Commuter Grandma

Hangin' with these folks these days

Shonna's baby girl is due May 20th, but she's already- it started at week 24- having contractions and signs that may mean that little girl is trying to come too early.  So Shonna has been put on modified bed rest.  And I've become a commuter Grandma.  I spent 10 days up in Logan helping and I'm now home for a few days to teach my voice lessons.  I will head back up on Sunday.  I'll be doing this back and forth  until the baby is born or until the doctor says Shonna can get off bed- well, really couch- rest.  The kids play around her on the floor by the couch and lots of times right up there with her and even on her.  They think it's pretty fun to have an always- attentive mom.  And I try to keep the wheels on in the house and keep them fed and I wipe a lot of little bums and read a lot of stories, too.  I miss Ken a lot, but it's fun to spend time with the Cameron family.  I am so grateful I am in a position that I can help.  Prayers that Baby Girl Cameron stays put for a good while will be much appreciated!!!!

Messenger

Messenger by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a companion book with "Gathering Blue." The main character, Matty is Kira's good friend in "Gathering Blue." It also starts to tie loose ends from "The Giver." I have enjoyed reading this series and feel that my beliefs in why we are here on this earth have been strengthened by reading these four "The Giver" series of books.



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Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you're looking for a sequel to "The Giver," you'll be disappointed in this book. I think this book is the author's imagination of another controlled society- an alternative to the one in The Giver. I'm going to display my imagination now. Here's what I think happens: I think Mrs. Lowry ponders and then writes a list of the characteristics she values in herself and in a society. Then, she writes a book, creating a society in which those values are void. In so doing, she helps us recognize how important those characteristics are. At least that's what reading her books did for me. The characteristics lacking in this society that I now value more highly: Charity, Kindness, Valuing people for who they are and not for what they look like or for what they can contribute to a society, and maybe most important- the value of education. Is that the author's thought process? I have no idea. But she seems to encourage the reader to use their imaginations, so I did. I used mine on her. To really get the conclusion to this book, you should read "Messenger".



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More Stars in the Family

"Good genes, I guess . . . Dorothy genes!"  That's what my dad would always say when he'd hear about one of our family doing good things- he'd always give credit to mom- Dorothy Gene.   Well, first Brielle, and now Joan and Tom are famous.  Joan and Tom recently won the "Spirit of the Y" award at the BYU alumni meeting.  They were very surprised and even more surprised to hear about themselves (they hadn't received their BYU  magazine yet) featured in the BYU magazine.  But they shouldn't be surprised.  They work very hard at promoting BYU in their area and hosting many fun events. They've made thousands of blue pancakes for the BYU fun runs, and hosted tail gate parties and helped lots of students and held lots of meetings in their home (and made lots of treats for those) and hosted firesides and found homes for BYU performing groups and traveled to Provo for meetings and . . . .  I know I'm only scratching the surface.  But they really do work hard.  And besides, no one texts Wahoos!  better than Joan during the BYU games.  I don't think she ever misses one!  If you cut Joan and Tom, blue comes out instead of red.  They are true blue!   Here's the link to the article about them.  Congratulations, Tom and Joan!!!!!

Ken and His Brothers Hike the Grand Canyon

Yes, again.  Ken was invited to hike the Grand Canyon in January clear last June and has been excited about it.  Our friend, Kurtis made reservations to stay at Phantom's Ranch at the bottom and to eat dinner there and breakfast the next morning.  It's great because you don't have to carry bedding or cooking equipment- just day packs.  But you have to schedule far ahead and often people's plans change.    At the last minute, everyone in the group cancelled (poor Kurtis' toe "blew up" and Dave had to work, etc) and Ken was given the opportunity to invite three others to fill the three other slots.  So he got on the phone and called his brothers. This was last Saturday night- late.  They would have to be at the south rim on Wednesday evening. Four of them were really interested and three signed on immediately.  No preparation time- just three days.  And these guys aren't spring chickens- one of them is 70 years old.  But, like Ken, they are in great physical shape and always up for an adventure. One is retired, but the other two made arrangements to take off work and away they went.  So, Jim (from Prescott) and Clark (from Phoenix) and Rick (from Gilbert) met Ken at the motel on Wednesday evening.  They ate at the cafeteria there on the south rim that night and then played the true blue Hinton game- Rook, into the night.
The next morning, they ate at the cafeteria and then began their descent.  They got a kick out of the signs on the way down: Down is optional; up is mandatory.   Ken is now going to choose the pictures and put captions on them:

All "pumped" and ready to hit the trail--32 degrees F
Clark, Jim, and Rick

An ice waterfall on the trail

Snacking at the 3-mile rest station

Beautiful jet's con-trail against that gorgeous blue winter sky

Cleaning up after a "ten-rated" picnic at Indian Gardens

A member of the Indian Garden's visitor friendly deer herd

Looking down into the "Devil's Corkscrew" as we prepare to drop into the inner canyon

Another cute, friendly "wild" animal near the bottom of the canyon

Recovering at the final rest station just as we reached the Colorado River

Oops. This one is out of order. Near the start of the hike down the Bright Angel Trail.

Yay! We reached the river. Now just another 1.5 miles to Phantom's Ranch.

Preparing to cross the Colorado River on the Silver Bridge

Yoshi!! We made it!! Tired, but very happy to be at the Phantom Ranch Cantina.

An early morning shot of the full moon as it is setting over Phantom's Ranch (Notice the 2 lights of the ranger's cabin)

Another shot of the incredibly gorgeous setting full moon

A relatively tame 3-point buck we met as we reached the Tonto Plateau on the South Kaibab Trail

A result of the "photo shoot"  with an unbelievably tame raven (I was within arm's reach of him!)

Near the top (end of the trail) of the South Kaibab Trail. What an Adventure!!!

It was incredibly wonderful adventure with dear loved ones!!!

Feeling Happy?

I love this.  It makes me happy to listen to it and watch it.  Michelle, my favorite part are the fouettes at about 2:20.  It reminds me of you!  Everyone feel free to clap and dance along!

Son

Son by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Almost twenty years after writing "The Giver," the author, Lois Lowry responded to readers' desire for a sequel to that powerful book and wrote "Son." It is the story of Gabriel's birth mother. It starts with the story of her life and escape from the community. Her maternal instincts and love drive her to, at all costs, seek to find her son who left the community as a baby. It is a good story, with a Harry Potter-ish epic battle at the end between good and evil. ( I'm not sure that part would have been in the story if she had written it just after finishing writing "The Giver." I think the twenty years since, full of Harry and Vampires and other societies of good verses evil battles, affected her and the story she wrote-just an observation.) It answers a lot of the unanswered questions from "The Giver," but presents a whole new list of unanswered questions. Maybe there will be another sequel? Or maybe, this time, Mrs. Lowry will leave us to our own imaginations to decide for ourselves.



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The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disturbing. This book is deeply disturbing to me. I just reread it, after years of remembering it as being disturbing. But, this time, I appreciated it so much more. It powerfully teaches what life would be like if it were devoid of agency. In the society described in this book, there was no hate or sadness or poverty or pain, but there also was no love or joy or happiness. Life just was. This was Satan's plan. It shows what life would have been like if he were in charge. There truly must be opposition in all things. That is the message of the book. Lois Lowry is a fine author and most deserving of the Newberry Medal she won for this book.



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The Big Rock Candy Mountain

The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


How can a book about four small lives feel so big? It’s probably a mistake to write my review just after finishing this book. Maybe I should give myself some time to gain a more objective perspective. But I’m afraid to do that. I know even now I won’t be able to convey the emotion I feel. Stegner’s pen is powerful and his ability to reach within, profound. He presents his characters so realistically and even objectively on the surface. But somehow he has the ability to help the reader really know them in a way you know few people. I even came to understand Bo, the father, though I never did come to like him in the whole 639 pages. One thing I know for sure is that I am inadequate to write a review of this epic story.
This book is the author’s autobiographical story of a family: a father, mother, and two sons. Bo (the father) is a dreamer and a hard worker, but lacks integrity and character. If I had to describe him in one word it would be selfish. It’s hard to like a totally selfish man. He lives a selfish life and even his death is a selfish one. His wife, Elsa, is a good person, and for some reason, loves this man and chooses to stand by his side. On one hand, I admire her and her integrity and loyalty. On the other, I feel sad that she lives her entire adult life not realizing that she deserves better. The story starts when the two are young and ends with their deaths. In a way only Stegner could make work, the story is told in third person, but from the perspective of all four of the main characters for different parts of the story. When it is their “turn,” the story is told from their perspective. I think that’s how the reader gets to know all four so well. Bo has a wanderlust and is always trying to stay ahead of the law, so the family story is one of moving and moving and moving. The boys are raised with no consistency or stability except in the love of their mother. Unfortunately, that isn’t enough, and three lives are destroyed and the author’s life deeply colored by his selfish father. I so wish there was a sequel that finishes the story of Bruce’s (Stegner’s) life. Is there such a book? I have loved all three of the Stegner books I’ve read: Crossing to Safety, Angle of Repose, and this one. Which Stegner book should I read next? Any suggestions?




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A Star in the Family!

You may remember this post last Spring about when seven-year-old Brielle skyped me to tell me she had finished reading the Book of Mormon.  Brielle LOVES The Friend Magazine and consumes it's pages every month when it comes.  She especially loves the pictures and stories of the children from around the world.  Her secret wish was to someday be in The Friend.  We encouraged her to send in her story of reading the Book of Mormon with the cute picture taken the night she finished.  The real treasure is the letter she wrote her Daddy (who was at a church meeting when she finished) telling him of her accomplishment and bearing her testimony.

  So they sent it in.  Then on Sunday a ward member asked them if they had seen that Brielle was on The Friend facebook page.  They hadn't seen it and had no idea they were publishing it.  She was so excited and called to tell us!  To see it click here.  Leave a like or a comment.  You'll make her day!

Fanny's Dream

Fanny's Dream by Caralyn Buehner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love this children's book. On the surface, it's another version of the classic Cinderella story- a story children can enjoy. But underneath, it is a "how to" manual for happy marriage. Nearly every page presents a tip for successful marriage, ie: humor, accepting each other for who we are, when tragedy comes- just start over, spend time together each day, treat each other like royalty, etc. I used this little story in a lesson I taught on marriage a few years ago, and we recently discussed it for a book club. The main message of the book is that we may not marry Prince (or Princess) Charming, but he's "close enough." That's a pretty powerful message.



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One Month Later

It's now been a month since our big snow storm, and there's STILL snow on the ground.  This is a first in St. George. Really- a first ever.  I think they said the area got that much snow in 1947 or 48, but it didn't last a month.  Never has it lasted this long.  It's kind of fun to make history and I've loved the cold weather. The coat I bought only because I have kids who live in Wisconsin and Logan, has had a lot of use right here at home the past month.   Happy New Year!

Christmas Around Here

We had a fun Christmas with Shonna and Blake here.  I led the ward choir Christmas program on the 22nd.  Shonna got here just in time to play the flute with us on our last number, "Silent Night."  That evening, Roger and Pam came for a visit.

Roger- the kid magnet.  Caleb LOVES Uncle Rog.

Monday morning we went to an imaging center for an ultrasound to determine the sex of Shonna and Blake's baby.  Ken and I had never been to an ultrasound, and were so pleased that Shonna and Blake scheduled for when they were here so we could be part of it.

Ready and waiting.

It's a girl!!!

  Caleb and Lily argued all the way home that night about the name.  Caleb wanted one name and Lily another.  Shonna and Blake told the story that when Caleb said, “Hannah” Lily replied. “ No, Nevah!  “ The next day we asked her what they should name the baby.  She said, “Hannah.”  That little girl knows how to get her brother's goat.

Monday evening was our Keynote concert in the tabernacle..

 I thought it went really well.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Such a cute little Mary!

We let Caleb choose what he wanted to be.  He chose camel and then he chose this for his costume.  He had a "hump," but it disappeared.

Birthday cake for a king.

Happy birthday, dear Jesus!

Christmas morning was so fun.  The kids were a hoot.  Little Caleb was the present deliverer.  He would disappear under the tree headfirst, and all you could see were his little feet flailing and pushing him under. He'd then come out and read the tag and take it to the recipient.  Then back under he'd dive.   Lily tried it too.  She got a present.  Grandpa asked her who it was to.  She "read" the tag, got a delighted look on her face "Merry Kwismus to ME!"  Good thing Grandpa's an auditor or Lily would have ended up with an immersible blender!

We read lots of stories.  Here Grandpa and Caleb are trying out the new "cuddle couch."

 Looks like everyone got BYU shirts!  Later in the afternoon we had a delighful google chat with the whole family.

It was a wonderful Christmas!