Treasure Box 7: A Waving Care Bear

My selected item today was brought to my attention because we used it for a game during Megan's birthday party this afternoon (see next post--it was amazing). Since this little bear was already out and living the high life free from the box for a moment, I figured we'd let the spotlight last a little longer.

It is not great secret that my birthday is on St. Patrick's Day. I like to ignore the fact that it is primarily a drinking holiday and instead focus on the fun of leprechauns and pots of gold and everyone wearing green to celebrate my birth--because, obviously, that's really why everyone wears green.

Given that not-secret, I have collected several versions of this Care Bear, named Good Luck Bear but more often called Lucky. This particular recreation was given to me by a student, Matthew, during my last year of teaching fifth grade. He was a very quiet boy, not the smartest but he worked really hard to achieve at anything that he was asked. He was the kind of kid that I loved to have in my classroom because of the behind-the-scenes growth that no one else saw.

He gave this bear to me on my birthday. I can still remember the moment that he very timidly walked up to my desk before school. There were plates of cookies, beautiful handmade cards, big bottles of Bath and Body Works hand soaps (seriously, I still have some I've never opened, I got so many). He seemed a little hesitant to hand me such a tiny little bear, but it was my all-time favorite gift that I ever got from a student. His face lit up as soon as he saw my reaction, and I'll never forget that smile.

I even took a picture of it on my desk that day.

Day 6: All the Bead Bracelets
Day 8: Greatness in Smallness

Happy Birthday, Megan Leigh!

This little sunshine has grown all the way from this

to this. Hard to believe it's been six years already.

She has had no problem today reminding us that she gets three birthdays this year--today is her actual birthday, tomorrow is her birthday party, and Grandma Karrie and Grandpa Jeff are coming this weekend for another party! She wasn't concerned at all about going to bed tonight "because my birthday isn't really over yet."

Given all the festivities coming up this week, we kept things pretty low-key at home this evening. Her favorite dinner (noodle soup), presents from Mom & Dad and Grandma Janet & Grandpa Craig, then doughnuts.

I will say that the present from us may be just a little bit absurd...but she loves it.

And she is quite excited to wear all her new shirts from Grandma & Grandpa.

P.S. If you tell Simon he can't have Megan's birthday balloon, he'll cry.

He perks back up pretty quick, though, if you give it back.

Treasure Box 6: All the Bead Bracelets

In honor of Megan's 6th birthday today (how did she get so old??) I went digging through my treasure box to find something related to her. My favorite are these bracelets, each made for me by one of the kids during some school or church activity, since I've never actually purchased any kind of pony bead for our house.

Every time one of the kids has given me a bracelet, I always wear it for a week or two. I love the look on their face when they see it around my wrist and know that they made it. But, let's be honest, they are not the most comfortable or practical piece of jewelry, and they eventually graduate into the treasure box for safe keeping.

These bracelets are something that I will often pull out and fiddle with while I'm looking for other things in my box. They are easy to grab and just pliable enough to be a satisfying wiggle toy (do you have any of those?). I like that I most often play with the things that my kids have given me when I get into my treasure box. It has connected each of them to just about every other thing in my box in some way.

Day 5: "I have no idea where I am"

Conference Weekend and a Hole

I love General Conference. I get increasingly excited about it in the weeks leading up, I love listening and taking notes (finished out with 18 pages' worth this time), and I wait in anxious anticipation for the Ensign to come out so I can read the talks again. I read better than I listen.

We kept it low-key this year and printed off the same packets for the kids that we used last conference. They worked well then, and they worked just as well now.

I was impressed at how much the kids opted to stay in the room during the talks. They usually wander in and out because if they stay in the living room, they have to be more quiet than comes naturally. This time, though, I would say that all three older kids were in the room for at least two entire sessions and good chunks of the others, too.

It turned out oddly convenient that General Conference was this weekend, because that meant we were home instead of going to church. Which meant that we were home when the plumber came to check out this little surprise we found Sunday morning.

Water had been dripping for quite a while already, though it had to have started during the night since we never saw anything before we went to bed.

We successfully resisted the urge to poke it (seriously, it was so tempting--not because I wanted to know what was behind it, it just looked too much like a blister and I pop blisters) before the plumber came and investigated more closely. Now instead of a blister, we have a hole.

Apparently, the toilet in the master bathroom directly above the kitchen has been leaking for months. Water has been collecting in the space between the floor and the ceiling until it finally saturated everything enough to come out. The entire structure in that space has to be replaced--subfloor, ceiling, and new tile in the bathroom. And, obviously, the toilet itself and the pipes need to be fixed as well. It's one of those days when we're really glad that we're renting and don't have to pay for all of that. The downside is that we have no idea what's going to happen and when. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

In the meantime, we continue to enjoy the Balloon Fiesta from a distance. Maybe sometime this week we'll get braver and actually go to the Balloon Park...

Treasure Box 5: "I have no idea where I am"

I went to girls' camp with my church group for 4 years. You can go when you turn twelve, with three years as a camper, 2 years as a youth leader, and then your final year is spent as a...something that I can't remember because I didn't go that year. I had only one year as a youth leader, then I opted to go to Alaska during that time the next summer rather than going to camp. That's where I met Chris, so I feel like it was a good choice.

Part of camp every year was mail call. We had mailboxes for each group, and you could send letters to other campers and receive letters from home (all written beforehand). I remember that we had to sing a song to pick up our mail. Dad came occasionally as a priesthood leader and he developed a bit of a reputation for the songs he would sing for his mail.

Speaking of Dad, my treasure today is a letter that I received from him at Girls' Camp. I don't know when he sent it, there's no date. But it is very classic of his particular brand of humor. The main body of the letter says this:

"You and Mom just left to go to Britta's house as I write this. Now as you read it I have no idea where I am. Actually I know exactly where I am but I don't know where I will be when you read this. Hold on--I'm there right now. No I'm in my bedroom right now. How is that possible."

I'm glad that I grew up in a family with a sense of humor. It makes life so much more entertaining.

Day 4: Postcards from Grandma
Day 6: All the Bead Bracelets

Treasure Box 4: Postcards from Grandma

It's funny that after choosing which treasure box item I was going to write about today, I sat down at my computer and took a quick look at Facebook. The first thing on my newsfeed was a post from my mom, with a copy of a letter written to her by her mom, my Grandma Petty. My treasure to share today is a collection of postcards sent to me by Grandma Petty.

My grandparents served a mission in the Orlando, Florida temple in 1996. I was 11 years old at the time and, apparently, a rather prolific writer even then. I don't actually remember having written anything to Grandma and Grandpa while they were gone, but obviously I did. And they wrote back.

It's fun to see Grandma's handwriting on the cards. They are laced with compliments like "You're pretty, smart and very talented" and "You are very special and we think you can accomplish many things. You have a lot of ability." Those are wonderful to read again from two people who have passed on.

My favorite one, though, says this:

Dear Laura,

Thanks for your letter. I don't think you're too small for middle school. I was always one of the shortest, too--at least then you don't have to worry about being taller than the boys like some girls do. We love you lots. Remember that we'll be headin' home on Halloween. Love from Grandma and Grandpa Petty

Dated September 10, 1996

Day 3: Future Temple Recommend

Treasure Box 3: Future Temple Recommend

Seeing that today is the beginning of General Conference, I thought it fitting to feature a church related treasure.

This is a card that I was given sometime during Young Women's (ages 12-18), though I can't remember specifically when. It had to have been prior to me turning 17, because I moved back to Utah then and this was in Washington.

The picture is the Seattle Temple. It's the first place that I was actually able to go inside a temple and perform an ordinance, baptisms for the dead. I remember the first time I went, and the smell of the chlorine in the baptismal font. Special memories.

On the back of the card is an agreement that is intended to be a reminder to live worthy to someday hold a temple recommend. Britta and I signed together. I carried this in my wallet for several years, but it has since graduated into the treasure box since, as an adult, I have more things that take the card slots in my wallet. More importantly, I have a real temple recommend now.

I am very grateful for the temple, and I'm glad that we've ended up in a city that has a temple so close by. I'm very excited for General Conference to start today, and to hear the words of our living prophets and apostles. I know what I'm listening for today and I have faith that I'll receive the answers I'm looking for.

If you're interested in watching General Conference, even if just to check out what it is, visit lds.org.

Day 2: The Foil Rose
Day 4: Postcards from Grandma