More St. Patrick's Day pictures

(The bottom photo is Ambassador Murphy and wife Lillian)

Temple Time at last!

Lumina came to Korea in summer of 2005, and lived with us for awhile. She moved out on her own and got a good job, and kept extending her contract to teach at a school in Bundang, south of Seoul. We have talked, over the months and years, about going to the temple, and she finally made it happen on March 1, 2008. I felt such joy for her, like she is my own daughter. Her middle name in "Infinite." So, she is a bearer of everlasting, or infinite light. She's a good person to keep close! We love her, and are so happy for her. Here are a few photos in front of the Seoul Temple.

St.Paddy's in Seoul!

This was the year of at least one interesting and fun discovery---We learned that there are enough Irish and Irish-loving folks hanging out in Seoul, to justify a big green parade and party for St. Patrick's Day! We decided to see for ourselves, after I met (at SFS British school) the day before, Lillian Murphy,the wife of the Irish Ambassador to Korea. We joined all the thousands of others wearin' the green, to celebrate long-awaited Spring, and Ireland, far from the US or the Emerald Isle. Koreans seem to love taking on whatever festival they can find, if it promotes business!

And, I decided to have a St. Patrick's Day dinner with a couple of my favorite families living here, so I made the corned beef and cabbage dinner, and a big pot of beef stew, some Irish soda bread muffins, and put on the Celtic music. Daniel had just returned the week before, from a visit to Ireland and England, and Michael was celebrating his 25th birthday the same day. I delivered Michael in 1983 on St. Patrick's Day in Stuttgart, Germany, and if he hadn't decided to arrive that day, Norm and I would have been celebrating St. Paddy's day at our neighbor's house in Heilbronn.

How to be RICH!

On February 28, Norm and I were the guest speakers at the SESA meeting. Two of my adult women English students were among the 40 or so that attended. In fact, before the "official" agenda started with our speeches, the informal spontaneous speaking took place, when Koreans who are daring enough to get up in front of others, get a chance to practice their English public speaking skills. I made sure that my students were encouraged to come up, and one of them did...Susanne. She is the ringleader of the trio I teach in my home once a week. She is 61 years old, a retired concert pianist who has traveled the world with music, and who is now enjoying grandmotherhood with a darling little 3 year old grandson. I was so proud of her for coming up to speak a few sentences in front of total strangers in an LDS building she has never visited before! Tina, her sidekick, was totally supportive, but could not bring herself to join her at the podium. No matter---they were both very welcome additions to the very pleasant evening.

Our topic stirred up some strong feelings, because the whole idea of becoming rich has pretty much predominated in Korean society in recent years. We discussed some ideas about keeping a proper perspective on wealth, and appreciating the non-monetary wealth that we all enjoy, but sometimes forget. I shared the words of a children's book that express this concept perfectly. Here's what it says:

What's the matter?

I'm fed up. I've got nobody. I've got nothing. I'm poor.

No, you're not. You're rich...What happens when you lose a tooth?

...I leave it under my pillow and the tooth fairy swaps it for money.

Well then, how much is your nose worth?

How much is a foot worth?

Even a toe?

How much is an arm worth?

Or a finger?

Now tell me: How much is a mouth worth?

Listen closely. How much is an ear worth?

How much is an eye worth?...See?

You're not poor. You're rich!...

I am?

I'm rich!

Hey, wait a minute. I've got all those things, but I'm not rich. I'm poor. I can't give you anything.

Oh, yes, you can.

What?

Give me a smile.

That's it. Now, give me your hand. Shake.

Open your arms. Give me a hug.

Tell me a joke. That's worth a laugh, at least.

Give me a song. I'll sing along.

Let's dance!

Give me a helping hand.

Here's a smell for your nose....Let's walk. Let's talk.

Let's run. We'll have fun.

What did that yawn cost? Yawns are free.

When you're asleep, dreams are free.

We're rich, because we're friends, you see...'Cause I've got you and you've got me.

We're rich!

The best news!

This is the day we have anticipated for several weeks---when we would learn if we are having a grandson or granddaughter this summer---and the news is in!

Baby Boy Potter is on the way, and will arrive sometime around July 21st, God willing. Michael and Eleanor experienced an ultrasound and listened to the strong heartbeat Tuesday (February 19th), and I just got off the phone with them.

Being our first grandchild, we really couldn't go wrong---I would have been delighted to hear about a boy or girl, and I'm just very grateful that all seems normal in the pregnancy.

The photos here were taken in December, (one of them was done with the help of a stuffed pillow, of course!) the day that the happy couple announced their expectant news to our family, and later to the Miller Family. That's Michael's long-time best friend Paul with his young family, and dear friends Dan and Angie as proud grandparents, too!

Now that I think about it, I should have taken a picture of the drawing M and E made to reveal their grand news. They sketched a simple cartoon showing "Milk and Honey Lasso the Stork," which carried out their "It's A Wonderful Life" theme from engagement days. Being Wonderful Life fanatics ourselves, we all caught on immediately, of course. In case you hadn't heard, Michael's long-standing nickname since junior high years is Milk, and of course, Eleanor is his Honey. (And she has become a real honey to all the Potters, too!)

Craig and Theresa Rossell are posing in their kitchen as new grandparents too. They are Eleanor's wonderful parents whom I visited in January, just before their other daughter gave them their first grandchild. We are rejoicing together!

One last note on this subject: During the first week of December, as Norm and I were in San Antonio, he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. After thinking about it a few minutes, I could not think of anything I wanted except news that we would be grandparents in 2008. I didn't realize I would be getting my wish so soon!

Terrific Teaching and Tutoring

Just a note to tell you and show where and how I spend some of my weekdays this year: Substitute teaching in Seoul Foreign School in a variety of excellent classes, and tutoring at home. On recent days, I helped a Turkish boy celebrate his birthday in a SFS classroom, and accepted a kind Lunar New Year's gift of Korean rice treats from Hanna's grandmother, when she came to our apartment with Hanna for her regular tutoring session. I love my life with the people here!

Seol Nal 2008--Year of the RAT!

Happy New Year again, in Korea! Lunar New Year started last Thursday, Feb 7 on the solar calendar....So we had a few days break, and decided to experience the customs in person, courtesy of Korean National Tourism Organization. We subwayed with Joe and Vicki Southerland to downtown Seoul and spent a few hours playing dress up, doing fun photos with all sorts of backgrounds, including these "hanbok" poses, playing traditional games, and finally dining for a late lunch at Bennigan's. We figured that was fair, because we spent American Thanksgiving at a Korean restaurant, so we needed some American cuisine on Korean's new year holiday! On our subway ride home, I laughed to myself as I watched these very typical young Koreans totally immersed in their technology. They didn't even notice when I took their picture.

January Jollies and Joys

My main new year's resolve is to become a regular blogger, more than just occasionally. I took the first step today by downloading all the photos I have from this busy month in Korea, and also some remarkable shots taken from the plane over the Arctic region. (that's another blog posting topic!)

There have been a lot of social gatherings since I returned to the Land of the Morning Calm this month, including folks from the American, Korean and Philippino culture at Phillipe and Susie Barbieri's lovely apartment. What a feast of delish food and great chatting!

Then there was our monthly SESA meeting, at which Norm was asked to come up and speak spontaneously, which he did with not a moment's hesitation. (Next month the two of us are the main speakers.) This is the Seoul English Study Association. We love the interaction with Koreans, and they love the chance to practice their English conversation skills with us!

In celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year Day (Sol Nal in Korean)next week, the ladies of our local church branch gathered for a Korean food feast and cultural presentation, and you can see what beautiful dresses they wear for special occasions. It was fun and interesting!

And, although I never got the camera out for the occasion, Norm and I hosted the latest of our monthly couples study group/pot luck dinner gatherings last Sunday night, and had a great discussion with our friends about developing Christlike attributes. This was the very evening (Seoul time) that Pres. Hinckley died, which was appropriate, since he was such an excellent example of those traits!

Passing of our Prophet

For the last several hours, I have been tuned into internet radio stream KSL from Salt Lake City, listening to the many call-in comments and programs honoring our beloved Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley at his passing Sunday evening, January 27, 2008.

I learned the news in the early afternoon Monday, in Seoul, about 2 hours after his death occurred. Several friends concurrently sent emails or chatted briefly on MSN IM to make sure I got the sad news, and I thank them for thinking of us over here at such a tender time.

A few words on this blog cannot suffice to summarize the gigantic impact of Pres. Hinckley on my life. I can hardly remember the years (over 20 years ago) that he was not a First Presidency member. Before that, as long as I have been an LDS member, he served as an apostle. And long before that, he was busy serving as a well-loved and talented leader and employee of the church.

His influence has been worldwide in so many areas, and the one that has meant the most to me is the remarkable, ambitious temple-building program at the turn of the millenium. Simply amazing. We have attended and visited many of those temples around the world, and I always think appreciatively of President Hinckley's foresight in planning and supporting their construction, which has brought eternal blessings to millions of people on most of the earth's continents.

At the press conference held in March 1995 when Pres. Hinckley began his service as the Prophet, he was asked by a reporter what advice he would give to working mothers. He responded that all of us, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, just need "to do the best you can."

That is acceptable to the Lord....and it has helped me through many difficult days since that time.

I feel privileged to have lived so many years of my adult life, growing under the inspirational leadership of Pres. Hinckley. I have abundant memories of him to cherish, and look forward to the opportunity to reunite in the coming life. "God be with you [and us]till we meet again...."

Belated Christmas Message from Norm

There is something wonderfully relaxing and satisfying about ice skating.
People seem to truly enjoy themselves - especially during the holidays.

It was Christmas Eve 2007, in Seoul, Korea - a city of 13 million inhabitants.
I found myself alone as a stranger in a mystical land. During this special time,
I joined a huge crowd of over 100,000 Koreans. They were celebrating by strolling
past richly decorated buildings, trees, & bushes that lined the walkways. Street
vendors offered a variety of Asian food and sweets to the revelers. Music was heard
from speakers scattered all over the downtown area in this magical, "night of nights".

At City Hall, I paused for awhile at a large ice skating rink. It was surrounded by
brilliantly lighted screens, decorated with Far Eastern designs. I was warmed by
the glow of smiling faces who greeted each other as they skated on the ice.
Children giggled as they held tightly to their parents and grandparents. Family
members and friends laughed when their children fell down. Young lovers held
hands and gazed into the eyes of their partners. Wives smiled sweetly at their
husbands as together they skated to music. Older couples enjoyed the peaceful
moment. Gray-haired people interlocked their arms and supported each other.

I was pleasantly surprised when a few people greeted me, shook my hand, and
wished me happiness. I learned more about what it means when Asians talk about
"cry for happy." This was especially true that Christmas Eve because I dearly missed
my own sweet companion - as well as our wonderful children. Previously, a Korean
War veteran, with tears of appreciation, expressed sincere gratitude for the sacrifices
of U.S. citizens during that terrible war - as well as what we have done for the past 50
years. Sometimes, I have personal glimpse of the soul of a city with a similar name.

I was able to experience the peace and joy that comes from love. I thought about the
importance of mutual caring, sharing, kindness, & understanding. For a brief moment
in the troubled history of this beautiful nation, among such lovely people, there was
a renewed feeling of hope. Before I left the memorable scene, I looked at the star on
top of a huge and colorful tree. I wished for lasting joy, with peace on earth for my
loved ones, for this great & ancient country, and good will toward all mankind. I then
returned to my apartment in the full moonlight. My warmed heart didn't notice the cold.
May the Lord continue to bless us all during the new year, and forever.
Norm Potter
Seoul, Korea

These shots are: Sutherland and Potter family party; Moonrise over the Wasatch; Temple Square nativity; Potters at Cathedral of the Madeleine choir concert; Sara's aerobic exercise shoveling the latest snowfall! We had 4 in a few days. Beautiful!

The photos are: The Potters with Nathan and Chasta at Gardner Village in SLC; Norm and Sara with Ann and Bud Gammon at the Davis Master Chorale concert; Dan and Angie Miller with Norm and Sara; Norm's sibs Myrna and LaMar, with our family, Van, and Katie; Karen Greenwell and Sara at Joseph Smith Memorial Building in SLC. Just a few of the many activities I was able to squeeze into my December visit in Utah!

December Pix

The photos in the previous post are (top to bottom): Sara and Norm at San Antonio Temple; Emily, Norm, Sara, Rebecca at Conference Center in SLC; Norm, Sara, Vicki & Joe Southerland at Phoenix Park Ski Resort in Korea at Thanksgiving time; Norm and Sara with Israeli students selling Dead Sea beauty products at mall in San Antonio; The handbell concert in SLC.

Here are the kids' "assignments" written in their own words (although they all chose to write in 3rd person). I am still waiting to hear from Norm with his entry.

EMILY was extremely excited to turn 30 years old this year. She graduated with a master's degree from the University of Montana, studying Intercultural Youth and Family Development. She completed a six month internship in India. She worked as a commissioned acrylic-on-canvas artist for the summer. (to see samples of her art, go to: www.passionforartexperiment.blogspot.com) In Montana, she started a small band just long enough to produce and sell a cd of 10 original songs. Her biggest musical thrill was to hear one of her songs selected on a local radio station in Missoula. She is currently rehearsing with her new Peruvian dancing partner for a local salsa dancing competition in the following year. After her adventures in India, Emily moved back to Kaysville and feels most blessed to have Rebecca and Daniel as her roommates. She is using her undergraduate degree, working as a full time Recreation Therapist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City. She delights in her job in every way, although she still can't believe the federal government would hire someone with dreadlocks.

In a few months, REBECCA will celebrate 10 adventurous years with Delta Airlines by going on a family trip to Japan, her favorite country. This past July, she joined half the family in experiencing the wonders of Mongolia, a true highlight for her. In our church, she is currently serving as an Achievement Day leader for the 10 and 11 year old girls, and she is working on the Enrichment committee. Rebecca found a green thumb in gardening tomato plants again this summer, which she calls her babies. She and Emily also learned to be more confident in the kitchen by taking private cooking lessons from Daniel. She is stunning family and friends with her talent of editing of home videos. She has also found a talent in hosting a myriad of social events from time travel parties to picnics to planning a whole month of Christmas festivities. Rebecca has found a special interest in learning about nutrition and homeopathy, and hopes to continue her independent education in this field. She could not have been more excited to welcome Eleanor, who she loves dearly, to the family in May and always looks forward to any time she gets to spend with the newlywed couple.


MICHAEL AND ELEANOR couldn't be happier after 7 months of marriage. They're enjoying naivete in all of its forms, especially being dirt poor. Eleanor finished school, and Michael is ecstatic to have only one more semester before he finishes his degree (film major and Japanese major). He quit his job making videos for BYU and started working for BYU's International Cinema, where he directs shoots of commentators for each film screening. Next year he plans to start a freelance video production business (so if you have any video needs of any kind, be in touch), and make a few short films to submit to festivals. He is developing a feature film script this next year, which he plans to shoot in 2009. It will be a independent production, so, seriously, if you know anyone who is looking for an investment opportunity that they can brag to their friends about, let him know. Eleanor has made a beautiful newlywed home down in Utah County, and will be working on her handmade boutique items, including baby clothes, aprons. The young couple is still pretty enamored-- sometimes obnoxiously so.

DANIEL had a banner year, first due to finally keeping a New Year's resolution to get off the couch and enter his first-ever running races. He and Emily trained during the spring and early summer for the Kaysville July 4th 5K, crossing the finish line together and loving it so much that they began to train for a 5-mile Thanksgiving run where they again triumphantly crossed the finish line together. Meanwhile, unbeknown to Daniel, the pounds began to slip away and he was surprised to discover by just running a few times a week, 15 pounds can just magically disappear. Ah, youth.
He also is racing ever closer to finishing his teaching degree with a minor in ESL. When he's not up on campus, Daniel works in the headquarter branch of the Davis County Library in Farmington, a dream job of sorts to be surrounded by books and quirky librarians and a prime. Thankfully he lead his sisters in a cooking course, so we can always come home to a wonderful meal. He's excited to travel again in coming months, after whetting his appetite with the Mongolian and Korean expedition in July and August this year.

Christmas Greetings 2007

This photo is the embroidery I finished months ago, and finally made into a pillow cover, just before I flew from Korea to San Antonio. It summarizes nicely how I feel about the Christmas season, after all these years. It is a joy to re-connect with our family and friends from past years and current times. Just knowing you are there is comforting. We cherish any opportunities we get to spend time with you, and we enjoy some great memories of terrific people in our lives, scattered among many nations and cultures around the planet. This Christmas season, we feel especially blessed to have time at home in Kaysville, Utah with all four of our own children, and our new daughter -in-law Eleanor. I am giving each of the family an "assignment" to summarize their 2007 lives, thoughts, or feelings here to share with you. I will lead the way!

For me, 2007 was a year filled with a variety of emotions and activities. There were some highs and a few lows, but by the time the year ends next week, I do believe the highs will win. I spent the first half of the year in a major weight-loss and fitness effort, which paid off in many ways. I treadmill most days of the week at the apartment building's fitness center, while watching TV on Korean or English language stations, and have learned a lot of things on Discovery, CNN, Arirang, AFN, and a movie channel. Norm joins me sometimes, and I also walk around the Yongsan post as needed, since we only are allowed to have one car.

Living in Korea has been good for my nutritional health, too. We have more healthy choices in foods available in the Korean culture, and we also have access to the best commissary in the overseas military communities. I have learned more about all kinds of good things to eat for middle age thriving, so combining the food and exercise into a daily lifestyle has been paying off in a rewarding way for me!

My work has evolved into a self-directed teaching career where I pick and choose my commitments to students, and have preserved a reasonable daytime schedule of early morning phone English students, some days of subbing at Seoul Foreign School (including the British School, and the elementary, middle, and high schools there), as well as the Seoul American Middle School on Yongsan Army Garrison. In addition, I have a steady group of wonderful Korean students of various ages who come to our apartment for English tutoring. I could be a lot busier with them if I was willing to work into the night time, as all of them do, but I cut it off by dinner time, so I can have a life.

In our branch at church, I continue teaching the Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class to adults, in which we get to delve into and discuss the scriptures each week. I am also teaching the Relief Society lesson once a month. I love to teach, as you can probably guess, and I love to help others get enthused about whatever the subject is, so I am content to be a teacher in so many settings, meeting with such a variety of good people of all ages in the English and Korean communities.

For my "favorite things" pastimes, I have done a lot more reading and sewing in the past several months. Sewing is a fun adventure in Seoul, with the fabric market so close and so full of any kind of fabric you can imagine, at great low prices! Reading takes on a new focus with my recent involvement in a book club, so I finally am reading some of the books I have heard of for years but never made a point of reading before. I also find real joy in cooking, and especially in teaching one of my Korean students (age 9) how to bake and cook in the American style.

Norm and I continue to serve in the Seoul LDS Temple regularly as ordinance workers, and we participate in other community activities such as the Good Neighbor Program and the SESA organization (Seoul English Study Association). And of course, we travel whenever we can get a few days off. Our trips have gravitated to more Korean discovery tours, and fewer international travels, since we are affected by the airlines' trend to fewer and fuller flights (thus, fewer stand-by seats for us!) But we never get tired of seeing new things in Korea. There's a lot to learn and experience here! We get around nicely on subways, buses, and trains, which are all excellent in Korea.

If you read backwards in the blog, you will see that we managed three separate trips to the US in 2007, and I am still here in Utah as I write this. It has helped me a lot to stay so connected with our home base and neighborhood in Kaysville, while maintaining our home in Korea. I sometimes forget which is my real home. I don't think I know anymore, which one it is, actually. I feel totally at home in both countries now. If I didn't, I don't think Norm would have extended our stay in Korea for another two years!

At Thanksgiving, I wrote down all the blessings I could think of at the time, and my list filled an entire journal page. I often marvel at how well my life is going, in the midst of so many troubles and woes in the world around me. I feel immersed in a midlife-mellowing, which is good. It sometimes is a bumpy hormonal ride, but over time, I have learned some wisdom to smooth my own path, and I find rewards of living a Gospel-centered life, every day that I awake and continue to move and breath. Above most anything else, I am grateful to witness the fulfillment of a special promise to me in 1971, that I would know the joy of "rearing my children in righteousness." That takes in a lot, and it is real. Excellent memories, and great adventures to anticipate in months and years ahead! It's all about enjoying the journey, isn't it?

Holiday Time

Tempus Fugit! I keep thinking of updating this blog a lot more regularly, but something, like life, always delays me from my intention. Today, however, I am spending some much-appreciated time in a hotel business center at a computer with no deadline or other commitment. I am just waiting for Norm to be done with his first day of class at this San Antonio conference.

Yes! We have returned to Texas for the second time in a few months, and, as before, are staying in the Double Tree hotel, enjoying gorgeous weather and blue skies...while most of the nation is enduring a blizzard, I hear.

Since my last blog posting in October, I have stayed busy with plenty of work at home and at a couple schools in Seoul. At Thanksgiving time, Norm and I went with our good friends, Joe and Vicki, to enjoy the snowy scenes and sites in northeastern S. Korea. We stayed at a large and popular Korean ski resort in a rental condo suite for a few days, and had a great time getting away from the city stress and traffic.

One place we discovered is called Herb Nara...which means Herb Farm. It is the first (and only?) in Korea, and may be a well-kept secret, at least from the Americans living there. Even in the cold of winter, it is a fun place to roam around, with all sorts of fun displays and gardens on display where many kinds of useful and aromatic herbs are grown and sold. We ate our Thanksgiving Dinner there, too, at a great Korean restaurant which treated us like VIP's...because we were the only customers that day...a weekday in winter.

This will be a work-in-progress since I am in and out of the hotel, and I can't download any photos, so stay tuned....