Life Is But A Dream

"Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily--life is but a dream." That is a dream, but not my life!

Friday afternoon, three other ladies and myself loaded into an Excursion, filled with some mysterious oil "coctail", instead of diesle,  and headed to Rexburg to see Mikayla and two of her roomate friends perform in their first ICover concert. The adventure started in Mountain Home, when the oil concoction acted up and we lost power, but the "tough girl" driving, found an auto parts store and climbed under the hood--literally--and changed the fuel filter, while the burly workers looked on with perplexed confusion of why we were burning oil, not diesel.  I just sat in the car, saying prayers and hoping that anyone knew what they were doing. Apparently they did and we made it into Rexburg and back without further troubles--at only $17.50 per person! I don't know what burning oil does to a car's life, but it didn't damage mine, so it's all good.

We pulled in around 8:00 pm and started winding down for the evening, but in the spirit of true college life, our BYU-I girls were just winding up. They left at 10:00 pm for a band practice, which was followed by a birthday party, which was followed by a movie. I checked out much earlier, but Mikayla finally joined me in her dorm-size bed, her at the head, me at the foot sometime during the early morning hours. She seemed to sleep soundly and I slept like I do when camping--up every hour from 5:00 am on, anticipating the morning with eagerness, just so I could drag my stiff body out of bed and end the discomfort.=) And yet, what fun it was! Some of us out-of-towners went to the temple that morning, which was filled with youth temple workers and patrons and St. Patrick's Day wedding parties. Anything good plus youth equals something glorious--and it was. I sat in the Celestial room, which was overflowing with youth reading and contemplating and praying, and felt brimming with hope and appreciation for the gospel and this generation--of which my children are a part--that awes and inspires me.

We returned by lunchtime and split up into families for a little while. Mikayla and I fixed lunch in her apartment then she took me on a walking tour of campus and we  wandered and talked. What a great experience to have that one on one time again! We ended up at the Manwaring Center where we bought pudding and found a gorgeous window nook to eat in and finally realized that time had gotten away from us, as it often does when you are absorbed, so we hurried back to her place at the Colonial, where she got ready for her scheduled sound/light check and left with her roomy band members for a few hours. I snuck in a good book and a short nap. The band girls came home with just enough time to eat dinner and head back up to campus for thier early check in. We didn't see much sense in waiting around so we walked up early as well and were at the front of the line when the doors opened. Being the "adults" that we are we chose auditorium seats and then watched the audience pour in with blankets and pillows and all kinds of energy as they spread out all over the bare main floor and into the rest of the auditorium. I saw a few of my favorite Middleton youth, which was delightful. Pre-sold tickets numbered over 1,000, but they had to start the show ten minutes late because the line to get in was so long. Who knows how many were actually in attendance. I believe the auditorium holds about 4,900, but it wasn't full. There was definitely a weekend party atmosphere going on. It was fun to sit there enjoying the energy and remembering those exciting time, but I was perfectly content to be a mother in the audience--I wouldn't want the whole cumulative experience back--maybe just bits and peices. =)

Thirteen auditioned bands played that night for an hour long concert. Mikayla's band ("A Blonde, A Brunette and A Redhead") was number nine. There was quite a variety of music--some which I really enjoyed--others which were just noise to me, but our girls were just giddy to be a part of it all. Their peers were literally at their feet, with their hands in the air, cheering them all on, and when the audience vote came in (all done with cell phones) they won 3rd place and a band cover photo shoot. I think they were in shock after that--they were still trying to come to grips with even making it past auditions and I don't think the idea of winning ever even entered their minds, so that was FUN!!! It really was quite magical. We left them at a dance that was too energetic for me and drove back that night, getting back to Middleton at 4 am. I'm still exhausted and stiff, but I'm so glad I didn't let that opportunity pass me by. Mikayla was a star for a night at BYU-I. She's a star for us always.

Meanwhile, in Middleton on Friday, A shy young man, who happens to be a Senior, was backing a boom truck (a massive board, painted with Eden's name attached to the crane) into the Seminary parking lot to ask her to prom. She's only a sophmore so she wasn't expecting that but what fun to get that kind of positive attention in front of all of your peers. She's excited. The young man's mom told me that he has only been on two dates during all of his high school years--one with Mikayla--one with Eden. This will be his 3rd date and possibly one of his last as he is working on his mission papers. His mom said he was exceedingly nervous, though I can't think why. He's often painfully quiet, but he seems comfortable enough around my kids that I've even seen a quirky sense of humor a few times. And luckily, there are never awkward silences when you are with Eden,=) so I am sure they will have fun. Besides, he's a smart boy and ensured a "yes'" by asking a sophomore (whose friends can't go to the Junior/Senior dance w/o invitation) and by asking her over a month in advance!=) He's on my brownie points list for giving us that kind of time to find a dress. In all these cell phones that are constantly glued to these kids, I'm still trying to track down a picture that hopefully somebody took of the whole experience. I hope one exists.

Another fun weekend coming up. Today is the first day of Spring and there is a white blizzard outside? Mikayla is coming to town, Lily and Sophie are getting baptized, and Georgie is turning 21! How did I even get this age. Mid-life is certainly a roller coaster and for this brief moment we seem to be climbing. Hope it last for a while before the next stomach dropping descent.

Girl Band "A Blonde, A Brunette, and A Redhead"

A Video Clip of the ICover Atmosphere

Video footage on the stage screens to announce the girls band

Five minutes after the Third Place announcement and still ecstatic!

Clearer shot--but the expressions aren't quite as candid.

From Mikayla

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikayla
Date: Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 1:12 PM


Hello All,

I'm starting this letter early to better think of all of the spetabulous things that i have to say this week... 

...

...

well, sorry I guess it didn't work. I do have to say that I-cover was soooo awesome! Super scary but WOW! So exiting! 1,000 people pre-ordered tickets but there was also a long line there so i don't really know how many people really showed up, but there were a lot of people there! Before the show we were all sitting in the bands' section and periodically Tessia and Mackenzie would freak out and yell, it was alright though because there was a nice guy next to us calming us down and telling us not to worry about it, he was super good, his band got 2nd place and he was going crazy on the piano. Everyone was pretty funny though and it was just a fun environment! Thanks for coming down mom, I had so much fun! I hope you all didn't pass out on the ride home!

I am sooo exited to come down for the twins baptism! I have a ride down there now so it's a for sure deal! It is so exiting to see that you guys are growing up and going through these amazing life experiences! 

I still haven't found my ipod, i think i might have to cut my losses =(. I wish I could send you pictures!

It snowed here, most people were grumbling about, because they don't like snow haha, oh well, it makes it pretty outside! And it will probably be warm again tomorrow judging by the weathers bipolarity up here!

It's too bad that our spring breaks don't fall on the same week, but I will be out on the 6th of April and be back for 10 days which will be fun! exited for everything! Yo lo esperanzo estas feliz! 

Love, Love, Love you all!

From Elder Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jordan Bloomquist
Date: Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 3:32 PM

Well hello there mi hermosa familia,
  I still can´t believe you little twiners are 8 years old the pictures keep wiggin me out, but I am happy to see that you are still those cute little girls that I know.  Eden you look like you are just loving it up there on stage.
 This week has been such a blast, we have gotten a lot of work done but we have had so much fun doing it.  This new ward that I am in has so much energy flowing through it is mixed with elderly and new converts and jovenes, but even the elderly have life exploding out of them.
 Elder Palmer is super awesome as well, we get along really well. Normaly when I have a new companion there is a week were it is a little awkward trying to read them and understand how they roll, but with Palmer and I, we are from the same place so we have the same sort of back grounds, the same dumb humor and even the same exact house. It really is tight,  there is an hermana in this ward that I have gotten to know somewhat because we have been going over to her house in the mornings to paint it.  She is super funny, she is about 55 years old and loves to box, she goes to the gym every morning to practice and the other morning she goes to the temple.  There is a lot of work that needs to be done in this ward but the members are super strong and helpful and I am excited to work hard.  We will show them how Middleton boys get things done.

I love you guys a heap load
Elder Bloomquist

"Know Thyself"

It has been one of those Survival-of-the-Fittest weeks and I'm not at all sure I am among the fittest! Somehow,we made it through, despite my limited emotional capacity, and am pleased to look at the calendar and see that it is much less colorful this week. I like happenings and activity, but when I am part of the planning I do have a limit and the effects of overdose are not flattering or healthy.--you know that only too well. =)

I enjoyed going to our first ever political caucus on Tuesday. The energy that night at the Idaho Center was fun! At a crowd of 4500, we only had half of the capacity of the Ada County crowd, but it was such a potent, hands on experience to see the political process in action. We only had to vote twice, (my parents county had to vote three times) but with the size of the crowd, we were still there from 6:00-11:00. It was a nice social atmosphere, even with groups in support of all 4 different candidates. We saw many from our stake and even ran into Aunt Linda and Uncle Bruce, so there were people to visit with, but next time I will bring a book. We didn't get an actual candidate at our forum--with all of the caucuses going on in the country they all sent surrogates, two of who seemed to be local supporters with sadly unimpressive speeches. One candidate sent a video that was nicely done, but Mitt Romney sent one of his sons, who was charismatic and lent an important, personal feel to the night. I haven't always felt decisively pro-Romney. I like things lined up neatly in rows. I like blacks and whites and he has been a complex political candidate from the beginning. Fair or not, I tend to be harder on public figures who are members of the church, but over time he seems to continuously emerge as a man of integrity and unique economic experience, one or both of which the other candidates seem to lack. It's a tricky business trying to find REAL information. The news is biased--talk radio offends me--so I end up searching it all out haphazardly on my own. Stumble, trip--stumble, trip. That about sums up politics and life for me.

Lily and Sophie were both sick this week with aggravated cold symptoms, and devastatingly ended up missing their school field trip. We took our own field trip (in our little white bus) to the Doctors office and ended up in the living room park for our picnic. The twins weren't quite convinced that they still weren't missing out, but we tried to make the most of it. It sounds awful, but having my little kids home sick makes my days so much more meaningful--it adds purpose that I miss, when they are at school. Even so, after 2 and 3 days out of school, I was so grateful that they both finally registered normal temperatures on their birthday and they were so relieved that I allowed them to return to school. Their teacher said if they hadn't come back that day, he was going to bring his whole class over on a walking field trip, which was a kind sentiment. Lily still has cotton balls in her ears and is fairly deaf, but at least neither of them are in pain anymore. We had a little school party, while I was in volunteering on Friday, then Fred and I took Lily and Sophie on their birthday date to Wahooz. They have a new bowling alley there, which felt so nice and clean and refreshing--at first--but they had music videos on HUGE screens at the ends of the lanes and some of the 80's video's were so inappropriate.  By the time we left, the place was filling with families, but the atmosphere is inconsistent and often not family friendly. It's sad that entertainment anywhere seems to have dark influence invading from some corner. Luckily, our innocent little twins were intrigued with this novel game that they had never experienced, and were so excited that they were beating their parents,=( that they weren't paying as much attention to the screens as I was. Unfortunately, we were in such a huge hurry to move through there in order to get back for Eden's play that I didn't take the time to express my concerns to management, but I was offended enough that writing a thoughtful letter this morning is at the top of my to-do list.

Moral Dilemma #5,089 in my life: Where is the line between prude and pure? Really--I want to know! This week, Eden was involved in the musical Oklahoma at her high school. Of the cast over half were strong, dedicated LDS youth. So, here's my dilemma. Our family really enjoyed much of the show.The youth were incredible--such fun to watch--amazingly talented and so hilarious, at times, that I was truly in awe, but it has been a LONG time since I have seen an "Oklahoma" production and I was surprised by how dark some of the themes were and how much sexual innuendo was swirling around the script. Eden was a background character, so those parts didn't directly affect her scenes, but she was in the play, nonetheless, which is a definite support of the production. It was a deeply memorable experience for Eden and created some tight bonds and friendships which have meant so much to her. I've tried to give her opportunities in areas where she is talented and interested, but community theatre proved to be too much of a conflicting commitment for our family and enrolling in high school drama has seemed too chancy. When they announced the high school's first extracurricular Musical, we thought this would finally be Eden's chance, but I was disappointed that a different play wasn't chosen--something more pure. These kids and adults put in countless hours of volunteer time and dedication and provided the community with much to love. Of course they were "only playing parts" which were in no way indicative of who they really are, but shouldn't they be? Questions, questions! Where is the line? I wonder if there are other's, like me, who are confused and frustrated, but like me, are tired of causing a fuss. The energy in the community, among my friends and peers makes me feel that I'm alone in my confusion and when you are constantly alone, you start wondering about yourself--A LOT! It all makes my head feel murky and muddled. I don't like grey areas. I want things clear-cut. Right! Wrong! Always! Forever! The one thing I do know is that when I saw "Jud" on Sunday, standing up at the sacrament table in his white shirt, light shining from his eyes, that was right, and I was happy.

My sister throws some great kid parties--every year--for every child. I always tell her she's crazy but I'm sure her children adore her for it and we think all think she's amazing . Planning a first ever friends party for the twins, after our packed weekend, made me think I was insane. Preparations made me almost neurotic--even just figuring out who to invite was tricky--and I even made some mess-up omissions there, (I'm an overanxious anticipator) but once the party was started we had lots of fun and I learned some incredibly important lessons. It is little moments like these that help me to see clearly my weaknesses and the incredibly generous and loving natures of other people on behalf of my children and our family. Some people are so thoughtful and selfless--truly--in such different ways. Before the party started, one of Lily and Sophie's friends was dropped off a little early so her Dad could make it to a meeting with his son. He covertly asked for a butter knife because his daughter had made all these beautiful hair ribbons by hand and on the way over had discovered that one of them had been glued shut. It was sweet to watch him in our kitchen "making things all better" and then before he left, he got down on Lily and Sophie's level, expressed his sincere appreciation to them for inviting his daughter, and hugged and kissed them both (very Pres. Walkerish--like father, like son). He made them feel so incredibly special. My sister, knowing that the twins had been wanting roller blades and that they weren't getting them because we had bought them scriptures this year, bought them each a beautiful pair. A pair to share would have been generous, but two pairs was truly benevolent. That made me feel incredibly special and completely inadequate.  I called her and told her I didn't know if I should strangle her or fall at her feet in humble adoration. Of course she tried to dilute the whole thing and give Annalie and then Chris credit for the generosity. The truth is, they are just a generous family. There were so many other kind things that day--my brother offered all of the cousins rides to and from the party, which took a burden off all of their parents and made it possible for them all to be here. A sister-in-law called with a sincere desire to present a personalized, thoughtful gift--which she did, and another sister was so kind about my blunderings to invite the appropriate children in her family.The girls were all good to each other and made the morning enjoyable.The one thing I do regret is that when I looked around I realized my house was full of only LDS girls. It wasn't intentional, but it emphasized my tight knit circle. I struggle with how to expand that. Invitations to classmate parties come in constantly. I don't feel safe letting my children go to a strangers house, (LDS or not LDS) no matter how much I like the children. Twice I have caved--once with Mikayla in Mccall, and once with the twins here, but only with me in attendance. That usually makes the hostess nervous and both times, adults were drinking. I'm sure there are hundreds of families who live in good environments, but you can't just guess and if you plan a meeting and then you feel uncomfortable it makes things even more awkward. And since I feel that way, it seems hypocritical to invite those children to my girls party. Another dilemma in my enormous pile. I'm not a lover of most things attributed to ancient Greece, but what trouble the phrase "Know thyself" consistently causes me!

Quote of the week: "Earth's crammed with heaven... But only he who sees, takes off his shoes."--Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Birthday Date Bowling

Sophie's Unique Style...

...and Lily's rare form

Make a wish...

...and then you blow

Beautiful hair accessories...

...on beautiful birthday girls.

Dress-up time...

...in Crazyland!

Enjoying birthday wishes come true...

...and Spring!

Eden in Oklahoma

Singing her heart out

From Mikayla

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikayla
Date: Sun, Mar 11, 2012 at 9:21 PM
Subject: slacks

So I heard that the twins birthday party was great! Soooo awesome! I still didn't hear about Oklahoma though, how did that all turn out? I hope beautifully!  Its almost time to start the next semester which is kinda sad because everyone will be leaving. Nancy is graduating, and Kenzie is going to go to BYU w/ her missionary instead of BYUI... and Tessia will be leaving halfway through the semester (leaving me roomateless, which is depressing.) And Katelyn doesn't know yet, but she will be off track. We have all had sooooo much fun together! This semester has been awesome and their haven't really been any problems, everyone that lives here is really fun to be with! I'm just glad I have people I know with me for this first semester! Making new friends will be good to, I just hope we don't get too many crazies ( I know, like thats fair to say when I am one).

Anyway...Today was a little bit crazy! So first of all I have been sleeping in Kelsey and Kenzies room because I don't like sleeping alone, so we stayed up really late (like 3) taking pictures and then Kenzie kept crinkling a wrapper with her toes right when it was super quiet and so I smacked her and she beat me with her stuffed cow (actually she just thought she did, I rolled away). And then she was making weird moaning noises and I smacked her again and the cycle continued and Kelsey didn't sleep talk, but she usually does. The night before me and Kelsey were just taking pictures of each other in the dark and Mackenzie while she was sleeping... needless to say we didn't get much sleep. But it was fun, and better than sleeping by my self.

So then we all went to church (on even less sleep because it was daylight savings and we have early church). And when we got there I about had a heart attack several times because  at random periods in the meeting the microphone would cut out and this super loud white noise sound would blast (like the sound of the tv, but really loud). 

Then during our ward devotional there was a girl in the next room singing her little heart out and playing the piano (LOUD!) think pride and prejudice style Mary playing the piano. The door was shut but I don't think that was doing anything. It was pretty awkwardly funny.

Friday me and Kelsey and Kenzie got pizza and made this super chocolate cake and ate it...all. I know were pathetic, but it was good, and we were enjoying the sun and trying not to be sad about our ride not going through, but we are better now, because we realized that we will be home soon! 

So we found out that I-COVER is a lot bigger than we thought it would be! Remember that auditorium that the talent show was in? That is where it will be, and they said that there are going to be thousands of people there... scarry!!! There are like 12 groups and they give out different prizes to the groups like band photo shoots and recording contracts... haha well... seeing as our band only knows 1 song I don't know how that would work out for us but a band photo shoot would be fun, not that we are a legit band but I think it would be fun anyway!

I love you all soooooooo soososososo much! I hope you have a wonderful week!

From Elder Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jordan
Date: Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Dear Bloomin Famskeets,

    There is so much I have to tell you this week, first of all i just want to thank you dad for your idea, that would be a sweet way to find investigators, it would definantly be a cool way to shake things up a little.  I will give it a try and let you know what happens.  

   It sounds like things are getting intence up there baptisms, stake conference, Oklahoma plays, Birthdays, Abe, Work, school, moody weather, 2nd comming.  All kinds of Crazy stuff.  Eden who are you playing in Oklahoma?  Can you take pictures all dressed up and such?  Pictures have become one of my favorite things here in the mission they say millions of things.  

  This past week we also had stake conference.  It was broadcast from Saltlake and Elder Anderson, Sister Beck and Elder Perry all spoke, it felt very personalized when elder Anderson and Sister Beck spoke, because they actually spoke in spanish, not saying that Elder Perry was not good it was just special to here it in spanish.  Over all the messages were incredible.  So little pre story time... We have an investigator (Ramon) that went down south for his vacations but the day after he got down there he fell and broke his foot and had to be on bed rest the whole vacation, stinky vacation right, but that is not the story.  This week he got back, we went by and visited him and he said he was having a super hard time just walking around the house.  We invited him to come to the conference with us he said he really wanted to go but it was so painful to walk that he didn´t know if he could make it. We offered to find a ride and he said ok, we told him that we would come and pick him up at 9:30 in the morning. That night I prayed that he would be able to go and that his foot would be bareable.    All the plans that we had for rides fell through, we finally decided to call a taxi and just go with that but when we arrived at his house, the only thing that came out or made a noise was his dog.  Needless to say I was really disapointed,  we called off the taxi and took the bus which was much cheeper and arrived at the stake center 15 minutes later.  As we were walking up to the gates of the stake center we saw to our suprise Ramon slowly making his way in with a cane.  He said that we were't there at 9:30 so he just left walking.  I was astonished and amazed, he loved the conference and has a deep desire to learn more.  I know prayer works and that miracles are real.  President promised us that March will be a month of Miracles so be looking up there as well.  Speaking of miracles almost a year and a half a crazy kid left from Middleton Idaho to serve a mission in Chile Santiago,  nearly more than half a year ago another kid left from Middleton Idaho to serve a mission.  Today we had changes and my new companion is Coty Palmer.  I was so excited,  this change is definantly going to be a good one.

  I love ya all and hope you have a sa weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet week.

Elder...

Dad I don´t know the address to my new apartment but I will let you know what it is next week.  those mountains are impressive arn´t they, we will have to do our next father son up here.

From Mikayla

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikayla
Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 7:25 AM

Hello!

Yesterday was CRAZY! Just because I was doing something all day from 9- 10 at night! I did feel pretty cool though, we had to do a prep video for icover yesterday and we had to play our song while they had these professional cameras on us and all these crazy colored stage lights, I felt like we were famous or something... haha no but we do have to go in this week to practice with the stage presence coach which will be really cool. All the bands get to do this and I think it will make me less nervous... because I just found out the number of people that actually go to this on their icover thing it said thousands of people! AHAHHAHAH! Its okay though we are going to keep practicing... and practicing and practicing! 

I am soooo super exited to come down for the twins baptism! It does seem weird that they are in that stage of life! All of everyone is growing up! You know what this means don't you? Not less crazy children, but MORE!!!! HAHAHA pretty soon you will be bombarded with a stream of endless crazy grandchildren that will progressively get more insane as the years roll on! I know I've said that I want to live out of Idaho but I think that I just want to travel around to other places but live here. It's nice here, I love Idaho, some of my friends were talking about how they don't have mountains where they live and I think that would make me go crazy! I also just love all the nature and the people and everything. So I hope to live here it's a good environment!

I'm super exited to vote today! A lot of people are going now, even this guy from Arizona who is going to see if he can vote here now because he has lived in Idaho for school without going home for so long. I am really exited. Also they give you fun chips to vote with so that will also be fun. Good news mom, I believe that I am becoming evolutionary more effective and productive. Its natural selection, If I don't I will die! So I do. Also I might possibly be getting better at my spelling, and actually, funny as it sounds Its because of spell check, I always look to see how I've spelled a word wrong so I can remember it for later. Gotta love it.

Well love all ya'll! Sorry I didn't get this to you Sunday!

Love, Mikayla

[All grown up and still drawing us little pictures!=]

Back In My Place

It was stake conference for us this weekend and our turn to have a visiting authority. There has been a little buzz around Middleton this week that the direction had been not to have any prepared assignments for any of the sessions. I don't know how things like that get started or circulate so quickly, but it's always a cause for mild concern as you know it means the meetings will be open for spiritual spontaneity. The rumors were only partially true as there were short remarks prepared by our stake president and mission president on Saturday and then the visiting Seventy and his wife spoke and the remaining hour was filled by members being chosen out of the audience to answer gospel questions, then members chosen out of the leadership on the stand to expound on the same question and the General Authority doing follow-up on each question. The members who were put on the spot reacted with great humility and thus gave powerful insights. I will admit that our visiting Authority was a different kind of leader than I usually expect for a member of the seventy--very casual with his vocabulary and demeanor, and a little brusque. It took me off guard and I have to sadly admit that I was a bit disappointed. The adult sessions are always more intimate, which usually lends to a more comfortable atmosphere, but I usually find that engaging. For some reason I was feeling a little edgy on Saturday--sometimes I just feel punchy without being able to attach any reason and I was then.  I did feel the Spirit there in abundance but there was just this occasional internal grating for me, whenever the General Authority addressed us.

This morning, Sunday, I rose early so I'd have time to ponder  and mentally prepare to receive personal revelation during this conference session. I was already aware of the personality difference of the visiting authority, so I tried to acclimate myself to that as well, and the change in me was incredible.  As the meeting started there were some inspiring remarks by some leaders and some converts; there were some impressive testimonies by a few youth who were called out of the audience and given a topic as they passed to the pulpit and given a 10 minute time slot to fill. Unnerving and beautiful. And then Elder Webb and his wife took the remainder of the meeting and I was spiritually riveted. His demeanor hadn't changed--it didn't need to--but mine had, and what the night before had seemed to me as casualness and even calousness now appeared as a humaness that was profoundly relative and the messages sank deep into my heart and my testimony of weak things becoming strong in the Lord was once again strengthened, as it always is when I am able to briefly overcome my natural man tendencies.  I love literary eloquence. It is natural to be inspired by the words of Winston Churchill, who spent excruciating time preparing words, but it is profound, with unscripted, unsophisticated words to be seared by the Spirit and not by the speech or the speaker.  A quote from Pride and Prejudice sometimes seems appropriate for me. "My, but you are a snob!" Yes, and the Lord continually find ways to lovingly put me back in my place.

This is a big week. Caucuses are on Tuesday. Eden's High School performance of Oklahoma, which has been a time consuming commitment for her is scheduled for it's 3 big performances Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. In the midst of all that commotion Lily and Sophia will both turn eight and are in high party planning mode--two days strong, since this is the first year they have had a friend party. 

It is a tradition in our family to get a nice set of scriptures as the gift for your eighth birthday, so Fred and I  went on an excursion to Deseret Book this past week. We picked out scriptures and covers and waited to have them embossed without batting an eye, but when we got back those personalized copies and walked out of Deseret Book with two quads for such little girls, it was a little unnerving. It has all come so quickly.  Their baptism's are coming soon on March 24--the day before Jordan's 21st birthday.  It is strange to realize that a lot of these milestones are probably last's in our parenting sphere. What a final, reflective kind of feeling.

Mikayla and two of her roommates auditioned and made it into ICover, which is a campus-wide concert of student bands. She is so excited. What fun opportunities college life extends and she is balancing it all beautifully, which is an incredible accomplishment in and of itself. 

Quote of the week:  "A man sometimes devotes his life to a desire which he is not sure will ever be fulfilled. Those who laugh at this folly are, after all, no more than mere spectators of life." --Ryunoske Ahutagawa

From Elder Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jordan
Date: Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 4:06 PM

Mi querida famila, quien les amo caleta,

Another wonderful week has passed by in Chile Santiago, first I am super sorry I left the BYU I paper in the pention, I will ask to see if I can email it to you real quick tomorrow.  Next my mission is 26 miles long and about 10 miles wide not including the mountains because they go all the way to Argentina my sector is a little less than a square mile and that is not even the smallest sector.  but it is definently one of the best.   When I say the whole city leaves, during febuary they go to the beach which is just an hour away, or the south and stay there for the whole month, it is kind of weird to because normaly on the weekends everyone is out on the streets during the evenings having bbq or hangn out but the streets have been bare lately.  I exaterate a little not every last person leaves but a good majority.  We just have to look harder to find more people,  we did talk to a drunk guy the other day,  I always have a love hate relationship with those kind of people,  I love them because they are always so friendly and happy when they are drunk but I hate the fact that when we come back and they are not wasted they genarally want nothing to do with us.  But it is still fun talking with them.  We met some little kids as well this week playing soccer in the street that were really cool.  We gave them each one of those spanish CTR rings and they loved it thank again for that by the way, I only give them to the coolest of the cool.  We told them that when they had on the rings they couldn´t do or say a naughty or mean.  They agreed.  Kids are so awesome.

  

Today we woke up at 6:25 to go hike the mountains that are close to here I love going because it is increadably beautiful back there.  When we got to the waterfalls I had some time to think while just looking around and seeing so many aweing and beautiful sights and then to think that God made all of it for us.  Wow.

Te amo mas que hay peses en el mar.
Elder...

Cool Grafiti in our Sector

The Trail Hike Up

The Waterfalls

The  Pollution of the City

Weather Vanes

The weather seems to be syncing with my brain waves or my brain waves are syncing with the weather, but one way or the other we are both quite unsure of what we are supposed to be doing and seem to be blowing inconsistently hot and cold. Some mornings we start out at a chilly 20 degrees and by mid day the sun has come out and we are spreading our warming 60 degree rays only to beat against the window panes, by eventide, with rain and gusty winds. It's a little unnerving in nature but seems especially accentuated and pronounced internally as I struggle to work on my Personal Progress goals, one of which is currently being a peacemaker. I know--me? Crazy!  It seems that the more I focus on the goals at hand, the more aware I become of the uncomfortable temperature of my inadequacies making it feel like Spring will never come. My only hope is that the people I love will find the eye of the storm that is supposedly inside every tornado and stay safely there until the weather vanes stabilize.

My patriarchal blessing talks quite directly about choosing what talents I should develop and the "struggle, effort and discipline" that will entail. I received that direction at age 14--you'd think I would have developed at least a few of those talents by now, but I am just getting serious about the choosing stage. I think I have always been a late "Bloomer" in the really important things.=)

A new "For The Strength of Youth" just came out. When that happens I love to take the old version and compare them side by side, because I know how much time and prayer has gone into every single word. Eden and I did that together for the first half of the book Sunday afternoon. The sections on media and education were, not surprisingly, extended, but there was wording change in every area and a new section was added for "Work and Self Reliance". I'm excited to absorb it all.

One of Mikayla's good friends was ordained an Elder yesterday. He looked so bright and happy--definitely has that prepared missionary glow, but he is stir crazy to get going (another thing that was easy to recognize=). I told him to stay busy preparing spiritually. He's going to Antofagasta and is burstingly excited. I told him about Taylor, who has agreed to write him, so that will be fun. He'll be in Chile probably by mid-July and Jordan will be home two months after that. I never talk to him about it, but I am started to feel giddy--ecstatically giddy, anticipating. I think the last 6 months may turn out to be just as emotional as the first 6 months, but in a blissfully different realm for me and I can imagine a heart rending one for Jordan. I'm glad to be on this end.

So, I am reading the letters of E.B. White (the author of Charlotte's Web) right now. He doesn't seem to be a man who ever quite got a firm hold on what he believed religiously, but like all people, he did have strong feelings about some things which he didn't seem to recognize as religious. Those kinds of discoveries intrigue me. Speaking about civil liberties and the press to a friend he wrote, "...there is much that can be taught about rights and about liberty, including the basic stuff: that a right derives from a responsibleness, and that men become free as they become willing to accept restrictions on their acts. These are elementary concepts, of course, but an awful lot of youngsters seem to emerge from high school and even from college without acquiring them. Until they are acquired, the more subtle, intricate, and delicate problems of civil rights and freedom of speech are largely incomprehensible." I really enjoyed the wording and impact of the sentence about rights and responsibleness, and thought his taking for granted its basic-ness was intriguing. Great truth for thought. Reading a man's life letters is an odd experience, but is a truer autobiography, I think, than reflection--less engaging sometimes, but more insightful into the soul of someone and their progressions or recessions. Half-way through the book I have started skip reading letters, because as the author ages his language and some of his topics seem to deteriorate, but I have become kind of attached to him and his family and want to hang in there with him--partially-- to the end. At over 700 pages that is sometimes a chore and I don't know that we would have "got on" well, but there are some vulnerabilities and needs displayed in his letters that I occasionally recognize in myself and that has made me feel subjectively vested, not passionately, but more concerned curiosity.

Fred stayed home on Tuesday and worked from the house this week, to see if he could get more done without all of the added office distractions. I relished the idea so tried hard to keep focused on my tasks so that he would be productive. I didn't find it difficult at all but found that he needs a lot more small breaks than I do and he was the one who wanted to visit. It was nice to have that option and I so much enjoyed his company and even just his presence, even though we were doing our separate "jobs". I think it ended up being a good day for him as well. He mentioned trying it again this week. I don't dare hope for this to be a constant thing--but it is an incredibly fun thought and I will enjoy whatever extra time I can get.

Fred and I tried to go on a mini-date on Friday before Eden's stake Priest/ Laurel formal, but we didn't have much time and she needed errands run so we never made it beyond Walmart, which I try to desperately to avoid, because either I can't find what I need or the employees have no helpful information. That night we encountered both problems and by the time we made it to the front and saw the enormous lines and reconciled ourselves to the fact that we weren't going to get a date I was feeling irritated; Fred was feeling resourceful. He saw that the service desk wasn't busy so walked straight to the counter where a young man was standing, with the greeting of, "you look like a guy that knows what's going on!" The young man agreed to check us out and mentioned that we both looked familiar. I hadn't been paying much attention, but that peaked my curiosity so I looked at him carefully and saw nothing recognizable. Fred didn't either but good naturedly mentioned that we lived in Middleton where everyone looks familiar. The young man wasn't discouraged and kept questioning, "Did you by any chance live in Boise? Was it quite a few years ago? Did you live behind Gordan's? Is your name Bloomquist? It is a queer feeling to have someone mentioning details like that about you without stirring up any remote faint glimmers and so of course I was now intrigued--up close and personal. For the first time I thought to look at his name tag which just said Eric--still nothing, so I asked for his last name and when he said, "Goostrey", I let out an audible gasp, which he cutely imitated. It took me a few seconds to connect the little boy from our farm ward with the young man standing there, but what fun. At the age we knew him, he has changed much more than we have and I don't really know him (obviously), but I LOVE his parents and the things I learned about me during those years of association with them. Some people make such an impact in our lives, in such a short time. I think it was one of the few times in my life that I left Walmart more cheerful than I went in.=)

Since we didn't get a real date on Friday, Fred took me out on Saturday afternoon as well. We went to see, "Tin Tin" in a theater that was so cold that even with my wool coat and scarf on, I couldn't concentrate on much more than it being over. You McCall-ites will have to take that up with Bro. Denning for us.=) Even so, Fred enjoyed it as a fun afternoon diversion (which was about it's animated action/ adventure level) and then  we stopped for dinner at a restaurant just so we could warm up. It was fun and relaxing--and didn't even end at the grocery store. It landed me back at home with full reservoirs, adoring my children and feeling grateful for my blessings. I loathe going to town on errands but I guess I need to spend more time during the week getting my household all organized before the weekend, so I will get more of those kinds of dates. They should be a fundamental necessity.

Quote of the Week: "I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." -- Galileo Galilei

Father's and Daughters...

Sophie on Picture Day

Lily on Picture Day

Eden Before the Stake Priest/ Laurel Formal

From Mikayla

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikayla
Date: Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 5:11 PM
To: Dad
...

This week someone gave me a backpack, which was really nice and appreciated because I usually kill my back just trying to haul around half of my stuff, now I won't have to rush back to my apartment to get everything before I go to class and I can use the time to actually glean some knowledge from studying.

So Tessia, Mackenzie, and Me are trying out for I-COVER under the band name A Blonde, A Brunette, and A Redhead... I know clever right? We are going to sing a cover to arms by Christina Perry.

I did a lot of creeping this week and I think people are going to start recognizing me and I won't ever get married then! Dang it! So for Tessia's class me Tesh and Kenzie went to the MC and stared at people in the private study rooms and Tessia had to write down what there reactions were (they would usually half smile, look down, wait a few seconds, look back up, make a confused face and then pretend that we weren't there.) For my class i had to watch someone for 10 min and record what they did and guess what there major was and such and  then interview them ( we didn't have to tell them that we were creepin on em). 

Creeping is fun... but sometimes it makes me feel like a creep, as it should!

So did you guys figure out what to do on Saturday or did you just end up cleaning all day? I mean cleaning does have it's virtues so this is a non-judgment question!

Have a super week love ya!

Mikayla

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikayla
Date: Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 6:07 PM
To: Mom

Good Evening,

Just came to write you a little letter. I actually came and sat on the couch and was about to write you a letter and then I fell asleap with my head back and started snoring and woke myself up.

I am so proud of myself for keeping track of my time and money, it really destresitizes things. Its been pretty windy up here, but besides that it's been getting a li'l warmer. 

I told dad already but me and Tessia and Mackenzie are trying out for icover, I'm going to play the guitar, Tessia is going to do the melody and piano and Mackenzie is going to Harmonize. It will be fun even if we don't make it. Or maybe we will become famous, one of the two. 

So we went to this show and these two hipster girls sang Dee Da Dee da doe da doe doe (that song from robin hood) They were awesome! They had kazoo's and ukelelies and a mini guitar, it was super fun to listen too! I really want to learn it, but it just wouldn't be the same, I will have to find some other song to play thats almost as cool! Any suggestions? 

They have a lot of free shows here and it's super cool! How did your guys's non-work party go? Oh and I remembered the name of the game, it's called NERTZ. IT's fun, the more people there are the more fun it is as well!

Have you a wonderful week! Love you!

Mikayla

Sweet Dreams are Made of These

I wish I would have snapped a photo, but picture this scene:  Mikayla has been home from college for two full days and we have all hung on her every minute. By Sunday night she's exhausted and laying on her makeshift bed on the floor of her room--eyes closed, with Lily sitting on one side and Sophie on the other, both writing schedule lists of all the things they are planning on doing with her on Monday, before we had to pack her up around 3:00! To her credit as an amazing big sister, they were all up by 6:30 and accomplished almost the entire list. She is going to be a fantastic mother.=)

Sohie's List

Lily's List

It was High Council Sunday Lily spent the time drawing the speaker, whose parents are in our ward and were sitting directly behind us.  She got frustrated with the face so asked Mikayla to draw that and then proceeded to embelish her drawing the rest of the time. The High Councilor's mother, who had apparently been watching her, leaned over and praised Lily and asked if she could have the drawing to give to her son. Lily was so self conscious that she nodded and then fled to primary with the picture still in her hand.=) When we got home I didn't try to take away the original, but asked if we could e-mail the mother a copy--thus the to/from inscription.

My Detailed Little Artist

From Elder Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elder Jordan
Date: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 4:44 PM

Dear Bloomin yahoos,
  This week was a little bit difficult because every single one of our
investigators is on vacation right now.  So we went looking on our
ward list but 80 percent of the people on the list had moved or were
not there at the moment.  It is always frustrating when you can´t
teach lessons but I figure it is a lesson for us on patients and
endurence.
  As you know it is summer here so all the fruit is in full bloom and
it is super cheep.  Many of the members load us up with fresh fruit
that they just bought in the feria or let us go pick it from the trees
in there back yard.  I know I have said this a million times but I
love the chilean people they are so friendly and generous.  I may live
here some day.
  With the Missionary Admission Deferment I will send that back to you
next week because my I number is in the house.
   Something I learned this week is that Working out is a lot like our
life,  we all want to look good to some point, but we cant do that by
sitting around and doing nothing all day.  That would definantly be
eaisier but not better.  In life we have to have trials so that we can
learn and build spiritual muscels.  At first it may seem dificult,
really dificult but maybe we are out of shape.  So enduring and
pressing forward will help it to become easier so we can grow.  The
trick is that in working out if you get out of a regular rutine or
slack off you wont have good results.  It may seem that as you go on
the weight becomes lighter and lighter or the distance becomes shorter
and shorter but really you are just becoming stronger and stronger.
I love yall tanto tanto mas que hay estrellas en los cielos.  Tengan
una semana buenisima
Elder Bloomquist

Celebrations

Mikayla is home this weekend.  We cleared the calendar for three days and spent the first one visiting, playing games (of which, of course, she whipped us), treasure hunting, cooking, cleaning a TINY bit (it's just got to be done=) and watching a movie. This morning Mikayla and I are up alone in this quiet house, with the sunlight streaming in through the picture window. She's looking at artwork of Christ on her computer and I am writing you. I look forward to a more contemplative day together. What a joy to have our children around us!  It has been sweet.

Last weekend our stake had a Sadie Hawkins dance. I'm not sure exactly what auxiliary hosts it, but it has become a tradition to ensure that women get at least one Valentines date a year. =) When you formally ask your spouse to a dance he can't say no. Our friends invited us to join a group of couples for a potluck dinner and game night before the dance. What fun! We laughed and laughed, which was refreshingly enjoyable; it was fun to feel so youthful. Most of the couples dropped out of the loop when we headed for the dance, but there were a few of us who were glutton's for punishment and were swayed by the advertisement for an old time live band. I was hoping for "the swinging 50's" but it was more like "the rocking 70's". When the music got so loud we couldn't visit normally and they started a circle dance where you had to continually change partners and they started singing lyrics that I couldn't hear but which the YW president said were inappropriate, we decided it was time to go. It was fun while the slow songs lasted and good to see so many people that we loved, but unfortunately there will always be differences of standards and opinions when it comes to music. We did see some really fun and talented dancing and Fred and I were wishing we could ever retain anything from our social dance college days. Our former home teacher and his wife usually give us mini lessons, each year during the dance, but the music just wasn't that compelling and even they weren't dancing that much. Maybe, one day Fred and I can take dance lessons again, but Fred says he just doesn't feel it and I can't retain in as little as we do it, so I don't know if that will ever be a success.=)

Valentines Day was sublime. It has always been such a cheery holiday, but kudos to Fred for being ultra sincere and taking the day off from work to spend almost every minute together. It seems like he had a barrage of phone calls from teachers and students which he had to take since he wasn't in the office, but every time it got a little long, I'd hear him tell them that he had taken the day off to spend with his wife, so he'd talk to them tomorrow. Much of our day was spent in doing errands, helping at class parties and taxiing kids to choir, but he did take me out for a nice, quiet lunch at a little Greek restaurant and we even got some good quality time on a home date when the children had been put to bed. His time was all I needed and the best gift of all, but he couldn't help himself and bought me flowers and chocolates as well. It was nice and relaxing and non-stressful, which was different than most holidays where I try to do too much. With him there I just didn't feel the need.. Taking a day off from work, piled his responsibilities twice as high the next day, so the gift of quality time was a selfless sacrifice and so thoughtful. Of course I made a traditional Bloomquist Valentines Breakfast but the table never got quite as pretty as usual as it was a school day and we were eating in hurried shifts, but it started the day out right for my children anyway.

We have been asked to go out on Tuesdays or Thursdays as ward missionaries and to be strictly observant of not staying at anyone's home longer than 30 minutes, but we started at at sisters house who is single and mostly retired and quickly found the task impossible--at least tactfully. We were there for two hours!-- and still had to carefully extricate ourselves. It is amazing how much you can find out about someone when they do all of the talking, for that amount of time--without pausing. It was a pleasant visit for us and she seemed to really enjoy our being there. She did eventually tell me she used to think I was "stuck up". =) That's one of those statements that catch you off guard. She's not the first person who has told me that after getting  comfortable with me.  Chris Sparks from our farm ward said he used to think I was a "snob". They are both extremely extroverted people so I'm not sure if it is just that our personalities are so different or they are the only ones bold enough to state their opinions on the subject. Either way--not something you ever really want to hear. I'm just grateful in both cases that that statement came out in past  instead of  present tense as that would have been awfully awkward. Funny thing....I love both of those people!

Tomorrow is President's day so we'll get to just "hang" for one more day together before Mikayla heads back up in the late afternoon. Jordan's influence is here everywhere with us as well. It's an incredible thing to always feel so close no matter how many miles are between us.

Quote of the week:
"Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness." -- George Sand

Dressed For Sadie Hawkins

Valentines Breakfast

Meaningful Gifts