A Thrill of Excitement and a Sock to the Stomach

Bri went to Logan this morning.  She called me and said, "Mom, I just wanted you to know I made it safely. Also, we got our apartment, so I'm all set for summer and fall."

She proceeded to tell me that she and Lisa will be sharing an apartment with Diana and a stranger (whoever fills in, I guess).  Diana didn't want to come if she had to room with a total stranger, so Bri and Lisa Rock/Paper/Scissored for who was going to room with Diana.  Lisa won, so Briana gets to have a brand-new roommate.

Boy, is she in for some fun, or what?

She's really excited.  I'm happy for her, too.  They can move in as early as May 10th.  She has a choir performance on May 14th, so she'll go up within a couple of days after that.

I'm losing my visiting teaching companion.  I'm losing my Primary co-teacher.

I'm watching our daughter walk out the door as an adult.

I'm happy for her.  I'll tell you just how happy I am, as soon as I can catch my breath.

You Should Meet All My Friends

It came up at work one day that I love cucumbers.  So does my friend, Amber.  She told me that someday she was going to bring me a cucumber as a surprise, like when my parents used to bring me treats if I was good for the babysitter.  Or something like that.

Yesterday was the day!  I found a real cucumber on my chair, with Larry (pictured above) taped to it.

I ate the real cucumber (and it was delicious, thank you for asking), but I hung Larry and his thoughts on my steelcase.

Dear Blog-Stalkers

Dear Blog Stalkers,

You know who you are.  I don't always know who you are.  Either way, you are welcome to join me (as long as you don't become crazy or creepy).

The evidence is that you are neither crazy nor creepy:

Spencer came to pick me up from work last night.  In the back seat of his car there was a bag with 12 baby blankets in it.  It came to his work through a vendor.  I don't know exactly who was involved, but I know it was you.

The blankets are adorable.

You are kind.

I am touched.

Love,

Aundrea

And the Award Goes To...

I was on the phone with Stacy, who made me laugh. out. loud.  When I got off the phone, Briana said, "Mommy, Ashtyn and I have decided that your laughter is the best, happiest sound ever."

I'd like to thank all of you who are actually funny for making this possible...

I'll Keep Her, Too

When I got home from work last night, this was on our bed:

I opened it to see this:

Count them, my friends:

There are 19 hand-made baby blankets; sent by my parents; made by my wonderful, beautiful, caring, talented mother.

(Ashtyn said, "Are you going to cry?"  I said, "Maybe... *sniff, sniff*")

I'm Gonna Keep Him

Spencer and I have been dealing with some stressful things in our family for the past week.  On Saturday or Sunday I called my daddy's cell phone, intending to just have my regular weekly conversation which usually starts with something like this:

Me:  Hi, Daddy.
Dad:  Hi, Luv.  How are you?
Me:  Good.  How are you?
Dad:  Good.  Let me get your mother.

This time Dad was out and about, so I was just visiting with him.  I asked for some advice on something we were/are working on.  He was wonderful, encouraging, serious, and everything else good.

My dad has called me every day since then to check on us.  Today I was able to give a good report, and my dad got emotional.  He was, I suppose grateful.

Yeah. Me, too.

Service from the Heart

In 2009, there were about 55,000 babies born in Utah.  Utah has a fairly low mortality rate:  only about 4.8 per 1,000 live births.  Still, that means about 250 babies died in 2009, and that does not include the babies who are stillborn.

I am gathering baby blankets to give to those families whose babies die.  This gives them something to wrap their babies in as they love on them and bury them, or they can take the blanket home with them at a time when they cannot take their baby home with them.

These blankets (not quilts) will be donated to a local Utah hospital.  They can be any size, from tiny ones for preemies to larger ones for older babies.  I hope they will be something beautiful that the families can cherish and love.

Yesterday is the first day I asked for people to participate, and this morning I came into work to find 6 beautiful blankets on my desk, along with a check to help purchase materials and the promise of at least three more blankets.  I am touched and so, so grateful!

If you would like to participate with us, please email me at wjhillton@comcast.net.

Mr. Golden Sun

Yesterday was beautiful:  the sun was shining and there was a cold winter wind.

Today the high in SLC was 61 degrees. Oh, blessed day!  The sun was fixed for a few minutes!

The neighbor went out and worked in her yard.  The boys in the neighborhood went outside to throw the balls around.  We took a ride to see both sides of Mt. Timpanogas (with visits to grandparents in both Heber and Orem), and we kept the window down for part of the ride.

There will be snow later this week.  It is, after all, only February.  But oh! what a glorious day!

Do You Read Segullah?

Did you read this today? Here I sit, tears streaming down my face. The whole thing is beautiful and terrifying and terrible and wonderful, and the line the strikes me most is :


Melissa, can I ask this next thing? Forgive me if it cuts you wide open.

And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!  Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains.  Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

Dear, dear friends.  Forgive me if I cut you wide open.  And thank you for sharing my joy.

Cream Rises and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

There is a woman I work with who I have come to love.  I had met her before she worked in our department.  She was generally quiet, but helpful.  When she came to this department, she was hoping to find a job that would challenge her and allow her to grow.  But it turned out to be basically a receptionist job--she answers phones.

This is a woman who has been a Relief Society president, in the YW presidency, the president of student organizations, and the member of a number of committees.  She is in a master's program.  She's an amazing artist and photographer.  The planning I've seen her put into her calling is phenomenal.  She was recently called to teach Primary.  She is young and single, and she felt "stuck" in Primary; but she has risen to the calling!  She calls the kids, goes to their houses, prepares fun handouts and activities to go with the lessons, etc., etc.  She is intelligent and capable in many, many ways.

But this job has beaten her down.  When expectations are low, performance is low.  Every. Time.

Now she is looking for different work; she hopes to find something that will challenge her and allow her to grow.  But she's been stuck in a rut, and it is very difficult to climb out of these things. 

I hope we're not the ones who are sticking people into ruts.  We should be lifting them, helping them, and encouraging them.  Don't tell your children or your co-workers or your siblings or your husbands that they are monsters or losers or jerks--they will become those things.  Tell them they are amazing and capable and wonderful--they will become those things!

Personal Progress

Remember when Ashtyn finished her Personal Progress goals?  The next week she said, "Mom, it would be so great if we got our YW recognition awards together, don't you think?" 

I said, "That would be cool.  But you don't think it would take away from your night?" 

"No way!  That would be awesome!"

So I am working frantically to complete my Personal Progress goals.  The recognition night was going to be in March, but they are now talking about the first week in April, so I was handed a couple more weeks.

I thought reading the Book of Mormon in that short a time period was going to be the hardest part.  It hasn't been hard this time, and I'm well into the book of Mosiah now, since I started the book again in January.  Now if I can just complete the other 10-hours-each projects, I will be in good shape.

(P.S.  Read the Book of Mormon!  You will not be sorry, I promise!)

I'd wish for more hours in the day, but I'm already dropping into bed at night.

...To Be Continued Follow-Up

An excerpt of an email from Craig T, Director of Boeing Salt Lake City:

February 3, 2011


Management Selection Announcement



Team,



I am pleased to announce the following organizational changes to our Salt Lake City leadership team.


There were exceptional candidates for this position. Of the 192 candidates for this position, 13 interviews were held with individuals from Charleston, Wichita, Seattle, San Antonio, and Utah.

... and Spencer Hill have accepted positions for Manufacturing First Line Managers reporting to...

Spencer joined Boeing in 1996. His most recent assignment has been in Transportation / Export / Import Control. Prior to this he was a Production Coordinator, Materials Management Specialist, Human Resource Specialist, and Manufacturing / Team Leader. In addition, he is a trained / certified mediator and an Alternative Dispute Resolution focal. In this new role, he will lead the Production Bench Assembly and 747 FTE Teams on first shift. Spencer will be transitioning to night shift at a future date.


Please join me in congratulating and welcoming ..., and Spencer to their new roles.


Yes, that is MY awesome husband!!!

I Am Posting About the Weather

You could call it cold.  You could call it freezing.  You could call it frigid.  But none of those come close to describing how it is.  In fact, the only phrase I can come up with to adequately describe our weather involves profanity, which mindless habit I am working hard to overcome.  You'll have to use your imagination to come up with your own version.

At least the sun is shining.  But it's broken!