Paving Paradise (9/23)

Our new backyard came beautiful. No features except the wild outdoors and we got used to it for about a year. Plenty of room for both lounging and frisbee practice. Lots of orange trees to juice. For quite some time, we considered adding a pool. (After all, we'd promised our kids we'd move to a home with a pool or build one!) However, after multiple consultations, we just kept dreading the upkeep and questioning if we'd ever get a return on our investment. We also strategized for months about building a mammoth boat shed, got it all approved through the HOA and city, but couldn't justify the cost. Thoughtfully, but surprisingly, we landed on a pickleball court and hot tub pad instead. During the construction process, we spent considerable time discussing things such as: how to preserve the irrigation to our lot by reconfiguring the irrigation gate and what new plants/ trees to replenish with. Unexpectedly, the hardest part of the project was the requisite tree removal! Removing 19 trees simply felt like betraying Mother Earth. The song Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows played on repeat in my mind and I cried multiple times and multiple days over the lyrics: 

"They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum 
and they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them. 
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone? 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."  

Our backyard is still beautiful. We prioritized and preserved wild but will also enjoy the paved parts as our own paradises. Pickleball is a hobby that David and I began enjoying together since our move to AZ and seems a logical addition for a tennis-loving family. The hot tub pad allows for the largest hot tub available and will be a nice treat for 3 teenagers who have ready access to pools but infrequent, instant access to a heated hot tub.

Traveling to Omaha, Traveling with Plants (6/23)

If you find a pretty plant while you're out, it's ok to purchase it - even if you're a few states away from home, right??? There were lots of giggles when this plant was purchased on our first trip back to Omaha... and a few stares as it traveled through the airport. But I love it as a member of my growing jungle in Mesa. My collection started with a Monstera which was lovingly saved by David with the move. Tending plants is an unlikely hobby likely after my horticulture friend, Deb, gifted me a Bromeliad which is "the easiest plan to take care of" and I failed! My dad smartly observed that I likely inherited an interest from my grandfather and says that when he sees me tending to my plants, it reminds him of his dad. 

[I don't have many memories of Grandpa Eichmann. He lived alone in a house on a large lot next to the state penitentiary - most definitely in the wrong part of town. He had a particularly unattractive dog named Duke. I remember the koi pond he kept - which was probably near impossible in the cold of South Dakota. He walked with a cane and hadn't worked for some time but I didn't really understand why. He was fairly stoic and hard of hearing but I remember a smile that snuck out here and there. He watched a tiny tv in his living room. I don't remember ever seeing him outside of his house. On one visit, my Dad recalls discovering a large bullet hole in his front window and gathered that grandpa had fired his shotgun directly through the window at a rabbit bothering his garden. For Christmas every year, he gave us brown paper bags filled with apples, oranges, shelled peanuts, and ribbon candy. Of course I remember wishing it was something different when I was a kid but it stands now as one of my strongest memories of him. His skin turned yellow from jaundice when he was dying of cancer. And when he died, my driver's safety awarded dad got into the only car accident I remember him having - it was a surprise to see how sad my dad was.] Finally, I remember that he insisted on plants not flowers at his funeral. Maybe we're connected after all!? And that brings me joy.

An Omaha visit brought us all joy. We played with cousins at Adventureland, reunited with friends - Kindin was hardly seen, and were spoiled by grandparents who wished we hadn't left.

 

Our beautiful Omahome (8/22)

This home welcomed us to the Midwest. Snuggled in the block of the elementary, middle, and high schools, we loved the location. (We were also a quick block from the Lake Zorinsky loop for fabulous walks.) It was just right for us in so many ways - the staircase where Kindin always stretched out, the red door that Mom painted, the unfinished basement that Jack lived in, a grey shade that everyone began copying, the gigantic garage featured lovingly named purgatory, a bedroom (albeit hot) with double closets for the girls, the cozy living room that started as an off the kitchen playroom, that catwalk that didn't hide party noise but gave an airy feel, the 19 foot floor to ceiling windows, the squeezy entry made swanky by Dad, Mom's first big bath, the swingset and trampoline for wiggles, and even that ninja-friendly, Birch tree allergen out front! It was a wonderful and beautiful place to house our family!  

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam (4/23)

These cute little girls (and one boy) are gems. Dave and I are called as sunbeam teachers and it's so fun to engage these littles with stickers, coloring pages, or tiny carrot seeds. Dave and I love the opportunity to serve together again and adore a chance to chit chat with little people again!  It's been a long time since our family home evenings were structured to as simply as standing up every time they hear a big word like "Sabbath" in Matthew 12. 

sharing spiritual talents 8/23

One of Dalia's spiritual gifts is writing polished love notes - whether an apology note or just to boost mood, they are sweet and flowery! She acknowledges that verbalizing feelings is much trickier but her literary works demonstrate a generously compassionate side. And her mom, also a note writer, loves their shared mother/daughter bond. 

She also shares quippy memes:

Jack's Glow Up (7/23)

Jack begged for a gym membership and despite having concerns about an overzealous approach, we acquiesced because summers are long and hot. We created rules and structure; in addition, his coach joined us by opposing certain exercises in order to keep the range of motion needed for tennis. Jack's efforts quickly showed and when he returned to school, he was met with comments like, "Dude, the bulk is looking good!" When we compared his orthodontic before and after shots, the after pic has been lovingly dubbed his 'glow up pic'.

In addition to getting stronger, Jack continues working hard on the tough mental game of tennis. His stroke is powerful, accuracy is improving, strategies are sound, and technique has finesse but he sometimes loses track of the score and did have an on-court blowup where he screamed, "Stop it, Mom!" mid match. 

His norm is to be patient, polite and kind. His humor is savvy and he brings levity to almost any situation. He is fun to be around and quick to respond with 'love you' on texts and phone calls. 

... What were his sticky spread requests you ask? caramel corn was at the top of the list!

Luke, I am your Fahu (7/23)

Luke called ahead of his wedding to inform me that as the patriarchal aunt, I'd have a special role at his wedding. He said that, as the Fahu in Polynesian culture, I'd be treated like royalty and given gifts. He was brief about their traditional wedding and what it entailed but I confirmed availability, how I should dress, and ensured that I knew how to pronounce his fiance's name. I also managed to ask what responsibilities came with the title but he replied, "nothing". When we hung up, I googled Fahu and was surprised to see that culturally she is the matriarch who holds responsibilities such as the naming of children in the family. I reached out to my brother but got vague answers and more unanswered questions. Their wedding was on the tail end of our Lake Powell trip so I focused heavily on logistics and getting everyone there instead of worrying too much about what to expect.

When we arrived in Salt Lake City, I was greeted as "Fahu" by Fetu. Other times, I was labeled "Queen Mandy". Most of the weekend's wedding celebrations were very casual - the dance starting 2.5 hrs late and a late temple ceremony too. The wedding reception was a fun, formal party and I participated as Palagi royalty. I was greeted with a beautiful lei (Dave too - who was also famed for his Fahu proximity), served a larger dinner with 5 types of meat at a specially designated table with Renee (the other Fahu), was surprised by an honorary money dance, and gifted with handmade gifts (afghans) and a portion of the wedding cake. It really was such a treat! 

(In retrospect, her Fahu had schizophrenia so I was likely released from many formalities because of that but I really wish I'd been prepared with a formal money dance for the couple.)