The Infamous Charts

As I began dating Clayton and spending more and more time with the 'Family on Fisher', I came to love spending time talking with Nancy. I remember going over to their house and feeling completely comfortable passing hours on the couch with Nancy discussing everything from school to dreams, from work to band boys, and from levels of love to blackholes. One evening we were sitting on the green couch downstairs when Nancy walked in with blue construction paper and a marker. It was time for me to be introduced to the infamous charts. I was, of course, blown away.

How could Nancy come up with something that could so perfectly describe my feelings towards life as a 21-year old college student?

How did she know that all of my dating experiences fit so easily into the 3 categories she assigned them?

It seems that one of Nancy's many gifts is to have the ability to make people feel comfortable around her and instantly connected to her. As her daughter-in-law, I feel particularly blessed to have the opportunity to continue to learn from her and seek out her advice (though I haven't seen a chart on home-buying yet and would find one very helpful right now...). I'm so grateful that Nancy was able to reach out to me through charts as I dated Clayton, her insight in doing so continues to amaze me. Happy Birthday Nancy - here is to many more late night chats and blue construction paper charts!

♥ Lets go Shopping ♥

Well first and foremost, Happy Birthday Mom!!! I love you so much and hope this fun present brings a smile to your face and probably (most likely) a tear or two ;)

Trying to decide what my my favorite memory of you is like trying to decide between liquorish and white donuts.....it's just all too good!!! For some strange reason one keeps popping into my head. This memory of you goes back to the darkest time of my life. The time that shall not be named..........8th grade. Oops, I just said it! I get shudders just typing it! Yes, 8th grade. I think it was the second or third day of school and I came home totally defeated and miserable. So what did you do? Did you tell me to buck up or that everything would be fine or to put on a happy face and move on? No. You let me cry and you were just simply there :) Once I got most of my tears out you said, "Do you know what you do when life is hard and you are sad? You go shopping!"

So shopping we went! It's funny looking back because all my cute new clothes didn't solve any of my problems or make them disappear, but spending time with you gave me the strength and confidence I needed to push through and stay strong. So really, all I needed was you! (even though the clothes did help A LOT;) To make an awkward freckly "rat Boo" feel beautiful and confident deserves all the mother of the lifetime awards that are out there :) I'll never forget all the many moments like those.

I love you mom!!! Happy Birthday~

Growing Old - Mandatory ... Growing Up - Optional :)

Nancy, So you are finally fifty ... ish;
Happy Birthday on the big Five - Ohhhhhh
I guess you could fill a great big book
With everything you know

A whole half century of living
Is nothing to sneeze about,
So if you're a little patched and worn,
Don't you dare frown or pout.

Ignore things that make you feel old;
Its really great to be fifty'ish
You're smart, attractive and good company,
And I still think you're nifty'ish

No son in law could have a better mother in law - YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
Love you Nancy - Thank you for all you do!!!
Aaron

Pancakes

My first memory of you, Nancy was coming over with Marshall to help him organize some music for a performance, and you asked if you could make me pancakes. Of all the things you could have done instead, you won me over with food and I’ve been coming back ever since.

I doubt that’s the first thing most moms would do when her son brings a new girl home. But most moms also don’t make extensive love charts, develop insightful theories on flirting, or staple cute envelopes with cash for park entrance fees onto their children’s vacation packets (I did read mine, btw). Marshall and I have been so blessed by your attention to promptings and small details in our life.

I still have the first of many pieces of mail you’ve sent me through the years – A Good Housekeeping article titled, “No more motion sickness!” from August 2001 (exactly 10 years ago now) with the note “Kris – I thought of you when I read this article” and the classic signature: ♥ Nancy. Marshall hadn’t proposed yet, but it made me feel like I was already part of the family.

When Marshall went to New York for a few days, you sent me this email:

From:       “Nancy McDonald” <nancmcd@hotmail.com>
To:           kristienhixson@hotmail.com
Subject:   are you missing your man?
Date:        Thu, 26 Jul 2001 09:14

Hey beautiful! Thanks for coming to our 24^th party. Our family loves you and we are so glad that you chose to share the holiday with us. Sometimes, when Steve leaves town, I am so glad to have a little time to myself and sometimes I just plain miss him. So the big question is: Are you missing Marsh or just glad to get things done? Thank you for making him so happy (as if that isn’t a constant state with him… let me re phrase…) thanks for making Marsh even happier. I am glad that he has found a soul mate! Give my regards to the rats and cats and call or visit if you get bored.
Love, Nancy

I felt your love and the rats did too!

Before returning home from Argentina, Marshall's mission president told him to always remember three things: 1) to never stop being a missionary, 2) get an education, and 3) make sure to get along with his in-laws if he wanted to maintain a happy marriage. I had no idea that first day when you made me pancakes that I would be marrying not just a wonderful man, but into such a great family too. 

I hope that you have a very happy birthday, Nancy. I can't think of a better way to launch the new family blog than by honoring the beloved mother who started it all.