Lately I feel like I don't have nearly as much time, or as many opportunities, to talk with my friends. I've made some dear friends in our ward, and it's always frustrating that sometimes our friendships consist of meeting eyes and a mouthed "Hi" from across the room. I guess what I need to do to rectify the situation is invite people over for dinner and playdates.
But I just wanted to let everyone know, if we haven't talked much in a while, we are still friends, and I still like you, and I want to spend more time with you. And my door is open to people who like to stop by to talk.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
K, insurance, non-fiction, school, and missionaries
This is one of the toys I found for Kevin at the consignment sale (the link is to show you what it's like because I don't think most people know what they're called). He loved pushing the lids back down from the very beginning, and recently his dad has taught him how to open some of them by himself. It was interesting to see the process of him learning to do this.
We've started to notice that he says something resembling "amen" when we finish our prayers. It sounds a little more like "mom," but it seems like he's consistently saying it at the end of the prayer. I'm glad it's a word he recognizes and that we pray often enough that he notices somewhat.
I'm hunting around for insurance for myself. It turns out that part-time students don't qualify for the student insurance plan, and to be added to RT's plan is pretty expensive, so now I have to search for individual insurance plans for myself. I'm a little frustrated, because if I had realized this I might have just gone full-time. It's tempting to just go without insurance, especially considering that I only saw a doctor once in the past year and I'm healthy and young, but at the same time, it would just take one car accident or an unexpected illness to cost us a fortune in medical bills, so I feel like I need to at least have something. It's kind of overwhelming! Individual health plans seem to be much more expensive than the student plan I've had for the past two years, and they don't even cover as much and they have much higher deductibles. It seems like every once in a while major expenses come up that remind me how expensive it is to be a grown-up. It's a little depressing.
Lately I've had this urge to read some non-fiction. I haven't read a lot of non-fiction in my lifetime, but I'm feeling excited about learning about some subjects that have interested me lately. Right now I'm reading Guns, Germs, and Steel and Oxygen: The Molecule that Made the World, and it's been fun. Joining Good Reads has helped me to find some non-fiction that seems worth reading. In the past couple of years I've had several people tell me I should join Good Reads, but I didn't think I would like it, so I didn't bother. But now that I've joined, I really like it. I've enjoyed seeing the books that my friends and family have read and what they thought of them, and also being able to keep track of books that I'd like to read. Unfortunately, I'm starting school in a couple of weeks, so I don't know if I'll have time to read all the new books on my to-read list!
I'm not feeling that eager-to-have-some-schoolwork feeling that I normally have after being out of school for a while. This summer has been really fun and I've learned a lot. I've read books, spent time with my family, tried some new things, and strengthened friendships. I don't want to let school prevent me from doing that, but I also know that if I want to keep up all those things and then throw calculus and geology into the pile, I'm going to be really busy. I'm going to have to learn to prioritize and manage, and to work at a little faster pace. I'm nervous about it, but I still feel strongly that my education is important and that this is the time to get my education. I feel grateful that Ryan is so supportive of my efforts to get an education.
Thursday we had the missionaries over for dinner. It's always nice to have the missionaries in our home, but the two missionaries that are serving in our area right now are particularly wonderful. I always feel the Holy Ghost strongly and learn more about the gospel when they share a thought before they leave. We have had some very special spiritual discussions with them when they have come to our home. I always get the sense that they love missionary work and God and that they really want to help people hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm very grateful that we have had the opportunity to get to know them.
We've started to notice that he says something resembling "amen" when we finish our prayers. It sounds a little more like "mom," but it seems like he's consistently saying it at the end of the prayer. I'm glad it's a word he recognizes and that we pray often enough that he notices somewhat.
I'm hunting around for insurance for myself. It turns out that part-time students don't qualify for the student insurance plan, and to be added to RT's plan is pretty expensive, so now I have to search for individual insurance plans for myself. I'm a little frustrated, because if I had realized this I might have just gone full-time. It's tempting to just go without insurance, especially considering that I only saw a doctor once in the past year and I'm healthy and young, but at the same time, it would just take one car accident or an unexpected illness to cost us a fortune in medical bills, so I feel like I need to at least have something. It's kind of overwhelming! Individual health plans seem to be much more expensive than the student plan I've had for the past two years, and they don't even cover as much and they have much higher deductibles. It seems like every once in a while major expenses come up that remind me how expensive it is to be a grown-up. It's a little depressing.
Lately I've had this urge to read some non-fiction. I haven't read a lot of non-fiction in my lifetime, but I'm feeling excited about learning about some subjects that have interested me lately. Right now I'm reading Guns, Germs, and Steel and Oxygen: The Molecule that Made the World, and it's been fun. Joining Good Reads has helped me to find some non-fiction that seems worth reading. In the past couple of years I've had several people tell me I should join Good Reads, but I didn't think I would like it, so I didn't bother. But now that I've joined, I really like it. I've enjoyed seeing the books that my friends and family have read and what they thought of them, and also being able to keep track of books that I'd like to read. Unfortunately, I'm starting school in a couple of weeks, so I don't know if I'll have time to read all the new books on my to-read list!
I'm not feeling that eager-to-have-some-schoolwork feeling that I normally have after being out of school for a while. This summer has been really fun and I've learned a lot. I've read books, spent time with my family, tried some new things, and strengthened friendships. I don't want to let school prevent me from doing that, but I also know that if I want to keep up all those things and then throw calculus and geology into the pile, I'm going to be really busy. I'm going to have to learn to prioritize and manage, and to work at a little faster pace. I'm nervous about it, but I still feel strongly that my education is important and that this is the time to get my education. I feel grateful that Ryan is so supportive of my efforts to get an education.
Thursday we had the missionaries over for dinner. It's always nice to have the missionaries in our home, but the two missionaries that are serving in our area right now are particularly wonderful. I always feel the Holy Ghost strongly and learn more about the gospel when they share a thought before they leave. We have had some very special spiritual discussions with them when they have come to our home. I always get the sense that they love missionary work and God and that they really want to help people hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm very grateful that we have had the opportunity to get to know them.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
monkey in Relief Society
I didn't realize how different it would be to have a walker as opposed to a crawler in church. This week I had Kevin in Relief Society with me, and he was all over the place! I mean, he was all over the place before, but for some reason now it's different. Maybe it's because the mischief is at knee level instead of mostly on the floor. But anyway, I found myself giving up at some point and just taking Kevin in the hall, very close to tears because I don't want to miss Relief Society every week for the next five and half months. I bring plenty of toys as well as some snacks, and that's just not enough to keep Kevin sitting still. He's in a place that he doesn't see on an everyday basis, and he just wants to explore it. Moving is a need for him, just as much as food and sleep.
After Relief Society was over, I asked the Relief Society president how far I can let him go before it's better to just take him in the hall. Her response was that in her opinion he can go "as far as you want." She said she would rather have kids wandering around in relief society than have sisters not get to be there. I really appreciated that she said that, and I intend to keep it in mind. If I were one of the people in relief society who isn't currently bringing a small child with her, I know that I would rather have the sister there, even if the child is sometimes a distraction, than know that she's out in the hall feeling disconnected from the Relief Society. I appreciated that she recognizes that there's more to Relief Society than the lesson on Sundays. It's also getting to be with people and share support for each other, and working together to build the kingdom of God.
Honestly, I'm probably still going to stress about it. But I'm still going to try to make it to Relief Society even on the weeks when it's my turn to bring Kevin, even if he goes exploring. And I hope people won't be resentful of that. I think a lot of people will be thinking, "Been there, done that."
After Relief Society was over, I asked the Relief Society president how far I can let him go before it's better to just take him in the hall. Her response was that in her opinion he can go "as far as you want." She said she would rather have kids wandering around in relief society than have sisters not get to be there. I really appreciated that she said that, and I intend to keep it in mind. If I were one of the people in relief society who isn't currently bringing a small child with her, I know that I would rather have the sister there, even if the child is sometimes a distraction, than know that she's out in the hall feeling disconnected from the Relief Society. I appreciated that she recognizes that there's more to Relief Society than the lesson on Sundays. It's also getting to be with people and share support for each other, and working together to build the kingdom of God.
Honestly, I'm probably still going to stress about it. But I'm still going to try to make it to Relief Society even on the weeks when it's my turn to bring Kevin, even if he goes exploring. And I hope people won't be resentful of that. I think a lot of people will be thinking, "Been there, done that."
Friday, August 6, 2010
edited previous post
My apologies. I subscribe to my own blog in Google Reader and after looking over my previous post I realized that I had skipped a line when I was typing the recipe. It's fixed now. So if you were trying out the recipe and got a little confused, the recipe should be easier to follow now. : )
P.S. If you really are planning to try stir-frying dandelions, I don't think any less of you. It's just that the thought of eating dandelions is really weird to me. Having chewed on dandelion stems as a child (I was trying to get the "milk" inside), I can't understand why anyone would eat them. If you want more recipes like this one, you can go to veria.com/hot to find winners like dandelion clam chowder, cattail-on-the-cob, and kudzu chips.
Now if you want to find something useful to do with your dandelions, you could try making dandelion curls. (Here's a simple tutorial I just found--but my momma taught me right, so I've known how to make these for a long time!)
P.S. If you really are planning to try stir-frying dandelions, I don't think any less of you. It's just that the thought of eating dandelions is really weird to me. Having chewed on dandelion stems as a child (I was trying to get the "milk" inside), I can't understand why anyone would eat them. If you want more recipes like this one, you can go to veria.com/hot to find winners like dandelion clam chowder, cattail-on-the-cob, and kudzu chips.
Now if you want to find something useful to do with your dandelions, you could try making dandelion curls. (Here's a simple tutorial I just found--but my momma taught me right, so I've known how to make these for a long time!)
stir-fried dandelion stems
Today I got a free sample, and with the sample came this recipe. It made me laugh.
The real title is Spring Dandelion Greens Saute'
8 cups dandelion greens
1/2 cup chopped spring onion
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. butter
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Thoroughly wash dandelion greens. In skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Saute' spring onion and garlic until translucent. Add greens and cook for 3 minutes or until leaves are wilted. Garnish with salt and pepper to taste.
I'm not kidding. This is a real recipe.
The real title is Spring Dandelion Greens Saute'
8 cups dandelion greens
1/2 cup chopped spring onion
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. butter
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Thoroughly wash dandelion greens. In skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Saute' spring onion and garlic until translucent. Add greens and cook for 3 minutes or until leaves are wilted. Garnish with salt and pepper to taste.
I'm not kidding. This is a real recipe.
surprise of the day
I think I already mentioned that Kevin learned to climb the chairs. Just now I was standing at the sink, and suddenly a cute little face popped up above the counter (which is about as high as my chest). Kevin had climbed a chair, then climbed on the table (which is right underneath the counter), then stood up using the counter. Even though he is getting into more trouble than ever, I think I am enjoying the new phase we are entering into. He does a lot of cute things.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
at the doctor's office
Today Kevin had his 12-month checkup. The doctor did all the normal stuff, and then toward the end she said to me, "It's been a long time since I've seen a baby this healthy. He looks really good." That made me feel really good.
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