The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton

I just finished reading this book. It took me quite a while because I was so busy getting other things done. I wish I could just carry a book around with me while I do other things - I guess that's what you can do with audio-books, but I still cling desperately to the written page and all the sensory enjoyment I get out of that.

Back to the book: I really liked it. I like Anya Seton's writing. She makes historical fiction fascinating and I love historical fiction. This is about Elizabeth Fones Winthrop Feake Hallet. She was a niece of John Winthrop who was an early governer of the Massachusetts area colonies. It takes place in the early to mid-1600's. I recommend it!

Sunday at the Linfords

I love Sundays. Yesterday was a pretty typical Sunday around here. Church in the morning, then home for a very brief rest, then dinner with the kids and grandkids. Everyone was here by early afternoon. We got in a good game of hand and foot (good because Audrey and I won). Then dinner - mmm, mmm, deeelicious. Ray made a new recipe, Chicken Parmigiana, and it was a big hit. Then after dinner while Audrey and Joseph did the dishes (it was their week), the grandkids and I lounged on the hammock:

Austin, Matthew, me:

Madeleine and Debra:Matthew, Madeleine (she doesn't look too sure about this situation), and Austin:

After we relaxed outside for a while, we moved inside. Here's Madeleine enjoying some peace and quiet on the couch:

Then along came the boys:

Has the circus come to town?

All in all, it was a fabulous day!

More Pictures from Graduation

The coveted hood:

Audrey and her niece (and my darling granddaughter) Madeleine - a future BYU coed, I'm sure:

Audrey and Ray - definitely a proud father. We have a similar picture from 26 years ago with these two, only in that picture Ray is in the cap and gown, and Audrey was a year old:

Two great sisters - Audrey and Debra:

Audrey and Joseph - there is no one prouder than Joseph. They both worked hard to make this happen:The whole family: Audrey, Joseph, Matthew, and Austin

A Legacy of Learning

Today I once again lived vicariously through one of my children. My oldest, Audrey, graduated from BYU with her Master of Arts degree in Mathematics Education. Last year I lived vicariously through my daughter Debra when she received her Juris Doctorate from BYU.

I have always loved to learn. There was not a time I didn't love school and learning. In fact, I earned my own BS in Elementary Education from BYU, and continued in the field of learning for a few years as a fourth grade teacher. At that time I took an "early retirement from public education and began full-time status in motherhood" (to paraphrase Matthew N. Daley - commencement speaker at BYU today).

Imagine how much I enjoyed Elder David A. Bednar's talk at Commencement today, "Learning to Love Learning." He said there are three essential aspects of learning:
1. It is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must acquire and apply knowledge for righteousness.
2. It is vital to our ongoing spiritual and personal development.
3. It is an absolute necessity in the world we now live in, and the world to come.

BYU's motto is "Enter to learn, Go forth to serve." Elder Bednar said we should regard it as "Enter to learn to love learning and to serve. Go forth to continue learning and serving."

Over the years I have dreamed of further degrees - but have never formally acheived them. I have simply continued to try and absorb as much knowledge as I can, and have enjoyed every minute of it. I hope I can continue in this endeavor forever. If there is one thing I hope to leave my children, it is a legacy of learning.

(It was sweet to read the following on p. 14 of the Spring Commencement Exercises under the heading Master's Degrees, Master of Arts:
Audrey Linford Hanks
BA, Brigham Young University, 2003
Major: Mathematics Education
Thesis: How Eighth-Grade Students Estimate with Fractions)