Whitney Awards

I got to give my husband a standing ovation this past week. I loved it!

Rob just finished up the first ever Whitney Awards. It is an awards program for LDS books and it has been a year since my husband brainstormed the idea with friends. Since last spring the Whitney Awards have been the subject of much conversation and anxiety in our house. It was all worth it! The banquet went off beautifully. I was given the opportunity to sit at a table with authors Heather Moore, Michelle Holmes and Dean Hughes. I actually requested that I not be put at Dean Hughes table because I am an incredibly shy person and I am a fan of Dean Hughes but my sweet husband said he "tried everything" and had to put me at that table. He is good at gentle nudges. It was a great table. The Hughes were very kind of course. Michelle and Heather were so good.

It was so fun to watch the authors win. They all seemed genuinely excited and honored. I think besides standing to acknowledge what an wonderful man I married my favorite part of the evening was watching the two women at my table get awards. They were not expecting to win so their gratitude was so sincere. I felt blessed to be surrounded by such incredible people.

Now that the dinner is over Rob can breath for a few days (finals week is coming) and I will get to see him around the house now and then. Even though the Whitney's brought a high level of stress to our lives I loved it and can't wait until next year.

Grandpa

I was thinking today while I walked to my daughter's school about my husbands grandfather Lowell Alley Wells. I was thinking how I never knew him the way the rest of the people in the family knew him. But I was also thinking how much I loved him and that I hope he is watching our little family and is pleased.

When Rob and I got married we moved in with Grandpa to help take care of him and his house. He had Alzheimer's. It was difficult to be newlyweds and not have very much time alone. Grandpa had a few quirks. He always woke up with a swear word. He always had the same breakfast and for dinner he wanted to be able to distinguish what he was eating. Which was challenging for me. He was very sweet to me though. He didn't know who I was but he was always kind. He liked to hear music. I would play the piano sometimes and he would sit and listen. One time he remembered the hymn I was playing and sang a little bit. We actually only lived with grandpa for four weeks. After those four weeks he was moved into an assisted living home only a few blocks away. once a week I picked up his laundry and visited with him. He still didn't know who I was but he always seemed glad to see me and I enjoyed sitting with him. He talked about the city he could see out his window and the weather.

About three weeks into our stay with grandpa in his home my father had a heart attack at work. I found out that he was in the hospital in bad condition while I was at work and I called Rob who was also at work. I drove home and he ran home (his work was only a few blocks away). I drove home crying. I didn't know if my dad was even still alive. Rob met me on the doorstep and we went in to call family and find out what hospital had my dad. Grandpa was there and noticed how upset I was. He was so sweet and kind to me. He was concerned and I felt so loved by him. That was all but it made a huge difference in my life and I have remembered it often.

I hope he and Rob's grandma Willie are watching us and are glad we are in their family. I am glad I am in theirs.

Holly

My daughter is so funny. She was telling us a story in the car on the way home from Salt Lake. In the story there was a monster with no eyes. Rob commented that it would be easy to get away from a monster with no eyes. Holly ticked her tongue and said "Dad this isn't a real story". On this same drive she decided to make up her own version of "the Twelve Days of Christmas". Rob sensing that this would be a long song tried to gently persuade her not to sing it. She said "But Dad it is going to be funny" in her most disgusted voice. We of course had to listen and participate after her very convincing proposal.

The funniest thing my daughter ever did I hesitate to tell. It involves a very good primary teacher. At the risk of offending anyone be assured if you were one of Holly's primary teachers this story is not about you. Anyway after church one day (a long time ago) Holly came into the Relief Society room where I was packing up my things. She plopped down next to me and set a piece of paper on my lap. It was a picture she had drawn in primary. She explained that the picture was of her primary teacher. I looked at her rendition and noticed that the teacher had little squiggly lines around his body. I asked Holly what the lines were. She looked at me a little funny and said "He's a stinky guy". It was so hard not to laugh. The only thing I could think was where did Holly learn to draw stink lines? I tried to praise her picture but I needed to know the damage so I asked her if she had shown her teacher the picture. She said she had. I am not sure if she actually told him what it depicted. I don't think I want to know. How do you teach a child to be discreet without crushing them? I opted to ignore the situation until it rears its ugly head again.