April Books

1. Persuasion by Jane Austen
I have read classics all my life. I've learned to distinguish between good literature and excellent one, and the classics have made me a better person. Jane Austen has a category of itself for me. It isn't excellent, but neither it is just good. So, I call her novels great. There is no denying Jane Austen is one of the most popular writers of all times. But why? As I reread "Persuasion" I took mental note of the things I loved about this novel. I really enjoyed the story, the characters, the moral themes, and most of all the fact that all of these were still relevant to this day. We often times find ourselves being persuaded whether be that for matters of marriage or any other life decisions. Does independence at age 19 shows strength of mind or lack of reason? Does asking for advice and listening to it even though it's not what you want show strength of character or weakness? As for the characters introduced in this novel, I feel I see and meet them in my daily life. Hypocrites, vain ones, selfish, on one side, and humble, meek, happy on the other, and of course some characters just fit in the middle as normal members of the society. I enjoyed Anne's character. She wasn't the usual Austin strong female lead. Anne was quiet, obedient to parents and duty, kind, thoughtful, and reserved. Her weakness was that she let others walk all over her. Her strength was that she didn't let that bother her. If her father and sister didn't have much affection for her, she respected them as duty allowed, and wasn't bothered by their lack of civility toward her. She had her own ideas about life, society, and manners, but she also followed society's rules as much as her character allowed it. Although she isn't a very assertive character in words as Elizabeth Bennett was who could delight us with her witticism, her actions showed Anne to be a woman of strong mind and character. This was a wonderful novel to read and discuss.

2. Battle Hymn of Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
I absolutely loved this book. I had read most of the articles written about her and her vigorous level of parenting, and I was looking forward to reading her actual book. I wasn't disappointed. She writes about her life with her daughters, her parenting style and lessons she learned along the way. Whether you agree with her style or not, you will come to appreciate the reasons and the determination behind her parenting style. However, my favorite theme of the book was the fact that this woman had figured it out that each of us have an incredible potential. She goes to show that, yes, maybe her daughters had some talent, but their success mostly came because of hard work and sacrifice. We may not all want our children to be concert pianists or violinists, but the principle applies to all things, from our faith in our toddler to dress himself to our teenage children to work hard in achieving good grades and excellent behavior. I see plenty of mothers, myself included, who sell themselves and their children short disguised under the idea of "I want them to be happy." Imagine, however, how much happier our children can be if we demand of them more, teach them to work hard, and have them taste success after being consistent and determined. I highly recommend this book to all of you. Plus, she is very funny and to the point; it will take a couple of hours to finish it.

3. The story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
This was a hard read for me. The writing was excellent, the themes were very interesting, and most of the characters were different from the norm, which made for an amazing read. Except for one of the characters. The more you read of this character, the more you got this dark feeling that creeped into your soul and made you feel ill. I really wanted to read and enjoy the main character's life lessons (he was mute and most of his learning was done in the wild with his dogs), but his uncle's character lurked in the shadows and ready to jump in the page. I didn't finish the book. I didn't feel that I needed even a little bit of darkness while reading a book. Thinking of good, better and best, this book lagged behind.

4. I am an emotional creature by Eve Ensler
I picked up this book among library's recommended reads. I liked the title, and so I checked it out. It's a book of poetry and prose collections about violence that happens all over the world against women. I liked the poetry and kept reading it till I was completely done. The stories of thousands of women were nicely put into poetic voice. However, the more I read, the more I got this disturbing feeling. As I tried to figure out what caused this uncomfortable feeling to spring up, I realized that I had read a lot verses about vagina, no need for men, and hatred for conformity amongst all of the other appropriate feelings, such as respect for yourself and strong emotions against violence. I'm usually naive about these things, and since I'm very straight forward in expressing my feelings and thoughts, subtlety is hard for me to grasp. This author had a mission, and it wasn't just fighting against violence, but liberating oneself from all traditions and principles. I had to google the woman. What I found made me feel more naive. Eve Ensler is one of today's leading feminists (a.k.a. immoral, selfish, lesbians) and delights in shocking the world with her vulgarity, disguised as freedom from violence. I thought of how Satan twists and turns certain truths to get what he wants, and everything is done with such subtlety that if we are not vigilant we can be easily deceived. Thank goodness for the Spirit. Needless to say, this book is not worth it to even be glanced through.

5. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Finally a book that had the power to take the bitter taste of the last two away from my mouth. If you want to read a book that makes you feel good, this one is it. This was the author's debut novel, and it was absolutely refreshing, original, and truly a gem. It is mostly a character driven novel, but it also has political and social issues discussed in it, without being pushy on either side of the argument. Major Pettigrew, the main character whose wife has passed away some six years ago, is trying to find some meaning in his life. He befriends a Pakistani lady neighbor, tries to teach his grown son the power of strong character and good manners, deals with the sudden death of his brother and thoughtlessness of his sister-in-law, and tries to be his loyal and just to his community. A marvelous character that you can't help but wish as your neighbor. I thought the novel to be very charming in every aspect. I loved her writing, the characters, the themes, the humor, and the moral of the story. I was sad to finish reading it. Looking forward to more from this author.

Three very good books out of five for the month is okay. I wish I could read only excellent ones. Do you have any suggestions?

Spring Break - Day 5 - Returning home

This morning, while the rest of us were sleeping, Sarah woke up Gillian around 3 am, so they could see Kate and William's wedding live on TV. As I watched it a bit later before we left this morning around 5 am, I thought that Kate's wedding dress was one of the most beautiful bridal dresses I have ever seen. Elegant, royal, and modern at the same time was a great achievement. Kate's sister's dress didn't lag behind in elegance either. The couple seemed nervous, understandably so, since about 2 billion people were following their every move, but at the same time happy and in love with each other. I was very happy that William wanted to oblige the public and kiss Kate for a second time, but I wish Kate had been a bit more warm and affectionate. Of course, she is a very private person, however if you are going to give the public a kiss either give them a good one or none at all. I especially enjoyed the Archbishop Cranmer's speech looking at the newly wed couple and sharing with them his wisdom about love, marriage and true happiness:

"In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future."

I had told Gillian the day before that in the eyes of God we are all His princes and princesses, and kings and queens to each other as partners in creating life. The most beautiful part of it is that we will remain as such even after death. I also really liked the opening of the Archbishop's speech. It felt so much like a motto I had when I was young, and continue to teach it to my own daughter today. It said: "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." All in all this was a great ceremony, and I can't wait to see more of it when I get some time.

When we left Rexburg this morning, the ground was covered with snow. We had played 'hide-and-seek' with the snow in Salt Lake City, and didn't get a chance to feel some snowflakes upon our faces. Rexburg offered us some of it as we left to return home.
We said good-bye to snow covered valleys and mountains of Idaho, and drove through the endless desserts of Nevada.

The journey home was uneventful and very long. I don't think we had ever driven for 14 hours straight, with a few stops for gas, bathroom visits, and food. I wish I could read while Elijah drives. It would be heaven to read for so very long. Unfortunately, I feel sick just looking at the map, let alone read a book. After finally leaving Nevada, we were welcomed by the lush green hills and the sunshine of California. We felt home was very near.

When we got home, we let the kids run outside and ride their bikes. As for me, I laid down for a minute to relax, and then I unpacked our suitcases. One good habit that Elijah and I have developed throughout our years of traveling is the idea of getting our home spotless before we leave, so when we return we can just relax. The relaxation didn't last long, however. As I was unpacking our dirty laundry, I couldn't believe how many clothes we use in a five day trip. I didn't feel like royalty anymore.

Spring Break - Day 4 - Family Fun

Like everyday in this trip, I have wanted to do more things than I had the time. I really wanted to visit with a few of my old professors, but I had to make a few choices and allow myself to enjoy this trip instead of feeling frazzled. This morning, Gillian accompanied Sarah to the high school play rehearsals that Sarah is helping direct. Mom stayed home to relax, while Elijah and I took the boys to Elijah's brother, David. He and his family just moved to Rexburg, and they have four children, the older two the same age as Jefferson and James. Needless to say, my boys were very excited to play with their cousins.
We left them there playing, eating and just being happy for being together. Elijah and I stole a few minutes for ourselves and headed toward the temple for some temple work.
The temple was as beautiful outside as it was heavenly inside. Although I wasn't able to visit with old friends, I was happy I had made the choice of attending the temple with my husband. It was a time well spent and enjoyed.

While Elijah and I were attending the temple, and the boys were spending time with their cousins, Gillian was having a great time herself with her aunts. Sarah had taken her to the rehearsals as well as to the drama class she is student teaching. Gillian really enjoyed that. Countless times she has told me she would like to be an actress, and all this dancing and singing and acting was down her alley. Afterword they had picked up Rebekah, and all three of them had eaten out at a fancy pizza restaurant, followed by some upscale cupcakes and candied apples. Having always treated Gillian as an adult, she fit right in with her aunts in conversation and judgement. She told me she had had a grand time.

We all got back at Sarah's around four in the afternoon, and tried to relax by watching some special on the upcoming Royal wedding of Kate and William. Hoping this one wedding would end in happiness, we couldn't wait for the next day to see the whole ordeal.

Elijah's brother, David had invited us for dinner at his house, so around five thirty, we got everybody in the car and drove to his house. We couldn't believe how much Rexburg had changed and how many more houses and apartment buildings had been added. At David's house, we had a wonderful time. Dinner was delicious, company fun, and the children happy.

After dinner, we all played a funny game that got many laughs out of everybody. One person got blindfolded, and would sit on someone's lap without knowing who the person was. The person sitted had to make an animal sound and the person blindfolded had to figure out whose voice it was. Sarah could make some really good animal sounds without letting her voice being recognized. Because our crowd was made of little people and big people, there were some funny moments when we couldn't stop laughing just looking at the big people sitting on the little people.

After we had had all the fun we could possibly have, Elijah treated everybody to some ice-cream at a new ice-cream shop.
Afterwards, goodbyes were in order, and Jefferson kept saying that Hyrum was going to visit him soon, I think mostly to keep himself from being too sad and burst out crying. Before driving to Sarah's home, we took the children on a ride around BYU-Idaho campus, showing them all the places we used to live, eat and have fun. Driving by the temple was the last thing we wanted the kids to remember. And what a sight to behold!

Spring Break - Day 3 - Provo and Rexburg

Elijah and I were so excited to show our children Provo. This is a place with lots of great memories for us. Elijah and I met and fell in love while attending Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). Ricks was a two year college then, so Elijah and I got married in between finishing Ricks and starting BYU in Provo. We lived in Provo for three years. (I decided while finishing one degree to get a teaching certificate as well, so I had to extend my stay.) Toward our last year, we decided to have an addition to our family. Gillian was born in Provo two weeks before we left for Georgia. For Gillian, who loves church history more than any one I know, the fact that she was born in Utah, the pioneer state, is very special.

We showed our children our first apartment that Elijah and I lived as a married couple. It was within walking distance to a grocery store, the Senior MTC where I worked, and BYU, which we both attended. We lived there for a whole year, and it was very fancy for a newly wed couple.
We took the kids for a drive around campus, and of course showed them the buildings we most frequently attended.

The second house we lived in was very close to the Provo Temple and the MTC. I remember being a temple worker for over a year and walking there through snow and heat. To this day, Elijah is amazed that a night owl such as I am would wake up early every Saturday to be on time for my 5:00 a.m. shift. To tell the truth, I personally don't have an answer to that except that the Lord helped me to be awake and alert. I enjoyed working at the temple, and especially having it so close to home.

We also made a stop at the hospital (Utah Valley Regional Medical Center) where Gillian was delivered, and then after that it was time for lunch. Of course, Cafe Rio, where Elijah and I would eat very often while living in Provo, was the no-competition choice.

Leaving Provo behind, we headed toward Idaho. The weather was good, the lunch delicious, and the drive relaxing. When we got to Rexburg, we were greeted by the Rexburg Temple situated right on top of the hill. White and majestic, it absolutely felt as if a piece of heaven was placed on earth. Very beautiful indeed! What a blessing for those students to have such a spiritual edifice right on campus.

While in Rexburg, we were going to stay with Elijah's sister, Sarah and her husband, Jacob. Elijah's other sister, Rebekah, who is attending BYU-Idaho at the moment, was at Sarah's house when we got there. We were all excited to see each other, and the children couldn't have enough of their aunts and uncle.


After an awesome evening with delicious food and wonderful company, we decided to call it a day. I have to say that I was absolutely impressed that we got our own private room. Sarah and Jacob had done a fantastic job decorating their home, and had it more together than when Elijah and I were newly weds. Thank you guys for showing us a good time! Those steaks were just unbelievably tasty!

Spring Break - Day 2 - Salt Lake City

We started our day today by quizzing our children about church history. The best church purchase we have made is a collection of discs about the history of the church. Our kids love these DVDs and would watch them every Sunday if we allowed it. So, we were expecting that they would know most of the questions, and they did. Gillian has a great love for Joseph Smith because of his good nature and happy constitution, but she also has a great respect for Brigham Young, especially because of his amazing vision for the Saints of that time. She knew a lot about Brigham Young, but it was still special to share a few more facts about this great visionary prophet of God and the work he accomplished in the Salt Lake Valley.

The first item on our list was touring Temple Square. It was absolutely touching for me to go back where I served my mission and had so many unforgettable memories. We asked for an Albanian missionary for my mother, and then had her American companion give us a tour. Temple Square hadn't changed that much since I had last been there with Elijah some eight years ago. However, I noticed there were no senior couples serving on Temple Square any more. That was one of the best part of my mission, having those missionary couples in lieu of our parents at any time. Some of my favorite friendships that still last today involve those precious senior couples. But times change...

The Albanian missionary told us that there hadn't been any Albanian sister missionaries in Temple Square since the time that I and the other two Albanian sisters left our mission. It seems I had raised the bar too high. Just kidding. This sister missionary was very sweet and humble, and loved the Lord sincerely. I was touched by her simple, but sweet testimony.

We visited the North Visitor Center, stopping at the statue of Christ,

then the children got to hear the organ in the Tabernacle play,
and mom was mesmerized by the craftsmanship of the Assembly Hall,
I realized that although I didn't remember most of the facts from the tours I gave, such as how many pipes does the Tabernacle Organ contain (11, 623 with 700 of them being the original ones from the time of the pioneers), I did remember the stories very well. Here is a picture of the Seagull monument erected to remember the miracles of God in the life of the pioneers (this happens to be Gillian's favorite story about prayer and the very story Elijah used in his first talk). The other one is in memory of the sacrifice that many pioneers, traveling in hand carts and walking many miles a day, performed for their faith.

We followed the Sister Missionaries to the South Visitor Center, where we found an excellent model of the Salt Lake Temple itself. It was an amazing tool to show the non-members that the temple is not a secret we can't share with others, but on the contrary, a very sacred place. Gillian got excited when I told her that if she remains righteous, she will get to enter it in four years.

This marked the end of the tour, and so after using bathrooms, and after Gillian and the boys tried every interactive screen, we headed toward temple grounds, where I had no doubt we would see a bride or two getting their pictures taken (and I was right; we saw three of them).

We visited the colorful and multipurpose Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

We went all the way up to the 26th floor of the Church Office Building and gazed out from the observation deck over the whole Salt Lake Valley.

And we ended our tour by visiting the Conference Center, the biggest auditorium in the world with a seat capacity of 21,000. Did you know that Brigham Young had this vision of seating about 20,000 people in the Tabernacle, but his architects of that era couldn't deliver a building in such a grand scale. Instead, Brigham Young got the Tabernacle with 6,000 seats. Talk about a visionary man!

We really wanted to show the children more, but they seemed tired and hungry. We got back to our hotel, and after a good lunch-dinner meal, we all got some rest. After feeling recuperated, we got dressed and went to visit a senior couple missionary, the Jensen's. We became such great friends in our mission, that after I finished my mission, I visited them quite often. I was looking foreword to seeing them.
The children really enjoyed their visit to Salt Lake City. Tomorrow, we revisit Provo, and then travel toward Rexburg, Idaho.