Sunday, March 10, 2024

Extracurriculars

I love the idea of extracurriculars for my children. I love the potential skills and life lessons gained from learning a new instrument or playing on a sports team. I see the benefits my family and friends' children have gained from being involved and I have wanted that for my children. But what I don't love about the idea of extracurriculars is the time away from home during dinner hours they require. Nor have I relished the idea of having to regularly argue with my children about being involved in something against their will. It has never been a battle I have been willing to wage, especially since Matthew feels pretty similar about the whole idea.

But that hasn't stopped me from feeling guilty and depressed that I have failed my children and now they will forever be duds because I was too lazy to force the issue. When Luca asked me this morning for a blog prompt to enable to have more screen time, I told her to write about extracurriculars and how her not doing them right now doesn't make her or me bad people. 

I guess now, if she ever comes back to me later in life, upset with not pushing her harder, I have something to assuage my conscience.

  I don't do extracurriculars. But I am not a deficient person. I make up for that by doing a cooking club with my mom and having social time outside. I like roller skating, which is good exercise and makes my legs stronger. Something good that comes from not doing extracurriculars is mom doesn't have to drive me around like my uncle Paul. If I were to do an extracurricular, I would want to do something crafty or something that revolves around my interests. I am a great person without these things though. OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) was a bit stressful but I kind of liked it, honestly. Plans for the future, however, include drama clubs like cousin Seth, and perhaps some kind of skating club?  I am starting to cook meals every month. Progress has been made to give me and my brother some more responsibilities. Dishes, meals, and some other stuff. This has been made to prepare us for life in the real world. 

I hope this makes you feel better about not forcing us to do something, mom.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Dude Finishes the Book of Mormon

For the last year I have been listening to the Book of Mormon, 1 chapter a day. So in this blog post I will say what I got from it and what my favorite parts are. Starting at the easiest question I am going to say what I got from reading the Book of mormon. What I got from it is that God is always willing to accept all who come to him, take the lamanites for example. They were so bad at the beginning but then they repented and they were forgiven and blessed. like a shepherd with his sheep. No matter how long they were missing and how dirty they are when they come back he is always willing to welcome them back into the fold. Now I will say what my favorite story is. My favorite story is the ship on the water in the first nephi. I like how when they were bad the ship was lost and suffering from storms, but when they repented they were on their way fine. This story is like our everyday life. When we are bad, God leaves us and we are lost, but when we repent we are back on track and just fine. so this is what my favorite parts and what I got from the Book of Mormon. THE END 

this is by Dude

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Why Stardew Valley is the Best by Luca Marler

Luca wrote this little essay because she enjoys typing and she had some free time at school. I also thought this one was worth preserving for posterity.

Minecraft, Roblox, Terraria, Gang Beasts. These are all great games. But, Stardew Valley tops them all! You are probably wondering, why Luca? Why is Stardew Valley the best? Fortnite is so much fun! There are many reasons why, my dear reader.

First of all, the Npcs. The dialogue written for them is amazing! Yeah, some of them are kinda snarky, but so what! Plus, you can befriend them! My favorite Npc to hang out with is Abigail. I played video games with her! A video game in a video game. What more do you need?

Then comes the farm. When you start playing, there is a package on the floor of your cabin. Inside you will find fifteen parsnip seeds, which you place outside to grow! When they do grow, you pull them up and can sell them to Pierre, the local produce storekeeper. What I think is fun is the fact you can buy a chicken coop from Robin, the carpenter, and then raise chickens! You can actually raise a lot of different animals, even slimes! After twenty eight days, all of your spring crops will die and you will have to buy new seeds from Pierre. This marks the beginning of a new season! There is Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. They act like months. In each season, there are Npc’s birthdays. If you were to give someone a gift on their birthday, it would get you eight times the amount of friendship points. 

The music. It’s so beautiful, lively, and very odd. Take the wizards tower. It sounds so very weird. But the summer soundtrack. That’s my favorite sound track of all. 

Something I find very weird about Stardew Valley is the fact you can marry single Npcs. but it’s very complicated. First you have to give them a bouquet after you get eight hearts with him or her. Then after you have dated, you must get the “old amulet” from the dude on the island next to the beach. They will then move in with you and help out around the farm. 

If you still don’t like Stardew Valley, then so be it. But you should try it out and let it explain itself to you. 

The Three Branches of Government by Luca Marler

Luca had to write an essay for her 5th grade class on the three branches of government. I loved it so much I made her send it to me so I could preserve it for posterity. Enjoy.

Since the creation of The Constitution, America has had three branches of government. The Legislative branch, the Judicial branch, and the Executive branch. It’s pretty cool how each branch balances each other out so everyone has equal power. 

The Legislative branch is the branch that makes laws, and passes taxes. (with approval from the president.) It can also be known as the Congress, made up of 100 senators, and 435 representatives. All states have two senators each. The number of representatives is based on the population of each state. Oregon has six currently, but California has 52, which is the most a state has. A representative may serve six two year terms, but a senator may only serve two three year terms. Congress approves presidential appointments, like, say the president wanted to appoint Mr. Level for the supreme court. They could say, “He doesn’t have the necessary qualifications.” (I’m not actually sure, but this is just an example.) So then the president would have to pick someone new.

Next there’s the Executive branch. That’s where the president works. He lives in the White House, and does all of the president's work in the oval office. His job is to veto laws, which means to reject laws. He also gets to pick a cabinet, a vice president, and if there are any slots, he’ll appoint Supreme court justices. (mentioned above.) Another name for the president is commander in chief, or chief of state. He is also in charge of the military, but that doesn’t mean he can just stroll into Abu Dhabi and declare war! Actually, he needs approval from the Legislative branch. A president may only serve two four year terms. More on the veto. So a bill is written and sent to the president, and if the president likes it, he approves it and it becomes a law. If he disagrees with it, it is vetoed. BUT, if the congress really feels like it should be a law, they can overrule his orders if two-thirds of them agree.

Finally, the Judicial branch. They evaluate laws and decide if they are constitutional. Like, if the Legislative branch wanted to make it so presidents could serve as many terms as they want. Their job would be to say, “The constitution clearly states that a president may only serve two terms. Your idea is rejected.” or something like that. The judicial branch also makes sure that laws are followed correctly. No one misbehaves under their watch! Inside the judicial branch is the supreme court. This court is the highest court in the nation! Made up of nine justices, one chief justice, and eight associate justices. Each of them serve life terms, or they can step down. Whenever there is an empty slot, the president will fill it with his pick. But the legislative branch has to approve them. There are also the federal courts and the district courts.

As you can see, each branch balances the power. No branch is the most powerful. This creates a balanced, safe government. If not for the constitution, the president would basically be a king and the people would be peasants. 

In all, I’m certain that we have a fantastical government. If not for it, we wouldn’t be in school today. The Judicial branch, the Executive branch, and the Legislative branch all work together wonderfully to create this land of beauty we call home. Thank you authors of the constitution!! (They helped us a LOT!)

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Tuesday

Here we are in our matching tshirts loving being together for whatever time we had left.

Melissa and I were the first to leave in the early afternoon, but when we woke up we were notified that our flight was delayed by 2.5 hours which gave us just a bit more time to enjoy the island and our new best friends. I was so thankful we got to know early that it was delayed so we were waiting at the beach and not at the airport. 

I can't begin to describe what these women have meant to me. I fell in love quickly and deeply. Being with them filled my cup to overflowing and I have bonded with them for life. If they are planning a trip, I want to be there. The love and acceptance I felt from them in so short of time was truly divine and was far and away above anything I had planned for as I prepared for the trip. 

When Heather first came to me and asked me if I would go with her, there was no way I was going to say yes - way too expensive. It was Matthew who persuaded me to go, for Heather. And then God prepared a way financially for me to not feel quite so guilty about the expense. I was excited to go and have a week with my darling friend on a beautiful island. And then a few weeks before we were to leave, Heather informed me she wasn't going. I was surprised, even as she told me, that I felt like God still had a plan for me going, and Heather was simply the catalyst. These women alone were enough of a reason, but then God tutored me about Their love for me in a way I never expected.

I have always had a love/uncomfortable relationship with my patriarchal blessing. I have loved all the encouragement and tenderness, the trust and counsel provided. But I have also felt uncomfortable with the ways I am described that I have never seemed to live up to. I remember as a teenager especially, drowning in my own insecurities, but even as an adult reading my blessing, and thinking, this women sounds amazing and I want to be her, but she isn't me. 

At some point in the last three months, I have taken that discomfort and unease to the temple, hoping to gain some reassurance. I didn't get it. A week or so later, I got the distinct impression that while I might not see myself in that blessing version of me now, I have a Savior who is willing to partner with me to get me to her little by little as I work towards sanctifying myself through the enabling power of His Atoning sacrifice. 

I loved that answer, and I still do. But this trip gave me a glimpse of that woman in real life. Without the worries of responsibility; so steeped in doing things and being with women who bring me joy; I was the woman in my patriarchal blessing. And again, I got the distinct impression, now that you know what she's like, go be her all the time at home. Don't let your insecurities, or your perceived lack of time and energy keep you from being the woman I need you to be. You give me what you have to offer, and I will magnify whatever that is.

It was such a life changing experience that I wanted to make sure I wrote it down so I can come back to this year after year.

Thank you everyone for making this the most meaningful gift God has ever given me. Aloha Oe.

To top it off, I had an entire row all to myself for the whole flight home. So amazing.

Monday, January 22, 2024

Monday

My biggest take away from the day was this: I saw God loving me for me. Trees, rocks, birds have nothing to prove. Nothing to do other than be perfectly who they are. Me filling the measure of my creation is me being my best, authentic, faith, and love-filled self; and letting God do His perfect will through me. I am a vessel. Or in other words, me filling the measure of my creation is not about me doing something. It is about me becoming something and then letting God do Their perfect work through me, not because of me.

We did service today helping an organization with their replanting efforts as they work towards reforesting their island with native plants. The thing I loved most about it was how efficiently 11 women can work. No egos, no trying to get out of a "less desirable" task, just everyone beautifully and selflessly doing whatever needed to be done to get the job done. It was teamwork as dreamwork. We worked so quickly that they had to come up with several additional jobs.

After the service opportunity, we tried to go snorkeling, but the ocean was too tumultuous for it and for our manta ray snorkeling excursion that evening. So instead we made fun bracelets and went shopping. We all bought the same tshirt and most of us bought the same pajama pants. An odd, but fun way to bond with these women on the last full day of our time together.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Sunday

 Oh my goodness. What a day. We started off at church. I won't go into all the very too-much-information-details, but at the end of what was a lovely sacrament meeting, I was in need of a change of  undies. I was trying my best to stay calm and trust that everything would be ok. Oh how grateful I was for all the women from the trip who rushed to my aid. One woman gave me her swim shorts to wear. Imagine giving underwear to someone you had just met. I felt so loved.

Afterwards, we went on a beautiful hike through some woods to a waterfall where we answered a journal prompt to create an "I AM" statement, similar to that of the Young Women's Theme or the Relief Society themes for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I pulled out my patriarchal blessing and my "I AM" statement seemed to jump off the page.

When I was done, I realized that my Heavenly Parents are so excited for me to see myself as the amazing woman described in my blessing.

When we got back to our house, we learned about perfumes, made Lei Po'os and did a photo shoot, to really embrace the inherent beauty in ourselves.

My Lei Po'o. It's not perfect, and that's ok, because I felt like a Hawaiian Queen anyway.


Everyone's Lei Po'os. I love the creativity that came out of everyone.

And then we learned about scents and the chemistry and artistry that goes into the science of making perfumes. It was so fascinating and I left inspired to take more time to allow myself to feel beautiful.




These women, I just barely met make me so very happy and I want them in my life forever.