Gena Turns 50

YouTube video of pictures from throughout my life, created for my 50th Birthday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Bc0AjTPaw&t=1s

DAY 42 of 50 – The Party before The Party

I love this time of year! Everyone is done hibernating for the winter, and people are starting to get out-and-about. School is out, summer is just getting started, and celebrations are in full swing.

   That’s why I always have a big birthday party. It’s not that I think I’m “all that” or anything. It’s that I have a perfectly timed birthday — after school gets out and before summer vacations begin, and it’s not too hot but it’s not cold anymore either. Besides, I have the perfect house for having parties too.

   So, why limit it to just one party? Almost every June I volunteer for it to be my turn to host Empty Nester Family Home Evening. And almost every June we decide to do a Potluck Dinner, because my place is big enough to seat 40 people for dinner. And last night was the night. People came and brought fabulous food. And we sat and visited for hours!

   OK, this Party-before-the-Party is also my Dry Run. I have to get the room cleaned up, tables and chairs set up, the BBQ up and running, and have all the party essentials. Well, most of it at least. My extra propane tank didn’t work, the BBQ needed batteries for the lighter, and I have no idea where my stash of paper plates ended up. But after a little scrambling, we were ready to get started — and it turned out to be great.

   And, of course, (because apparently I’ve lost my mind) I volunteered to host another get-together with the neighbors next Thursday too. Oh heck — why not? By then I’ll have the big party under my belt, and who doesn’t throw 3 Get-Togethers in a week???

   But it’s what I’ve always wanted to do — to have a house and friends and just get together and have fun. And it is definitely one of the “Accomplishments” that I would put on my Bucket List: Have Lots of Parties – Celebrate Life with Lots of Friends.

DAY 41 of 50 – Joseph’s Very First Prayer

Today in Sacrament Meeting I had the privilege to accompany the Ward Choir as they sang the hymn “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.” As they sang it, I was struck with the realization that this really “twas the boy’s first uttered prayer.”

   Joseph Smith was 14 years old, and grew up in a religious home. But it was the era where the father always said the prayers. Joseph’s family didn’t have a little chart that said whose turn it was for Family Prayer or Scripture Reading. He went out into the woods that day to be alone, because he didn’t want anyone to hear him — because praying aloud was so unfamiliar to him.

   Later in that same meeting I gave the Closing Prayer. Sure, I’ve been praying my whole life — but I sat there through the meeting thinking about the messages of the day and quietly praying for inspiration. Even after a half-decade of praying both publicly and privately, there is still a moment of pause to shift to that moment where you are conversing with God.

   A few minutes later I was in Primary (again for the piano), and adorable Hyrum Baird got up and gave the prayer. Hyrum is 6-years-old, and he walked to the front, poised and confident — not needing any help. And it was very obvious that this was not his first uttered prayer either. This darling child prayed like he was talking to someone he knew very well — maybe not as casual as a “friend”, but most certainly a dear and cherished loved one.

   The rest of the day, these thoughts stirred within me. I looked at the stunning photograph one of my friends took in the Sacred Grove and wondered what it was like on that day for Joseph so many years ago. I thought about how hard it was for me when for 17 years during my marriage to not be able to pray — and how truly blessed I am to be able to pray any time I want to now. And I thought about how easily and comfortably I watched a 6-year-old speak to his Maker.

DAY 40 of 50 – 10 Days to 50, and a Week to the Party

Don’t you just love Saturdays where you get to sleep in and lazily lounge around the house? Yeah, me too — but today was NOT one of those days.

   Up at 6:45am to shower, dress, and be on the road by 7:30am. First stop: back to a friend’s to return a few things — before the Oliveiras move away tomorrow. Then to run a number of errands — stopping at a few garage sales along the way. A baptism to do a musical number for the adorable grandson of dear friends. More errands, a few more random garage sales, and off to the party store in Salt Lake to get a few decorations for next week’s party. More errands, grab lunch, stop by my sister’s house. Then to my niece’s in Farmington to get my hair done (and, no, I don’t have any grey hairs — at least not any more!) Eventually, 75 miles of driving and 12-hours later, errands done — and now I can drive the 55-mile hour-long journey back home.

   Long day, yes. But energized at getting so much done — so instead of crashing at the end of the day, I decide to get more stuff done. Putting stuff away, a little clean-up, and then attacking the grill to find out why it won’t light. Uh oh — not a simple fix.

   Admittedly 8;30pm is a little late to start working on cleaning the grill, taking the grill apart, finding a broken piece, a fortuitous phone call gets me to a friend’s house to snag their grill, load the grill into my truck, and call the Home Teachers at nearly 10pm for help unloading the truck and getting the grill moved.

   A long day, but a great day. And with only 10 days until I turn 50, and only a week to my party — well, I love days when you feel like you got a million things done. And that’s an especially good thing when you have a million things to do!