Worry

I don't know where this came from, but I know it is true. When do you stop worrying? I have found the answer to be "Never."
"Is there a magic cutoff period when offspring become accountable for their own actions?
Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug, "It's their life," and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my daughter's head.
I asked, "When do you stop worrying?"
The nurse said, "When they get out of the accident stage."
My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class,
and was headed for a career making license plates.
As if to read my mind, a teacher said, "Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them."
My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open.
A friend said, "They're trying to find themselves.
Don't! worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults."
My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable.
I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle.
There was nothing I could do about it.
My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life.
I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my dad's warm smile and his occasional,
"You look pale. Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are you depressed about something?"

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry?
Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown?
Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life?

One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me,
"Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I was worried."
I smiled a warm smile.
The torch has been passed.

Breakfast

Jen and I went to Boise to see all her grandparents before she leaves for Minnesota. It was a great visit with Grams and Gramps and Grandma and Grandpa Reece. Two unexpected discoveries:

1. Tawi and Tip became friends. Now, we did leave Tawi in his cage and occasionally Tawi would nip Tip's nose and Tip would growl and nip back, but mostly they just hung out together.
2. I discovered a new breakfast: Yoplait yogurt with biotics, sliced banana, raisins, and sliced almonds. It is really good.

I also began to realize that Jen is leaving - soon. She is really happy and excited and ready to begin learning Spanish and teaching the gospel.

Our family

We had a great Christmas with everyone at home and took advantage of the opportunity to have a family picture taken.

Visit

We had a great visit with the Schall's - we missed you Megan.

Christmas tree skirt

Kathleen had a Christmas tree skirt made for me in China. It is made from red and green silk. It has the Chinese knots down the front and scalloped around the edges. The colors are vivid and brilliant and it is gorgeous. Thanks Kathleen!

Craft day

Once a month, Melissa plans a craft day and the girls all congregate at my house. We had craft day Friday and Saturday and Kathleen was able to join us! Papa was flying to Logan from Georgia on Friday but Saturday morning,he took Liam and Tyler to breakfast at Angie's (a Logan hang-out), bought dart guns and soldiers to shoot, and roasted marshmallows in the wood burning stove. He had a great time with the boys!

As anyone who knows me, my girls' craftiness was inherited from their grandmother (it skipped a generation) and anyway, I had better things to do!

Trip from China

Kathleen, Liam and Collin arrived in the States Wednesday evening, after an interesting adventure. They had tickets for Sunday, Dec. 9, but when they got to the airport Collin didn't have an exit visa. After pulling a favor, Jeff was able to get him a visa and they arrived at the airport Wednesday morning. While getting their luggage out of the car (from Jeff's company) the car locked with Collin inside. In order for Kathleen and the boys to make their flight, Jeff had to break the car window. The plane ride from China to Los Angeles was uneventful, although very long. Their flight from LA to SLC was delayed 45 minutes and then when they did take off, a passenger had a seizure and the plane had to turn around. We are very, very happy to have them here and safe.