Caleb on Rain and Santa

Oh the wisdom of a 5 year old.

Yesterday, on the drive to kindergarten in the rain.  Completely serious, Caleb reports, "Rain... is pee... from God."  He has the world all figured out.

Then after school, he explained the nature of Santa Claus to me.  "Mom, not all Santas are real.  There are only four real ones, all the others are NOT real."  How do you know which ones are real?  "Mom... you'll know."  How come there are four real ones?  "Mom, this world is too big.  So there is one Santa for this part of the world (Caleb uses his arms to section off the world around him, north, south,east, and west,  like giant slices of pie.) and one for this part, and one for this part, and one for this part."  OK, that makes sense. "Yes."  Is there a Santa here?  "Yes, but our Santa is far.  They are all far because everything close is warm, and everything far away is cold."  You got that right kid!  How about your cousins in Texas, do the have the same Santa as us?  "Which way is Texas?"  I point East.  "Yes, they have the same Santa we have."  How about your cousins in Oregon?  "Which way?"  I point North.  "No.  Different."  What about Lisa's kids.  They live in Rancho Mirage.  "What way?"  I point West.  "Different."  But they live here in the desert right near us.  "No.  Different."  So apparently we were sitting right in the vortex of Santa zoning.  The whole world was divided in quarters, and we happened to   be right at the four corners of it all.  Amazing.  So Caleb, do all four Santas look alike?  "Mom, you know what Santa looks like."  Are they twins?  That one got no reply, just a look like I was really stupid.  

So Caleb, which Santa lives in the North Pole?  "They all do."  They all live together?  "No, Mom.  Thats silly.  They all live in the North Pole, because there are four North Poleses."  I thought there was only one North Pole.  "No.  Four.  They all have their own Elvises too. "  Elvises?  "Yes, little Elvises.  They are small."  Elves?  "Mom, thats what I said."  Oh.  So Caleb, what is our Santa going to bring you for Christmas?  "I hope diamonds."  Diamonds?  That kid dosen't mess around.  Why diamonds?  "Because they are made of gold!" (duh!)  Oh.  Do you think the Elves can make diamonds?  "Probably not."  No, probably not.  What if Santa can't bring you diamonds?  "Then I want a big motorcycle!  A real one.  What do you want Mom?"  Diamonds, definately.

And then this fantastic line this morning:  "I love the rain.  Rain is good for dancing!"  

Caleb, I completely agree.

A Tribute

Here is a copy of the words Dennis spoke at his Dad's funeral:

This is not a time of sadness, but a time of thanksgiving that we have had the benefit and blessing of having Fred, my Dad, in our lives. The association and time we have had with him, the things we have learned from him, the love we have felt for him, and the knowledge that he has gone to a better place will make this transition in the Plan of Salvation bearable.  

We have received so many blessings, so many teachings from our Dad and Grandpa.  How grateful we are to our Heavenly Father for the experience to have been part of his life. Dad was a natural born coach, and he always took every opportunity he could to coach all of our sports teams when we were kids.  It was his way of spending time with us and sharing his knowledge with us.  He taught us to play fair, be good sports, and never let our team down.

In Doctrine and  Covenants 93:40 it says "But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth."  This is what he has done.

We realize that God lives, and as our father, God loves us just as Fred loved us.  Our father has now passed on, and we realize that as a special spirit, he had no need to remain longer in this life.  We realize that our father is needed in another place.  It was a blessing to have his as our friend, father, grandfather, and husband.  We have not lost him: we will be able to see him again.  We should remember fondly the time we have spent with him and cherish all those wonderful memories and experiences we have shared with him.  He taught us what it meant to be pure and clean before God, and he was an example for all of us.  We need to place our lives in proper perspective in order to be worthy to see him again.  Because of him, we need to think more about life beyond the veil, keeping ourselves worthy, so our family can be united eternally.  This is what he would want us to do.

Small things make a happy home.  I always saw my father express his love for his wife, our Mom.  I never remember them getting into any argument or belittling each other in front of us kids.  I know my Father loved my Mother.  This is the type of husband and father, that I want to be.  May we all be like Fred and show our love and devotion to our wives.  This is my prayer.

As many of you know, Fred married my mom when I was very small.  I couldn't wait until I was 18 and could be officially adopted by him, take his last name as my own, and be sealed to him.  But he always loved me and never treated me  any different than his other children.  He spanked me just as hard as he did everyone else, and for that I will always be grateful.  I learned how to be a devoted father from him.  I love you Dad.

Saying Farewell

Last Monday, friends and family gathered to bid farewell to Dennis' dad, Fred VanBuskirk, who passed away on Dec. 4.

It was such a beautiful funeral, and grandpa was honored in such a nice way.  All the sons and sons-in-law, wore Fred's favorite ties with his favorite sports teams and his very favorite - red, white, and blue American theme.  My whole family tried to dress Americana, in honor of Grandpa, who loved this country so much.

It was so good to see so many friends and family who loved him and came to show their respects and love for our family.  We really enjoyed visiting with everyone.  It is such a shame that it takes a funeral to get so many people we love together in one place.

Dennis' Mom, Teresa looked absolutely beautiful, even in her mourning.  It helped to be surrounded by people who love her.  Here she is with some of the 26 grandchildren around the coffin.

Dennis had to speak at the funeral, then he also dedicated the grave site.  He did a beautiful job, and invited the spirit so beautifully.  I was really proud of him.  His dad was proud of him too, I'm sure.

Shirley, Mike, and Bishop Caress also spoke and all did a really great job.  They even had a few of the grandchildren come up and share a special memory about grandpa.  Alex had worked and prepared what he was going to say about how Grandpa always hid dollar coins in Easter eggs for the grandkids to find, but when the moment came, he was crying too much, and couldn't bring himself to get up there.  I know Grandpa understands.  Dylan, bless his heart, with Dennis' help, managed to get off his wheelchair, and up to the pulpit, where he said his favorite memory about how Grandpa used to dress up like Santa Claus for the grandkids.  It was a sweet moment for everyone.  The spirit was so strong at the funeral.

All of his 8 children, except Dawn, who is in Ohio, were there.  Chip, Shirley, Chris, Jeni, Dennis, Tami, and Gene.

I loved my father-in-law, and I know he loved me and was always proud of me and Dennis and our children.  His wife and family were everything to him.  

Dad had very bad feet for a very long time, and it was extremely painful if anyone stepped on his feet.  So before we came over, Dad would make his way to the kitchen table, where his feet could be tucked safely under the table before we arrived with our 16 busy feet.  That's how I will always remember him, sitting at the kitchen table where the veggie tray usually was.  It always seemed to me like grandpa was guarding the veggie tray.  I liked to join him at the kitchen table for good conversation, and a shot at the veggie tray.  I'll miss him.  Who is going to guard the veggie tray now?

We love you Dad and Grandpa.  We miss you.

And it Came to Pass...

And it came to pass that the Bermuda Dunes Ward did gather together in the land of Zarahemla to celebrate the long awaited birth of our Savior, yea, even that same birth foretold by Samuel the Lamanite, and the prophets of old.

2  And they did feast much and celebrated the sign of the birth of the Lord.

3  And behold, the hearts of the children did turn to their grandfathers.

4  And the lame did come to the Temple in Zarahemla, with faith that he would be healed, or at least get pushed around by his friend Spenceroni, and get to play in the game booths.

5  Behold, the wealthy Nephites did also come to Zarahemla, with their gold, and their silver...

6  And the prideful women arrayed in their silk and fine-twined linen, their mufflers and their crisping pins.

7  And there were Whitlockites, and VanBuskirkites, yea, and all matter of -ites, and they did come to celebrate together.

8  And the merchants did come to sell their wares, their dream catchers, and their arrowhead necklaces, and all manner of finery.

9  And behold, while they were there, Gadianton's robbers came and with secret combinations tried to overturn the government, and through bloodshed gain an arrowhead necklace.

10  Behold, the fair young maidens did paint the faces of the children...

11  For all had joy and rejoicing therein. 

Fair Warning!

This is just a disclaimer.

If you plan to be cheery and merry and jolly this holiday season, you might want to refrain from reading this blog until after the holidays, or to make it safe, for the next 11 weeks, in order to avoid my whining. 

I suppose I could just not whine, but really, where is the fun in that?

If you continue to read these posts, just remember - you have been warned.  I don't want to be responsible for anyone else's Bah-Humbug.  And now that I have posted this disclaimer you can't sue me if I bum you out because it will not hold up in a court of law.

Thanks.

Oh Crud!

Last night I got that tickle in my my throat, and, despite a valiant effort with Zicam, I woke up with a yucky cold.   Correction: the term "woke up" is a misnomer - it would indicate that I actually slept.  Let me rephrase.  I have a cold.

Lovely.  Just what I need.

I am washing my hands a zillion times a day, and I still managed to catch a cold.

Any guesses as to what's next?

Bring it on!

Alex' Birthday: an Series of Unfortunate Events

Poor Alex.

Today was his birthday.  He turned 13.  He is now a teenager.  Officially.  (OK, Obviously I am way too young to be the mother of a teenager!  Don't you agree?  It is some weird time warp thing.  Can't explain it.)

So becoming a teenager is kind of a big deal right?  (I remember my dad used to torture us.  When we turned 13, 14, 15, etc. he would always say, "So, you're finally a pre-teen!"  Drove us crazy.  Apparently he had a problem dealing with the fact that his little girls weren't so little anymore too. He still does, I think.)

Today was a big day -  but not for Alex.

Dennis' dad died this morning.  

Grandpa V. had been slowly dying for a long time, but he took his last breath this morning.  He was only 65.

We are all grieving.

Birthdays and death days should never be the same day.

Never mind that of all the birthdays, Alex is the most often neglected because it falls during the holiday season, so even in a good year, mom is a bit too busy to usually give him the kind of party I can give his brothers at other times of the year.

Never mind that our family life is kind up turned up on its end with Dylan sick.  

Then, Grandpa dies on top of all that.

Dennis was with his family until late.  I was away at Loma Linda for doctors' appointments much of the day, then at home I was rushing around trying to put out fires and get everybody to do what needed to be done.

Alex was neglected.

He even had to make his own birthday cake.

I tried, though.  I really did.  His only request was homemade pizza, and I made him his pizza, but it didn't get on the table until very late, almost 9, like an afterthought, and nobody was in much of a celebratory mood.

He opened his few presents.  (I haven't had much of an opportunity to go out shopping, as of late.)

He did get some very cool night vision goggles.  Wonder what he will do with those?  

And he also won the birthday drawing on the radio, which was very cool, but nobody heard his name on the radio or had a chance to go pick up his prize - a free birthday cake.

Good old Al, he never complained.  He was sad about grandpa too.  He said he understood.  But I was sad for him.  I believe birthdays should be a really big deal, especially monumental ones, like becoming a teenager.  I tried to make it as special as I was able, but it just wasn't in the cards for him today.

Today I had to be several people at once: On top of the bus driver, house cleaner, disciplinarian, etc. that I have to do everyday, I also had to be the doting nurse to a sick kid, the supportive wife to a grieving husband, and try to be the happy party planner  for the birthday boy.  I didn't handle it all very well.  Alex got the short straw today.

I'm so sorry, Dennis and family!  I love you all, and I pray for Mom and all of you!

Happy Birthday, Big Al!  

I'm throwing you a big party in my heart, OK?

Before I Take It All Down

I put up my fall decorations right before my surprise vacation to sunny Loma Linda, and now, suddenly, it's time to take them all down. Where did November go? I never really had a chance to enjoy them.  But maybe some of you sweet people who brought meals or gave rides to my kids  were able to enjoy the decorations.    So before I take them all down, I'd thought I'd take a few pictures and post them.

The pictures don't capture it, but most of my fall decor is pretty sparkly.  I know glitz isn't a traditional fall thing, but I love it and had a fun time putting a little bling into my decor.

Those pumpkins are covered in glass microbeads that just glow when the door opens and sunlight hits them.

Fun find.  After Halloween Michael's had all their fall flower arrangements 75% off.  I found two matching topiaries for only $11 each.  They are perfect for those niches, and I love the sparkling butterflies made from feathers.  It's always the details that do it for me.  I also got the glittery "Give Thanks" banner in the after-Halloween 75% off bin.  Go figure.  Maybe because it was orange. It was $2.50.  All my beady garlands and wreaths you see were also 75% off at Michael's.

 You can always get great deals on fall stuff way before Thanksgiving, because the stores want to get rid of it to make room for all the Christmas merchandise.

I couldn't get enough of the luxurious satin orange ribbon.  I use it everywhere (TPT $11 for 25 yards!)

I bought this turkey for $19 at TaiPan (reg. $49).  It was brown resin.  I glitzed it up by spray-painting it, and a few of the small gourds and decorative squash, a shiny metallic gold.  

The pictures are dull, but he absolutely gleams and I love, love, love, my Midas-touched turkey.

This is the first year I really felt like my fall decorations came together.  

Now on to the biggie - Christmas decorations.  Oh my!

Five Kernels of Corn

I love candy corn, and I love traditions, so if I find with a tradition that uses candy corn, I'm doin' it.

Every year my kids make little packets of five candy corns in a piece of netting tied with raffia.

We pass them out to everybody at the Thanksgiving table.  Before anyone takes a bite of the Thanksgiving feast before them, one of us reads this:

Pilgrims had a custom of putting five kernels of corn on each plate before Thanksgiving dinner was served.  In many old Plymouth families, the custom is still followed today.  The five kernels of corn were chosen because prior to the first harvest, things were so bad that the daily ration was five kernels of corn per person per day.  Imagine how grateful the survivors of the first horrible winter were for the abundant first harvest!  The pilgrims put five kernels of corn on their plates to remind them of their great blessings.  Let us also remember.

The first kernel of corn reminds us of the autumn beauty around us.

The second kernel of corn reminds us of our love for each other.

The third kernel of corn reminds us of God's love for us.

The forth kernel of corn reminds us of our friends.

The fifth kernel of corn reminds us that we are a free people.

Another tradition, along the same lines, is the blessing snack mix we make and give to another family.  It is easy, just a matter of dumping the different ingredients together. This is what it says on the tag:

Blessing Mix

This mix was made just for you and your family.

Enjoy it as you discuss the blessings that the ingredients represent.

Bugles (chips)- shaped like cornucopia, it represents the horn of plenty.

Pretzels - represent our arms folded in thanks and prayer.

Candy Corn - during their first winter the pilgrims were each allotted 5 kernels of corn each day as food was scarce.

Dried Fruit - Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest.

Nuts and Seeds - Seeds represent the potential of a bounteous harvest for the next season of they are planted well and tended.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Even though this Thanksgiving was the craziest ever for our family, these traditions are too simple and too important not to do.  I'm so glad we did, because this year, more than ever before, we needed to be reminded of how much we have to be thankful for.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

So while Dennis and I were back and forth to the hospital, life continued at as close to normal for everyone else, and a lot was going on.

The middle school had a special honor roll assembly, and both Alex and Nathan were recognized.  I missed it, of course, but I was there in spirit, and they both know how proud I am of them.

Nathan got a gold award with a GPA of 3.86.  Can you believe he missed straight A's by one B+?

Next time, for sure, Nate.  Not bad for his first quarter in middle school.

Alex got a Silver Award for his GPA of 3.71.  He, too, only missed straight A's by one grade.  We are so proud of him, as it took a lot of hard work on his part to make those grades.

Alex also got another another very special Character Counts Award for Responsibility.  That fits Alex to a T.  He is extremely responsible with his homework and schoolwork.  He comes right home, shows me what he needs to do, then gets right to work.  He is organized - something he did not inherit from his mother, and works so hard.  I am so proud of him, and am grateful that a teacher recognized this trait in him and recognized him for it.

Also, Caleb had an Indian pow-wow in his Kindergarten class on Tuesday.  I was absolutely exhausted Monday after getting home from the hospital.  When I found out Caleb needed an Indian vest for the next morning, I was ready to just cut arm holes in a brown paper bag and call it good.  But Caleb was less than thrilled by that idea, so I pulled myself up by the bootstraps, and helped him make his own Indian vest with a scrap of faux suede I dug out of the garage.  He decorated it with Indian symbols.  He was thrilled with it. He wanted to wear it to bed and was so excited to go to the pow-wow.  Now I am so glad that just I made the effort to do that for him.  I know I would have regretted it if I hadn't.  The whole world doesn't come to a screeching halt because one kid is sick.

There was also a belt test for taekwando while I was away.  Caleb got his orange belt, Dennis got his senior green belt, and Nathan got his red belt, which is a really big deal.  Dylan would have received his red belt too, if he wasn't tied up in a hospital recovering from surgery.  Poor Dylan.  He'll be up and kicking soon enough.  Unfortunately I have no pictures of the belt test, since I wasn't there to take them, but I am proud of my guys, and I know they did great!