POTPOURRI

I love words. The way they roll around your tongue and screw up your mouth and spit and gurgle. Pot pour e is one of them and this post is too.

DAVE

Admitted to UVSC and jumped through all the hoops, and watched small miracles rain on his desired actions for fall. Even in Dillingham he is making adjustments that will help him accomplish the things he wants to do. The adjustment from driving solitary and working on land with co-workers has been an interesting one. He is getting his land legs back, has lost twenty pounds, and is getting attention from the girls - who told Jeannea they won't share him. Way to go in the self esteem area, Dave.

MAY 30th at 3:51 pm

I became a grandmother, Aaron and Mari became father and mother, 6 kidlets became aunts and an uncle, and a Great Aunt and a Great-Grandmother. Who ever thought there could be so many changes by one birth. I could hardly believe the difference it made in me. Maybe something about roots and branches. With mom and dad gone, things have not seemed complete until I held little Amy. I wonder if there is a three generation balance that makes us comfortable. Now I feel things are complete. My children are finished, but I can nurture and care for lil Amy sometimes, it gives me purpose again. Mothering at a distance.

My visit with Aaron was a mixed bag, mostly good. It is very hard to communicate with Mari, she doesn't speak English, and the cultural differences in our personalities are stark. Genealogy saved my mouth from eating foot. But I know I frustrated Aaron by taking over his computer. I remembered a lot of mothering skills from twenty-six years ago; like holding a baby on my chest and stroking and breathing with her, and getting her to sleep. I also seem to remember a lot of burps, farts and tummy aches with the 7 plagges. Just like LilAmy.

Great Aunt Anna and Greg were radiant. We asked them to be godparents. None of us know what godparents do, but they were honored and accepted. Anna was in the delivery room and she cried when the baby was born, "you don't understand," she told me, "this is the first time I have ever seen anything like this." Aaron said he felt the spirit strongly when she was born. I love his spirituality. Anna also revealed that, try as she could, she didn't like to hold, or fuss over children - even the ones she considers her neices and nephews; until that is, lilAmy was born. Watching her you can tell how much she loves this little girl.

Aaron

At church several people told me what a great man he is. I watched him with Mari; he is quiet and gentle, never raises his voice, he was so intune with Mari that he heard her summon him when I heard nothing; but he jumped and ran to meet her need without anger or impatience. No he is not perfect. But, remembering the story his elementary grade school teacher told me; how when a classmate was mean to him, he removed himself from the situation "until she felt better. Or in the D&C like Edward Partridge or Nathaniel of old, in whom there is no guile. A couple of times I thought I saw, years from now what a peaceful home he would have.

He was cogitating (one of those words) about some pretty heavy stuff and Mari and he don't seem to be able to do significant brainstorming very well. 1) we will have to move when the lease is up, either into a two bedroom apartment here or closer to Anna. 2) with the gas prices the way they are and campus near the apartment and work near Anna, shouldn't we either move toward the job and change campuses or find another job near this campus and where we live. All the possibilities! I think we talked for two days.

And then the miracles began. Little ones. Answers.

Greg and Anna strongly counseled not to leave GoDaddy, which is a Fortune 100 company and can give Aaron more money, promotions and great security. It is amazing, Greg said, that Aaron got on in the first place.

Next we looked at Bachelor degrees. Comparing the two: simulations and programming. Anna counseled that Aaron do what he is passionate about. Both degrees are the same length, almost. It looks like the general education for both programs is the same and there is a possibility that Aaron can complete those courses, near GoDaddy, near Anna and at the Mesa campus. Then he would finish the degree at the Phoenix campus and the driving would be the same as it is now, only different.

While nothing really changed, Aaron said it was good to think it all through, and that he felt good with the plan. We made arrangements for them to come to Provo for the Kuzins Kampout, and bless the baby in Aspen 10th Ward. Grandma wants to bragg. We talked about them coming again in December for Christmas with everyone here, even Penny and Greg. I want it of course so I can hold my granddaughter again. I want the whole family to hold her and get to know the new treasure that bonds us as a family.