June 30, 2013
For some reason right now, the memory that stands out above the others, involves me, my trampoline, and a certain red and white swimming suit.
It was summer, and we must have been running through the sprinklers or been playing in the kiddie pool because I was outside in a swimming suit, something that we just didn't do unless water was involved. It was a hand-me down swimming suit, one that had gone through Emily and Chelsea, and I remember that I thought it was kind of ugly. But for some reason, probably because the red and white stripes reminded me of the American flag, that day, my swimming suit was my costume, my trampoline was my stage, and the great outdoors was filled with my imaginary audience. I jumped and did "tricks", which probably involved seat drops and knee flips, and I sang my little heart out, "You're a Grand Old Flag, you're a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may you reign."
A favorite memory with your dad
A favorite memory with your dad
June 30, 2013
When I was in third grade, I got trampled by a horse one Sunday afternoon. Thankfully, my only injuries were a broken arm and a lifetime fear of horses. When the doctor first looked at my arm, he put it in an ace bandage, and few days or even a week later, I got a cast. On that initial exam, the doctor told me to keep it elevated. Well, one night, when I had my cast on, in an effort to elevate my arm, I tied my arm to my bed before going to sleep.
The next thing I knew, Dad was waking me up. It was in the middle of the night, and he was trying to untie my arm from the bed. Apparently, I had been crying, and it woke my parents up. It seems like most other similar incidents, my mom would have been the one to come and comfort me, but this time it was my dad. He was the one that came to my aid, even when I didn't realize that I needed it. And it stuck with me. And in the years that followed, I knew that even though my dad was often tired (and therefore understandably grumpy) due to his full-time work and night school, he loved me very, very much.
A favorite memory with your mom
June 30, 2013
Since I was born with congenital hip displasia, I had corrective surgery when I was a toddler, and follow-up visits every year after that until I was in junior high. The orthopedic surgeon who performed the surgery lived in the Boise area, since that's where my family had been living at the time of my surgery. After we moved to Southeast Idaho, we would usually swing by St. Luke's Hospital on our way to the annual Linville Family Reunion in Eastern Oregon.
Since I was born with congenital hip displasia, I had corrective surgery when I was a toddler, and follow-up visits every year after that until I was in junior high. The orthopedic surgeon who performed the surgery lived in the Boise area, since that's where my family had been living at the time of my surgery. After we moved to Southeast Idaho, we would usually swing by St. Luke's Hospital on our way to the annual Linville Family Reunion in Eastern Oregon.
One year, my check-up didn't coincide with the Reunion, and Mom and I made the trip with just the two of us. We borrowed my Aunt Trina's little Geo to save on gas money and left early in the morning to make it to my afternoon appointment. Somewhere on I-86 or I-84, my mom accidentally ran over a five gallon bucket. This wouldn't have been a big deal if the car had been bigger, but it the bucket got stuck under the Geo and we had to pull over on the freeway to get it out. It was pretty funny to us.
My mom taught me to laugh at yourself when you do silly things like that. She often says, "If you can't learn to laugh at yourself, you miss half the jokes!" We had a good laugh about that bucket. I don't remember many other details about that trip, but when I think of it, I smile because I got to spend an entire day with just my mom--something that rarely happened in our household of six kids--and because I can see that five gallon bucket approaching the Geo, and my mom, realizing too late, running right over the top of it.
A favorite memory involving your dad's parents
June 30, 2013
I don't have very many memories of my dad's parents. For some reason, it was always awkward visiting them, and they rarely came to visit us. They got divorced when he was sixteen, and then both remarried sometime between then and when my parents got married. So, I had my Grandma and Grandpa Chadwick and my Grandma and Grandpa Higley. Both sets lived in Lehi, Utah.
Grandma and Grandpa Chadwick used to come and visit us on Memorial Day weekend every year. They would bring their camp trailer (or was it a motor home) and stay in our driveway. I loved these visits! Grandma always had little wooden cutouts for us to paint. I remember once that they took us fishing over at Mountain River Ranch, the place that I would end up being my second home in my high school years. They would also give us each a homemade present and a box of cereal for Christmas. They were the fun, name brand cereals, and we looked forward to it every year. Grandma said that she loved sending us presents because we knew how to say "Thank you." Every now and then, Grandma would also send us fun packages in the mail with fun treats, coloring sheets and crafts, and even a movie once. When I was a child, I considered Grandma Chadwick to be my favorite Grandma.
Sometime during my childhood, the packages stopped, the yearly visits ended, and we eventually stopped even getting cards for Christmas. When I moved to Provo to attend BYU, I tried to build a relationship with them again. I'd stop by occasionally for visits.
In the spring of 2006, Grandpa Chadwick got sick, and my dad asked me to go and visit and assess whether Dad needed to come and say his farewells to his dad. One of the nights that I was there, I felt impressed to sing, "Be Still My Soul" to my grandma. I felt a little self-conscious, knowing that she had faith in God, but didn't really share my religion. After I was done, we both wiped tears away from our eyes. My grandpa died that night. At the funeral, Grandma told me that the song from the night before had filled her home with so much peace that she was able to let my Grandpa go. Several months later, while I was on my mission, Grandma Chadwick sent me a picture that she had colored with a little note on the back that said how much she appreciated me singing that song to her that night. I was amazed and deeply touched to receive something from her after so many years.
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| Grandma & Grandpa Chadwick at (I believe) his mother's (Ruth McClellen Bigler) funeral on February 14, 2005 |
Grandma and Grandpa Higley never came to visit us, at least not that I remember, until 2003 when Chelsea got married. By then, part of Grandma's face had been eaten away by cancer, but she still showed up at the reception, and even posed for a few pictures. I was amazed! She came to visit again that summer when Emily had Jackson, Grandma's first great-grandchild. When I went to BYU, I stopped in now and then to try to build a relationship. I didn't go as often as I should have, but I would bring her my specialty: soft sugar cookies. She loved them. I also discovered that my Grandpa Higley was delightful. When I was little, I thought he was intimidating because he always seemed so gruff, but with the eyes of an adult, I realized that was just his way of showing affection. I quickly learned that I could tease him, and that he really cared about me. Grandma did too; she just never knew how to show us. I'm glad that I got to visit her as an adult when I could understand that. She passed away shortly after we moved into our house, and my one regret is that she never met Michael. Her house was always pretty dirty, and I was apprehensive about bringing my new baby over to see her. And when he wasn't such a little baby anymore, things were always a little crazy that I never took the time to visit her. And I wish that I had.
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| At Ruth McClellan Bigler's funeral, February 14, 2005 |
Grandpa Higley came to our wedding open house in Maplelton, and made the drive to Idaho for McCallan's wedding. He probably would have made it to Taryn's if the weather hadn't been so abominable for her Utah open house. He'll always have high marks in my book for doing that.
A favorite memory involving your mom's parents
June 30, 2013
June 30, 2013
Where to start! We had the great privilege of living just around the corner from my mom's parents. They were the second most influential couple in our lives. I can't imagine life without them, so I hope that they stay in good health for many, many years to come!
Grandma has a large raspberry patch, and every other morning in July, we would get up early and go pick raspberries. I hated it. But, sometimes, after we were done, we'd hang out at Grandma's a little bit, and she'd feed us a bowl of cereal. My mom always made us a hot breakfast, so cereal was always a treat! She loves picnics, like her mother before her, I'm told.
My favorite memory I have of her is our conversation we had right after Rachel was born. She was working on Rachel's blessing dress, and she was trying to send me pictures using her cell phone to make sure that I liked what she was doing. She loves doing things like that--sewing up dresses or blankets for those she loves. But she was also telling me about her feelings after having her second child and first daughter--my mom. I felt like we were almost peers in that moment instead of separated by two generations. She's also the one who gave me the greatest comfort after I had my first miscarriage. Until then, I didn't know that she had also experienced a miscarriage. Her perspective and experience has helped me more than anything else--and she didn't even necessarily say anything really profound.
My grandpa is the hardest working man that I know, and even age has done little to slow him down. He is also a man of few words, and so when he talks, I make sure to listen. When I was a senior in high school, I remember him telling me, "When you are looking for a husband, you make sure to find someone who already has his priesthood and who is already ready to take you to the temple." I will never forget that. I followed his advice.
My favorite memories of the two of them together involve family dinners, and especially playing games with them after those dinners. I love "Five Crowns", "Donkey" (like Spoons, but without the spoons), and "Oh H$##" because they remind me of my wonderful Linville Grandparents.
Memories of great-grandparents
June 30, 2013
June 30, 2013
The only memories I have of my great-grandparents on my dad's side are their funerals. That's a sad way to meet grandparents. I heard that they were wonderful. I'll take everyone's word on that.
My mom's maternal grandparents passed away in the years following my birth. Great-grandma Tyler passed away a little over a month before I turned 1, and my great-grandpa Tyler passed away a few years later. I barely remember him lying in a bed at my grandma Linville's house. But, since I grew up close to one of their daughters, I remember some stories. Grandma Tyler loved picnics and camping. And Grandpa Tyler helped build the Hoover Dam. My mom says that he was built just like my brother McCallan. He raised pigs at one point as well.
I never met Grandpa Linville's dad. He died way before I was born. I heard he was a hard worker, but his alcohol addiction made a mess out of his life. But, I do remember my Grandma Avis, and she was an amazing lady. She passed away in 2001, and I still miss her. She was 4 feet, eleven inches tall. We considered it a milestone when we passed her in height. She had lots of great-grandchildren, but she had a way of making me feel like I was her favorite. When we were pretty young, I remember her letting us comb her hair. Looking back now, I think that she must have had SO much patience to allow such small, inexperienced hands mess with her hair. Here's a picture of her from 1980:
A strength you have
July 6 & 7, 2013
This one is tough. It is so easy to see everyone else's strengths, but so hard for me to see my own. About nine years ago, a girl in my ward came to visit me. She told me that a special gift that I had was love--she said that I was really good at loving people. I'd like to think that she was right. My heart sometimes feels like it will burst all over the place with the love I have for people--Brian, my kids, my parents and siblings, my in-laws, my nieces and nephews, the people from my mission--even the ones that were so mean--my Relief Society sisters. And the way I show my love is by giving people my time. So, sometimes, I don't call my friends and family because I don't feel like I have the time that they deserve to get from me (I'm trying to work on that one). My appointments on the mission always ran over because I had a hard time walking away when the clock told me I'd been there long enough--I always felt like they deserved more time from me, not just a lesson.
I will always think of a thirteen-year-old girl in Pensacola. Before I got transferred there, the Sisters had taught her and her two younger sisters. She got baptized, but didn't get confirmed. We'd go to her house to teach her, and it was apparent that she was starved for love. All around the house, there were pictures of her two sisters, but I don't remember seeing one of her. Her mom yelled at her all the time, and so she acted out. We showed up to teach her one night and found her being arrested. I wanted so badly to take her home and just take care of her. But I couldn't. If she had just been shown a little more love.
July 6 & 7, 2013
This one is tough. It is so easy to see everyone else's strengths, but so hard for me to see my own. About nine years ago, a girl in my ward came to visit me. She told me that a special gift that I had was love--she said that I was really good at loving people. I'd like to think that she was right. My heart sometimes feels like it will burst all over the place with the love I have for people--Brian, my kids, my parents and siblings, my in-laws, my nieces and nephews, the people from my mission--even the ones that were so mean--my Relief Society sisters. And the way I show my love is by giving people my time. So, sometimes, I don't call my friends and family because I don't feel like I have the time that they deserve to get from me (I'm trying to work on that one). My appointments on the mission always ran over because I had a hard time walking away when the clock told me I'd been there long enough--I always felt like they deserved more time from me, not just a lesson.
I will always think of a thirteen-year-old girl in Pensacola. Before I got transferred there, the Sisters had taught her and her two younger sisters. She got baptized, but didn't get confirmed. We'd go to her house to teach her, and it was apparent that she was starved for love. All around the house, there were pictures of her two sisters, but I don't remember seeing one of her. Her mom yelled at her all the time, and so she acted out. We showed up to teach her one night and found her being arrested. I wanted so badly to take her home and just take care of her. But I couldn't. If she had just been shown a little more love.
A weakness you have
June 7, 2013
I could list a ton! And that will be the weakness I mention. I am constantly too hard on myself. I'm really good at encouraging others and telling them to cut themselves some slack, but I struggle to practice what I preach. It's easy for me to see how merciful the Lord is to everyone else, but then be extra hard on me. In an interview with my second mission president, President Summerhays, I was telling him about how the work was going when he stopped me and said, "Sister Chadwick, I need you to be kinder to Sister Chadwick." Thinking that he had accidentally inserted my name when he meant my companion (whom he had interviewed just before interviewing me), I said, "You mean Sister Leafa?" Very firmly and kindly, he said, "No, I mean Sister Chadwick. She's a good person, and I need you to be nicer to her. Can you do that?" I tried really hard to do what he asked me to do, but it was hard sometimes.
I told that story to Brian, and every now and then, he reminds me, "Devri, can you please be nicer to Sister Saville? She's my wife, my best friend, and I really, really love her. She's a good person." I know all my flaws, my inner battles, my inner temper, and all my mean thoughts. But, I'm trying to also see my strengths (which are quite different from those around me sometimes), and I'm trying to be kind to Sister Saville.
June 7, 2013
I could list a ton! And that will be the weakness I mention. I am constantly too hard on myself. I'm really good at encouraging others and telling them to cut themselves some slack, but I struggle to practice what I preach. It's easy for me to see how merciful the Lord is to everyone else, but then be extra hard on me. In an interview with my second mission president, President Summerhays, I was telling him about how the work was going when he stopped me and said, "Sister Chadwick, I need you to be kinder to Sister Chadwick." Thinking that he had accidentally inserted my name when he meant my companion (whom he had interviewed just before interviewing me), I said, "You mean Sister Leafa?" Very firmly and kindly, he said, "No, I mean Sister Chadwick. She's a good person, and I need you to be nicer to her. Can you do that?" I tried really hard to do what he asked me to do, but it was hard sometimes.
I told that story to Brian, and every now and then, he reminds me, "Devri, can you please be nicer to Sister Saville? She's my wife, my best friend, and I really, really love her. She's a good person." I know all my flaws, my inner battles, my inner temper, and all my mean thoughts. But, I'm trying to also see my strengths (which are quite different from those around me sometimes), and I'm trying to be kind to Sister Saville.
Something you look forward to every year
June 7, 2013
I always have to have something to look forward to, so there are lots of things, so I'll just go with the one that is coming up--the annual Chadwick get-together! I LOVE being together with all my siblings and their kids. We used to get together once a year with my mom's siblings and their kids, and I loved that...until I started getting bugged that it was always held on my birthday weekend. The Chadwick get-together started in 2009. This year is extra special because it will be the first time we'll all be together following Ethan's return from his mission in August. We're going to Island Park this year, and I can't wait.
June 7, 2013
I always have to have something to look forward to, so there are lots of things, so I'll just go with the one that is coming up--the annual Chadwick get-together! I LOVE being together with all my siblings and their kids. We used to get together once a year with my mom's siblings and their kids, and I loved that...until I started getting bugged that it was always held on my birthday weekend. The Chadwick get-together started in 2009. This year is extra special because it will be the first time we'll all be together following Ethan's return from his mission in August. We're going to Island Park this year, and I can't wait.
A super-power you wish you had
July 15, 2013
I wish that I could function on little or no sleep. I do not do well if I don't get enough sleep. When called upon to exert too much mind power or concentration, I start to flip out inside and it take just about all my willpower to not scream at everyone. So, I end up being extra ornery, impatient, and depressed. Not good when you're trying to be a nice mom.
Also, I would have to go with The Force. How cool would it be to just move things around with some small hand-movements. There are so many applications. Forgot to grab the remote to turn on the tv? No problem. Solicitor at the door? No problem--"You don't want to sell me these things. You want to leave and never come back." Yeah, that sounds good.
July 15, 2013
I wish that I could function on little or no sleep. I do not do well if I don't get enough sleep. When called upon to exert too much mind power or concentration, I start to flip out inside and it take just about all my willpower to not scream at everyone. So, I end up being extra ornery, impatient, and depressed. Not good when you're trying to be a nice mom.
Also, I would have to go with The Force. How cool would it be to just move things around with some small hand-movements. There are so many applications. Forgot to grab the remote to turn on the tv? No problem. Solicitor at the door? No problem--"You don't want to sell me these things. You want to leave and never come back." Yeah, that sounds good.
A place you want to go
July 15, 2013
EUROPE! Specifically the British Isles, Ireland, and Italy. Someday...
July 15, 2013
EUROPE! Specifically the British Isles, Ireland, and Italy. Someday...
A place you don't want to visit
July 15, 2013
South America. Yeah, it kind of scares me. Call me irrational, uninformed, whatever! I have so many other places I would rather go than down there.
July 15, 2013
South America. Yeah, it kind of scares me. Call me irrational, uninformed, whatever! I have so many other places I would rather go than down there.
Your happy place
July 15, 2013
The shower. It is my escape from the crazy. My meditation place. Maybe that is weird to some of you readers, but that is where I get some of my best inspiration. So, I consistently take LONG showers, Hollywood showers, according to my dad.
Fairly related, when I was home visiting my parents in June, we were talking about kids and baths and my mom said, "Devri used to stay in the bath until the water was cold." I had to laugh because not much has changed--except that I take a shower and not a bath.
July 15, 2013
The shower. It is my escape from the crazy. My meditation place. Maybe that is weird to some of you readers, but that is where I get some of my best inspiration. So, I consistently take LONG showers, Hollywood showers, according to my dad.
Fairly related, when I was home visiting my parents in June, we were talking about kids and baths and my mom said, "Devri used to stay in the bath until the water was cold." I had to laugh because not much has changed--except that I take a shower and not a bath.
Something from your past that you'd like to change
July 15, 2013
The way I treated my little sister growing up. She used to really annoy me, so I tried to discourage her from hanging around me. It never worked. I wish that I had realized the incredible influence I had over her. I could have empowered her with so much confidence by simply being her friend. If I could go back and do it over, I would include her more and be stronger about standing up to a certain "friend" who was consistently unkind to her.
July 15, 2013
The way I treated my little sister growing up. She used to really annoy me, so I tried to discourage her from hanging around me. It never worked. I wish that I had realized the incredible influence I had over her. I could have empowered her with so much confidence by simply being her friend. If I could go back and do it over, I would include her more and be stronger about standing up to a certain "friend" who was consistently unkind to her.
Something silly that you like to do
August 11, 2013
I still kind of count down to my birthday...like a little girl. Yup. And Christmas, and Easter, and vacations. I try not to be vocal and obnoxious about it like a little kid, and I try to hide that I still do it, but there it is. I still get excited about my birthday.
August 11, 2013
I still kind of count down to my birthday...like a little girl. Yup. And Christmas, and Easter, and vacations. I try not to be vocal and obnoxious about it like a little kid, and I try to hide that I still do it, but there it is. I still get excited about my birthday.
A person you'd like to meet
August 11, 2013
I'd like to meet the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I'd love to have him over for family dinner.
August 11, 2013
I'd like to meet the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I'd love to have him over for family dinner.
What motivates you
August 11, 2013
Pleasing people. Maybe kind of sad, but I think that is the strongest motivator I have. Mostly, I'm concerned with pleasing the Lord. He motivates me more than anything. I don't like letting people down, especially not Him.
August 11, 2013
Pleasing people. Maybe kind of sad, but I think that is the strongest motivator I have. Mostly, I'm concerned with pleasing the Lord. He motivates me more than anything. I don't like letting people down, especially not Him.
A skill you'd like to learn
August 11, 2013
Gardening. I don't know how it happened, but I have a black thumb. I wish I could make things grow. I think it's getting better. Maybe only gray now since I got a few things to grow this year in my little garden. They just didn't grow to be as big as they should have. Also, multitasking.
August 11, 2013
Gardening. I don't know how it happened, but I have a black thumb. I wish I could make things grow. I think it's getting better. Maybe only gray now since I got a few things to grow this year in my little garden. They just didn't grow to be as big as they should have. Also, multitasking.
A skill you've mastered (or nearly)
August 11, 2013
I'm getting really good at refinishing furniture--well, at least if it involves paint. Two years ago, I started refinishing things, and I've learned a ton since then. Also, I can sew a straight line, and I'm good at sewing some things. I could be a master seamstress if I applied myself a little bit more. Lately, I've just been kind of lazy about it, so things haven't been working out as well, but I COULD do it if I really wanted to, which should count for something, right?
August 11, 2013
I'm getting really good at refinishing furniture--well, at least if it involves paint. Two years ago, I started refinishing things, and I've learned a ton since then. Also, I can sew a straight line, and I'm good at sewing some things. I could be a master seamstress if I applied myself a little bit more. Lately, I've just been kind of lazy about it, so things haven't been working out as well, but I COULD do it if I really wanted to, which should count for something, right?
A secret ambition
August 11, 2013
I used to say that I wanted to be in a Church video--in a speaking part. I think that is still sort of alive and well. Now, I think my secret ambition is to be in a community theater production. My problem is that I'm horrible at auditions.
August 11, 2013
I used to say that I wanted to be in a Church video--in a speaking part. I think that is still sort of alive and well. Now, I think my secret ambition is to be in a community theater production. My problem is that I'm horrible at auditions.
Something you're passionate about
August 11, 2013
Graphics, fonts, colors, and text layouts. I LOVE that stuff. I don't know if passionate is quite the right word, but I could work in these things all day and not get bored. Lately, photography is coming into that mix too, and I'm getting a little obsessed, especially with portraiture. I love it. Brian would say I'm very obsessed with colors, so I guess that fits in here too.
August 11, 2013
Graphics, fonts, colors, and text layouts. I LOVE that stuff. I don't know if passionate is quite the right word, but I could work in these things all day and not get bored. Lately, photography is coming into that mix too, and I'm getting a little obsessed, especially with portraiture. I love it. Brian would say I'm very obsessed with colors, so I guess that fits in here too.
Something that you feel like you should be interested in, but you aren't
August 11, 2013
Cooking. I can follow a recipe, and I feel like I'm a decent cook, I just don't care about food networks, cooking shows, cookbooks, or cooking classes. Cooking classes could have filled electives for my college major, but I didn't investigate them at all. People post pictures on Facebook and Pinterest about things they want to make, and I think, "Should I be more interested in this than I am. Oh well." I don't get the thrill about cooking shows. Lately, I've purchased a few recipe books, which is a big deal--especially since I'm actually using them.
August 11, 2013
Cooking. I can follow a recipe, and I feel like I'm a decent cook, I just don't care about food networks, cooking shows, cookbooks, or cooking classes. Cooking classes could have filled electives for my college major, but I didn't investigate them at all. People post pictures on Facebook and Pinterest about things they want to make, and I think, "Should I be more interested in this than I am. Oh well." I don't get the thrill about cooking shows. Lately, I've purchased a few recipe books, which is a big deal--especially since I'm actually using them.
30 word soap box
September 19, 2013
It is possible to joke around with someone without being hurtful. There are better ways to tease than trying to "get a rise out of someone." Be funny while edifying.
September 19, 2013
It is possible to joke around with someone without being hurtful. There are better ways to tease than trying to "get a rise out of someone." Be funny while edifying.
Favorite smell
September 6, 2013
I love the smell of rain, freshly mowed grass, lilacs, hang-dried sheets, and a baby fresh out of the tub.
September 6, 2013
I love the smell of rain, freshly mowed grass, lilacs, hang-dried sheets, and a baby fresh out of the tub.
1 comment:
You have such a way with words. I learned things about grandparents, I am so glad you lived down there to be liason. I am sure I missed out on some things. Love you Dev.
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