My Halloween

The Kendall Square subway stop.  People get on the subway.  People get off the subway.  It's not going anywhere because of moderate delays due to a switching problem.  and I wait.  #MBTA #commutinginBoston #whatdoesmoderatereallymean #iwouldbereallymadifiwasgoingtrickortreating

Our YW today

This includes a visitor.  We are losing Melanie who has been a wonderful part of our group.  We will miss her.  #thearlingtonwardyoungwomenareawesome #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever

Christensen family photos

This is my favorite photo!

Robes & Kim

When I told Robes I wanted him to meet my friend Kim who had lived in my BYU dorm (and it wasn't because I thought they'd get married some day) he said, and I quote, "I don't want to meet your dumb friend."  And a few years later--33 years ago today they were sealed in the Atlanta Temple.  They were married almost 15 years when he died and I think Kim would do it again if she had a choice.  They are best friends, have 3 awesome kids and made a good life together.  #familiesareforever #weallmissRobes #pattonmemories #myfavoritephotoitookthatday

My late lunch: a Turkey Terrific

Updated kitchen

I would love to update my kitchen and have talked about it for a while so tonight I went to Home Depot and asked some questions and am going to get a quote.  I told the guy my kitchen was small (after he told me the average remodel is $20,000) and he said, "oh, do you have one cupboard?"  And he didn't ask to see my architectural drawing.  #dontberudetoeporiwilltakemybidnesselsewhere

#fridaynightspecial

I was almost out of gas tonight and they were out of regular.  So I went with the less expensive of the two options. #specialgas

Ridiculous and Wrong

I'm talking to you, Home Depot.

I love commuting on the subway...

...and almost wish my commute was longer.  Did I really type that?  Anyway, I always say I can count on two hands how many times I've been delayed more than ten minutes.  After tonight let's make that three hands.  There were switching problems so we were delayed at each stop.  It could have been worse and the MBTA driver was so pleasant and sincerely apologetic (she was delayed too) that it wasn't too painful.  #MBTA #lifeinboston

TBT: the Patton kids

We were probably 2, 6, 7 and 8 in this photo.  When Charles was about ten he asked my mom if she and my dad used birth control (did he even know what that was?!?).  Her reply was, "Charles, if your father and I didn't use birth control you'd have twenty brothers and sisters."  #pattonmemories #thismightbearegram #sorrynotsorry #itsagoodstory

I make things

Late at night.  And I like black baker's twine.  Obvs. #nicerepurposeofanoldpatternforanoldfriend #rangercookiesiwishwouldhealthesick #agiraffeforabrandnewbabyboy #andpumpkincardsforafallanniversary

They still use these?

#converseoutlet #ifeelold

Help for Haiti

Someone in my Stake is collecting food, clothes, tents, sleeping bags, batteries, etc. to be shipped to people in Coteaux, Haiti.  I found 21 pieces of clothes to donate.  #ihavewaytoomanyclothes #sharegoodness

My cute dinner guest...

...and his bus street sweeper.

The Arlington Ward is split...again

I always say there are 4 words no one will use in Boston to give you directions: north, south, east and west.  So today they split the Arlington Ward using those words and we were all confused.  People south of the Mystic River go to Cambridge 1st Ward, people east of #93 go to Revere 2nd Ward and people west of #93 and north of the Mystic River stay in the ward.  Everyone was so confused and had to think about who this affected.  #saddayintheAW #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #andever #thisisallprepforanewstakeintwoweeks

The amazing woman running the social media conference

#andshare

Search Ponder & Share

Learning about social media.  #andshare

Day 2: Search Ponder & Share

#andshare

My favorite photo from tonight

#andshare #jamesthemormon #searchponderandshare

Laurie Low doesn't slow down

She is in charge of a social media conference this weekend.  #andshare

Getting ready for the HOCR

The Head of the Charles Regatta is this weekend.  #HOCR

TBT: Van Nuys Third Ward youth

This photo was taken at a youth beach camping trip at Leo Carrillo State Park (if my memory is correct).  Last night I got a call from Connie (back row, 2nd from the left) who I haven't seen or talked to since high school.  It was so amazing reconnecting with her.  #vannuysthirdwardfriendsareforever #thosewerethegoodolddays #ilearnedhowtodriveinthatorangeVWvan

My Costco strategy

How to not spend $100 at Costco?  I never get a cart.  #singleladystrategy #costco

Church family

It was a treat to have the Church family over for dinner.  They live in Alabama and are on a big east coast road trip.  My sister-in-law Kim is the oldest of 8 and Ryan is the youngest.  When I met Kim her freshman year at BYU she told me about her family and Ryan was 10 months old.  I remember saying, "you have a baby brother at home?!?"  Kim and Robes got married on Ryan's 5th birthday.  Their oldest boy Hartwell looks just like Ryan when he was a kid and Gager (the blonde) looks so much like my nephew Jamel.  #churchfamily

Obsessed with typewriters

#pavlovianresponse

Every morning my coworker cracks three hard boiled eggs on his desk, peels and eats them.  And I go to Dunkin Donuts and buy a donut.  #pavlovianresponse

Since I don't have kids...

...my oven has my whole heart for my whole life. #exceptiwanttoupgrademykitchen #bakingbrowniesasigram #epcondo2016

Who goes to Burger Dive for a hot dog?

I did today!  #bestshakes #lotsofsauces

Ideal teaching: one-on-one

There was one student in the sewing class today (usually there are 4).  Nan used to say "ideal teaching is one-on-one."  So I taught her how to make a coin purse and she was happy with the one she made and was excited to make more.  #ilovetosew

Unbearable traffic

One reason my friend Suzy Jensen likes living in Rochester is there isn't any traffic.  #imightbereadyforrochester #thisismystreet #thisismycommute #iamoveralltheconstructioncausingtraffic

Dinner with friends

I had dinner with friends tonight and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the company.  And this amazing quilt on the wall that @tonahangen made.  #ineedtogetquiltingagain #bostonfriendsarethebestfriends

The Cox clan is in town!

It was so great seeing them today (Isaac was sick and is missing from the photo)!  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #especiallytheredheads

Help for refugees in Greece

I helped sort clothes that will be sent to refugees in Greece.  #mormonscanrallythetroops #200helpers #iammormon #mormonhelpinghands

This is my living room

My leather furniture is gone.  My friend Jenny is hopefully enjoying the love seat and chair and the sofa is out by the dumpster.  Don't judge.  I had about a quarter of an inch of bandwidth left to deal with the sofa so it's going to be picked up tomorrow by the trash company.  I'm sorry it didn't get donated or end up in a good home but to quote my favorite line from The Italian Job, "I had a bad experience."  I'll probably end up with some stuffed chairs but for now I couldn't be happier with three colorful mid-century modern chairs and my new couch.  #epcondo2016 #popoforange #ihavealotofstuff #comeoverandsitforaspell

TBT: Arlington Ward youth Temple trip

23 years ago last weekend we took the Arlington Ward youth on a Temple trip to the Washington, DC Temple (I was the YW president).  It was so fun and so memorable.  That girl in the red jumper is married and has three daughters and lives in Chicago but is in Boston for a few days with some friends.  She was at the Boston Temple tonight so I ran over and met her and visited for a few minutes.  It was so great to see Jacquie!  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #ilovethearlingtonwardyoungwomen #doigetcreditforbeinginthetempleifididntdoanytemplework

These are disappearing October 28th

#nomoretollbooths

Cloth Napkin factory

I made tapioca pudding tonight and worked in my cloth napkin factory last night.  #productiveholiday #istillhavetofoldlaundry

Cloth napkin factory

I made tapioca pudding and worked in my cloth napkin factory tonight.  #productiveholiday #istillhavetofoldlaundry

I was in the fun van...

...with nine 12/13 year olds.  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #arlingtonwardyouthareawesome #wearemormon

The YW at the Hartford Temple

The Arlington Ward youth at the Hartford Temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few months ago I had the idea to take our youth to the Hartford Temple open house. Gone are the days of "Temple trips" since the Boston Temple is on the same property as our chapel (~7 minutes from me). We rented two 15-passenger vans and six adults went and 15 kids (including one friend!). I hope the youth remember how they felt inside the Temple today and how beautiful it is (seriously beautiful!) and not that I told them to stop throwing water bottles and to buckle their seat belts. It was a wonderful day with our amazing and vibrant youth that I will always remember. If you live close enough to go, GO!. #hartfordldstemple #wearemormon #arlingtonwardyourhareawesome #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #whenisournextroadtrip

Hartford Temple here we come!

Gingersnaps

I made six dozen of Kate's Fantastic Gingersnaps for our youth trip to the Hartford Temple open house tomorrow. #madeatalmostmidnight #arlingtonwardyouthareawesome #everytriprequirestreats #eachvangetsthreedozen

A night of baking

#ilovearecipethatmakes7loaves #pumpkinchocolatechipbread

My first pot roast

#pioneerwomanrecipe #iaddedpotatoes #ilikebakingbetterthancookingbutagirlsgottaeat #cookingforone

It was DELICIOUS!!!

Temple lesson

The YM president taught a lesson Temple today with a few games (to prepare us for visiting the Hartford Temple tomorrow).  This was building a Temple out of cups with an Angel Moroni on top and the tallest Temple wins.  #arlingtonwardyouthareawesome #arlingtonwardyouthtempletrip

My backyard

Just when I was thinking there was not much Fall color I looked in my "backyard".  #newenglandfall2016 #ihaveacemeterybehindmycondo

Seeing aunt Kate

My favorite part of tonight was seeing Rachel's aunt Kate.  I met her when she was 15 and visited Boston for the summer (and I was the YW president).  I love Kate.  She might be my funniest friend.  #ididnotcatchthebouquet

Rachel's wedding

Rachel Sorensen's wedding reception was tonight.  It was lovely.  And really fun to see so many friends celebrate with Rachel who we all love so much.  #rachelandrob4ever