Freaky Friday

Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving Feast yesterday...
...and from the other end of the table.

Shane thought this was a really funny pose--note the drool. He goes all out for his art.




In other news, Dad and I got up at 3:30 am to hit the stores by 4:00. That was after listening to the Thanksgiving merry-making of the children late into the night.
Overheard from the kitchen:
Seth: Tomorrow I'm going to the dollar store. I'm going to ask them "How much for this?" "One dollar" "OK, How much for this?" "One DOLLAR!" "Well, how much is this?"
Shane: And when they chase you out of the store, I'll be waiting...you start crying and I'll say "Leave my special-needs brother alone you jerk!"
That's the sort of humor you get at 1:00 am.

We've never done the Black Friday Door Buster Bargain thing before--that was an interesting experience. The parking lot was JAM PACKED! I made my way through the crowd for the three items I wanted, got in line, paid for them and got out. Dad helped me get them to the car. We drove over to Wal-Mart--it didn't open until 5:00am--and there literally was not a parking spot available anywhere in the vicinity. We are amateurs--we gave up and came home. And went back to bed.

Tradition

It's funny how every family builds up traditions. Sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose, sometimes they are just passed on for so long no one knows how they started. One that we have is Green Jello Salad on Thanksgiving. It encompasses Mormon tradition with the whole jello thing, and it was a recipe my family had when I was growing up. When I was a child, I didn't even like it--it's jello but it's not a dessert and that just seemed wrong. My first Thanksgiving away from home and extended family, I felt a little sad. I wanted the house to smell all "Thanksgivingly" like it did when we used to go to Grandma Hansen's in Idaho or Grandmother Nicoll's in New Mexico. I wanted to serve the foods we always had. The dish I thought of was the Green Jello Salad. So I called my mom and got the recipe. She didn't have measurements for the ingredients--just estimates. So I wrote down what she said and tried it out. I've made some adjustments through the years (I use cheddar cheese instead of cottage cheese for instance) but it still has the taste that I remember.

As per tradition, the children don't like it. Worse, if they see me making it, there are lots of moans and groans and "EWWW"s. But that's ok, I carry on and keep the flame of tradition burning. Eventually, I won some of them over--and if any of my sisters come to visit at Thanksgiving, I have to make two batches so there will be enough for all of us and some left over for breakfast the next day. It kind of grows on you.

A few years back, Andy tried to start a new tradition: Watching an X-Files Marathon on TV. I was able to tear him away from the TV during a commercial so we could sit down to our dinner (it was the days before TIVO). He asked me to hurry and get the Thanksgiving blessing over with so they could get back to the X Files. We were living in a tiny rental house, I was pregnant with our 8th child and had spent TWO DAYS slaving in a tiny kitchen to put together our lovely, traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Let's just say that attempt at tradition fell flat. But, in the spirit of the season, I didn't actually strangle him--only thought about it.

Last Christmas he very thoughtfully bought me the X Files boxed set. Ha ha ha.

In the spirit of Tradition, here is the recipe for Green Jello Salad

...you could make it and then sit with your family, eat green jello and watch the X Files.

1 small (3 oz) box lime jello 1 C. boiling water 1 C. pineapple juice
Mix together and place in fridge to cool

Beat 1 C. whipping cream, add 2 tbsp. mayo (we like the tangy zip of Miracle Whip). Stir into this: 1 C. grated cheddar cheese, 1/2 C chopped walnuts and 1 can (drained) crushed pineapple
Add whipped cream mixture to lime jello ( don't wait for the lime jello to set--just as long as it has cooled off). Refrigerate. You can have it set in a 9x11 pan and then cut it into squares to serve, or you can pour it into a nice serving bowl and let it set.

More Gratitude Give Me

It seems like every year the Christmas displays in the stores go up earlier and earlier. The retailers go from Summer Clearance! to Christmas Specials! in the blink of an eye. This year there was Halloween candy on one aisle and Christmas decorations on the next--they are now leaping from one selfish holiday (GIMME CANDY) to another (GIMME PRESENTS). Don't get me wrong--I enjoy Halloween and Christmas--within reasonable parameters...and hopefully in the spirit of giving.

The problem that I see is we are dismissing and skipping over the THANK YOU in between. Of course stores are going to promote the holidays from their point of view: WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? It's their job to make money-- and more so this year with the economy spiraling downward. Our sense of gratitude need not spiral downward along with it. It's up to us to take back Thanksgiving. Take a moment today to "Count your many blessings, name them one by one..."

And maybe tomorrow sometime between the turkey and the pie, think of the Pilgrims and the sacrifices they made so you can stuff yourself with food and watch football.

Redeemable

A Mother's love is powerful, but it doesn't cross the line of free agency. That is a harsh reality that I have a hard time accepting. I would gladly save my children the heartache of wrong choices if I could. Which is probably why their free agency is protected from that motherly instinct. I teach them correct principles and then I worry and agonize over them day and night as they figure out for themselves whether they will follow those correct principles. I know I shouted for joy along with everyone else as the Plan of Happiness was announced. That's because I understood it in theory and had not experienced it in practice. When you are raising teen-agers, there are times when Satan's plan seems like a good iea. It is also easy to fall into it as a parent (or "Benevalent Dictator" as I like to call myself). I don't turn their free agency over to them completely, but I realize I have to let them try it out and learn from their experiences. I am learning as well--some just won't believe you when you tell them the stove is hot, they have to touch it themselves. It surprises me that I still feel for them and grab the ice to soothe the burn. That's the power of a Mother's love.

Local Amenities

Now that we are Washouglians, we are getting to know our new town.

We were thrilled to see this shop close by. We can surprise Dad with that kitty couch he's been hoping for this Christmas!

(Of course he assumes it's furniture made out of cats)

True Blue BYU Birthday Boy

The Inferno


Dad's Birthday happiness was diminished a little when his beloved Cougars lost today.
He just couldn't bring himself to smile.


But he blew out all the candles...he lives up to our family name:
Gale

Earlier Today:

Mom: Shayla and I are going to go get the cake and ice cream for your Birthday today.

Dad: I'm just going to hunker down here at the house for the day.

Mom: OK

Dad: I'm afraid I'm going to turn into a crazy cat lady.

Mom: But you don't like cats.

Dad: Oh...I mean I'm going to EAT cats--not keep them as pets.

Mom: Well that's more believable.

Country Bumpkins

Here at the

Gale Academy of Classical Education

We like to get creative with P.E.

Three strikes and the pumpkin's OUT

Free Gift With Purchase

When we took our first tour of the cabin, we noticed that although the owner had not lived there for many months, he had left a lot of junk in the cupboards and drawers (and some old food in the 'fridge--which looked like it might come to life and strangle someone). When we bought the cabin, we had a standard contract that required him to leave all of the appliances. I wanted to specify that he had to clean them up as well, but Andy didn't want to go too far and make him change his mind. So the day came for us to move in and we noticed that he had hauled off with the appliances. He had been fastidious enough to put most of the junk and rotting food into about 10 old trash cans-- which he left for us to get rid of.

But he did leave lots of boxes of tissue stashed about the place in various cupboards and drawers. We were so delighted with this we didn't even complain about the trash or the missing appliances.

Dinner Conversation

Last night at dinner I mentioned that I saw eggplant at the grocery store and thought of getting it to make lasagna...

Shayla: Eggplant? In lasagna?
Mom: Yes, you cut it into thin strips and use it in place of the lasagna noodles.
Sam: EWWWW! Yuck! Not at the table!
Shane: Please! We're eating here!

Firstborn

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I couldn't get the pictures I wanted for this post. This was the only picture of Scott that was already on the computer...I'm not sure why. But he's all shiny and new from his mission and we look really happy to see him so it works.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT!!

Don't worry, I will dig up some pictures of your past and get them up here ASAP.

NOW It's Official

Just so you know, now that your name is on a Christmas Stocking,

there is no going back. You are now officially part of the wacky Gale Family.

Please try to make the best of it--Eternity is a long time.

Somebody Call the Fun Police

Here at the

Gale Academy of Classical Education

we take education very seriously...most of the time. Yesterday, while Sam was immersed in algebra, I was helping Shane memorize the 5o states and capitals. He was writing up a study guide and we were both reading information about each state as he wrote down the capitals for them. If you're ever looking for some entertainment, look up the mottoes for our Nifty, Fifty, United States (a shout-out to my little sister Julienne for teaching me that song on our looooong bus rides to and from Zuni High School--I can still rattle off all 50 states to the tune of that silly song!).

Let me just share a few of them with you here...

I'll start with the straightforward, more meaningful ones--these I would consider a MOTTO:

Delaware's is..."Liberty and Independence" --succinct, to the point.

Kentucky: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"--we can all relate to that

New Hampshire: "Live Free or Die"--Don't mess with these people

Some are a little obtuse:

Maine: "I Direct" --really, who are you and what do you direct?

Kansas: "To the Stars Through Difficulties"--in a galaxy far, far away

Michigan: Let's see it in Latin first "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (Scary Spice's cousin I believe)" Interpreted:

"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you-- Why yes, I do seek a pleasant peninsula.

These were put together by committee:

North Dakota: "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever,One and Inseperable"

South Carolina... Latin first... "Animis opibusque parati" and" Dum Spiro Spero" or in other words: "Prepared in Mind and Resources" and "While I Breathe, I Hope"

These states got it with just ONE word:

Texas: "Friendship"...I thought it was 'Don't Mess With Texas'

Utah: "Industry" yeah, get to work

Wisconsin: "Forward" turn around!

Rhode Island: "Hope" ask South Carolina about breathing while you hope

South Dakota: "Rule" Do they mean they have just one rule or are they the boss of the rest of us?

Some sound a bit threatening:

Virginia: "Thus Ever to Tyrants" that means YOU King George

West Virginia: "Mountaineers Are Always Free" you can't hold us down--we'll go climb a mountain!

And now for the finale:

New Mexico: "It grows at it goes" what is it..a fungus?

Connecticut: "He who transplanted still sustains" so many possibilities...

Rolling on the floor laughing encore:

Maryland: "Fatti maschii, parole femine" funny in any language.

"Manly deeds, womanly words"

the boys spent the rest of the afternoon acting this out dramatically and loudly

Occupational Therapy

I wrote recently of the bimbo in my laundry room--my pretty red washing machine that couldn't seem to figure out how to spin. (BTW I sent that story to the Oregonian and it was published last week--yeah, that was kind of fun!) So anyway, things went from bad to worse with my pretty washer. She kept stopping randomly and would just sit there with the 'start/pause' button blinking stupidly.

Me: "Now what?"

She: "Oh, I'm just not feeling well"

Me: "Do you see the laundry piling up around here?"

She: "Wow--that's A LOT of stuff!"

Me: "If you will just finish a load, I won't complain about the whole NOT SPINNING thing."

She: "I'm sorry, I'm feeling a little faint."

So, I called the Customer Service number on the washer instruction manuel.

After the usual labrynth of "press 1 for this" and "press 15 for that" I got a real, live person on the line. I explained the problem and then he said,

"It is my privilege to help you and get this resolved for you."

It brought a tear to my eye. His privilege? To help ME?

He made the arrangements for a GE repairman to come to my house and see what was wrong. He would be here "Thursday, between 8:00 and 5:00". Really, sometime between 8:00am and 5:00 pm a repairman would grace me with his presence. But I must be there, waiting, and watching for this knight in shining armor to take care of my laundry problem. Well, I had a lot of dirty clothes piling up--I agreed to those ridiculous terms and hung up.

Thursday rolled around and the GE repairman came to my rescue, not on a white horse, but in a white van. I explained her symptoms to him and he went to work with computer and codes to find out what was wrong. It was her inverter. She would need a transplant. Luckily, he happened to have one in the van. It only took a few minutes and she made a quick recovery--she was back to work immediately. I loaded the clothes and put in the soap. Pushed the button and hoped for the best. I came back later and she had finished the whole cycle.

The clothes were clean!

And they were spun!

The GE repairman was a miracle worker!

Waiting from 8:00 am until 3:14 pm: WORTH IT.

And now my washer is not just another pretty face.

Sisterly Love

I mentioned that we had dinner at Shanna's when we were in Utah recently welcoming the new grand baby. Did I mention we are grandparents? Did I emphasize enough how ADORABLE Bailey is? Oh, and by the way, we have a new granddaughter and she's gorgeous. So, where was I?
Oh yeah, Shanna made delicious lasagna and as we were enjoying it, Scott said, "This is really good--I like the spices you put  in it." (or something to that effect) Then Shanna said, "Oh, good. I made a pan of it for you to take home, but I wanted to make sure you liked it first...I would hate to have you choking it down here and then when you go to leave, I bring out a whole other pan of it and say 'Here ya go'."

The reason I bring it up: it is pleasant to know that siblings can be so thoughtful, because as I am sitting here typing this, two younger ones are disagreeing very disagreeably. Hope. There is hope.

Road to Redemption

Yesterday, we watched a Sunday movie. "Flywheel" is a low-budget film made by a group of believers--though I don't know what church they belong to exactly. It's an inspiring story about a man who has a change of heart and makes significant changes that bless the lives of the people around him. I highly recommend it. They do take the opportunity to get a little "dig" in at the Mormons. The overall message is uplifting enough to overlook that.


On many occasions-- several of them recently-- I have been told (always in a condescending way--which baffles me) that I am not a Christian, because I am Mormon. From my earliest Sunbeam days singing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" I was taught that Jesus was my Savior and that He loves me. As I grew and my testimony grew, I came to understand the meaning of the Atonement in my life and I continued to feel the Savior's love for me. I covenanted at baptism to always remember Him and I have kept that covenant. I went through four years of seminary, all the lessons focused on the Savior, Jesus Christ. I took religion classes at BYU--all centered on Jesus Christ. My understanding of the Plan of Salvation has increased as I attend the Temple. I consider it a privilege as a mom to teach my children about Jesus and His love for them. "...we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." I've been given various and sundry reasons why Mormons aren't Christian and I can't make sense of any of it. All I know is that every day I study His word and His works in the scriptures and many times a day I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. His promise in the Atonement means I have hope, through Him, of redemption. I know that I am saved, after all I can do, because of His Grace.

And I know that that Grace extends to all Christians. Including those who tell me I am not one.

Dinner Conversation

While we were in Utah to greet our new granddaughter, we had the chance to get together with our kids who live there. Shanna was kind enough to host dinner at her home Sunday night and she and Siara put on a lovely spread. It was so nice to sit down with our older four and Shanna's hubby and enjoy dinner and conversation.

Austin works at a sporting goods store and was telling us how guns are selling like hotcakes because people are worried about gun restrictions after the presidential election.

Austin: Yeah, business is booming--we are selling guns like crazy. People are worried they won't be able to get guns after the election.

Siara (who works at Nordstrom in the handbag dept.): I wish they felt the same way about handbags.

Absolution

Daddy/Daughter
Comparing Hair With Gramps

I have heard many times that being a grandparent is payback for all the work of raising children. Yesterday I held my first grandchild in my arms when she was only a few hours old. I walked into the hospital room and saw her and burst into tears. I couldn't wash my hands fast enough and then Scott put his little girl in my arms. I looked into that angel face and I physically felt my heart melt. And then an amazing thing happened. In that moment, Scott received absolution. Every all-nighter with ear infections, every two-year-old temper tantrum, every naughty back-talk, every mischievous deed, every smart-alec remark, every worry through the teen-age years--gone. The sweet halo of perfection in that baby spread out to include him. Why? Because all of that is simply the reality of getting a child from baby to adult. We learned together as we went along and we both got through it with love and relationship strong. And now he gets to start that journey. And it's payback time for Grandma.

Quilting Bee

Just some evidence that the kids helped with Bailey's quilt. They were a little hesitant to pick up pink yarn and work on a pink quilt, but they can't resist a project.I ran some errands later in the day and when I came back the quilt was almost done.
Scott, Siara, Shanna and Spencer helped make quilts for their younger siblings--and actually enjoyed it. We are carrying on the tradition for the younger ones...since they weren't old enough--or weren't born yet for the others. They liked the idea that their older brothers and sisters made a quilt for them. They also remember the quilts because they became favorites. I saved them but they are packed away in long-term storage for now...otherwise that would make a great 'favorite things' post!

Up From the Ashes

Today I have a "before" & "after" pictorial for you: The well pump house after demolition...I would have gotten a before picture of it but Dad moves so fast once he decides the next project, I had no idea he was tearing it down until it was down.
Disposing of the scrap.

Getting ready to put on the roof shingles.


The paint color: "Peanut Butter" --YUMMM!

Quite an improvement! Dad keeps calling it the 'pool house'. I tell him: that was another life, now you live in a cabin--this is a well pump house.