Mom's Memories of Mike

My first memory of Mike was of him sitting at the table in April's apartment at Heritage Halls BYU with longer hair on top.  He was pretty cute, but I was concerned he might be a "player".  Then the story continued ... We worked together on them living in the Provo house by Raymond and Julie, so it was so nice to get comfortable talking about money.  After they were married, I remember how nice it was that he would play with my younger children.  That is the key to a mother's heart.  I think one of my favorite memories was watching them make the snow cave in the backyard.  When Mike does something, it's always first rate...cubed blocks.  It was so cool.  no pun intended.  It has also been fun having Mike be willing to share his neat family with us.  His parents' mission farewell was very cool and such neat siblings!!!  Thanks for sharing with us.  I also love how Mike makes us feel hosted at his house, wherever that may be.  He cooks on the grill.  He tries to find interesting things to entertain us and he can just sit around and visit.    Another neat thing about Mike is his unselfishness.  How he was willing to let Emma be baptized in the midst of extended family instead of waiting until he came back.  So unselfish.  Mike has been a participator from the beginning.  That is so helpful when trying to build a family. Mike also has great discipline over himself.  This trait gives me confidence that he will follow the Master.  He is not hesitant to repent and make his life to model the Saviors.  Changing is possible for him.   Mostly, I love his total devotion to his wife.  He tries endlessly to please her, to take care of her and to love her.

Memories of Mike (how alliterative)

Well I guess my Christmas post kind of covered some favorite memories of Mike, but don’t worry because I have more! :)  Mostly I remember being younger and playing with Mike a lot.  He was sort of the Jester for Andrew and I.  Sometimes we would just sit and listen to him tell us about Japan and Guam.  I really couldn’t get enough of hearing about cultural differences and foreign foods.  He also demonstrated Chinese water torture, which I have never forgotten. :)  I was also inspired by Mike to read Phantom of the Opera—great book.  When April and Mike were living in Provo and we would visit we’d always play games, my favorite being Harry Potter Uno.  It was also with them that I first watched the 6-hour Pride and Prejudice, which of course was life changing.  It’s just always fun having Mike around!  Love ya!

Charity

Highlights in My Memories of Mike

I really do love reminiscing about all of my favorite people. We seriously have an outstanding family, and the people we've chosen to marry are no exception! My first memory of Mike was before I even met him. hahaha Since I am two years younger than April I had a lot of opportunity to observe April in various stages of 'like' with boys (not that it happened as frequently as it did with me). The Christmas break after April started dating Mike I was forcibly struck by just how much she liked this Mike guy. I had never seen her so . . . giddy! It was a strange thing to witness because while I knew I'd gotten giddy frequently, I'd seen her like guys but it had never affected her in this way. I was pretty sure that this was going to end up in a marriage. During that break we got to meet Mike, and I was so impressed with him for being open enough to give us all hugs - good ones, too! :) He is clearly a good match for April, because April is never more happy than when Mike's around.
It's already been mentioned in a Christmas memory from Charity, but the first Christmas after they were married, Mike set a trap for Charity and I to get past to reach the presents. To us it was pretty complicated, although Mike later told us that it was like one that his dad had set when he was really young. That made me feel pretty smart. hahahaha Charity and I slept in the loft so he could set it on the stairs, and she seriously woke me up every hour starting at 2! I finally gave up trying to make her sleep at 5, and we started attempting to get past the trap. :)
One last memory. April and Mike were still living in Provo when I was there for a summer term. It was my junior year. I was taking a calculus class (because I had to), and I hadn't had a math class since my junior year of high school -- and it wasn't even pre-calculus! Math does not come easily or quickly for me, but Mike took the time to personally tutor me. He was so patient and encouraging. I was convinced that I was just a math idiot, but he bolstered my confidence. I got an A- on the final. It was just too bad that I didn't get to have that as my final grade. I ended up getting a C . . . that's how badly I was doing before I got Mike's help.
Mike, you rock. I'm glad you're part of our family!
Added later: I was pondering what to write about after I sent the prompt out, but I forgot one of the things I thought about. I totally hung out with April & Mike while I was in Provo. One of my favorite memories is watching Pride & Prejudice with them. I totally love it that Mike was completely masculine, and still loved a high quality chick flick. :) April scored. I did, too, even though Dave doesn't like to watch Jane Austen movies with me. hahaha

Christmas Memories from Mom

My one memory of Christmas was when I was around eight years old.  I knew for a long time already that Mom & Dad were Santas, so . . . but being the youngest I knew I had to keep pretending I believed in Santa, so I didn't ruin it for everyone else.  I remember feeling a lot of pressure.  I got a life-size doll that year, a lot like the one I have now.  That doll meant a lot to me.  That's why Dad replaced it for me while we lived in Preston.  I believe this pressure of "believing" is the reason I told all my children when they asked about Santa; that their Santa was their Dad;  I also really believed and still do believe in being HONEST with my children, even about make-believe.
I know this part is not about the prompt but I can't resist.  When Raymond was about 3 and Angela 1, Dad worked at Harmon's Grocery Store in Salt Lake.  He had to work the night of our ward Christmas party, so I took the kids by myself.  Santa was there, of course, and Raymond got on his lap and whispered in his ear, "I know it's you, Dad, but I won't tell.":)  Angela was afraid of the Santa.  She wouldn't get near him.  It was not Dad, in case any of you wondered.:)

To sell or not to sell?

That is the question. I've taken so long to post because I've been conflicted. On the one hand, I really do like having both mine and Dave's parents in the same place. Especially because Dave's family hasn't had a place for us to stay comfortably. That's still kind of the case, but less so. I think. We'll see, because this Christmas is Dave's parents' turn, and mom and dad's house is rented out. Anyway, on the other hand that house is quite the beast to maintain if it's not being lived in. It is either way, but it is really a lot to maintain if it's not being lived in. On the other hand I'd be sad if it was sold because it is an awesome house with a large yard - the grandkids love it. I love it, too! The indoor pool cannot be beat for an exercise option.
We personally would be willing to take care of it on the off chance that we do end up in Preston. You all have heard about that possibility haven't you? In terms of property and house we already have a place that could be had for an unbeatable low price . . . but no job. Not even one that's unavailable because it's filled, it's unavailable because it doesn't exist. At least not in Preston, and commuting really does not appeal.
That aside, even being stripped of all the special touches that mom has put into that house (a costly process in and of itself, I would think), I have a hard time believing that that house could sell for a worthwhile price. However, the bottom line is that while I would ultimately prefer that the house isn't sold, I can also see in terms of practicality how it would really be a burden to mom and dad to keep it if they're serving a mission(s). And if that's how the spirit directs them, then who am I to fight that? It just darn well better be a move that's dictated by the spirit. :) So my vote is: don't sell unless you have clear direction from the spirit to do so.

Christmas rememberies . . .

One Christmas that stands out in my mind is the year that mom made me a dress. We lived in Boise, and I was nine. Somehow mom must have known that I loved the fancy dresses that my cousin, Staci Stokes wore . . . or maybe she just liked the style, too. Regardless, I did love Staci's dresses and wished that I had one. They probably cost a crazy amount - as the only daughter, she was a little bit spoiled. Anyway, what is especially funny about this memory is that I actually saw the dress well before Christmas. It's tricky to hide homemade gifts. The dress was hanging in mom and dad's closet and it caught my eye when I was in there one day for a legitimate reason. My little heart beat faster, but then it occurred to me that it might not be for me at all; it might be for April, or for somebody not in the family at all. Not wanting to completely ruin the surprise for myself I quickly exited the closet, but naturally continued to wonder about it for the remaining time until Christmas morning.
On Christmas morning as we walked from our room to mom and dad's for the devotional I couldn't resist peeking to see if that dress was out; we could easily see where gifts had been placed from the upper floor. I could hardly stand waiting through the devotional to find out that the pile that had that beautiful dress was mine. I was so thrilled when I found out it was.

That might have been the same Christmas that Nathan gave me a beautiful dress, too (wish I had a picture - it really was gorgeous). Obviously, he didn't make it, but I remember being so surprised that he had picked it out himself. I didn't know yet that Nathan was actually very good at gifting, but somehow in my mind it seemed inconsistent with his personality in general. Or at least with what I understood about his personality at the time. Now it makes sense. haha

Christmas Memories

Well, I've really been bad about posting on here...and on my personal blog.  Oh well!  I have a problem where I have an inability to choose just one memory...so I believe there shall be at least three.

Probably the youngest memory I can come up with is the year I was given a Barbie JEEP.  It actually drove, and I was super thrilled.  Probably one of my favorite toys.

I'm not actually sure how old I was for this, but the first year Mike set a trap for us was really fun.  Rachael was there, so it may have been Christmas break for her because I'm pretty sure she would have been in college.  So three of us were working on it.  I just remember being so excited to see what Mike would do, and then strategizing with Rachael on how best to get through it.

Possibly my favorite/most memorable is the year that we built forts to have a snowball fight.  I think it was Dad, Rachael...and someone else (sorry I don't remember) against me, April, Mike, and Andrew.  Our fort dominated.  Mike pulled out a cooler and we used it to make blocks so our fort was way legit.  It was SO fun.

Mike thought we were so weird! Why does your family sit on the kitchen floor to talk?

Just thought I'd post the few pictures we had of one of Charity's favorite Christmases:)

I guess this means that was 8 years ago!

It was a sweet fort!

Look at cute little, Susan!

And of course, every year playing laser tag in the store was fun.  Definitely miss that.  Christmas is great!  Love you all!