The Long Lost Blog - Part 2

Now let's see... where are we?

• I have been working feverishly on the house. I've put together all the rooms, and have been planning and sewing curtains for all the windows, which is a huge undertaking.
• I've been practicing the piano for about 30 minutes every day. I am improving a little bit every week, and it is amazing to think of how far I've come since I started some months ago!
• I have 4 callings now at church. I am the chorister for Sacrament Meeting. This past Sunday, the sub for the organist and I couldn't figure out how to make it loud enough, so it was a rough go. On one of the songs, people apparently didn't know it well enough, and I had to sing as loud as I could! I am not a soprano, and it went all the way up to a D! Too high. I did my best, and most of the congregation could hear me singing which usually doesn't happen. Seth and I are the Primary teachers for the CTR B class, which is ages 5-7. We have our hand full with them, but they are fun, and we are learning a lot. Seth and I are both also on the Activities Committee, which isn't too intense of a calling, but still another thing to do. I am in charge of 2 Relief Society Enrichment Groups, Book Club and Spanish Group. Book Club is just a regular book club. I really enjoy it, and I am all about literary analysis and discussion. I have read so many books this summer, and haven't watch really any TV, and not many movies. I am very proud of that, and will have to write a blog sometime about all the wonderful books I've read this summer. Spanish Group is something I felt the need to start so that I could practice my Spanish. We meet about 3 times a month to practice Spanish conversation, reading, and vocabulary. It has been a real success, and takes up a lot more time than I expected, but my Spanish is getting better every day.
• One of my closest friends, Leah Anderson came to stay with us for a week in July. She is the one who got Seth and me into teaching English in Guatemala. It was wonderful!!! I am so glad she came to visit. We tried to spoke in Spanish a lot of the time, saw some sites (Kirtland, OH) ran over my toe with a shopping cart (very painful and traumatic experience), went to my classes, cooked a lot of great food, visited my Aunts Laura and Candi in Columbus, and basically had a ball!
• We've made a lot of new friends this summer from church and some from my classes at school. We are really getting to know our neighbors better. It is nice to have such great support and community all around us.
• I've been trying to write more letters to my family and to my brother-in-law Jacob on his mission, and I am trying to write more in my journal. When I was blogging before, and not writing in my journal, it seemed something was missing... a personal aspect of what you feel free to write when you are not publishing it for the world to see. So, now I just need to find some sort of balance so that I can do both. Maybe I will just take 15 minutes once a week and try to post so I can keep you all up to date on the goings on at the Wagner home.
• During my 10 day break between summer and fall semesters, I went to Utah for a week to help my mother-in-law, Jeena, to get ready to move to Cleveland. It was a busy time packing, organizing, cleaning, getting the car ready, etc. Seth's cousin Jarom got married, and he and his family stayed at Jeena's for part of the time. It was fun to get to know them. I got to visit my sister Hannah, and her new husband, Michael. We even did got to go to ordinances in the Salt Lake Temple. That was my first time there, other than when I got married, and it was a wonderful experience. I got to visit my Mom's parents and sister, and that was nice because Utah is far away now, and we don't get to see them very often. Jeena and I drove the 2,000 miles back to Cleveland together. It was a 3 day trip, very long. I'm glad not to be in the car all the time. How do truck drivers do it?
• Seth and I bought Jeena's 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue from her, so it will be wonderful to have a second car now that I go to school and Seth works so far away.

OK, well I will leave it at that for the summer happenings. There was a lot more, but this is a pretty good summary. I hope that some of you will still check my blog once in a while. Sorry I've been a slacker for the last 4 months, but I'm back, and I will at least post 2 times a month.

The Long Lost Blog - Part 1

Hello all,

I know it has been so long, it is overwhelming to come back to this forlorn blog of mine. Let me just tell you it has been a busy summer. I don't know how I could possibly tackle it all and add pictures at the same time without going crazy, but I will list some of the things I have done this summer to give you an update, and I am sure you will understand why the blog seemed to fall into the oblivion of things that didn't make the priority list.

• My older sister, Hannah, got married on June 21st. It was a lot of preparation. I made all the table runners, planned, bought, prepared, and transported, most all of the decorations for the reception, helped with the flowers, including making Hannah's bouquet. Our family pretty much put the whole of the celebration together. It was a very busy time. We are very happy for Hannah and Michael. Someday soon, I will post pics of the Dimond wedding.
• I have since finished my first semester of my Masters of Education in TESOL (Teaching ESL). I took block classes, The Psychology of the Adult Learner, and Curriculum and Instruction. It was intense with the work load, and adjusting to being back in school, and trying to figure out Cleveland State University, but I made it through, and got two A's, so I'm pleased. I learned a lot in both classes. Going to college not at BYU Idaho is very different. I miss having a prayer at the beginning of the class uniting with classmates and instructor to seek for the spirit to be with us. But the diversity has been a great opportunity to learn and grow.
• I have been perfecting my resume over and over and have been looking all summer for a job that would help me pay for school. That has taken up a lot of time and stress and frustration. I wanted to be a Graduate Assistant (GA). These are the best campus jobs for graduate students because 10 hours of work per week will pay in-state, full-time tuition. If you get a 20 hour GA position, the second 10 hours gives you a really good stipend (cash money). I looked high and low for one, and nothing was turning up. We kept praying and fasting and paying our tithing, and I kept searching for a job. Finally, someone I knew in my class said they knew of an open position in their department, Student Activities. I met with the director, and it didn't seem to me like it would be a great fit. But then my friend introduced me to the director of the tutoring center. I got an immediate interview, and they offered me an hourly paying 20 hr. per week job on the spot. My supervisor was very energetic and enthusiastic. I was way excited to tutor international students in English. The next day I got called to set up an interview with Student Activities. I was surprised, but said I would do the interview. I didn't feel good about it, and after a lot of reflection, and talking to people to try to figure myself out, I respectfully withdrew myself from consideration. That same day I got called for a GA interview in Teacher Education! The Lord works in mysterious ways. I took the interview, apparently wowed them, and they offered me a 20 hour GA position right in the interview. I accepted with bitter-sweet feelings. This will pay for my degree, and it is in a good department, but I was sad to have to quit my tutoring job. I feel like I made the right decision, although the road has started out quite bumpy. I officially start my GA job tomorrow in The Department of Teacher Education for the Middle Childhood Ed. Program.
• I have been applying for Ohio residency so that my tuition cost would be cut in half. That was a crazy process. It was much easier to get married and change my name! I think if anyone was in the business of stealing identities, all they would have to do is find the 30 page packet of information I had to compile to apply. I was just approved for residency, so my tuition will be about half as much. Yay!

Well, we will just start with that because I need to get to sleep, and tomorrow I will try to put in 15 minutes to continue the epoch of my summer activities.

Mother's Day

My wonderful husband got me flowers. I love him, and I love flowers!

First Barbecue of the Year!

We had another great weekend. The weather was pretty great. On Saturday I went to a ward garage sale and got 2 rocking chairs, a lot of fabric I can use to make sheer curtains and an entire box of binders for $20! I love garage sales! Seth mowed the lawn. (Thanks, Seth!) He did a great job, and it looks so much nicer. We are going to try to grow some grass in the patchy areas maybe this week.

Then Seth took the car in for an oil change and found out we are going to have to get a brakes overhaul. Our roters are messed up, and the brakes squeak a lot. The place we've been going to is all the way out in Mayfield by Costco. If anybody knows of a good mechanic that is closer to Cleveland Heights, please tell us!

We also went to buy the fabric for the curtains I am going to make in all the downstairs rooms. Seth is such a trooper. He went with me to the store every time. What a great husband I have!

We are in the Kirtland Stake, and we had Stake Conference this weekend. I really enjoyed it. I learned so much and felt the spirit. Seth and I both came a way more committed to preparing to go to the temple, and to participate in the ordinances done in the temple more often.


My Aunts Laura and Candi were up in Cleveland for the weekend. We got to have a barbecue with them and eat out on the porch. We had a delicious dinner, and it was a great picnic! I love eating outside! We have such a great porch. We are just looking now for a long folding table to use on the porch, and they are so expensive in stores! So we'll have to keep looking on Craigslist and at garage sales.

After our delicious meal we had a great dessert, ate almost all the rest of the Easter candy, and played "Pass the Pigs" and "Euker." Candi and Seth won. It was a lot of fun.

Wagner Home Tour - Part 2: The Front Yard in Spring

For a look at what the house looked like in the fall, go to this old post.

We painted our front door red. (One side used to be blue, the other purple.) You can't see the color too well because of the screen in the door, but it looks really nice.

We have had lots of daffodils and tulips come right up all over the place. It is beautiful.

I spend a lot of time gardening. I don't know a lot, but I am learning. I can now identify almost all of the plants in our yard.

A Great Weekend

This Saturday, we got to watch our niece Hadley and nephew Hyrum while their parents and grandparents went to the temple. We had a lot of fun jumping on their trampoline, playing with the cat and toys, and going through the sprinkler. It was 85 degrees in April! Go figure.

They have fun personalities, and sure know how to have a good time. It's wonderful to be close to family. We are so lucky to have family in so many places, so we have a lot of options on where to live. Personally, I really like Cleveland.

It was our friend Theresa's birthday on Sunday. We had a birthday dinner for her. Seth baked an amazing ham, and a lot of red potatoes and wild rice, the Carpenters brought veggies, great mashed potatoes and a German chocolate cake. It was all fantastic!Happy Birthday Theresa! This was my first day as ward chorister. I didn't do my very best. I was a little nervous, but I don't think anyone noticed anyway, most of them weren't watching. A few really nice people told me they appreciated my leading or thought I looked nice, so that made me feel better. It is nice to be able to wear summer dresses again!

I have been a part time nanny for the Carpenter's for a couple weeks now so that Eva can teach a cooking class at Legacy Village (She's a chef). Caleb and I have a lot of fun, even though I don't always understand what he's saying. Quentin is fussy sometimes; he has a cast on his leg because of his club foot, and that can't be comfortable. But he has the deepest blue eyes, and he has a cute smile! Caleb developed a pretty great chocolate beard, and he had a lot of fun playing with the kitty.

P.S. Watch this, it's a pretty awesome video. It's an instrumental arrangement of Love Story meets Viva La Vida. (I love Coldplay!) with the piano and cello, 2 of my 3 favorite instruments.

Creation

Lately, I've really been finding my creative side, and I am having fun with it! I love to decorate, cook, write, sing, and play the piano. It is really fulfilling work to do.

CINNAMON AND ORANGE PEELS

Ok, so I was using paint remover the other day in my house, and let me just tell you that it is toxic! It smells so terrible. So I was thinking of ways to make my house smell inviting instead of repelling, and this is what I can up with. Get a couple sticks of cinnamon, fill a pot with water, stick it on the stove and boil it for however long you want to. Today I ate and orange, stuck the peel into the mixture and boiled it again. My whole house smells delicious! And it doesn't use aerosol, it is completely natural, it helps your house not to be so dry, it last longer, it's so cheap, and you can use it more than once! (*Just remember to keep filling the pot with water, or it will be empty soon and the contents will burn.)

TORTILLA ROLLUPS

This is what I made myself for lunch. I thought it looked pretty beautiful, so I had to share it because it tastes great too! All you need is some cream cheese, some type of tortillas, lettuce, and any kind of lunch meat. Get a cutting board, a knife and a plate and you are set. Spread some cream cheese, put on the meat then the lettuce, roll it up and cut the roll into pieces. A fun lunch or appetizer that even kids will love!

The Work of Creation
The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children.
You might say, “I’m not the creative type. When I sing, I’m always half a tone above or below the note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or as a doorstop.”
If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.
But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy.4 Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things.
If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.
You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.5 The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.
If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.
Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”6
The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.

"Happiness, Your Heritage," by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, General Conference, Relief Society Session, October 2008

Read the talk in Text format. Listen to talk in Audio format.

I listened to it and read along, and I can tell you it is really worth your while to take some time out of your day to do this. You will feel better about yourself, you will feel more motivated and talented. It really helped me to be excited about the opportunities I have to create, and also to serve others with compassion.

Food seems better to eat when it looks fun! Especially healthy food. We had my neice and nephew over on Saturday. The 8 year old, Hadley said she didn't like cucumbers or tomato soup, so Hyrum, the 4 year old said it too (she has soooo much influence on him. If she says Eww, he won't even try it.) Anyways, we had this great dip to go with it and said they each had to eat one before they got their grilled cheese. They tried it with the dip and loved it, they even ate more. Then I cut the grilled cheese sandwiches into triangles and placed them in a pattern around their soup bowls. It looked cool and we called it dipping sauce. They both ate it and liked it. That taught me a parenting lesson to file away for when the time comes. Always require your kids to at least try some veggies and fruits before they can have the rest of their meal, and find fun ways to design their plates with the food and make up fun names for it.