family pictures in American Fork Canyon

This is a clever way to get an education when you are not in formal schooling!

I was listening to a friend of mine talk about her love for books.  She always is reading a good book and studying the scriptures.  She told me she thinks it's really important to read a lot and be educated so that when the Spirit speaks it has the words she could recall.

"The other good thing about not staying in college was that I was left with no other option but ot educate myself.  So, instead of regurgitating the ideas of tweedy intellectuals dressed up as my own, I simply started to read and take in as much information as I possibly could.  I wasn't ecpecting to find answers--I was just hoping to discover more questions and better ways to ask them.

"As I searched to understand things such as the meaning f the universe and my place in it, I learned something profound:  There is no one person who has all the right answers.  Life's most challenging and interesting questions can only truly be answered by taking in all the information, from all different points of view.  If I read something and it made sense tome, I immediately went out to find a book by someone who thought the first guy was a nut job.  It was only then, after reading and studying both sides f the issue, that I felt free to make up my own mind--and even then, my ideas usually fell somewhere in the middle.

"Isn't that what learning and education should really be about?  Discourse.  Examination.  Looking at something from all sides, not just one."

Glenn Beck, An Inconvenient Book

(I just want to say that my blogger didn't want pictures right now.  Tempermental.)

This in an excellent and easy read on athlete neurology.

The Brain, Why Athletes are Geniuses

For those unwilling to take the time to read the article I'll paraphrase it.

Athletes are more efficient in the neurons they use.  They have this skill because the brain is maleable and when it sends a command it takes into account the response.  It improves the efficiency of its commands with each outcome.

Athletes who are more practiced perform better and are better able to anticipate an outcome with only seeing the beginning movement.

Athletes with less experience in practice can only guess what outcomes will be.

"These studies are beginning to answer the question of what makes some people great athletes: They are just able to rewire their brains according to certain rules. As neuroscientists decipher those rules, they may find ways to give people better skills."


They tried out a theory of using an electrode whenever patterning a new skill.  Those with the electrode remembered better how to do the exercise after months of not practicing.


It definitely questions what is the future ethics in sport training.

I love President Uchtdorf

I'm Thankful For My K-12 influencers

I've been reading LOVE is a VERB by Mary Ellen Edmunds.  Good book.  It started to remind me of all the teachers that believed in me.

I want to thank my pre-school teacher for taking me on a treasure hunt for chocolate filled gold.  I still don't know how they made a hole in the wall.  Maybe my memory is fuzzy.

I am so glad my art teacher in 1st grade didn't dumb down true artistry.  I felt confident as he explained the specific rules that made drawing more simple.

I'm so glad my third grade teacher was so patient with me.  After all it was my first, (and last), year in a private school.  She praised me for having the ability to paint well.  (I don't remember her ever being frustrated that I didn't know cursive like all the other students.)  I still have that Santa Boot I painted.  It was meticulously painted and the encouragement from my teacher is entched in that paint.

I'm grateful for my second third grade teacher, who patiently spent hours catching me up and taking me on exotic field trips.  I remember seeing Snowflake Obsidian for the first time near a whole filled with naturally beautiful stone.  I'm relieved my sister did not get stung the scorpian on chrystal mountain.  I was a little dissapointed not to go to the Geod field...but I heard it was hard to find them anyway.  I'm also grateful she discovered the Boxcar Children.  I would not be such an avid reader without them.

I'm grateful for my fourth grade teacher who patiently allowed me to participate partially in her classes.  I can't immagine the extra effort she had to put into helping me try to fit in when I only came half day.

I'm glad I learned early that when a teacher says "you can use your notes on a test" they mean the notes before the pre-test review.  Unfortunately, I don't think I ever told MR. Stutz that was why he found me cheating.  I thought I was obeying the rules.  It also made me realize that children are very literal.  I wish he knew that I was above cheating.  Oh, well.  I'm glad it's over.

I'm grateful for the symphony at age 11.

I'm grateful for Mrs. Jensen.  She taught me poetry would put hair on my chest.  She brought words to life and never criticized my "genius."  (I just reviewed that poetry and saved a few choice poems.  I threw the rest away.  They were rather...juvenile.)  She had faith, hope, and charity.
On her wall read this saying on bright yellow paper:
"Smile awhile, and while you smile, another smiles, and life is worthwhile because you smile!"

I'm grateful for the teacher who told me that her brother died because his gym teacher refused to let him get water.  That was the beginning of change in my lifes course.

I'm grateful for the gym poster that said "Practice does not make perfect.  Perfect practice makes Perfect."  It is in that gym I learned that the scient teacher was a gymnastics coach!  He knew about science so that he could protect and assist his athletic students.  Another course guiding example.

I'm grateful for Mrs. Chapple.  She taught me that even when you come from a small town where most people go nowhere you can have a passion for science and life!  I hope she was able to go back to Alaska and help her town the way she helped us.

I'm grateful to Mrs. Irvine for teaching me that Polio doesn't keep you from excelling at your passion.

I'm grateful for my cooking teacher, Mrs. Benson.  I will never forget how she taught me to cook with prudence, skill, and how awesome 10" french knives are!  I've had those cookbooks for 13 years.  I'm grateful she was true to herself and her father's art.

I'm grateful for Haley Stiles who always had Chocolate chips in her food storage!  She made it possible for us to have chocolate chip cookies every Sunday!  (I'm also grateful for the case of chocolate chips she gave us when we got married.  They were a wonderful treat!)

I'm grateful Mrs. Harrington made us draw a lifesize skeleton on black paper.  We used "Harry," her in locker skeleton, and I started to understand the simplicity of how bodies are made up.  she also taught me beautiful things about light, color, leather, stamp making, and clay.  I was so blessed to be in that class.

Bryce and Suzy Cropper have made significant impact on my life.  Bryce taught me pivot turns!  Suzi taught me to sing.  They both taught me that a business run by a family is completely possible.  They took a body without pointed toes or refined skills and taught me the "Time Step" and many other things. They took a big chance on me.  That big chance taught me the value of practicing with stubborn determination.  It taught me that raw material can be polished if taught in a direct and correct manner.   As smart coaches they made me do scary lifts over and over until patterns and trust were formed.  "Illumination" changed my life.

I'm so glad I have a sweet brother Kyle who gave me a precious rock.  I still have that rock.  It reminds me of the good that he is and does.  

I'm ever so grateful for my kid-sister Karolyn.  I'm so impressed the wonderful young woman she has become.

I'm so grateful for Mr. Bruff.  I have the beginnings of my appreciation for history from him.  I hated his class because he was not afraid to show us true history.  Sure, we used the required history book, but he brought it to life.  After taking the second semester from another teacher, for one day, I transfered back into his second class!  I was thirsty for real knowledge and real history.  I still have those notes.

I am grateful for Sundee Stone.  She is a woman of virtue.  Her children are good because she is.  Her patience is so enduring.  Her listening ear and thoughtful lessons have had an impact on my life that she nor I will ever completely understand.  I love that someone could have had such a difficult life and still be such a good woman of God.  I love her dearly.

Kimberly was such a good example of going and getting her degree.  She and Rob make such a great couple and are awesome examples of prudence and frugality!  What a great mom.

I'm grateful to Mr. Perry.  Though he was imperfect he taught me many of the skills in theatre.  He pushed my ability to do theatre makeup.  I was awed to be in the presence of a real Broadway Makeup Artist.  Wow!  He taught me amazing things about acting and was always good at communicating when things were scheduled so that we students could earn the money and make the arrangements to participate.  He is a good man.  I hope he keeps discovering that.

I'm am so proud of my Brother Kenneth.  He has been such a good example of loving!  I could not wish for a better example of true compassion, honesty, integrity, and repentance.  Boy, I love him!

I especially grateful for Patriarch Gibb.  His calling, Priesthood authority, and closeness to the spirit has left me with a document that is ever shaping and directing my life.

I'm grateful for the Utah Regional Ballet Society for seeing potential in me.  (I went to the audition so that my friend wouldn't have to go alone.  I had NEVER done ballet before.  I watched what everyone else was doing and I followed their movement.  Ha!  Ha!  I wish I could get a copy of that day!)  They gave me confidence and hope.

I'm grateful for Marsha Russell, Tiffany Stuffle, and Sharon Holman for giving me my very first courses with isolated dance technique.  As a girl of 16 I learned a great deal from their passion and their expertise.  They opened the doors to many great experiences in the following years.

I'm grateful for Katie Jean.  She drove me to work.  Worked with me side by side.  Allowed me to think her friends were cool.  Did her best to make me laugh...and get songs stuck in my head.  She is such a good example of scholastic determination and sewing excellence.  That was a cool blanket...pillow!

I'm grateful for Hawkins.  It seems odd to put a Mr. before that.  He always told the truth.  When a compliment was givin I knew that I deserved it.  They were rare, but precious.  He made a great difference in the lives of myself and many of my friends.

I'm so very grateful for my awesome teacher Mrs. Villarta!  Wow!  I can't begin to express the amazing things I learned from her.  I hope she has gone back to making dust fires in class.

I'm grateful for Mrs. Hansen.  She brought life to our theatre, allowed me to blossom in my stage directing and makeup design.  She also gave me the example of tenacity when it came to fundraising for a good cause.  It was she who gave me my first true taste of competitive ballroom dance.  (She started the Ballroom program that now exists at UVU.)

I am so thankful for Diana Walker Nieve.  She taught me many important aspects of posture and correct muscle usage.  She also introduced me to the classical side of singing in a way that I had not anticipated.
While I'm at it, I'm thankful for Ewan Mitten.  She showed me beautiful avenues in singing.  She also showed me the stupidity of putting young children in dangerous dance routines before they were ready.

I'm grateful for Mr. Lunt.  He took the "fun" choir class and turned it into a winning competitive experience.  He introduced beautiful and amusing new music that stretched my abilities.  Because of him I have a recorded copy of my vocal abilities as a youth.  He has inspired me to do and be many great things.

Most importantly I am grateful for my Heavenly and earthly parents.  They loved me when I'm sure no one else even wanted to.  They gave me direction and good examples.  I've learned much from all of their patience and instruction.

Thanks everyone, and more.

A week before it snowed again.

While Brian does windows we have fun on the neighborhood swing set!

Fairlight was especially happy about this adventure.  I think she's been inside too much, this winter, because she only was willing to chase a tennis ball a few times.  After that she would run halfheartedly to it then walk back to me.  I know it was just a warm front.  I look forward to days without snow.