Museums, Mummies and Mausoleums

The highlight of the week was traveling without littles. Mary doesn't count, she is quite independent and after boarding any plane she sets herself up and I hardly see or hear from her. The flight back from London yielded an 8 hour nap for me and I woke to find Mary watching Harry Potter after a 6 hours of sleep. 

She makes a good traveling companion, with hours of meetings she had lots of time to keep busy. She planned all of Friday... 6am we were off to see platform 9 3/4 (probably the most disappointing moment of the trip, she really thought she could somehow spend a semester at Hogwarts), then the British Museum (she could have stayed for hours and I was relieved when she finally said, "What if we stay here for another hour and a half and then go to the Tower of London?"). Which we did, thanks for the recommendation Jeremiah. Following, we had high tea at Harrods and had a few minutes to shop.

The point of the trip was to vet organisations that help Syrian refugees by getting them the empty seats in top notch English programs (they focus on really educated professionals, so that as soon as they learn English they can get good jobs). On the way to one of the meetings, which was nearby the parliament, we stopped at Westminster for some sight seeing. But, if we had instead stopped there on the way back, rather than on the way to the meeting we would have been there about the same time as the attack. As it turned out we were a mile away and out of any danger. When we returned to our apartment we got the details. We'd been where there were police cars and helicopters and road/tube closures, but neither of us had access to the info on our phones. As the event unfolded, I felt a strong sense of gratitude and a realisation that Sarah had followed a prompting that morning as she called us off the train early. 

Often, we don't recognise divine intervention until after the fact. And even then, we may be too busy to notice. Our route was the same one that the driver took, and we walked it twice (to and from Westminster to the train), we passed the guard who lost his life (saw others taking photos with him) and even took photos ourselves along the same gate. It doesn't do much good to play the "what if" game. But I do think it is important to recognise promptings. 

Being curious. Don't stop.

Breakfast at Hyde Park

Matilda.

Back to reality, kids were up early and ready to eat at 5:30. Love that I'm a morning person.

5pm, stitches and Indian Food

You know those days.... um, weeks that seem to fly by. This was one of them. This morning I looked at my watch and it was already 5pm! (Really? Saturday is already gone?)

Maybe your days are like that everyday, but it is almost disappointing.

It was a day of doubles:

2 doctors appointments, 2 house showings, 2 deliveries, 2 piano lessons, 2 naps... and the day is done.

Maeser put his foot through a window this evening, beyond the crash and glass it was fine, until 3 minutes later when he noticed he'd sliced his heel. Then it sounded like he was dying. What makes children so scared of blood? 

It was Sarah's birthday yesterday. We miss having them close by. When we got on the plane to go to New Zealand, Maeser had somehow gotten it in his mind that we were going to Violet's and began crying. He still thinks they are best friends.

And I can't wait for dinner. We were having a special family fast for a great-aunt and all I can think about is the Indian food I ordered for dinner. It's minutes away. I guess it's a blessing that the day passed so quickly. I'd better hop to it.

Post dinner note: It was such a long day... in some ways. I kept trying to keep busy and think of Aunt Denna, but I had been thinking about food since noon when I fed the children. And they kept asking for snacks and I kept putting them off. We all enjoyed the indian food. Heartily. And I'm feeling so thankful for our health.

On a more appropriate note, I am thankful for the principle of prayer and fasting. Last Sunday we fasted as a family, we missed the 1st Sunday of the month while traveling. I asked Abe what he was fasting for and he said, "Dad, because I love him." And a few months ago it was, "Grandpa, so he won't get sick after playing with us." Kinda melts my heart.

A girl and her tunes.

 Science Fair at School.

Daddy brought home magformers... hours of fun.

Shell Alternative Green Energy Fair... awesome.

Our Mishaps today. Ru and Maeser's foot through the window.

New Zealand and Dengue

I never got around to writing on Monday, or Tuesday... or Wednesday through Saturday. And how quickly the week has passed. Ugg.

But I'd rather like to remember a few things from the week, and the week prior. Not in any order:

Dan's race in New Zealand last week was incredible. He didn't pace/nourish himself well and he was exhausted with just 3 miles remaining. We sat at the finish line for more than an hour waiting for him to arrive. I'd been tracking his GPS, but he'd passed the final sensors and I knew he was somewhere along the last stretch. I kept telling the children I'd thought he'd gotten sick. So we began walking the course backwards watching so that if he was still racing we could cheer for him. After an 11 hour race, the last thing you want to do is miss the finish. I half expected to find him sitting on a curb somewhere, but he was running. Not fast, but moving. And he looked so sick. We cheered and then ran back to the finish line, where he crossed and then we didn't see him again for 2 hours. He was so sick the medics kept him under observation for 2 hours before releasing him. That's when we found out how bad it had gotten on the race. The swim was the worst in the last 17 years, Dan said it felt like a washing machine. Even with all the waves he swam well and fast. Then he had the bike, and the wind that churned up the lake gave him a good push out of town, but was a head wind the entire way back. By the time he got to the run he still felt ok and he looked like he was going to PR by more than 90 minutes. After 23 miles into the run he got sick. So so sick. It was so bad he actually called for someone to grab the medic van. He climbed in and said I'm out. The medic looked at him and said "You're crazy. This course is open for another 6 hours, you could crawl to the finish line." And then he didn't go anywhere. Eventually Dan crawled back out of the van, was sick again and then began shuffling down the course. He finished. It was ugly, but he still PR'd. 

The first photo is about 8 miles into the run. (Still looking strong.) The second is at the finish, so so sick. 

 

I've thought a lot about it this week. Sometimes, no matter what preparation or how dedicated we are, we can't get the results that we wanted. But that doesn't mean it wasn't worth it. (Dan may disagree, he is disappointed with his performance and that he let himself get so sick. And at the moment doesn't have the desire to run another triathlon.) But I feel like the preparation was far more important than the race. Won't God feel the same way? If we have done all we can, and done our best, then that will be good enough. Elder Cornish shared a quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley last conference: "All the Lord expects of us it to try, but you have to really try!" Dan did. He trained hard, and was dedicated, he was putting in more hours than I would have liked towards this goal, we both had to sacrifice time for his training. He may have had higher expectations for the outcome, but that can wait for another time. 

Watching the race and having a picnic during the run.

Sometimes I think about the medic. Dan was actually dangerously depleted of salt and electrolytes. He probably needed an IV. I don't think the medic on the course was actually a qualified doctor, but a hired driver used to keep the course clear. Maybe he should have driven Dan back those last 3 miles. But I actually was thrilled that he told Dan he didn't want to drive him back. Sometimes we are so close to reaching our goals, or to the finish line, but are too exhausted to realise how close. And yeah, we would be disappointed looking back and realising it.  Last year Elder Renlund said, "As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints. As we change, we will find that God indeed cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming than about who we once were." Maybe sometimes we're the one encouraging others to keep going, and other times we're the one needing the encouragement. I guess I'm torn between the two scenarios and am glad he has recovered well, but I know he has had an opportunity to grow and improve over the last few months.

That was last week. We loved New Zealand and stayed in a small house on the lake where Dan was racing. We attended a ward in a small town on our drive back up to Auckland. After Sunday school, Dan asked the teacher about her name and we actually know her son and his wife from BYU. I love that the world seems small sometimes.

The day after we got back Dan headed to the US. Those are some long flights, but I think they are worth it. (Maybe not with children.) It's kind of fun seeing Dan on a mountain bike or up in the mountains, or wearing the same hoodie (he stole from Sam) all week.

Just after Dan left Maeser started a fever. Not unusual, but he has joint aches. This is symptomatic of Dengue, which can only be tested after someone has been sick for 2-5 days. The doctor said his test wasn't a strong negative, so he'll be tested again in 3 days. Basically he's got growing pains for another week. Poor kid.

Mary and Abe each had their first Rugby and Soccer games respectively. 

And Mary has learned how to make bread!

 Sweet little Moses.

 Uncle Derrick is visiting.

Hairy Spiders and Broken Feet

I am amazed at the people I meet. Sometimes it is a choice to be happy no matter how difficult or easy your life is. I really want to model kindness and friendship. I have opportunities to meet members in their homes and share experiences when the Spirit is present. And I am never disappointed in their expressions of faith and their happiness despite difficult conditions. I want to choose to be happy in my routine activities. I really want to model kindness and friendship within my home. I love how Violet and Eliot are the best of friends, and maybe it helps that they live so far away from other playmates now, but I would love for my children to also be best of friends. Life goals.

And I love that God is always offering me opportunities to learn humility. It really does take humility to learn to listen and to show kindness and hold your tongue sometimes. I feel like we are always tweaking our habits. I have so many small things I want to improve on, but best not to get caught up in details. 

Dan is back from the Philippines. I think he really enjoyed traveling with Fenton. I wish he'd have been home on Monday morning. When I got up to make breakfast I stepped on this guy. I have avoided walking into dark rooms since. 

I also finally made it back on the track. I had a good friend/trainer who kept me in shape while I was recovering. (Broken foot.) The other photo is Dan getting his final track workout in before the race next week. 26 laps on a Friday night... somehow he has turned into a runner.

Exhaustion

I never really knew what true exhaustion was until I decided to house train the puppy the same week I potty trained Scout and took down the baby gate. I figured if I had to spend 15 hours a day running children between the trampoline and the toilet, the pool and the toilet, and the table and the toilet... that it would be a great time to run the dog in and out and walk 3 feet behind Moses all week. I think we were 80% successful, with only two tumbles down the stairs and we only lost a handful of wooden toys to our dog who thinks he's a beaver.

Valentines and Birthdays

Wednesday was Maeser's birthday. The best part about being 5 is you are very enthusiastic, about everything. And Maeser had lots of expectations today... leaving a lot of room for disappointment. 

The first being he specifically invited Violet to come to his birthday.

Requests like an airplane cake are impossible unless Rocky lives close enough to bake and decorate. We bought a plane to throw on top of a cake. A friend offered to prep fondant (frosting that looks like playdough) and when she sent it over she said "Give it to the kids and let them decorate the cake." Scary. I was super impressed as it turned into the funnest birthday party ever. And so much sugar. We're kinda off sugar, so it was actually disgusting. I was so happy to scrape plates of cake into the garbage after the children couldn't finish their piece. (Note- Abe finished off his own and Scout's before we realized we was working his way around the table.)

I'm learning how to ponder. Like really meditate. It has always been a difficult thing. Like the time right before you fall asleep, when you should be winding down is when my mind is reeling. I'm always grabbing a notebook to write something down, or a thought, or sending a text. Even in the morning, I'm in a rush to start. To get as much done as I can before children wake. Hopefully no longer. I love it. I love that I'm finding a peaceful moment that I'm making time for. That I can think about one thing, hopefully, and just be open to new ideas. I feel like I am learning better how to communicate with God, and it isn't because I am doing more talking, but because I am trying to do more listening. I don't know if that makes any sense. But I am trying to be still. And I have a desire to understand. And I know, that eventually it will all come together and these things, pondering and quieting my mind, will become easier. I kept running into the verse in JSH 1:11-12 "While I was laboring... I reflected on it again and again..." It is active participation in the process. There is a difference between the kinds of laboring, I'm learning.

I spent an afternoon walking through homes near the school. I think we will be moving to Woodland this summer. I love the idea of the children walking to school. I loath the idea that Dan will be so much farther. His commute will take forever. We could chose to be within minutes of the office- and bus the children an hour to school. We're choosing the lesser of two evils. One, of the 40+ homes, seemed promising. I actually have a short list with 4-5 homes on it, but this one really stood out today. I rarely make very many large financial and lasting decisions (with contracts) but the home makes such an impact on everything. I know we could be happy anywhere, a cardboard box in Central Park even. But it wouldn't be very comfortable and I doubt the children would want to spend much time there. The market is a riot. That's beside the point. We will be here for years, and I think we've found a place that we can be in for an extended time. That also sounds superb.

The school called while I was in the neighborhood, Mary was sick, and instead of the 20 minutes commute I was there in 3 minutes and driving her home. That was also comforting.

I hope I never forget what it is like to have a teething infant, I'll forever by sympathetic to a young mother with an infant. And I hope Moses gets over it quick. Without exaggeration, he cried for 5 1/2 of the last 7 hours. 

Love, Amy and Dan

Photos: Birthday cake, playing Sleeping Queens on the Singapore Flyer for Maeser's birthday, trying to swim laps with Dan.

Feb 5, 2017

I read/listened to a great talk like 4 times this week. It's from the Ensign last December- By Study and By Faith by Elder Ballard. I have thought about it constantly. After I prepared my lesson this week I felt so relieved and excited, and actually... ready. But then I immediately felt a prompting to be humble. Just because I fell ready to teach a lesson doesn't mean it will be the greatest Sunday School ever, but it was pretty good. 

It was a slow week, Moses has been teething for weeks, the children had a couple days off school for Chinese New Year, Dan was in Bangkok and then back to the weekend. Highlight was a picnic in the park. Dan's luck ran out, for all the miles he puts on the road it was about time he crashed. An old man cut in front of him on Friday and Dan went over his handle bars. A little road rash and some bruises.

So much pizza and so much fun.