Elizabeth

Today after church I was handed a piece of paper from the Visiting Teaching coordinator listing changes to my visiting teaching route.  The thing that jumped out at me right away, was the fact that Elizabeth -- my visiting teaching partner -- would no longer be my partner.  I have to say, I was definitely saddened.

About three years ago when Elizabeth and I were first assigned to be partners, we really didn't know each other.  Considering we were approximately the same age, our children were similar ages, and we had both been active members of the same ward (congregation) for over 10 years, it seemed kind of odd that our paths had never crossed.  But the past three years have changed all that, and we have developed a great friendship.

When I saw Elizabeth on my way home from church, I informed her about the change, and felt a surge of deep emotion when I saw her eyes begin to tear up.  This was difficult news for each of us -- we really had become good friends because of this assignment.

I have come to appreciate and love her for the many beautiful qualities she has.  She is a selfless, nurturing, intelligent woman whom I truly admire, and hope to be able to emulate some day.

• She held regular "school" with her grandchildren by Skype for years, helping out with their home-schooling.  And now that they have moved close by, she goes to their home to help her daughter teach them.
• She tends these same grandchildren, as well as her son's children fairly often, and never with a complaint.
• She tutored one of her sons throughout his post-secondary education until he received his Business degree.  She once told me that she had done so much work, and had learned so much, that she felt like she should also be receiving the degree. 
• Once while visiting teaching one of our assigned sisters, we learned of a difficult trial she was experiencing.  Elizabeth jumped up from where she was sitting to go sit beside the woman and give her a hug.  You could tell Elizabeth felt true compassion for her.  She even said that if it wasn't so weird, she would make the woman sit on her lap, so she could rock her like a small child who needs comforting.
• Elizabeth has taken care of a terminally sick cousin for years.  I know that this is physically and mentally exhausting for her, but she continues to serve her as best she can.  Again, it is without complaint.
• She loves politics and seems to have a real grasp of the many issues throughout the world.  When Mitt Romney and Barack Obama were running for President, she was especially passionate.  It was fun to watch her discussions with one of the other women we visited who also knew a lot about the election.  I, on the other hand, know very little about politics, so I had to be content with being an observer in these conversations.
• She read the book "The Happiness Project" and was so inspired by it, that she wanted to form her own club based on the chapters of the book.  I have loved being part of this group and the fun we have had going for lunch and doing things that make us happy.

Luckily this kind of fun doesn't have to end just because we are no longer visiting teaching partners.  

But I do have to say that I'll be jealous of the next person who gets to be her partner.

Dixie

For Some Reason

Today I discovered a truth.  It was an unpleasant truth:  I Only Have Six More Showbiz Kids Classes Until We Put On Our Show!!!!  Yikes!!

For some reason I must have been giving myself an extra month, because I thought there were ten more weeks instead of six.

For some reason I haven't even gotten all my music organized yet.

For some reason I haven't even started working on costumes or scenery.

For some reason I have barely begun choreographing.

For some reason I'm having a hard time focusing on everything that needs to be done.

For some reason....wait, I think I know what that reason is.  I discovered BBC television.  And I'm hooked.

          "Downton Abbey"  
                 
                    "Lark Rise to Candleford"  

                              "The Paradise"  

                                        "Sherlock"  

                                                  "The Midwives"

These shows, along with several Jane Austen-inspired mini series, have been consuming my free evenings the past few months.  I absolutely love British accents and phraseology!  But I'm going to have to get busy working on things for Showbiz Kids now instead of watching these shows.

It's gonna be tough pulling myself away, but I have to do it.  I just hope their aren't any serious withdrawal side effects.

Dixie

The Blender

I'm a blender.

Not the kind used for mixing smoothies.  Rather, I'm the type of person who prefers to blend in.

I think I've known this for most of my life, but it's just recently come to the forefront of my thoughts. Everything I've been doing lately proves that I'm a blender.



*  I've been needing a haircut for a really long time.  I'm looking a little frumpy.

Thinking it's time to make a change, I've been contemplating who I want for a stylist, and whether or not I should be trying out a new style, color, etc.  I toyed with the idea of actually changing to an upscale salon with a cutting-edge stylist.

 

When it all came down to it, I couldn't bring myself to make any kind of extreme change.  After all, I'm a blender -- I don't like drawing attention to myself.

*  When asked to give a talk in church a few weeks ago, my main goal was to just blend in.  I didn't want to give the worst or most boring talk the congregants had ever had to listen to. 

 On the other hand, I didn't want it to be the most riveting one they'd heard, either.  

That would draw undue  attention to myself -- something a blender doesn't feel comfortable with.

*  I was talking with some friends recently about our purchasing habits.  We discussed the concept of being "over-buyers" 

or "under-buyers". 

 One of these friends concluded that I was an under-buyer, thus verifying my thoughts that I did not enjoy plunking down money just to stand out as the one setting the fashion trends.  

*  While in the midst of home renovations, my thoughts always turn to, "Will this fit in with everyone else in the neighbourhood?  Will it look too ostentatious?"

"Will they think we're bringing down the property value?"

"Is it too original?"

I just want to blend in.

*  Several times a year I attend wedding receptions.  I make a very concentrated effort to make sure my gift for the happy couple is neither too extravagant ...

or to chintzy.

Far be it from me to draw attention to myself.

*  Handing out Halloween treats is no different.  I don't want the kids to think I'm a cheapskate for only giving one mini chocolate bar.

Nor do I want to appear overly-generous for handing out a king-size bar.  With a can of pop to boot!

Blend in Blend in.

*  I always want the car I drive to blend in with the other vehicles on the road.  Nothing too "show-offy" for me.  

On the other hand, I don't want to turn any heads by being the loudest or rustiest car either.

So I choose to drive something somewhere in-between.  

Of course mine is never this clean and shiny.  That would be too show-offy for a blender.

*  A few times over the past few years I've had comments from people about the possibility of turning Showbiz Kids into a "real big deal".  

I always reject their ideas because I'm quite content with the mediocre type of program that it is.  (Okay, that's a lie.  I would love for Showbiz Kids to be a big deal -- for the kids benefit, not mine -- but that would mean I'd have to let other people help run the show.  And I love it too much to want to relinquish any of the fun.  But I digress.....)



In talking with Daughter #2, I came to the conclusion that this desire of mine to blend in comes from growing up with a mother who definitely did NOT blend in.  As a child, all I wanted in life was to go unnoticed, for good or for ill.  I guess I still feel that way today.

Except when it comes to costumes.

When it comes to dressing up my theory is, "Go big, or go home."

Wanting to wear a great costume may seem inconsistent with wanting to blend in, but I've always felt that when a person wears a costume, they are putting that character in the spotlight -- not themselves.

Anyway, enough about me  -- it's starting to feel like I'm seeking attention.

Definitely not something a blender would do.

Dixie