About a Garden II . . .

In May, I posted about our garden. It was our first attempt at sqare foot gardening, and the results have been impressive.

We planted several varieties of tomatoes because we are both novice tomato eaters and don't know what kind we like. We picked over 20 tomatoes last night: Early Girls, Park Swappers, Beefeaters, Oregon Springs, Celebrity, Red Grape, Yellow Pear, Lemon Tomato (so far, my number one favorite), Green Striped, and Purple Cherokee (my number two favorite). We also have basil in the garden, so we can make a really good tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella salad (Caprese Salad) or a similar one with feta cheese and cucumbers (Tomato, Basil and Feta Salad). We planted jalapenos and cilantro, too, so we can make our own salsa pretty soon. Sheryl is going to come over and can salsa with me as soon as we have enough ripe tomatoes at once - it won't be long now.

The kids all have a section of their own where they could plant whatever they wanted. Among other things, they all chose strawberries. Sarah and Abby also both planted Zinnias which I keep cutting and bringing in for our table. They see the fresh flowers and always ask, "Is that from my square?!?" Abby is very proud of her carrots, too (we planted a short variety to work with the boxes), and has already pulled and eaten them all. And Sarah can't wait to cook her green beans.

As you can see, Sam goes nuts over the fresh peas so we can hardly even get any into the house. My favorite part about having a successful garden, aside from the awesome food, is that my kids are excited to eat what they've grown - lettuce, spinach, carrots, basil, cilantro, tomatoes, green beans, peas, and tomatoes galore. And we've learned a lot this year, so next year is bound to be even better.

Memorial Service

Last week was my sister-in-law, Susie's, memorial service in California. First, there was a funeral in Sweden, and then her husband and children came to California for a 2nd memorial service that all of the family could attend. Another sister-in-law, Mary, took on the task of pulling the whole thing together, and she did a fantastic job. She certainly has an enviable talent. The whole service was beautiful, from the display table with all the pictures and little pieces from Susie's life, to the programs, to the speakers, to the food afterward . . . Mary did an awesome job that I know the whole family, including Susie, deeply appreciates.

The program was so pretty with some great pictures of Susie in it. I especially love this one from around the time she was engaged to be married to Håkan.

And I love this one from the day her family was sealed in the Copenhagen Denmark temple. They were the first family sealed in that temple right after it was dedicated in 2004.

The talks were very good and focused on all of the wonderful things about Susie. Her brother, Dave, read a few small passages from her patriarchal blessing that absolutely epitomize the person she is, full of love and empathy for others. My favorite part of the service was when all the nieces sang "I Have A Dream" by Abba. Two of the nephews, Michael and Chris, accompanied them on the ukulele and guitar. They were all just so sweet playing and singing together. The girls were all dressed in white with Swedish style flower wreaths on their heads, and they looked and sounded like angels.

It was such a great song choice, cheerful and optimistic. I know Susie really wanted her children to have that experience of being surrounded by people who can have a positive outlook on life after death and eternity.

Here's a video clip of the song (sorry it's such poor quality, but I still love to watch it - I'm on about my 20th viewing).

How grateful I am for the gospel's promise of eternal life, for the sealing power of the priesthood and the knowledge that we are an eternal family.

Milestones

We've had several milestones in the past month, some good and some not so good.

1. Abby lost her first tooth. It was literally hanging by a thread, and she still would not let anyone touch it. I was afraid to let her go to bed with it so loose - she could easily have swallowed it. Even empty threats that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't be able to leave her any money if she swallowed her tooth didn't work. But lucky her, the little thread of gum waited till morning to give out.

2. Sam learned how to put on mascara. That sure was fun to get off of him.

3. Sarah got pierced ears for her 10th birthday. She was so excited and scared. And she was so brave (or rather . . . brave for Sarah). They only hurt her for a few HOURS after they were done.

4. Unfortunately, she only got to keep her piercings for a few weeks. One of her friends hit her in the ear and pushed the little stud backwards through the hole. It was too gross for me to handle on my own, so she had her first legitimate emergency room visit. They shot her ear lobe full of lidocaine and popped that little sucker right back out through the hole. YUCK! They told her she can get her ears pierced again as soon as they heal, but somehow pierced ears have lost their appeal for her.

5. Sam is potty trained (mostly). I highly recommend the method found here. We're still struggling with the poop part of it, but even that is better than multiple diapers a day. Especially in a few weeks when we have another little bottom to change. Still, any advice on fixing the poop problem would be welcome.

Why do little boys always seem to get their skivvies on backwards?

6. Sam had his first non-stitches. He ran smack into a brick wall and gashed his head open. Have you ever seen a cut glued closed? It's one of the best inventions ever. Matthew had stitches in his head 3 times as a toddler, and it was a nightmare - being strapped to a cradle board, all the screaming, shots in the wound, all the screaming, being sewn up, all the screaming . . . With the glue, they just scrubbed off the cut, pinched it closed and swabbed it with a few layers of glue. It took all of 30 seconds and involved no screaming. Of course, Sam's emergency room visit came just two days after Sarah's and all the same doctors and nurses were working. Luckily, we haven't heard anything from CPS yet.

They told us not to peel the glue off, that it would come off on its own, but Sam found a little edge of it sticking up by his hair and couldn't resist. It looks like a hairy scab.

From Time to Eternity . . .

My sister-in-law, Susan, passed away yesterday after battling inflammatory breast cancer for the past several months. This type of breast cancer is very aggressive and hard to diagnose, and it tends to hit younger women, so it's a good idea to be familiar with the symptoms. Susie has lived in southern Sweden for the past 10+ years on a beautiful farm with her husband, Håkan (a Swede), and her 2 kids.

About a month ago, Steve got to go to Sweden to spend a week with her. Among other things, he was able to help her have a wonderful last day at home.

Playing with the mini-Shetland ponies

Steve up a tree picking cherries

Enjoying the fruits of their labors

Steve with Susie and her two kids, Hanna (8) and Henrik (11), playing the guitar and enjoying the farm. Håkan is the photographer.

I'm so sad to think of Susie's kids growing up without their mother and her husband losing his companion. We're all going to miss Susie so much - her sense of humor and wonderful laugh, her gentle and sensitive heart, her love for animals, her accepting and empathetic perspective on the challenges we all face in life. I'm so grateful, especially now, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the perspective that it gives us on eternity and eternal families. A couple of months ago, she wrote me an email that expressed so perfectly how I feel: "I am so happy that you are my sister-in-law and that I will have the eternities to get to know you better and spend time with you!" I love you, Susie, and can't wait to see you again someday.