The Ballad of Greggie and Kristina

 One bright day in the month of June,

Two cute kids knelt in a sealing room.

There  they said, “Yes,” to eternity,

And became their own little family.

But before they could embark on their brand new life,

They made two trips as a Man and Wife.

The honeymoon came first, of course.

Three days of camping, but no divorce!

The second trip was twice as long,

And proved their marriage was super strong.

 No, this stanza’s not a joke,

They took this trip with the groom’s own folks.

Over 1800 hundred miles, there and back

In a van with the in-laws…  how fun was that?

If not for the sweetness of this bride,

The week might have ended with a groom-i-cide.

 Across Nevada and to the coast,

With family members playing host,

They met relatives both young and old,

Some upstanding, some paroled.

With his parents, they toured the sites

And then slept right next door at night.

And six days later, they returned

Exhausted , wrinkled, and sunburned.

But while that six day-trip seemed ill-advised,

It turned out to be rather wise.

Their apartment that might have seemed too small?

Compared to the mini van, it’s the Taja Mahal!

The Bride will be thankful ever more

There’s only one Haws in their home who snores.

Having survived all that, they have no doubt

It will be smooth sailing from here on out!

So we won’t mention just quite yet

The vote we took when last we met.

Greg and Kristina pasted the test

Homely and Joyce love them best!

When the parents independent days are through,

Greg: They’re coming to live with you!

Appreciation

A few weeks ago, our wonderful PTSO and administration treated the staff at our school to five days worth of teacher appreciation gifts and treats. The cookies and roses and post-its and highlighters made me feel very loved and deeply appreciated. But it was the Teacher Appreciation Week gift from the local teacher's union that made me feel "understood." Now, you may be wondering how a cute little cup filled with M&Ms and decorated with sparkly stars and a pretty paper flower could make me feel "understood". Well, you can tell that this gift was thought-up by people who have spent time working in the public education system because, when you take out the M&Ms and the pretty paper flower...
... you can see it for what it really is: A Shot Glass.
Honestly, I am a little surprised that an AA hotline phone number wasn't embossed on the bottom. Oh, and to answer your unasked question, yes I have used it. I am not ashamed to admit that there are days when a snort of chocolate milk out of a shot glass is the only thing that gets me through.


Perusing the photos of Teacher Appreciation Week left me pondering the people in my life who deserve more outward shows of appreciation. Just last Saturday our branch hosted the second annual 7-Stake YSA Talent Show where my friend Becca agreed to co-MC with me, despite the fact that she has graduated from being a YSA to a YM&PA (young, married, and pregnant adult). I really appreciate Becca.

I also really appreciated everyone else who helped out that night, including Krystal and Randy. Krystal agreed to share an "impromptu talent" (hitting on a guy using smooth pick-up lines) and Randy kind of agreed to let me bully him into being the recipient of Krystal's smooth moves. I really appreciate Krystal and Randy.

My new branch presidency has also earned a massive amount of my appreciation. They solved the FHE parking dilemma by providing a way for us to utilize the stake center parking lot without having to walk all the way around the block to get to President Barlow's house.

But most importantly, they performed a show-stopping number at the 7-stake talent show. And not only were they the only branch presidency who participated, they dressed and danced and clunked like chickens in front of a huge crowd.

Really.



But a June 1st post about appreciation just wouldn't be complete without mentioning my very much appreciated parents who were married in the Oakland Temple 36 years ago today.

I also appreciate the groovy photographer, who put down whatever leftover 60's era drugs he had been smoking earlier that day, and took these very artistic, very groovy engagement photos for them.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad. Please know that you are both very much appreciated by your 6 kids, 3 kids-in-law, 7 grandbabies, and 2 grandpuppies.

And probably by that photographer, who I'm pretty sure used your engagement photo sitting fee to purchase more "inspiration" from Mary Jane's House of Herbal Enlightenment. But appreciation is appreciation, right? And after 36 years, you have deserved all the appreciation you can get.

LOVE YA!