The Great Catch Up: BYU Idaho Education Week

I have a really soft spot in my heart for BYU-Idaho and the Eduction Week program. The reason why is kind of personal, but TMI is nothing new here.  

When I first heard about The Power of Moms about 2-1/2 years ago, it took a lot of courage for me just to submit an article, but from the very beginning I knew I was meant to be a part of the organization. I just had this feeling that's hard to explain. Like something was coming. 

After that first article, April was so encouraging. She kept giving me invitations to do different things and to write more, but when she suggested I apply to teach classes for moms with her at BYU-Idaho's Education Week? I thought that was a little over the top. Not only because I was sure they would never hire a "nobody" like myself (with no real resume or decent credentials), but also because of the daunting application process. BYU-Idaho requires their teachers to teach nine different classes, so an "unknown" like myself had to prepare outlines with detailed sources for each class just to apply. 

I didn't really think I would be accepted, but I still felt the experience of applying would be a good one. I knew that if by some chance I were accepted, we would possibly be in the thick of moving around the time of Education Week. The thought of trying to create--and prepare to teach--all those classes in the midst of moving made me sick to my stomach. But for reasons I can't really explain, I felt SO COMPELLED to at least try. It felt like a calling, to be honest. (Melodramatic, I know. But true.) Partly for myself, partly for whoever might benefit from whatever measly thing I had to offer. While I've always had "enough" personal confidence in social settings, I wanted to see if I could do something like THAT with confidence. And I knew that if I had struggled with motherhood despite all the support and resources that I have (I don't mean money), there were certainly other mothers out there needing support and encouragement. I liked the thought of being one more supportive, encouraging voice. 

You know the end of the story: They did accept my application. I did prepare those classes in the midst of moving, and I have never been more stressed and terrified for so many months on end in my entire life. But as cliche as it sounds, once I actually got to BYU-Idaho and started teaching, I felt like I was doing what I was born to do. It was so rewarding on so many levels. 

So of course I had to do it again this year. Those classes certainly had more life in them, and I also wanted a "do-over" of sorts. I compared it to having a second baby. The first time around is so hard because you don't know what you're doing or what to expect, but the second time around you can enjoy the process without freaking out so much. I really wanted to teach my classes again without so much stress and worry on the front end. It was still stressful, but way more fun than terrifying. It was unfortunate April couldn't go with me and Saren again this year, but we had a great experience just the same. These are the pics. 

Rexburg, Idaho is a place you would probably only visit if you needed to go to BYU-Idaho for some reason. Just so you know:

The temple on a hill above campus:

Unlike last year when April and I stayed in military style bunk beds in the un-airconditioned dorms with her sisters (special times, seriously funny), this year I opted to stay with Saren and her family at her mother-in-law's house about 20 minutes out of town. This room is where I spent a good chunk of every morning, refreshing my memory and cleaning up my classes:

I loved the view out that window:

One of the twins:

I took no less than ZERO pictures on campus, but I did catch a few of the super cute teenagers that came to my youth classes. Here they are submitting to one of my ridiculous ideas for getting more class participation:

You had to be there. It would take too long to explain:

The town of Rexburg is a metropolis compared to Ashton where we stayed. Lucky for me, I dig small towns. (It goes hand in hand with my love for Little House on the Prairie. You know, the slow and simple life.) Saren's sister-in-law, Anita, came with her from their Bear Lake family reunion, and one day after missing dinner on campus we found ourselves at THE place in Ashton for dinner--The Frostop:

What you should know about Anita is that she's lived in Manhattan for the last 19 years after growing up in a resort town in Switzerland. She is a self-proclaimed "water snob," but one of the least pretentious people I've ever met. We still laughed our hineys off at this place--especially as we found ourselves sorting through our change to pay the bill:

(Grilled chicken salad.)

Anita and Saren at the homestead:

What's on my cheek?

After getting a late start, Saren had 5 children in 5 years thanks to a set of twins. These are her 4 boys:

Here comes the cool bonus of staying at Saren's mother-in-law's: I got a full blown tour of a real, bonafide potato farm. An Idaho potato farm! How many people can say THAT? I wish I could remember the stats now, but this is a BIG operation. The Loosli family farm is very well known throughout the area:

This may be hard to believe, but both Saren and Shawni (the first two children of NINE in the Eyre family) married men who came from families with NINE children as well. Saren is the oldest in her family, and her husband, Jared, is the youngest in his. Jared's father really wanted at least one of his children to take over the farm, and then everyone else could do whatever they wanted to do. Jared and Saren met on the east coast when she was at Harvard and he was at MIT, so he obviously isn't the son that took over the farm, but I was fascinated by his stories of working that potato farm all his years growing up in that large family. Truth really is stranger (or more interesting) than fiction! Here's one of their many silos that are probably getting filled with potatoes as I type. I think Jared said there are 6 silos this size that will be full to the brim with potatoes:

Their oldest son, ASHTON. (Just put that together on this little trip . . .)

They also grow alfalfa and a bunch of other stuff I don't remember. I couldn't tell you now what is growing in this picture:

You better believe I made a big deal out of the fact that I come from John Deere country:

The entire Loosli clan:

Those are the Tetons in the background. (You'll see much more of those from the other side in my post of our Jackson Hole trip.) 

Jared's mom made us some seriously tasty food while staying at her house. It was nice to go back to such a homey atmosphere at the end of each day:

We even got to celebrate Saren's birthday while we were there:

I just had my little point and shoot, but I thought it did a pretty good job capturing the rural beauty of that place:

Country road, take me home:

If I do it again next year, I think I'll have to bring the whole family along and go up to Yellowstone after.

General Conference Weekend

Yes, I know I got off the "Great Catch Up" track, but let me tell you, it was a packed weekend. My most favoritest 16 and 17-year old girls from the L.A. area drove all the way from our old stomping grounds to spend the weekend and go to General Conference. What a blast! Here's what our mostly unfurnished living & dining rooms looked like all weekend:

My bathroom on Saturday morning:

Kate and I were lucky enough to get the two extra tickets they had for the second session of conference on Saturday afternoon. My good friends I used to work with in the Young Women's program are in the back (the master minds behind this trip), as well as the bishop of the ward. Here we are heading out:

You never know what you're going to get when you hit downtown Salt Lake. All four of the guys in this car next to us had these masks on. (Whatever churns your butter . . .)

I refrained from taking pictures this time around, but the biggest side show was (of course) the display of anti-Mormon protestors who always congregate outside Temple Square at conference time. I prepped the girls in my car who had never been to conference before. It can be a little unsettling to discover that the thing that brings you comfort, strength, and inspiration is viewed by others as something certain to send you to an everlasting hell. Not that these girls are strangers to religious bigotry, but outright protestors are always something special. 

Our favorite was the guy who called out to the girls, "The Bible, girls! Just read the Bible!" to which Rachel aptly responded, "We do. Every morning." (They all attend early seminary at 6am every weekday before school where they are currently studying the New Testament. For some reason there are gobs of people out there who think we only read/study The Book of Mormon.) Then he called out to them, "You're not just baby machines!" Wow. What do you even say to that? What a nincompoop. I wish people like that would just step inside one of our conferences for a few minutes. They might be surprised to find out what we really teach and believe. It was more than a little ironic to hear one of the main speakers talk about how the decision to have children (when and how many) is between a husband, a wife, and God, and that we should never judge each other based on our different family dynamics. While we obviously value and enjoy families (a well known part of our culture), we hardly encourage the idea that women are "baby machines". Ah, well. As long as Big Love, Sister Wives and the fundamentalist Mormons (100% unaffiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are running around out there, I'm afraid we're going to be confused with them. 

Back to the story. 

I was THRILLED to run into a dear, dear friend of ours from our newlywed days. We met Patience just after she had arrived in America from Nigeria after receiving a PhD from Cambridge. Amazing lady with an amazing story. Not enough space for it here. These picture just make me happy:

She just about died when she saw Kate. The last time she saw her she was a baby:

Inside the conference center:

Outside the conference center: 

Didn't I say it was photogenic?

A random group of guys were singing hymns in harmony in two long rows across from each other on a sidewalk outside Temple Square. It was beautiful! We had to go up and down the corridor more than once:

The highlight of the day was when we got to meet with Elaine Dalton, general president of the Young Women's organization. Jeanine (far right) made her a lovely little plaque with a quote from one of her talks. She came down to southern California shortly after we moved and did a "Run for Virtue" with the girls, so when they decided to come up for conference they contacted her to see if they could meet again for just a few minutes. She was kind enough to oblige, and like one of the California leaders said, it was like she was a Disney princess outside the castle walls. People were lining up to meet her and talk with her, but she was giving our girls a few minutes of undivided attention. Such a gracious lady:

 

Many of our critics like to falsely emphasize how women are subordinate in our faith, saying we don't hold any leadership positions in the church. This couldn't be any further from the truth. There are three major organizations in our church that are run completely by women, the Young Women's program being one of them. Sister Dalton gave a powerful talk on Sunday about a father's influence on his daughters. 

I force fed the girls my french toast (made with Kneader's chunky cinnamon bread) and homemade buttermilk syrup the next morning. I haven't been that deliriously tired in awhile. I was up goofing off and laughing with them (and the other leaders, Debbie and Jeanine) until around 2:30am both Friday and Saturday night:

They left pretty early on Sunday morning to beat the Las Vegas traffic. I was sad to see them go! I could have easily spent a whole week with them:

That afternoon, Brandon's parents, brother and friend showed up for the rest of conference, dinner, and Rachael's little birthday party. (I told you it was packed. More pictures to follow.)

All in all, a wonderful weekend. Everyone always looks forward to General Conference weekend. Partly  because we get to watch church on TV in our pajamas, but mostly because of the inspired messages that kick off another 6 months of trying to be a little better than we were before.