The last two weeks were difficult, but as I sat down to record all of it, I can only remember the good! I know there were a few rough days, but we are definitely being blessed.
Paul: PAUL IS AMAZING!!! He has lost over 40 pounds while in England, and he shaved his beard off. He looks SO GOOD! (He’s always looked good to me, though.) But, really. My husband is CUTE! Here’s a little excerpt from his memoirs:
“One of the things I am beginning to appreciate more about my experiences here in England is that I’m growing extremely close to not just my amazing wife, but my sweet little girls. One of the experiences that reminds of that was when I was late for the bus one morning and asked Rachel if she could give me a kiss goodbye. She was in a funny mood and said no and ran to Mel. I asked her quickly a few more times before I absolutely had to go or miss the bus. I said goodbye to them and raced downstairs and out the front door. As I was crossing the street on my way to the bus, I heard Mel shout to me from the upstairs window, “Daddy! Rachel wants to give you kisses now!” I had a moment that froze me in time just briefly. I thought to myself, “You can tell her you’re late and keep going to the bus, or you can turn around and go give your beautiful daughter a kiss before you go to school for the day.” I turned around and ran back to the door and went inside. Rachel came running to me and threw her arms around me and kissed me. There is no greater feeling in the world than having your children love on you. I gave her a kiss and hugged her for a moment, then left for school. I can’t remember if I made the bus or not, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I spent quality time with my daughter and she knows nothing but her mother is more important to me in this life than she is to me. There’s a reason this moment was so impactful to me, and it’s because the moment we stop thinking about ourselves and our worries and problems we’re dealing with, and help others who seem distressed, or help our family when they’re in need, the rest works itself out. God is always ready to help us when we need him. He’s always willing to turn and come running back to us to give a kiss before school.”
The show: Paul and his cohort spent the last 10 weeks working with George Richmond Scott on “The Rivals”-a Georgian comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. I got to go see it on Thursday the 18th, and ZOUNDS! I loved it! Maybe it was extra fun for my brain because I spend most of my day talking with a two year old, but even so, it was BRILLIANT!!! I took the girls to Shantal’s for the evening, then caught the bus into the city. The bus was 20 minutes late, so I ran about a mile to get to the school just as the show started. Paul played the old, meddling father, and I was skeptical when he first told me about it, but he built an incredible character. The whole cast was great, but I really enjoyed watching his work--and Adam who played a young paranoid lover. So funny! The audience was set up with women on one side and men on the other--as it would have been in Georgian times. It was perfect for the little asides and audience involvement they threw in. The Beasleys came to cheer him on, and the helped get us all home afterward. Such a lovely evening!
End of term: We did it! We survived Term #2! Paul had another show on Friday night (which the Mace’s attended), so Rachel and I decided to get some Schloer from the shop around the corner to celebrate! (Schloer is basically Sparkling Cider) We are officially 1/3 of the way through grad school! Holy smokes!
Adelaide: The same Thursday that I had playgroup, running the kids to Shantal’s, and going to Paul’s show, Karen was in labor and delivered my adorably-perfect niece Adelaide Stauss! I was checking my phone all day trying to keep updated on how they were doing. I spent most of my day praying for them--and those prayers were answered. Addy was a healthy 9 pounds 4 ounces, and Karen was a trooper! Almost 20 hours of labor. I’m so proud of Karen and Jordan! I wish I could be there to give them big hugs!! I’m so happy they got to experience the miracle of bringing a baby into the world. There’s no way to describe it, but when you’ve gone through it yourself you have a whole new respect for people--especially mothers. It’s such a sacred and beautiful sacrifice to have a baby. I can’t wait to meet this little angel--fresh from heaven! Hopefully this summer???
Relief Society Birthday: The ward had a birthday party to celebrate the organization of the Relief Society last Saturday! Leah planned it all, and it was delightful! We played games, had contests to build a castle out of marshmallows and toothpicks, scavenger hunt using items from our handbags, two truths and a lie, and everyone had to guess the identity of the sticker on their back. (I was Jeffrey R. Holland. Haha!) We also had a really yummy lunch with some of the most incredible cakes I’ve ever seen! I was SO stressed all week about making cookies and speaking at the event. I eventually figured out what I wanted to speak about, and had it all planned out, but it was rubbish. I was so worried about taking too much time, I rushed through it. I was so embarrassed afterward. It was a good learning experience for me: Definitely better to share less and listen to the Spirit than rush through and try to stick to my agenda. Next time…
Sister Stone and Sister Pickett: First, I need to take a picture of these sweet sisters. They are absolutely phenomenal. We had them over on Monday to teach Reza. We arranged for a friend of my cousin to Skype with us and translate into Farsi for Reza. It was kind of a crazy evening, but it was so important to be able to figure out how much Reza actually understands, and where he is in his faith and testimony. The Sisters were so grateful for our arranging to get a translator, they asked what they could do for us, and Paul said “Come visit my wife while I’m at school all week!” Before I could say anything, they’d decided to come on Wednesday and eat lunch! Well, they showed up Wednesday with cookies for our family, ate lunch with us, then proceeded to wash all my dirty dishes and clean my filthy bathroom!!! I admit, I cried a little bit. They’re so busy--they didn’t have to do that. But I will never ever forget it. On top of everything else, they volunteered to put together a musical number for sacrament meeting. They recruited eight recent converts from China to sing “I Am A Child of God” with them as I played. They were all so nervous, but there was a beautiful spirit about them as they sang. I am so grateful for these two sisters and their examples of love unfeigned and charity. I hope to be just like them when I grow up.
Puddles, Parks, and Philippa: We decided to go to the park a few times since the weather is getting warmer. Rachel loves to put on her wellies and splash in the puddles on the way there! This week, we met a woman at the park named Philippa who has two little boys. She just moved in about two weeks ago, and we hit it off right away. She’s my same age, which is really rare. I’m pretty young compared to most moms in the UK--especially moms with two kids. Anyway, we exchanged numbers and decided we needed to be friends. It was honestly an answer to prayer. I have been struggling to make friends in our neighborhood. No one speaks English, and it’s difficult to meet people during the winter when everyone stays inside. I could really use a friend that lives within walking distance, so I’m determined to be a good friend to Philippa.
Dance: Saturday was a five-stake Youth Conference! I was asked to help Shantal choreograph and teach a flash mob dance to teach the youth. We created a dance to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and we taught it to them in two classes that went from 30-45 minutes. The first class was a little rough, but the second group really got into it, and I felt like everyone had a nice experience. It’s always sad when some people choose not to participate, but I was so proud of the youth that just jumped in! The Beasleys gave me a ride home so I could quickly feed Alice and get dinner on the table, then I took Rachel on the bus to the church for the dance that night! Oh my goodness. It was SO FUN! They played “Happy” twice and filmed the dance, so I hope I get a copy. I was demonstrating on the stage, so I didn’t get to watch it, but from what I did see, it looked like they were having a blast! Also, Rachel and Eleanor were HILARIOUS. I thought they’d be scared with the lights off and really loud music, but they were tearing up the dance floor! In fact, I was trying to pack up as the youth were making a big dance circle with people in the middle doing tricks. When I stood up with my purse and coats, I heard a big cheer, and Rachel had run into the middle of the circle to show off her moves for all the youth. HAHA!!! She’s such a crazy kid! I love it! It was so fun to dance around with her and get to know some more members in the area. There were probably about as many youth as you’d see at a typical stake dance in Utah, but these kids had come from hours away. I wanted to badly for them to have a good time and just know they’re not alone!
Charity shop: Carol came last Friday and took us to a little charity shop. We donated a few items that Alice has outgrown, and we got a free Johnny Jumper (the little bouncer that hangs from the door frame). Carol also purchased a Charlie and Lola book for Rachel and a great little rattle toy for Alice. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that our house has the weirdest door frames of all time, and we can only hang the jumper toy in the upstairs bathroom. Not exactly what I was hoping, but at least it was free!
Brother Anjam: Last Sunday, we met a guy in our ward who is from Pakistan. His preacher got a Book of Mormon from a workshop about how Mormonism is awful--people running around naked in church and telling lies and such. Anyway, the preacher was going on and on about it, and the Spirit just told this man "That isn't true." The man (Bro. Anjam) asked the preacher if he had read the Book of Mormon. The preacher said no. Bro. Anjam asked if he could borrow it, and he read the whole thing. Brother Anjam told the preacher that the book testified of Christ and was obviously not written by a man, but under the direction of God. The preacher immediately asked for the book back, but Bro. Anjam saw there was a name and address written in the book. A man named Sean Dixon had written his testimony in the cover, and Bro. Anjam wrote him a letter to say he had read the book, knew it was true, and wanted to become a preacher for the book. Haha! Sean Dixon wrote him all six discussions, and after about two years, Salt Lake was able to find a U.S. Ambassador who was LDS who could baptize Bro. Anjam. He and his family traveled eight hours on a bus at night to go see this Ambassador, but because the Gulf War was in full swing, the Ambassador was evacuated before they got to see him. After more years of waiting, an LDS ambassador from Canada was able to baptize over 60 families that Bro. Anjam had converted, though he himself was not yet baptized. They had to come at different times and from different places so they wouldn't look conspicuous. Bro. Anjam had to teach them to sit together as families, because Pakistani churches have men sit together and women sit together on the opposite sides of the aisle. He and his family were persecuted, his son was beaten at school for "denouncing Mohammad," they were hunted by the Taliban, and his wife was shot at four times, but were all miraculously unharmed. The driver was injured, but survived as they fled to the U.K. They came in 2009 and have been working to rebuild their lives. They can't return to Pakistan until 2018, but they are the most lovely, kind, charitable people! They have so much faith! I was absolutely in awe as I listened to their story. I can't believe the hardships they have endured for their beliefs! Makes my life look like a fairy tale.
Rachel:
Acts out Tangled by getting a colored pencil to “brush my hair”. She tells me “You can’t go outside” and then kisses my head and says “I love you very much.” She’s amazing.
Really into testing rules like coloring on the walls, rearranging routines, climbing in and out of her high chair, etc.
Eleanor is her best friend. She only wants to go somewhere if Eleanor will be there, and she wants to “do wets in the potty like Eleanor”. Should make potty training easier! Ha! Here are a few pics of her and Eleanor having bath time:
Shantal said they offered Rachel a chair at dinner, but she insisted on standing to eat copious amounts of green beans. What a funny little girl!
Alice:
Can grab toys and switch hands
Loves to sit on our laps--not so much in the Bumbo. She sat with Sister Alforque during most of Sacrament Meeting today and was a perfect little angel!
Sick Alice had a fever of 100.5 for about 3 days last week. She still has a runny nose, but it’s almost gone. It made for some rough nights and a really tired mommy, but we survived.
No teeth, but she’s drooling like mad.
Alice really has a personality these days. She knows our faces and voices, and she really likes music. She loves to see the world from her stroller, and she really loves her sister.
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