My Girls

Today in sacrament meeting two courageous young woman sang. I say courageous, because the very thought of me doing anything like that instantly makes my hands start to sweat and my face get all blotchy. They did a beautiful job, however, and as I sat and listened to them my thoughts naturally turned to my beautiful Young Woman in Kansas. I use the term my very possessively, because that is exactly what they are, my young woman. A good friend and fellow young woman's leader often would say that when you work in the Young Woman's you are really never the same, a part of your heart now belongs to each one of them and no matter where you go or what you do, and no matter where they go, or what they do you still love them, think about them, and hope for them. I'm finding this to be so very true. I have their picture on my fridge and I don't think a day goes by when my thoughts don't turn to one or all of them. When I look at their sweet faces I have to smile and I'm inspired to be a better woman myself. In fact, a week ago we had some family friends, who had lived by us in Kansas a few years ago, come and visit for the afternoon. I found myself getting out pictures of my young woman and going on and on about how beautiful and grown up they are and wow, you would never believe.....I soon realized I was sounding like the proud grandma, who cuddles up to some unsuspecting listener cradling her 5 inch family photo album and 88 years of memories.
What an honor it was to be with those girls, growing and learning together. How grateful I am that their parents trusted me with their amazing daughters and would be willing to share their life's treasure with me. A popular saying seems to describe my feelings well, "Loved you once, Love you still, Always have, Always will."
I remember that summer day in August 2007. My family and I had just returned home the previous day from visiting family in Utah. At the time, I was serving in the primary presidency and made it home just in time to go to a primary baptism. I remember watching our bishop walk into the chapel, he came over to shake my hand and asked If I had a minute to talk to him after the baptism. I said sure, thinking it would be about some primary thing. About halfway through the opening song though, I had the distinct thought, "Bishop Knapp is going to call you to be the new Young Woman's president." That took me by surprise and I had to chuckle a little, at that absurd idea, but then it came again, loud and clear, "You are going to be the new Young Woman's president and Jodi Rarick should be your Beehive Councilor." Never in my life have I ever had an experience like that. Intuition usually escapes me, and although I've had spiritual promptings before they have never been that "Kaboom," crystal clear, right in front of me. Sure enough sitting in the Bishops office after the baptism the call was extended to me. I remember the moment the words came out of his mouth I just started to cry. I cried, because I felt so totally unprepared, even with the forewarning. I cried because I instantly felt so inadequate, young, unorganized, and ill suited for the job. I cried because I felt the heavy responsibility start to fall on my shoulders the moment I nodded and said "yes I'll do it". I cried because as we talked I instantly felt such a strong, binding love for these girls, some who I didn't really even know, and I cried because I am a girl, and sometimes girls have to cry. And yes, I might of even cried, hoping that the Bishop would see what an unbalanced woman he had sitting in his office and reevaluate things a little bit.
Now I look over the past two years I had to serve and I'm amazed. Yes, I was far from perfect, yes there were many things I could have done better or differently, and as in most callings, when you feel you start to get a hang of things, you get released or move. But mostly, I look back and see the hand of the Lord in that time of my life. I see His guidance and direction. I see the good things that happened, the testimonies that were strengthened. I'm so grateful for woman who's talents superseded mine and who willingly jumped in wholeheartedly, took up the slack and made things work. I look back with admiration to these amazing woman I served with. And it kind of makes me smile to think that my entire presidency changed halfway through, due to moves, new callings, etc... except for Jodi.
If anything is to be remembered from our presidency's time in Young Woman's' I hope the girls remember that they are beloved, daughters of Heavenly Father. I hope they feel a portion of my love for them, but mostly I hope they feel a portion of His love for them and then as they always do, face life with a determination to be Steadfast and Immovable acting the part of a Daughter of God.
So if any of you sweet girls read this, know that miles away, I still love you, think about you and pray for the best to come your way. I loved you once, love you still, always have, always will.


Now go ride a Big, Fat, Pony. =)

World Peace

If anything could bring about World Peace, I do believe it would be this picture.

That's a tall order for a 10 month old, but seriously folks, I think this face has the power to soften even the hardest of hearts.

~

So here's to Jake and his platform.....World Peace.

I thinks he's jazzed about it.

Now excuse me while I go and give this face a million kisses.

How in the World?

So I was going through pictures from last month and found this little gem.

Yes, they are both asleep. They must have been tired. How did this happen, really? Did Will win King of the Bed or whatever rambunctious game they were playing before they feel asleep, or did Ike just somehow end up here. It boggles my mind.

Here is another view.


Poor Ike, but it was his idea to keep their beds pushed together for a few more nights. And it doesn't seem to bother him too much.

Until.....well.

This is Ike the next morning....

Apparently, this can happen to you if you sleep with your brother's foot in your face for a significant portion of the night.
(and yes, I realize my house is a complete disaster in this picture. Just focus on the cute, disturbed child Mom.)


Olympic sleeping must be a hit around here, because a few nights later this is how we found Jake.

I don't know how he did this. It is his secret and his alone.

Cheers!

Our Red Hot Valentine Night

Mike and I shared a memorable and very romantic evening this past Valentine night.

...We broke into our car.

Our car that was parked in our garage believe it or not.

Yep, forget cuddling on the couch, we kicked it up a notch with wire hangers, keys, golf clubs, and freezing weather.

(Notice our ridiculous tools of choice)

And you know what, it became one of the funnest nights we have shared in a long time.

I haven't laughed that hard in a while. Just the thought of what we must have looked like was hilarious. We made a good team despite our car hacking skills lacking a little finesse. It only took us 1 1/2 hours to get into the car, and when the car door opened we both couldn't believe it had really worked. Yes, this experience inspired us to get a second car key made, after a year of only having one. (We know this should have been on the top of the to-do list months ago, but blast it's an electronic key and there were only a gazillion other things to do with the $$, please say you understand how that goes). Anyway, thank goodness this happened in our garage and not in Walmart's parking lot. It wouldn't have been so much fun, had the police hauled us off to jail.

And bless a certain child's heart, who after retrieving something for me out of the trunk earlier that day happened to lock all the car doors, before shutting the keys in the trunk. Sometimes, the initially horrific moments of parenting become some of the best. At any rate, this Valentine date will be one of the most memorable.