I had a dream. . . about my little girls.

I have some interesting dreams.  Usually funny - never scary - but most of them I don't remember.   However last Friday morning I woke up at at about 4:25 am from a dream that I wanted to record because the feelings and emotions were sooo strong.

The last thing I did before I went to bed the night before was to comment on Angie’s blog update about me because it was my birthday.   It was really sweet.  I loved it.  

In my dream Angie and Mike and Brylie and Tyken and Erika had called and they were singing to me over the phone from Hawaii.   That makes sense because it was my birthday and they are in Hawaii.   Then this is when the dream got interesting.    Mom and I were on our bed in our Brentwood house listening on a speakerphone.  Candi and Jenelle were there but it was different.   The ages weren't quite right.  Candi was a young girl and Jenelle was a baby.

(Something like this picture - but this is Erika not Jenelle)

Then I looked in our closet (you girls will remember where it was at the foot of the bed) and in there was another little child playing quietly in a baby seat.  I asked who the other child was because in my dream we only had 2 kids but they all  looked so much alike.   I asked mom who it was and commented on how much they looked alike,  But she just looked at me like I was joking.   Then I recognized her as a little Angie.  I thought it was strange because Angie was on the phone singing with her family and Erika.  But then you know how dreams can change scenes with no apparent reason.

Now the little Angie was moving around and getting on our bed from my side.   It was so clear with details.  The bedroom and bed in our brentwood house and even how Angie crawled onto the bed.    Now Candi and Angie were holding the baby.  But now the baby wasn’t Jenelle but Alana.

(Total recall? Could my subconscience have remembered this moment and recreated it in my dream?)

Now we had Alana, Angie and Candi on the bed with mom and I and we were all laughing and giggling together on our bed.   

(this was taken on our bed in the Brentwood house)

Then I woke up and was quite emotional.  I guess it was Angie’s post right before I went to bed that stirred this whole thing up.  After I woke up I laid in bed for a while thinking about all of my little girls and I got a bit teary - ok - I admit - a lot teary (like I tend to do).

I had this very happy yet sad feeling.   It was happy like the Carpenter song says "Those were such happy days and oh so long ago" - we were laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

But at the same time it was sad for me because I miss those little girls.  I miss their little voices, their antics and giggles.  I miss the dress ups and imagining and princesses.   I miss being able to hold them in my arms and carrying them to bed. I miss them wanting to hold my hand when we are walking.   I miss being their "boyfriend"and being called "daddy".

But its all good.   I have such good memories of our young family and for that I'm grateful.

And even though I miss those little girls as much as I do,  I love even more the young women that they have grown into.

I am such a lucky guy.   What a privilege it is to be their dad.    I'd like to think that I have a special bond with each of them.   They have been my biggest fans (and my worst critics).   They all have their way of making fun of me.   They laugh at me when I’m not trying to be funny and occasionally laugh at me when I am trying to be funny (usually not because they think I was funny but they think its funny that I think I was funny).    Sometimes I think they are deaf because I will say what I think is the the most clever and funniest thing ever and its dead silence.    I think that they must not of heard me because it they did they would be laughing. . . . so I repeat myself.   Then I get stabbed with the “we heard you the first time” response.   Sometime a “it wasn’t funny then and it still isn’t funny” will be added on.   Judy is also guilty of this one.

But I’m glad that we can joke about things like that.  

I have wonderful memories of them running around the Brentwood house, our family trips in the big white van and the brown van before that.

 (We must have been a spectacle to see when we went out in public with all six girls - especially when they stood in order of age.)

The countless trips to Utah

(My loving family showing their concern after I almost fell over a cliff)

The Church history trip was quite memorable (the continental breakfast at the hotel followed by the long days of driving and the "what do you mean you're hungry?  You just ate - it was only 8 hours ago - I told you to put a bagel in your pocket").

Hawaii was the best.   Having all of my girls in the temple together for baptisms was definitely a highlight for me.

But it doesn’t really matter what we do,  I just like being together with my family.   I hope that we can make many more great memories so that in 30 years I can wake up from a dream and remember the girls at this age.  And the grandchildren that we already have and the (hopefully) many more to come.

I love my family and I’m so grateful for each of them.   I’m so grateful for great times and even the not so great times we’ve shared together.   I’m grateful that we can get together and enjoy each other’s company.   I’m grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the atonement and plan that will allow us to be together forever.

I love you all.

By the way, I do know my daughter’s names even though I rarely call them by the right name.   I often go through at least 2 of 3 before I get the right one.   Candice, Angela, Alana, Erika, Jamie and Jenelle.

Easter Eggs

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

When we reminisce about trips my family often remembers places by the food we eat.   The girls told Wilma and Dave about our Church history trip.  One day we had lots of driving to do.   As the day went on the girls complained that they were hungry and my response was that they just ate.   They mentioned that it was 10 hours ago.   Judy confirmed that and my response was "I told them to put a bagel in their pocket" (we stayed at a place that had a free continental breakfast).   Candi also mentioned that Judy said "to put a bagel in her pocket" at the hotel her and Candi stayed a few weeks ago.  The lady that worked there overheard Judy and kept a eye on both her and Candi until they left.  That story came up because Wilma reminded us all to refill our drinks before we left the place we were eating at.

Speaking of food - we had another first today.   We went to In-N-Out burger.  (It was actually my second time - I went a couple weeks ago when I was in California).


We'd heard lots about it and Wilma mentioned they were now in Utah.





It kind of reminded me of Peter's in that there were so many people working there.

Only 4 things on the menu.  Single Burger, Cheese Burger, Double Burger and Fries.  Makes it easy to figure out what you want.

It was good - like a homemade burger.




Easter Eggs

This afternoon and evening we colored Easter Eggs - the real ukranian way.  With candles and wax.


We started with these and turned them into works of art.


Even Blade got into the actionl


Wilma also did some with silk ties she got at the thrift store (remind me to do an entry of "Thrifting" sometime)


My sister Sheila got all of the supplies for Wilma.  That is the tool for writing on the egg with wax.
You put wax on the egg where you don't want it to change color in the dye.  You go from lighter colors to darker colors and use the wax in between each color.




After you die the egg you have to wipe off all the wax.








Here's some of the work we did.


I think Candi did this one.


I got into it and here are the two I did.


I really did do this one


Same egg - another view.

At the end I was the only one doing it.  It reminded me of when I watch High School Musical for the first time.  The girls were all excited to watch it.  We all started but the only one left watching at the end was me.  


And one more thing - the weather.


It snowed most of the day today.

Salt Lake City 2010

Today was the day that Alana was to report to the MTC to start her mission.  But without a visa she has been delayed.   You can check it out on her blog.    We had planned on driving down to drop her off but with her not having to report she will work in Calgary a little longer to save some more money.   Its Spring Break for Jenelle and Jamie and Candi and I had already booked the week off so we decided to head to Utah anyways to visit my sister Wilma and her family.    Judy decided to stay home with Alana and study.  (Plus Judy will be heading to Hawaii in a couple weeks for Mike's graduation).

Tuesday, March 30th

My favorite shows on television is Diners, Drive-ins and Dives which is on the Food Channel.   The host Guy Fieri travels to unique diners, drive-ins and dives across the United States.  On several episodes he has visited Salt Lake City so one of the things on our TO-DO list was to try at least one of these places.

Moochie's

We decided to try out Moochie's Philly Cheese Steaks.  Check out Guy's video here. 


Moochie's is being renovated so the main buidling is closed right now. (the exposure on TV must have been good for them)


While they are renovating they are cooking out on the lawn.






We ordered 2 philly cheese steak sandwiches which were huge.


Jenelle and Jamie shared one


Candi and I shared the other.


It was delicious.  

I'd rate this as one of the best sandwiches I've ever had (of any kind).   And 2 sandwiches was more than enough for the 4 of us.  Back in 2000 or so we did a church history tour in the eastern States.   We passed through Philadephia and stopped to get philly cheese steak sandwiches at Pat's King of Steak.  Its famous for its sandwiches and the walls are lined with pictures of celebrities who have stopped there.   Well I must say that Moochie's sandwiches were way better than the original in Philadephia.  

Temple Square

After Moochie's we decided to visit Temple Square since we were so close.


Taken by a sister missionary from Samoa.  Made us think about Alana.


The flowers are all in bloom




Things are all ready for conference this weekend

With the camera angle is looks like I am part of this.


Jamie likes this view of the temple.

There is a new Deseret Book store so we checked it out.

Candi noticed this picture of one boy carrying another across a river.


A lady had us sit down and read the story about the painting.

Here's the story as given by Pres Faust in Oct 1992 General Conference.
Let me tell you of James Kirkwood. James was from Glasgow, Scotland. On the trip west, James was accompanied by his widowed mother and three brothers, one of whom, Thomas, was nineteen and crippled and had to ride in the handcart. James’s primary responsibility on the trek was to care for his little four-year-old brother, Joseph, while his mother and oldest brother, Robert, pulled the cart. As they climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was a bitter cold wind blowing. It took the whole company twenty-seven hours to travel fifteen miles. When little Joseph became too weary to walk, James, the older brother, had no choice but to carry him. Left behind the main group, James and Joseph made their way slowly to camp. When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James “having so faithfully carried out his task, collapsed and died from exposure and over-exertion.”



The artist of the painting was there and we visited with him.  He was working on a painting of Joseph Smith.  The artist is from Nauvoo and is painting about the restoration.


His first painting in the series is of the first vision.

After many visits to Utah we had never gone up to the 26th floor of the Church Office building where you can take int he view.




 A different view of the temple


And the conference center


When we were up there the wind started to howl.  Look at Jenelle's hair.   They closed off the observatory because of the wind as we were leaving.


The water was going up instead of down it was so windy.


Candi said the wind reminded her of Pali lookout


I remember doing this growing up in southern Alberta.


We almost lost Jenelle to the wind.

We drove home by the Utah Capital building where there was some big rally.  Someone said Sarah Palin was there but I can't confirm that.  Its a traveling rally.


You can probably watch it on CNN - they were broadcasting from there.


And we drove home by East High School.  Where High School Musical was filmed.

Oh yeah,  I forgot to mention that Dave took Candi and me to a huge car auction in the morning.   Talk about sensory overload.  It was load with people and cars moving all around us.   I've seen one auctioneer doing his thing before but here they had at least 6 going at the same time - all within the space of a basketball court.  3 lanes with auctioneers and cars at each end.  It took about 1-2 minutes for each car.   It seems like mass confusion at first but as we watched you could actually figure out what was going on.   As I watched people bidding it reminded me of stories Judy has told me about going to the cattle auctions with her dad.   He would tell them not to even scratch their noses because they might buy something.   There were people their who would bid by touching their nose.   Kind of fun.  Sorry - No pictures.   And Dave didn't buy any cars.

It was a good day.  Spent the evening hanging out with Wilma, Dave, Nicole, Chay and Blade.