farewell teenager

Twenty years ago at this very moment I was waddling the halls of Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado (pausing every now and then to breathe my way through a contraction). Emily was preparing to make her grand entrance into the world and despite the fact that I was having regular contractions, the nurses were not satisfied with my progress and suggested I walk the halls to speed things along. Suffice it to say that I am really glad it's 2010 and not 1990.

Little did I know at the time that the Lord was sending me one of His most amazing children to call my own.

Two years ago, before Emily left for college, I made a "10 Things I Love About You" book for her birthday. Though there are way more than just ten admirable, lovable, and endearing things I love about my second child, here are the ones I documented in her book:

• You are one of the hardest-working people I know. You don’t mind doing dirty jobs, and you do what it takes to get the job done—be it cleaning a bathroom, finishing a school assignment, or canvassing the streets of downtown Denver passing out flyers.


• I love your sense of humor! You’re not afraid to be a little goofy sometimes, and that just makes life all the more enjoyable.

• You’ve got a great sense of style. I love the way you combine textures, pattern, and color to come up with just the right outfit. I also love that you sometimes plan your outfits first on paper.

• Your priorities are in the right place. I love that I never have to guess on which side of the line you stand. I love you for making time for the things that matter most—you are an example to me and gentle reminder of the qualities I want to cultivate in myself.


• I love seeing your tithing envelope clipped to the strip by your door.


• I love your “Wood Eyes.” They are warm and true—just like your Dad’s.


• While everyone else screams, “SHOTGUN!” while racing to the car, you quietly—without murmuring—get in the back. I love the selflessness I see in you. I am often the surprised beneficiary, enjoying a freshly-mopped kitchen or a Clorox-fresh bathroom. Thank you.


• I love that you enjoy baking treats for our family and for others. You are so thoughtful and willing to go out of your way to brighten someone’s day with a homemade bit of goodness. (Side note--One of our favorite Emily quotes, when we were talking about social drinking: "I think cupcakes are the social lubricant!")

• Nothing is quite as satisfying as making a list. I love that you are a planner—a planner of parties, college financing, cleaning jobs, school assignments—you’ve got it all covered with one of your lists. I will miss seeing them posted by your door.


• I may make fun of it, but deep down I really like your serial-killer handwriting. (If you've seen it, you know what I mean.)


• I love and appreciate your determination to finance your college education. I see how frustrating it is at times—and wish we could do more to help you—but you never complain or express a sense of entitlement. I’m so proud of your hard work and dedication to making your own way.

So--although I miss the darling little girl who danced in front of the video camera in our old home videos and made goofy faces--and I sometimes feel like time passes all-to-quickly--I love the beautiful young woman you have become.

I thank my Heavenly Father every day for sending you to me.

Happy 20th Birthday, Emily!

10 things I love about costuming

1. The entire creative process, from conception to realization.

2. Shopping for fabric and patterns--the joy of textiles in general.

3. Spending time and (sometimes) being goofy with some of the most wonderful friends I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Feeling like a contributing member of my community.

4. Spending time with my kids and seeing them perform.

5. Finding the PERFECT accessories for the leading lady's ball gown.

6. Having the ability to see to it that my daughter has one of the cutest dresses in the chorus.

7. The secret pleasure of seeing some of my mother's and my old clothes and hats on stage (the coral dress with black buttons is one my mother made for herself about 50 years ago. The white hat is one my sister made for my mom about 15-20 years ago. The black and fuchsia dress on the left edge of the photo below was one of mine from the '80's).

8. The satisfaction of witnessing The Twirl Factor in action.

9. Making every performer feel like they look terrific--whether it's the leading lady or someone who stands in the back in the chorus.

10. Getting to know my kids' friends and classmates.

(I made this list so I will have something to remind myself of over the next six weeks. )

man of the hour

Poor Mark often gets the short end of the stick when it comes to birthday celebrations. He turned 48 today, and in completely uncharacteristic Wood family fashion, we did little more than eat take-out Mexican food from our favorite local dive in the basement tonight to honor the occasion. No cake. No pie. No singing. No gifts. No photographs.

I could bore you with my detailed excuses and promised plans to make it all up to him, but instead I want to share what I had planned to say about him at the birthday dinner table. (Have I ever mentioned our birthday tradition of going around the dinner table and saying something you like, admire, or remember about the birthday honoree?)

I can never narrow my comments to just one thing, so here a few things I love about Mark on his 48th birthday:

• He drives John to early-morning seminary at 6 a.m. Monday - Friday--as in, EVERY day, not taking turns with me, no matter the weather or the amount (or lack thereof) of sleep he has received the night before. He also picks up another seminary student in our ward on the way. Did I mention that I have NEVER driven to seminary this year?
• I have absolute and complete trust in his fidelity and faithfulness to me. I have never doubted it.
  
• He never makes me feel guilty for doing the things I like to do, whether it's scrapbooking with my friends into the wee hours of the morning, singing and performing, going to Philadelphia for a week to work with my sister, or the insane costuming gig I take on every spring. This is not to say that he loves me doing all of these things, or that he doesn't secretly roll his eyes when I complain about being tired and over-booked, but he nevertheless allows me the freedom of creative expression and supports me in doing so.
• He saves the last bite of chocolate pie for me when it's left in the refrigerator after a Sunday dinner.
• He loves my dog quite possibly as much as I do and secretly does things to spoil her.
• He does dishes, cleans bathrooms, and vacuums.
• Though he likes to keep it quiet, he's a closet Jane Austen fan.

Happy birthday Mark! One of these days I'll make all of those lost December birthdays up to you.

better late than never

Since returning from Susan's late Sunday night, I've been running fast trying to play "catch-up," with seemingly little success. It feels like having to jump onto a treadmill that is already moving at an alarmingly rapid pace and having to just start running as fast as I can without really stopping to think, in an effort to merely keep from falling off and hurting myself. And wouldn't you know that this week is one of those with commitments every night! They're all enjoyable things I've been looking forward to, but I confess I'm rather tired to face such a hectic week on the heels of a tiring, albeit fun, one.

Blogging, of course, has been on my list. Mark's forty-seventh birthday was on Monday. Thankfully, Mark is easy to please. We celebrated by having a simple steak dinner at home with just the kids and my parents. It was quieter than most Wood birthday celebrations, but I rather enjoyed the change of pace. His cake of choice was homemade banana cake, courtesy of my mom--the Master Cake Maker.

Thank goodness I had planned ahead and started his "10 Things" album a few weeks ago. At least I had one gift to wrap. I also gave him a coupon for a date with his own personal shopper--me--to buy new clothes for his new size (he has lost over forty pounds in the last year--woo hoo! Way to go!).

Here he is with his album, which was is in a 6x6 format, black and cream with accents of red. One of my favorites of his Ten Things is number 10:

• "I love you for loving me the way I am, and for who I am. I love feeling that your love for me is wholly unrelated to the state or condition of my hair, my weight, or even my mood. When at times I see only the glaring flaws within myself, you see something better. Thank you."

And here he is with me, his wife of 23 years. Happy birthday, honey! I love you.

finding my groove

Nothing like a busy life to yank me out of the doldrums. Sarah's 10th birthday is tomorrow (I've always lamented the close proximity to Charlotte's birthday) and I've been staying up late trying to finish her "10 Things" album. I've chosen a pink and orange color scheme which, coincidentally, coordinates with the palette we've chosen her bedroom makeover (that will be her main gift this year, but we're just starting the project--hopefully it will be finished by Halloween!).

I only got teary-eyed once yesterday, which is progress. I did catch myself, however, when I was making a mental list of the many things I still have to do to get ready for Sarah's birthday, and I thought, 'Oh, I'll get Emily to make the cookies for Sarah to take to school on her birthday.' Yeah, right. Guess I'll have to make them myself. {sigh}

Life goes on, and I'm gradually getting back into my--new and revised--groove. More to follow.

Happy Birthday Dear Charlotte!

My feet are killing me, but what a fantastically fun birthday celebration we had for Charlotte today! We (meaning Charlotte, Emily, my mom, and I) went shopping for the better part of the day; Charlotte received money for her birthday to shop for a new fall wardrobe. I have no doubt she'll post more about this. The four of us made quite a dynamic team as we scanned the racks and pulled things for her to try on. It's fun to shop with someone who looks good in everything she tries on--well, perhap everything except this scary 70's hippie dress Emily brought into the dressing room. . . .

In Emily's defense, it was one of those dresses that looked slightly better on the hanger.

My favorite part of any Wood birthday celebration has become our tradition of going around the dinner table after we're finished eating--but before we have cake--sharing our favorite memory, character trait, etc. about the birthday person. After everyone has shared what they like best, the birthday girl (in tonight's case) has to state what she likes best about herself. I love what Charlotte said about herself: "I like that I have faith, and that I know Heavenly Father knows me and has a plan for me--even when I don't always know what that plan might be."

I have also started a tradition this year of making a "10 Things I Love About You" album for each of my children on their birthdays. I love making these albums because I have found that magnifying another's strengths increases my love for that person.

Perhaps when it is not so late I'll share some of my ten things. For now, suffice it to say that I love and admire Charlotte for the beautiful young woman she has become, and feel priviledged to be her mother.

Happy 21st Birthday Charotte! I love you.