The very best job...ever!

Eric and I have the very best job in the church...ever! This is how we spend our Sundays:

After spending an hour and 10 minutes watching our teenagers use their iTouch (s) to play games and pass notes during sacrament meeting, we get to go play...

for twenty minutes with 3-8 year olds: playing hot and cold, bowling, jumping up and down and spinning as we sing "Do as I'm doing", and matching games.

for twenty minutes with 9-11 year olds: listening to their smart^*& comments, play battleship and hot/cold, and trade witty barbs.

for 10 minutes with 18 months to 3 year olds: playing musical instruments, ring around the rosy, finger puppets, singing "Wheels on the Bus", "Popcorn Popping" and "If you're happy".

The very best parts of it, however, are...

*Their hugs and squeals when they see us
*Their joy and excitement when they see the new game to play or song to learn
*They way they want to share everything that happened to them since we saw them last
*The tears and "goose bumps" I get when they sing so beautifully
*The spirit I feel when they share their little testimonies through song
*The way they wave and giggle when they spot us on the bench in Sacrament meeting
*When they plop their cute little bums on my lap or hold my face to share a secret
*Seeing their faces when they, too, feel the spirit
*The way they feel comfortable making witty comments (or being smart*&^) to me and knowing I won't get mad or offended
*The love I feel for them---they are the best and brightest!

So, you see, we have the best job...ever. Who wouldn't want to be the in Primary?!

The difference between Lucifer's plan and Jesus' plan...

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Think things, not words."

In words, many see a need for "social justice" to override "the dictates of the market."

In reality, what is called "the market" consists of human beings making their own choices at their own cost. (Jesus' plan)

What is called "social justice" is government imposition of the notions of third parties, who pay no price for being wrong. (Lucifer's plan)

So, I admit this is just my interpretation of this recent thought found in the Washington Times. But if we believe that we live in the land that our Heavenly Father prepared so that his gospel could be restored and that our founding fathers were influenced in the way our country/government was set up, then my thoughts are, "the market" allows us to make choices and live with the consequences (Jesus' plan) and "social justice" is Lucifer's plan to force us to live the way that is deemed by someone to be the best for all.

Goodbye our sweet little Ollie!

This weekend we went to Park City to get away from all the stress and pressures we have been under over the last couple of years. We did come back to Salt Lake so the boys could sing in the General Priesthood session with the Young Mens choir. Syd and I spent the time shopping at Gateway and seeing a movie. We had a great day and night! Then we received a phone call from my mother-in-law, Bev, to let us know that our sweet little 10-year-old poodle had gotten into our neighbors backyard and been killed by their daughter's visiting pitbull. We came back home to bury our friend!

Ollie was a spunky six pound poodle that thought he was bigger. We should have named him Napolean instead. He was Eric's birthday present the year Syd turned a year. Ollie was our friend, cuddle dog and a member of our family for so long. Cole gave him the ultimate act of love by standing out in the dark cold night and dug a hole so we could have a burial.

So, Ollie, we love you and we will miss you. Goodbye, friend!

Where has the time gone?

Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend!

It seems like it was just yesterday but when you consider all that has happened, we know it wasn't really. We have had three children, eight cars, eight homes, nine surgeries (most were mine), thirteen combined years of college, two bachelors' degrees, one masters' degree (in 3 mos), two cats, four dogs, two birds, numerous fish, and thirteen jobs. We have moved around the state, out of state and back in state, helped our kids to learn to read, ride bikes, play instruments, play hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. We have served as Elder's quorum president, Primary president, Young Women's president, High Priest group counselor, Young Men's President, Ward Mission leader, numerous counselor positions, Sunday school teachers, Primary teachers, Ward organist, Primary chorister and Primary pianist. We have served on a hockey board, a lacrosse board, JDRF board, and volunteered all those years in between. The list goes on and on.

Even through it all, the ups and downs, the highs and the lows, I have had my best friend by my side and he has made life all that much better.

I love you, babe!

Different ways to show you care...or why Eric cooks!

We had a family outing yesterday that turned into an "Ah, Ha!" moment for me. We saw an amazing movie that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves to cook or Julia Childs. We saw "Julie and Julia" and as I said, it as truly amazing! I have always loved Julia Childs and would love to be even half the cook she was. Learning about her life and cooking disasters gave me a small sliver of hope. I will never be as good a cook as my husband, but I can sure try (at least, once I am done with school).

But, I am getting away from my "Ah, Ha" moment. Julia Childs loved food and she loved her husband. She found a way to share both of her loves. Eric is an incredible cook--he is very humble about it but even his "disasters" (as he descr'ibes them) are delicious and truly appreciated by those who love him. Which is where my "Ah, Ha" moment came! Eric loves to cook because he loves us! He has a wonderful talent and we are so fortunate to have him WANT to share it with us. Many people who have sampled his delights, have commented that he should go into catering and he always responds that he would no longer enjoy it if he did. Again, he loves to cook because he loves us! Aren't we so lucky?!

I love being a Mom...and this is the reason why!

Can you see what I mean? They are pretty incredible kids!

Now that I am older...

As many of you know, I am a perpetual worrier. My family teases me endlessly for my worries. I was labeled the "Queen of What if" from the time I was old enough to start asking..."What if _____ happens, then what would we do?" My parents even bought me a book to help me with these perplexing questions: The worst-case scenario survival handbook. I read it from cover to cover so I will be prepared if I am ever attacked by an alligator or someone is shooting at me from a moving car. Seriously! It was a great relief to have a guide to all these questions--and those who know me well know these are the kinds of questions I DID ask!

So, I have discovered (and yes, it has taken me 40+ years to get there) that it doesn't matter if you worry and lose sleep, when whatever it is happens--it happens. Am I better prepared? Maybe. However, I have learned that even in my deepest worries, there is always one scenario that I DIDN'T think of and that is usually the one that happens so I have to "roll with the punches" anyway.

The Department of Health is going through a reorganization right now. The only people it will directly affect is my little 12 person bureau--will we keep our jobs, will we move with the new division, stay with the old division, get a new boss, etc. Surprisingly, I am not worrying. Nope, not even a little bit--have I matured? Does worrying quit when you get older or do you just realize that things work out someway, somehow and for the best?

I used to spent my time anticipating the next step and worrying about what the future would bring. But now I wish I could slow down the world--I am loving this moment right now. I love my high school senior, and my eighth grader and my sixth grader. I love being with them, talking with them and every moment with them. All the stresses of work, school and life, melt away when I am with them.

So, why worry about the future--"my finest moment is the one I am standing in"!