Happenings in my life and in my heart.
He called and asked me out on a Tuesday night for a date on Saturday, shortly after I got home. Who does that? I was used to guys asking me out a day or two in advance, a week if it was a really special occasion. So I thought he was desperate which made me not want to go out with him. He asked me if I had something going on, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what my plans were. I hemmed and hawed and after thinking of nothing I could tell him, I told him that yes I was available.
But, a few days later at the Institute of Religion, at Eastern Washington University, where he was attending college, they were having what they called Friday Forum. They have a special speaker and serve lunch. I found out he would be there. So I went to check him out. If he met my approval I would keep the Date, if not I would cancel.
My older sister, Kallie, was home staying with my Mom while her husband was out on a Westpak in the Navy. Kallie had just given birth to her first baby a few weeks before. I had told her about this guy who just happened to call and I confided in her my skeptism. She knew of my scheming to cancel the date if I was unimpressed. And I realized I had the perfect reason to decline, should I decide to do so.
I don't know how I could have forgotten that it was Kallie's Baby Shower on the same day of the Date with this stranger. I wished I had remembered that so I could have told him no. I did want to go to my Sister's shower. Afterall, I was burned out on guys after Frank, my college love, who broke up with me and was engaged to someone else a month later. And yeah, I was still dating but strictly for fun.
I was not attending the Single Adult ward in Spokane for a reason. There were some crazy guys there, and after having been there and done that and experiencing being stalked by Michael, a member of that ward, after I 'broke up' with him the summer before, I was not interested in any of them. Besides, I had come home from college for the summer with the intent to save money and put in my papers to serve a mission. I would be turning 21 the following November, that is the minimum age at which women in our Church are able to serve.
So there I was at the Institute, peering in the door of the large room everyone was gathered in eating lunch, and listening to a speaker. I had arrived after it started for good reason. It would be easier for me to sneak in and out unnoticed and besides no one there even knew who I was.
I wouldn't have to explain myself to anyone. Actually, I did know who a few of the people there were, ones that I recognized from the previous Summer in the Singles Ward. But they were mainly acquaintances after no contact for nearly a year and limited knowledge of each other when I did know them.
As I moved my eyes around the room trying to figure out who he was, I noticed how filled the room was and how difficult it might be to find him. Finally, seated at a table in the center of the room I saw a light colored, almost white haired guy I recognized as being the brother of a couple of sisters in the singles ward. Seated next to him was a guy with short dark layered hair. He was wearing a grey short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans. His back was positioned so that it was facing the doorway where I was peering in.
I did not have a good enough vantage point from the doorway. So I manuevered myself past the foosball table and seated myself at a table in the back. I pretended to listen to the speaker as I kept glancing over in his direction for a better look. He had light colored eyes and a well-defined jaw. He was clean cut and handsome. "Oh my," I thought to myself, "I just may have to stay and meet this guy when the program is over." In our phone conversation, a few days earlier, I had told him I may come to Friday Forum but wasn't sure. So I knew there was a possibility he may be looking for me also.
He had never seen me in person before either. Oh no! I had just realized he may be trying to check me out in the same subtle way that I had been trying to investigate him. I somehow felt a little more vulnerable and uncomfortable at the thought. Then I remembered how after being dumped by Frank, I was not living my life out of desperation and I would not give potential suitors the power that I once gave them. A guy would no longer determine my attitude and outlook on life. Besides, I mused, I'm going on a mission in about 6 or 8 months anyway.
The speaker ended, and to this day I cannot recall whether it was a man or a woman or what they spoke on. I decided it was make it or break it time. Afterall, I liked my first impression. Would my Sister understand if I decided to miss the Babyshower of her firstborn? All of a sudden I didn't care.
Physically abandoning my fears, but mentally acknowledging my frailties, I approched him. I asked him if he was who I had spoken with on the phone earlier in the week; I was pretty hopeful after what I'd observed. If it wasn't him, maybe I'd crawl under the table in embarassment. I could sneak out of the room and I'd never have to speak to him or see him again. To my delight, it was him! No embarassment needed.
I introduced myself and we conversed casually. His name was Laren, not Lauren or Loren but LARE'-UN. It brought me back to my first year at Ricks College when I knew a guy there named Laren, spelled the same way even. That surprised him and even impressed him as most people wanted to mispronounce his name or call him Larry, the wrong name altogether. We finalized the details of our plans for our date the next day at Riverfront Park in Spokane.
Maybe I will divulge the details of that date in another post, but I will say a couple of things about that date now. There I was with someone who I had hardly any previous knowledge of a week earlier and we were having good conversation and a good time together. That was a start, and it had to be more fun than a bunch of women gathered in someone's living room oogling over another outfit for a newborn baby. I think I wrote in my journal that night that I could see us becoming good friends.
At one point during the date we went to cross a somewhat long suspension bridge that spans the Spokane River. As Laren reached for my hand to help me up onto the concrete landing prior to crossing, I felt a little something. At that moment, I felt deep down that this was something more than just a friendship. But I wouldn't admit that to anyone, not even my journal--at the time.
I did not want to portray that I needed a guy, especially after the sour taste Frank left in my mouth. That one gesture spoke volumes to me about his nature, his gentleman-liness, (if that is even a word) and I was impressed. I did not need help to step up, it wasn't that high up and it was level. But it wasn't about if I was able to or not, it was the gesture that mattered to me.
That first date was the second week in May 1993, and we were engaged October 9th of that same year. We were married on this date, December 28th, 1993, fourteen years ago. It has been the best years of my life. Laren is the love of my life and my best friend!
Alyssa stirring the caramels while they cooked.
Some of the goodies we made.
Laren's Office
Laren working at his desk at work. That green paint really bugged me at first, but I started getting used to it.
The finished project. Look at all the desk space!!He really needs some more filing cabinets and another bookshelf in his office. They just moved about 6 weeks ago from a different office building. This new one has taken some getting used to. At least he has his own office with a door, many of his co-workers that had offices at the last place now have "cubes"/cubicles. But on the flip side, his last office had one wall that was window and this one has no window at all unless you count the one that let's you see into the hall!
It just so happens that Laren also had a bunch of new pictures to hang in his "new" office so I put the pictures in the frame and then we hung those and his diploma's/certficates/licenses. It was a walk down memory lane to look at his PE (Professional Engineering) License. That took a lot of time, sweat and fingernail biting - but he ended up passing his first time around.
We lived in Arizona at the time. Typically you need 4 years experience to even take the PE test. But in the State of California, they will let you test with just 2 years experience. So Laren went with a buddy of his and they flew to San Diego and took the test. Laren passed and his buddy didn't (he ended up passing after re-taking the test 2 more times). I'm so glad those years are behind us now!
Rilyn telling Santa she wants some "Pet Shop" play stuff for Christmas.
Tyler reluctantly sitting with Santa. Of course Rilyn is at that perfect age for adoring Santa. She thinks he is great and she still believes for the most part. Although she's been questioning. After she sat on Santa's lap she leaned over to me and told me that she didn't think that was the "real" Santa because his eyebrows were dark and not white.
Tyler on the other hand is afraid of Santa. He can admire him from a distance but doesn't want to get too close. At first Tyler was giddy when Mrs. F, the Kindergarten teacher offered to have him come and sit with Santa too. But once he realized what he was doing he put his head down and turned around to dart back to his seat. Prodding from me wouldn't work, but what did finally work was Santa holding up a candy cane asking Tyler if he wanted one. And then Tyler decided he would go. But he wouldn't give Santa any eye contact as evidenced in the picture above.
I was so glad to get that the kids got a visit with Santa. We usually see him at the Ward Party at church and we missed the party due to Laren's work party being on the same night. And I made the decision that we would not do the mall just so the kids could see Santa, not because I'm being scroogy but because we have to use our time well and I have felt the other stuff we've been doing was a priority.
Oh, I saw something really cute at the party today. Something cute enough to share here. Lisa, one of the Mom's of Rilyn's good friend Riley, made these cute lollipop cookies!
She said she bought the sugar cookie dough and sliced it just less than an inch thick and placed the sticks in before baking. She baked the cookies for 14 minutes each (a little longer than usual) and then decorated them using her pampered chef cookie decorator. Then she wrapped the "lollipops" in green cellophane and tied them with ribbon.
A cookie lollipop that one of the Mom's made.
Didn't they turn out cute? I'm going to remember this idea! I am bringing cookies later today for Kyle's class party and instead of even making my own, I bought them. I usually don't do that but I'm kind of getting tired of all the extra baking and constantly having to clean my kitchen. Plus, it takes a lot of time to make sugar cookies and time is of the "essence" lately!
Gift giving is tricky. Everyone wants to give just the right gift. But there are usually two caveats to finding the right gift. It comes down to time and money. Typically if we spend enough time searching or if we spend enough money we will find just the right gift.
Well, this is one of my favorite gifts I will receive this year.
Kyle gave me this recipe book with Recipes from Holland. The Gingerbread House is one that he made at school (along with the recipe book) and wrapped it up and had it under the Christmas Tree for Laren.
Kyle gave us what he could. It didn't come from the store, it came from his heart with a little help from his teacher. I cannot tell you the excitement Kyle had a few days ago when he told me about the gift he had for me. But, I had to wait until Christmas to get it! Then 2 days ago he decided maybe I should get my gift early so I could use it in preparing for Christmas. :)
It has about 5 or 6 recipes from Holland in the book, with the sweetest note from him in the back that says:
"Dear Mom, I made this Recipe Book for you. Tell me what recipe you like the best. When will you cook the recipes? Love, Kyle."
And he has asked me several times lately when I'm going to make one of these recipes. I just love that he is so excited about it! And I love it because it's from him. I want to try a recipe in there called, Appelkoek. It looks like, based on the ingredient list, that it will be kind of like the Apple German Pancakes we make. Yum, I look forward to trying this Appelkoek and maybe some other recipes from it.
The Gingerbread House in the above picture was Kyle's Christmas gift to Laren. He brought it home from school yesterday and was So excited! It was all wrapped up and Kyle placed it under the Christmas Tree, which is risky with our little Tyler guy who likes to unwrap any present he finds. Well, this morning Laren was going into work a little later than usual and so Kyle had him go ahead and open it (after he consulted with me). Kyle figured this way Dad could look at and admire it through the Holiday Season instead of after.
Yes, these are some of my Favorite Gifts and it didn't take much money either.
The brownies I made today for the family I was taking dinner to.So, who would have imagined that spending 30 minutes in line at the Post Office to mail a package and spending a couple hours in the kitchen baking would have turned my spirits around but it has!!
Now, I'm in the mood to do my 12 Days of Christmas with my sweet kiddo's!!
Making a Gingerbread House together last night.
Our Gingerbread House getting some finishing touches!
It is so fun to do these activities with the kids. The kids are what make this season so fun. There is a magic in the air and they love this season and so do Laren and I!
The cinnamon rolls I baked yesterday.
Last night was Kyle's night to help make dinner but Tyler didn't want to miss out. So he stirred the orange juice and watched Kyle stir the mashed potatoes. I sure love these two boys of mine!!! :)
The road on the way to school. 
If that title catches you as a little crazy, I can relate because it caught me in a funny way too! I mean here we are in DECEMBER here in DENVER and we were 72 degrees today!! It feels more like Phoenix this time of year, if you add a few degrees to our high.
Laren and the kids working out this morning.(And since I know David, my brother, is reading this - notice the black speaker imbedded into the wall to the left of the picture. Laren's also been tracing the wires and installing the surround sound system. He ended up borrowing a tracer from a friend. I want him to get some of those "grates to put over the speakers because that black is just too ugly!)
Alyssa still asleep.
The Elf in progress.
And then I left to go to a craft fair done by some gals in the ward in one of their homes. I went with my walking friend. It was fun, but I didn't end up buying anything. There were some cute things, some cute jewelry-- reasonably price even-- and some cute snowmen boxes with lights in them, some cute bags, blankets, hairbows and a few other miscellaneous things.
At this time of year it just seems that there is an endless amount of things to spend money on and the money disappears as quick as it comes in. There was nothing there I couldn't live without anyway. My friend bought a couple of hair bows for her daughter and that was it.
Laren snapped this picture of me as I was heading out to go pick up my friend for the craft fair. Don't you love the messy garage! Oh, and I had some damp paper towels in hand so I could clean off the dusty dash in his car!
First of all, I would have to say I would give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. It was a fantastic book that I would highly recommend! It is written by Jason Wright who also wrote Christmas Jars.
The book is set in North Carolina at a Bed & Breakfast where Jack and his wife Laurel live. They were able to frugally get into the business and have created many memories living there, moving in just before their 3 children finished high school.
Their 3 children each go their different ways and there is an underlying story line with the wayward son, Malcom. He flees to Brazil to escape the law and to escape his longtime love, Rain. And he goes through a big identity and relationship struggle. Malcom is both an Antagonist and a Protagonist in the story which creates an interesting twist.
But the main storyline in the book is a great one. It is about how after Jack's expected yet sudden death happens shortly after the unexpected death of his wife Laurel's. They die within a short time of each other and after their death their children discover these letters that their Father wrote to their Mother, every Wednesday, throughout their marriage. It details the hardships and the happiness that they experience. And, it reveals some BIG secrets the kids did not previously know about.
It is heartwarming and inspiring. It made me realize what a treasure a handwritten letter or note is. In this world of computers, we send a good many more emails than handwritten letters. Why wouldn't we? It's much easier and quicker. But this book has almost inspired me to write some notes/letters to my husband.
I love how in the back of the book is one final letter. It is a very nice added touch! I read that the author was so in love with the location of the setting of this book, that he and his family moved there.
I'm kind of a tough critic and so the reason this book did not get 5 out of 5 stars for me is that it takes awhile to get the real storyline going. Aside from that, this book did not disappoint!!
As an aside, one of my "New Year's Resolutions" this year was to develop some hobbies. One of the things I enjoy doing is reading a good book. But sometimes, it's hard for me to read a book I can't just get into.
At any rate, what I'm trying to say is I've done a bit more reading this year than I have in the past years and I'm so glad of that because it really is a joy to spend some time with a good book!
**If you have any great books you would like to recommend, I'd love that. But, I have to say I know many of you liked Twilight and I have to admit it wasn't such a great book to me. I found it to be a bit juvenile and it didn't keep my attention very well. I found it to be a bit predictable too. And I'm not intrigued by vampires, at all - maybe that was part of it?
