permission, I include here her thoughts about Julie and Lauren. I will also attempt to include a lovely photo of my three wondrous daughters.

The Greatest Gift

What is the greatest gift you have ever been given?

I've been thinking about the best gift I've been given a lot lately.

Now, just so no one thinks I'm a heathen, yes the Atonement would have to be number one along with the truth of the gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost, but with that disclaimer aside, there is something else in my life that could never ever be replaced by anything or anyone else. And maybe this gift will change someday when I have kids or something, but I kind of doubt it because it has shaped so much of who I am.

I am incomplete without this gift. I would be a entirely different person had I never been blessed by it. And I'm extremely grateful to those who made this gift possible which must include both Divinity and my parents.

The Greatest Gift I have ever received in my life is actually two amazing gifts. My sisters.

I've been missing them a lot lately, and it really is hard to be so far away from them.

So, Julie & Lauren, you are my favorite people. I am most me when I'm with you. I suppose our siblings could have been anyone. But I can't imagine what my life would be like if we didn't have each other.

We haven't all lived in the same house now for about 12 years, and it will probably be about 50 more until we're little old ladies, wearing matching outfits and wide-brimmed hats sipping lemonade on our big porch (probably with binoculars close by for bird watching), but won't life be a fun adventure? People say they can't wait to grow old with their spouse, but I can't wait to grow old with my sisters. We'll be as crazy as those who came before us and I don't give a hoot. We'll have earned that right.

Someday, I'm sure we'll bury one another. But we know we'll see each other again, because no matter where life takes us, we're stuck together:) And it won't be sad because our lives will have been full, because we have each other and many others to love. Plus we'll have hilarious stories to share so people will remember what we were like when we could still touch our toes. And at the awesome party we'll have (because we'll celebrate the life each of us had, not mourn that one has started a new journey) Lauren will show off her awesome moves and say "In my day we danced like this."

I love you. Both of you, an insurmountable sum.

My sisters are the Greatest Gift I've ever gotten.

We're Adding Another Boy!

The wonderful news of the past week is that Kara is engaged to the terrific Skyler Thiot. They are planning to be married December 30 in the Dallas Temple and we are all totally thrilled. He is such a good man and treats her like she is a queen. I so appreciate his constant care--especially during school last year when she was traveling all over Utah working on new stories. He was right there with her much of the time, watching over her and making sure she was safe. Mom's are endlessly thankful for good men like Skyler. With my minimal computer skills, I will try to add some pictures of the happy couple and later I will add details about the trip Michael and I took to Salt Lake City/Provo in early July and the fun times we had with Kara and Skyler. First, here are the pictures.

Beat the Heat

Two meanings for this post title:
It's so incredibly hot here in Texas already, that I decided my blog needed a cooler background;
AND
The Mavericks are up 3-2 on the Heat and may just win the NBA championship!

A Few Days, But Not All Ten

I thought I might enjoy writing these 10 days of messages, but I find that I don't really want to do day 1. The only thing I can think of to say to 10 different people is "I love you!" and while that is wonderful, it is a bit repetitious. So, I shall move on to the other days, and perhaps complete them all at once. (Perhaps this will help me to kick-start my engine so that I write here on a more regular basis--hope springs eternal....)

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
I love you!



Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
I would rather read a good book than do almost anything else.
I love to travel and meet new people and learn new things.
I love poetry, and find teaching it a joy.
I enjoy trying out new foods and being a bit adventurous.
I could spend days watching BBC costume dramas (North and South, Pride and Prejudice, and the like).
I am an Anglophile--a total British history freak.
I can name all the English kings and queens in order from William the Conqueror to the present.
I love teaching! It is more fun than any other job I can possibly imagine.
I'm trying to be like Jesus....every day....
And one more: I love learning--every single day I want to learn new things.


Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Hmmm....Smile at me
Give me a hug
Share your testimony of Jesus Christ with me
Be kind to my children or grandchildren
Teach me something new and interesting
Tell me about yourself
Share some wonderful food (or chocolate) with me
Share a great book with me


Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
I do tend to worry quite a bit about money, but that's not really helpful....
That Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and that they love me all the time
That the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and I can learn more every day
That my husband keeps my life fun and lively and interesting
That I have the greatest family ever
That I have wonderful friends
That I have the world's best students
That I have the world's best job


Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Oh dear....what can one say in public on this topic....I guess if you know me, you'll have to ask for more details....
Opened the door on that fogged-up car with the lights on
Mistakenly used a poison-ivy leaf for nature's TP
Gotten in a car with an unknown person (but it turned out fine--he just gave me a ride and dropped me off--could have been scary though and it was a stupid move...)
Stuck my foot in my mouth more times that I can possibly remember
Thought unkindly about someone who did not deserve it
Failed to speak up for myself when I should have done


Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Not possible to list only five....this list would have to include my immediate family (with all in-laws and significant others), my birth family (again with all in-laws etc), all my Brown family relatives (too many to even count these days), my friends from childhood on (now scattered around the country and including everyone at church), all the students I have ever taught, and all my friends in education (GPISD, BYU, UTA, SMU and everywhere else). And that's just the beginning! I love people; I love meeting people; I love learning about people... If I absolutely had to choose only seven (five is totally impossible) they would be Michael, Julie, Lauren, Kara, Kelly, Shannon and Jamie, but they are just the top of the long list of people I love....


Day Seven: Four turn-offs.
Badly written books (or papers or essays or any bad writing)
Stupid television programs or movies
Disgusting or obscene language
Immodest dress and behavior


Day Eight: Three turn-ons.
Big smiles
Hugs
Delicious food


Day Nine: Two images that describe your life right now, and why.

Well, I'm not very clever, so my pictures seem to be loading only at the top of the page....
The first is of the Salt Lake Temple spires above the clouds because I see all of us in that situation these days. The gospel takes us up above worldly cares and troubles and problems, but we are still here and we still have to deal with this world. However, we have light and a view that is incredible.

The second picture is of SMU because I am going to graduate school there and really enjoying it. Remember how much I love learning....well being a teacher and being a student is about the best combination anyone could ever have....

(apparently they have loaded with SMU first and the temple second, but I think you can tell the difference.....)


Day Ten: One confession....Nope, nada... not from me....

Ten Days (but not 12)

I'm thinking about completing this list....but for now it's just here for contemplative purposes....

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Day Seven: Four turn-offs.
Day Eight: Three turn-ons.
Day Nine: Two images that describe your life right now, and why.
Day Ten: One confession.