AND NOW,  THE 2-QUART CROCKPOT

Time is so telling.  Just watched the recently-posted videos vintage 1985 - 1995 of our young family   at our family site online at Facebook.  There it was, our first crockpot, the olive green RIVAL one we purchased in Blacksburg, Virginia-- our first year there on Hampton Court  while at VPI [Virginia Tech] back in October 1975.   It served us through the USU years in Logan also, and even to the townhouses where we were living when it was on the counter there, as in the video.   Now I see two crockpots on my counter here in our home on Kam Highway, May 2013 . . . a shiny stainless steel one, about 6 quarts . . . and our newest one, the recently purchased, tiny, 2-quart model, a little black crock pot. 

Truly time has marched on for this family.   Many family occasions and favorite meal memories such as Christmas roasts, Christmas Eve wassail, Lisa's stroganoff, and our yummy RIVAL beef stew were slowcooked by whichever crockpot was placed on the counter at the time, plugged in, heating up and sending amazing wafts through the air of yummy food to be eaten as a family.  I'm remembering how the jalousie windows and their not-so airtight openings would attract a congregation of flies when we'd get home from church to eat the stroganoff!

We've only owned a few of these appliances through the years.   The olive green one was first with the crock that was planted permanently inside [hard to clean!] and we did own that a L O N G   time! Did a blue one came next??.    Then the forest green one, with the plastic lid that melted, but we used a spare stockpot lid for that one anyway, and even have it up on the pantry closet shelf right now, in case [perhaps hoping the day will come] we need a spare.   We added the stainless steel one, the 6-quart one, last Christmas season prior to having our now 17-member family all come home to join with us to celebrate the holidays, an amazing December 2012. We have lots of photos as proof!   PCC, Disney's Aulani, dad's waffles here at home, decorating the tree and just spending time here.  It was the season.  This time the crockpot held two roasts for the french-dipped sandwiches cooking through Christmas morning.  Oh, the yum. And I won't forget the Christmas Eve wassail for us all to toast!

These crocks parallel our story, growing years, expanding years, of family and memories, and now the little one reminds us of where we are now, downsizing, and where our once young family has grown to become and now mostly moved on to.  Seeing it setting there on the counter makes me miss them.   Sad yet glad at the same time, happy for their progress and growth and moving on. That's what parents do.  It's our job.  Yet, we are so glad some are still close, Lindsey's.   But, life does move us all along.  Even Lindsey with her new at-home travel and cosmetic businesses.  But yes, we have the Howes in Australia, the Jensens in Arizona, the Megan in Utah.  Dad is retired, or mostly, from BYUH, [downsizing his classes from hybrid to just online now] and I am also not teaching for BYUH either.   And we are here, the two of us most of the time except for company who stop in to stay awhile.  Lowell's mom for  the February wedding, then for his April graduation, Jenny's family prior to their move from here to Arizona,  Betty here to enjoy a brief Iowa winter break, Kaleb for a visit to assist Enactus and renew friendships,  Fransis and Jeannette Simram prior to departure to Pohnpei.  So, yes, sometimes we still need the bigger crockpot, but the little  one is mostly what we need these days. Soup is becoming our thing. Life has changed.

Our temple service which began October 28, 2012, has been as we'd expected in some ways, a place where we have much, oh so much, to learn.   We feel we've been sustained amazingly, including the freakish car  incident in September plus having energy for even 12 hours at a time on our shifts to serve.  That's amazing for me!.   But the level of temple experiences and what we've been able to learn so far are unparalleled . . .  Precious in many ways, amazing in others . . . . I have kept a separate journal for those experiences which are more sacred in nature.  But it is acceptable to say the learning curve, at least for me, seems much greater than I ever could have imagined.   Yes, I'm still not quite calling this "real" yet.   Perhaps the day will come when I can say it feels "just right" for me to be there in this capacity.  But, in honesty,      I   am    not    there    yet.   The Lord still has a work to do with me, but I doubt He is surprised at that.  

Our time at home is a true luxury now as Bill and I get to be together much of the time.  This allows us what we've [I've] looked forward to.   More time for yard work,  family history work,  and getting our home the way we'd like it to be, pending, someday, a move to the mainland -- to be closer to our family -- as the trend is to head that way if all plans work out. One thing we have learned, though, is NOT to plan it toooooo far ahead, since the Lord may have another plan!!!  But . . .  Life is simple, and we like that.   We've adjusted to the fixed income status of retirement that we now live, and so far it has been quite doable.   We have been very, very blessed, and see the Lord's hand each day in our lives, at the temple, here at home, still in the lives of others, especially in the lives of our children and Grands--of whom we say, 8 is great!!!  If this is what downsizing means, that we have more emphasis on blessings received, not worrying about excesses or accumulating things, then downsizing is the way to be.  Little crockpot, I will look forward to encountering this next life passage with you.  I'm adjusting, but confident.