While our nest is headed towards empty with Afton’s graduation, Gerrit and Macy’s nest grew with the birth of Eliza Jane Smith on May 28, 2024.
Continue reading “Nest Expansion”Nest Shrinkage
The high schools here do an alternating day schedule so that students have half their classes on “A” days and the other half on “B” days. They also publish a Google Calendar that students and families can subscribe to in order to keep track of which day it is — especially helpful after long weekends and holidays. Since my “magic mirror” also shows calendar items, it was easy to glance and see what the school day would be like. I unsubscribed from that calendar yesterday.
Continue reading “Nest Shrinkage”Rio
If you just want the highlights, see the video at the bottom of the page. Otherwise, read on…
When Afton was working on her class schedule for high school a couple of years ago, and I saw that a Portuguese class was being offered, I bribed her into taking it by telling her I’d taker her to Brazil if she did.
Continue reading “Rio”The Highs and Lows of Rage
A couple of years ago, Afton’s soccer coach decided that she was just too short to play goal keeper. But because he hadn’t let her play any other position for the 8 months she had been on his team, he decided she ought to pursue playing opportunities elsewhere. That was heartbreaking, and did not lead to Rage.
Continue reading “The Highs and Lows of Rage”Gerrit’s Homecoming
“He’s done already!? Wow! Did that seem fast to you, too?”
That was a pretty typical response from ward members when they learned that Gerrit was finishing his mission to Hong Kong and would be home November 14th. Yes, sometimes it seemed to go fast. Other times slow. And now that he’s home, somewhat dream-like. Did that really all happen?
Continue reading “Gerrit’s Homecoming”Epic United Kingdom Trip
As alluded to last time, Shannon and I joined some other family members in September for a trip to the English village of Combe Martin, where my great-grandfather Richard Norman was born in 1850. He emigrated as a young man to Utah, and now lies interred in the city cemetery within walking distance of my current home.
Continue reading “Epic United Kingdom Trip”Driving on the Other Side
When you talk to the non-British about driving in the United Kingdom, the first comment is always about driving on the “wrong” side of the road. After spending a week and a half driving across England and Scotland, I can assert that left-side driving was the easy part.
How to Be a Skinny Person
According to various formulas developed between 53 and 35 years ago, I’m right in my ideal weight zone. Some people have even called me “athletic-looking”, which I think is a sycophantic way of saying “skinny”. Therefore, I thought I’d kindly share with you all how I manage it.
Sahm Dai Gweilo
Sahm Dai Gweilo — Google says the Cantonese word for three is Sahm. Depending on the context Dai might mean family generations. Gweilo translates as western men so I’m hoping this is how you’d represent my three generations of men — in China.
Continue reading “Sahm Dai Gweilo”
The Last Autumn Leaf
November 8th seemed impossibly far away when Gerrit opened his mission call back in June and learned of his assignment and reporting date. As he’s watched his friends get their calls after his, but leave before him, he’s said that he feels like the last autumn leaf clinging to the tree. But the day has finally come.