You've Gotta Swim

I cannot go to bed early.  Seriously.  I tried going to sleep at 9:30.  I failed.  It's now about to be 11, so I'll try again. 

What did I do in the interim?  I got my writing fix.  As always, I have a number of writing projects going on.  Whether I'll ever do anything with this one, I cannot say.  But, if nothing else, it is a form of a journal.  It is a way to share some of the stories of my youth with my posterity. 

And because my dad loves to read anything even remotely Panama related, I figure I'll post it here for him.  The title of this blog post is a song.  It's also what I will name the "chapter" if I ever was to get this thing published.  Not because the lyrics lend meaning to what I wrote.  But because those specific words do tie in well with the topic.  And I like to take creative liberties :).  And I also love the song.

So here it is:

"Growing up as the child of two former lifeguards meant one thing was beyond certain:  I would learn how to swim.  And, honestly, that makes sense when one lives less than an hour from two major oceans.  

One of the many perks of being a U.S. Civilian dependent overseas was the swimming pools.  My family’s swimming pool of choice was Los Rios Swimming Pool, which was a mere 5 minute drive from our house.  It was free, people.  Free.  Only in recent years have I come to realize how wonderful that really was.  And the result is that I now feel slightly insulted when the YMCA wants me to actually pay to be able to swim in their pool.  But I digress…

So yeah, going to the pool was free.  When I was really young, my mom showed her PCC ID Card, and we were buzzed in.  Once I obtained my coveted B Badge (which remains in my possession to this day, attached securely to my scrapbook), I could get in by myself.  And how did I get that B-Badge (also known as the only Green Card Zonian kids cared anything about…)?  I passed my Beginner’s Swimming Test. 

I remember the event quite clearly, though I was quite young.  I am pretty sure I was still in kindergarten.  I can remember being in the “deep end” of the pool.  I was told to swim a certain number of laps free-style.  I remember a lifeguard swam beside me as I swam those laps.  Looking back now, I realize this was a safety thing.  I remember, when I completed my requisite laps, I was told to get out and go to the “Baby Pool.”  And I remember being afraid I’d failed.  Turns out that’s just where they sent you when you were done so they didn’t have to worry about you drowning or something.  Because I passed my test.  And I got my B-Badge.  And forever affixed to that card is my kindergarten picture – for identification purposes, of course.  Because even at the age of 16, that picture still screamed Hila enough that they let me in ;).

I continued on with swimming lessons for a few more years.  My parents required that I complete the Swimmer’s level course.  So I think that ended up being 4 years of swimming lessons.  I learned how to tread water.  I learned how to use my clothes as flotation devices, in the event I fell overboard fully clothed in jeans (try taking jeans off in water…  Seriously takes some effort!).  I learned how to do the back stroke, side stroke, breast stroke, and elementary back stroke.  And probably some other things I have forgotten now.

Oh yeah, did I mention that swimming lessons were free, too? 

I have many more memories from Los Rios Swimming Pool.  Birthday parties held there (also free), lifeguards flirted with there…  That pool was the scene of many great moments in my history.  And who knows?  Maybe I’ll share more of them eventually.  But for now, the swimming lessons should suffice.

8:40 P.M.

I'm sure you can tell by my blog post title that I am lacking in creativity.  It's 8:40 p.m. here in the Pacific Northwest.  And I'm sitting up by myself.  The house is quiet.  Lynnaea is zonked out in her crib.  Jeremy is in bed (not sure if he's asleep yet), because he shifts back to day shift tomorrow -- which means he gets up around 4:50 in the morning.  Gross. 

And I am not a go-to-bed-early gal.  So I stay up. 

And think.

I think I'll post random pictures amidst my musings...  Just because these are some I haven't posted yet.  The one above -- our family in bed -- was before we went to Utah.

Not that I think I have any interesting or worthwhile musings...  Mostly just gobbledy-gook. 

That's me and my Aunt Hila and Lynnaea. 

So one of the things I've been thinking about lately is whether or not the desire to "matter" or "be noticed" is a universal human condition.  Maybe I'm not using the right terms.  But it just seems to me that, in recent years, with technology being what it is, so many people want their voice heard.  On facebook.  Blogger.  And probably other things I'm not even familiar with.  I'm one of those people, obviously. 

I mean, I am the protagonist of my own story, right?  And so I feel some yearning to tell it to the world.  But why should the world care?  And yet, in my innermost self, I want the world to care. 

Lynnaea loves looking at this picture frame of herself.  My baby girl.  Every month of her first year.  How did that happen already?

13 Lynnaeas...  Well, maybe 12 + her hands ;).  I love her.

So many moons ago, when I was a junior in high school, I had a Physiology teacher who was really demanding.  I'd heard the class was hard, so I didn't actually sign up to take the class.  But I wound up in there, because my guidance counselor didn't feel I was challenging myself.  She encouraged me to try it out for a week; then, if I didn't like it, I could drop it.  Well, I didn't want to hassle with the changing of classes, so I stuck it out.  And you know what?  I loved that class.  I learned a lot.  And I really respected the teacher.  At the end of the school year, he wrote in my yearbook that he hoped to see my name in lights some day.  And so, for some reason, I started wanting to make that happen.  And maybe that's part of why I want(ed) to try to publish a book.  Why that dream still lives on inside me.

Just chillin' with her daddy.  She thought it was funny to stick her finger in her mouth and then in his.  He didn't think it was so funny.

But why?  Why am I so interested in the approval or recognition of others?  I don't know.  But I have thought a lot about it lately.  And a lot of me feels like I'm missing the point.  Because, the truth is, I do matter.  I matter to my husband.  And I matter to my sweet girl.  And they are what matters most to me.

Date night yesterday afternoon.  We went and saw Xanadu Jr..  A couple of the Young Women from church were in it.  It was way cheesey, but fun :).

And so, I spend a lot of time reflecting.  Looking inside.  Trying to figure out what I want and who I want to be.  The funny thing is that it's an ever-changing thing, really.  We keep evolving.  Not too many years ago, what I wanted most was to be a wife and mother.  And now I am.  And I think it's good to have goals and to want to succeed in things.  But I also think it's important not to lose sight of what matters most.  Because, to quote Elder Ballard:  What matters most is what lasts longest.  And in the eternal perspective, that isn't having my name in lights so the world can see.

Just a little shot of Xanadu Jr.

In the eternal perspective, it is making sure my daughter knows how special and loved she is.  It's making sure she knows who she is:  a child of God.  And it's helping my husband and growing with him.

And no, it's not bad, like I said, to have other interests and pursuits.  It's just best to make sure my priorities are in order.

Which is why, of course, I must leave you with a picture of food ;).  That was our dinner after the play.  Yum.

(Sorry if this is one of my dis-jointed posts....  Just my random musings and not very well thought-out for writing.  But I felt like writing.  So I did.)

Watching The Girls

Yesterday I watched my nieces for a few hours.  We went on an "adventure" near our apartment.  Jeremy and I only found this path a few weeks ago.  And we thought it was cool!  (Both awesomeness-wise and temperature-wise ;)).  I thought the girls would enjoy it, and they did.  Even Lynnaea!

She loved being a part of the "big girl" group ;).

Emily is starting kindergarten in a couple weeks.  She is so excited!

Desiree is starting 4th grade.  Which seriously doesn't seem possible to me.  But she assures me it's true.

Lynnaea, meanwhile, is almost 15 months old.  And she is running instead of walking these days ;).

Desiree has a thing for making hearts over her eyes...  I let her do one that way -- and then another without.  For Grandpa.

And then there is our awful group shot...  Mostly my big noggin with a little bit of cuteness ;).

So there we go!  Just a little update about some of the cutest girls on the planet :).

Our Utah Trip

So we went to Utah.  In fact, one week ago, my mom, Lynnaea, and I were somewhere in Oregon right about now...  Possibly passing a forest fire.  Jeremy wasn't able to go, due to the fact that now is the busy time on the project.  He was warned months ago that certain dates would not be approved for time off -- and this time-frame was among them.  Boo.  I really wish he'd have been able to go.

We went at this specific time to be there when Brad and Angie got sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, otherwise we would have chosen different dates so Jeremy could have gone!

I have to say that Lynnaea was amazing!  I took lots of things to entertain her, and we just made sure to stop every 2 to 3 hours.

That was at our very first rest stop.  She'd taken a little nap right before this.  We were still in Washington at this point.

We had gotten on the road at 6:45 in the morning.  Originally, I had hoped to make the trip all in one day...  But that didn't happen.

This was somewhere in Oregon -- nap number 2.  Weird thing was that I started to lose my voice.  I don't know if it was the dryness in the air or what.

After she woke up, I moved to the back to sit with her and entertain her.  I gave her the snack necklace I'd made for her...  And rapidly realized the yogurt pretzels were not the best idea in the summer...  The yogurt got melty -- and messy!  She liked them, though :).

So my eyes started really bothering me.  It was probably the 4 hours of sleep the night before mixed with contacts and a lot of driving (like 10 hours).  So we stopped in Boise and got a hotel for the night.  This was the next morning.

So we got back on the road, but not super early.  I figured it was worth it to relax and get on the road eventually -- which turned out to be 10 Idaho time.  And as we drove, we saw a sign for Chick-Fil-A around lunch-time...  So we went there!  And yeah, it was a bit off the beaten path, but soooo worth it!

Lynnaea liked it.  Her first fast food -- Chick-Fil-A -- as it should be!

We finally made it to Brad's house around 6 p.m. on Thursday.  And the traffic in Salt Lake (and the nearby areas) is insane!!!

We did some visiting the evening we arrived.  Then Friday we did some more visiting ;).  Then my mom and I took Lynnaea, Vivienne, and Autumn with us for some fun times! We started out by going to the THRIVE Warehouse!

I was like a kid in a candy store.  It was soooo awesome.  Samples of everything everywhere!  My mom and I picked up our orders (that saved us shipping) and then, of course, we bought even more stuff!  So awesome.  If only I were a millionaire... ;).  If you'd like to see what I do with this stuff, check out my THRIVEing Nilla blog.  The kids all thought this place was awesome too.  The toddlers because they could run around pulling stuff off racks :/... and the 11 year old because she could have a million samples.  Haha.  The toddlers liked the samples too.

We ate at Panda Express, and then it was off to the aquarium!  We figured it would be a fun thing to do on that hot hot day. 

Here is Lynnaea checking out a fish...  And now for several more -- all at the aquarium!

Autumn and Vivienne checking it out.

This was in the "big" tank with the huge fish.  And turtles, as pictured here.

We let Lynnaea run for most of it.  She was not keen on being cooped up.  She certainly kept me busy!

And she was definitely worn out by the end.  Vivienne slept in her stroller...  Lynnaea doesn't sleep well unless she's in her crib (or pack & play) or car seat.  So she didn't sleep until we got back to Brad's.

That night we watched Frasier while Angie worked on her bouqet.  And we ate chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

Saturday was a big day.  We put Lynnaea down for a nap in the morning so she'd be in a good mood for the rest of the day.  And then the three of us headed into Salt Lake City.  Thank goodness for the Garmin!  I'm so glad my mom bought one of those things.  We'd have been lost -- literally -- without it!  But we managed to find our way and get to where we needed to be.

That's Lynnaea running around Temple Square.

Then this is after the sealing ceremony while we were waiting for Angie and Brad.

A mom always had a diaper bag.  Haha.

It truly is a beautiful Temple.  But wow there were so many people!

Lynnaea was running and climbing everywhere!  And it was sooooo hot. 

Here are Brad, Angie, and Vivienne after they came out of the Temple.

After all the pictures and such, we went to Tucanos Brazilian Grill.  Great food.  Servers come around with different meats and ask if you want some.  If you do, they slice off pieces.  Lynnaea ate a ton. She was pretty hungry by this point -- but then, we all were.

After eating, we headed back to Brad's and put Lynnaea down for a much-needed nap.  I got a shower and relaxed until she woke up.  Then me, my mom, and Lynnaea headed to Provo for a bridal shower for someone we knew in Panama.  Here are me and Lynnaea at the shower.

It was the coolest ever...  We saw so many people from so long ago.  What a treat!

Almost everyone pictured there (except the gal in sunglasses who was photo bombing) lived in Panama at the same time.

This is Larry with me and Lynnaea.  He and I grew up together:  same Primary class at church, same teachers in high school, etc.  When he found out we were at his parents' house, he swung by to say hello.  It was getting late, and my munchkin was definitely tired, so we couldn't visit long.  But it was still lots of fun to remember the good old days.

We decided to leave Sunday and drive halfway home.  We knew we weren't going to make it in one day, so we wanted to just have a good night sleep.  We left Brad's around 8:15 (Washington time) and got on the road.  We made it to La Grande, OR and stopped there for the night.  And by the next morning, I knew LeGrande was on my poopie list.  Or at least that exit in LeGrande is...  If only I'd gone up one more exit.  Grr...  But when you're tired.  Well, you just want to stop.

It was a beautiful thing when we started to see trees again.  Seriously, I'm not cut out to live anywhere without trees and green.  Driving through Idaho with the sun blazing on everything and no shade, the only word I could think of was "scorch."  Yuck.  And then we got into Yakima area and stopped for peaches -- 5 boxes of peaches -- because they were a good price and we brought some back to those we love here.

We hit nasty rush-hour traffic (boo), but finally made it home at 6.  And found that sweet Jeremy had left the air conditioning on (it was 98 degrees in Washington -- GROSS!) and that he'd cleaned the house for me!  My mom helped me unpack (well, she fixed dinner -- THRIVE Express Creamy Garden Vegetable Chowder -- and watched Lynnaea so I could unpack).  Then we ate and then we took my mom home and visited a few minutes.  Then Lynnaea and I returned home and she went to bed and I got a shower and finally relaxed.  Then Jeremy came home and I told him all our travel stories, and then we went to bed.  The end!

Then yesterday, Lynnaea and I enjoyed a smoothie with THRIVE bananas.  She was a total fan.

Finished Quilts

I think I mentioned that one of my goals this year was to make Lynnaea an I Spy Quilt.  And since I was already doing one, I figured I might as well do two -- and make one for her cousin Vivienne, who is only a month older than she is.

I finished them Thursday night!  (Well, I finished Vivienne's earlier -- like the Friday before.) 

It feels so good to have accomplished this goal.  I learned a lot (since my quilting mentor Donna wasn't on hand every step of the way like she was 10 years ago!)  I am excited for future quilt projects.  And I am glad I could make something for my sweet girl that I hope she'll know comes with lots of love.

But first, a couple of selfies...  To feed my vanity streak :).

... And maybe my toddler's too.

Lynnaea's quilt:

And some close-ups:

I did the hand-embroidering for the words:

But sent the quilt off to be long-arm quilted, hence the pretty squiggly quilting.

I made the label and Donna send the cute "P.S. I love you" tag!

I had it out on the floor for her the next morning.

I think she liked it.

I did Vivienne's in purple.

I didn't long-arm quilt hers, but rather I did all the quilting on hers.  So mostly straight-stitch, except around the black border where I had a wavy stitch just for pretties.

Another close-up of the wavy...

And Vivienne's label and tag from Donna!

So I learned a lot.  I'm excited to be done -- but also excited I did them.  And still grateful Donna taught me how all those years ago :).

So, that's what I've been up to... Among other things :).