Richardson Report

18.5 years ago I cradled a skinny, pink-skinned, wrinkly, bald little baby in my arms and  became a mother. Life changing. I'm not really sure what to say now about the fact that my tiny little baby that I held in that hospital room is done with her childhood.  It's been a surreal autumn as I've pretty much been able to live as I've always lived with my brood of six still around me.  But now, starting tomorrow, everything begins to change.  As I sit here looking at photos of my beautiful, amazingly talented child I can hear packing tape being pulled over boxes.  My throat is starting to close up and my eyes are  starting to overflow a little.  I don't have to say good-bye for a few more days yet.   But tonight is her last night in her bed at home for at least seven months.   And even when she comes home, it won't ever be the same. I can think of a thousand things I wanted to do with her, to say to her.   A million missed opportunitie

As is the case with many others, I typically love Christmas.  The music, the lights, the happiness and acts of service.  I love the cooking and projects and shopping and visiting and caroling that we do.  The worshipping and pondering and remembering. This year seemed so different to me, though.  For starters, we were busy.  Much busier than we've ever been before.  So much of what means CHRISTMAS to me just didn't happen.  But other things did, and they weren't necessarily bad.  Just different.  I didn't do a lot of baking with the kids.  We watched fewer movies.  We read almost no stories (I had to make a conscientious effort on that one so that the total stories read wouldn't be zero).  We didn't deliver treats to families. But we did do a few good things: We visited more.   Especially people who might be lonely this time of year. Setting up for my Christmas Brunch! We hosted a Christmas Eve brunch with all the widows in our ward and another fa

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I have decided that teaching a teenager to drive is way worse than toilet training. Just sayin'. But my frazzled nerves aside, let me introduce you to  the newest licensed driver in the family.   She passed her tests with flying colors!

Sometimes it's really hard to update the blog because SO much has happened but I really don't have time to type every little funny story sweet experience.  But I do love going back and reading old entries.  I've poked around at turning the blog into a family journal book - but I haven't liked the software available.  Mostly I just need to go back through old blog posts and edit them so that they are just how I want them, and then I can publish them.  Till I get to it, they are safe and sound in the blog-o-sphere and I will continue to add to our family record. First, we are counting down until this sweet girl leaves for home.  If I don't think about it too hard I don't get sad.  So I try not to.  She is very excited and I don't want to put a damper on that.  Although I've told her several times that she is welcome to stay and keep me company, really I am excited for her to have this opportunity to test her wings.  I have such great memories of t