So you know my mom was here. There has been other stuff going on too.
Like
1. Greg's qualifying exam. He passed! Phew and hooray. In fact, he got the elusive PASS PLUS. Greg's adviser, the department chair, told him that they don't give out many PASS PLUSes. In fact, they can go several years without anyone earning a PASS PLUS. Then she pointed out, "What it really means is that you studied too much." (That's my husband!)
2. Post-qualifier party. The day after the big test we invited everyone who took it over for a cook-out. It was a good time. After they left it all sunk in: In the group, we'd had someone from France, two people from Taiwan, a Turk, and a young man from Shanghai. Most of them have not been in the States very long, and it dawned on me that for some this had been their first (and therefore only) experience in a "typical" American suburban home. . . . . . which begs the question. . . . . . WERE WE NORMAL ENOUGH?! Nice enough? Hospitable enough? Entertaining enough? Did we meet their expectations? Wait. Do we even WANT to meet their expectations? Anyway, I stayed up all night AFTER the party worrying about it. (A normal person would worry BEFORE the party. I prefer to drive myself into a tizzy about things I can do absolutely nothing about.)
3. General Conference. (The women rocked! I may occasionally mention on my blog "Relief Society" and "visiting teaching." Here's the deal with all that. Thank you, Julie Beck, for your articulate and inspiring words. And, hello, Sister Dalton! Loved her address on oh so many levels.) As I watched and listened throughout the weekend, my heart was comforted, my soul filled, my understanding deepened, and the Spirit spoke to my spirit. (I also yelled at my kids a lot. Somehow I think the two weekends I yell at my kids the most every year are General Conference weekends. A little ironic, don't you think?)
4. Soccer, tap, ballet, book fairs, back-to-school nights, parent meetings, volunteering, homework, play dates.
4. Elim's dedication. Remember this sweet little guy? On Sunday we had the privilege of attending a dedication service at his parents' Unitarian church. It was a wonderful experience! (I mean, did you go to services on Sunday in a church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?) The service was beautiful, the dedication ceremony inspiring. (I loved how it had less to do with the child, and more to do with us as friends and family dedicating ourselves to the child.) The congregation was warm and genuinely, sincerely, unassumingly, institutionally welcoming. So welcoming, in fact, that I couldn't help but think, dang, we Mormons could learn a lot (a lot!) from these folks. That afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful spread of food with Baby Elim's family and friends. We have loved getting to know his parents, Mikhael and Deserae.
5. I thought/spoke/wrote/posted/thanked the heavens too soon. At least I'm only the assistant. Good-bye, nice small, sweet intimate group of young women. Hello, big, huge dinners and parties for hundreds. And hundreds. And hundreds.... This is way out of my league. (Good thing I have helpful friends!)
I think that just about sums it up. We're off to Chicago tomorrow after school for one of our quick, 24-hour trips. The agenda? Temple, swimming, Shedd Aquarium.
