Headaches...

suck. I don't use that word very often, but in this case it's absolutely appropriate. Today was our first day back at school. Overall, it went really well...except for that stupid songbook that I can't find. I have Book One and Book Three. I need Book Two and I can't find it. ARGH!

But other than that, it was a good day. Then I came home. I put the towels in the dryer and took a Facebook break. From there, it was all downhill. My shoulders and neck are so, sooo tight. My head has been pounding all night - off and on. It's all from my shoulders.

I wonder which of the children I should blame today.

Crazy week ahead: Tuesday - RS dinner; Wednesday - pinewood derby car weigh-in (the car which we haven't even built - don't know what we're doing about that); Thursday - Camey choir, Pinewood Derby; Friday - party; Saturday - Saturday school and hopefully some yard work.

Can I just hide in bed? Nah...it's gonna be fun! If my head quits hurting. On the positive side, we have free chair massages at school tomorrow. Think that's coincidence? I don't either. :-)

First of Many

Today was my first Sunday as the official Primary President. I am amazed at the ideas and thoughts that keep "popping" in my head at random moments. I'm amazed at how I'm not nearly as interested in my Facebook games as I used to be. (Oh...don't worry. I'm still playing them.)

I'm excited to be working with my awesome counselors and secretary! I think there will be lots of laughter, lots of lightness, and lots of spirit. I was told by a teacher today that she could really feel the Spirit in the room today. Well, that wasn't me. That was Suzanne. But, hopefully, we can foster a spirit in the room that invites the Spirit.

Of course we're constantly in need of callings and teachers. We're constantly in need of cub leaders. It's a program that is always in some state of flux. But that just might be a good thing. We're making a few changes in the way we're organizing everything and that will take some time to implement. There are some ideas that we came up with that we haven't been able to figure out how to do yet.

I think we need to have a teacher training - where we introduce these ideas and things to them and let them know how important they are to the success of the children. We, as a presidency, can give opportunities and ideas, but in the long run, it's the teachers themselves who interact the closest with each of the children.

I look forward to Sundays again. I look forward to going to primary. I look forward to working with my friends and sisters in the gospel. It's gonna be a great year in The Colony 2nd Ward Primary!

What Is Going On?

Seriously! Earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear disasters - all horrendous. But they seem to pale in comparison to the heartaches being suffered by so many of my friends these days. Friends have lost parents (three off-hand in the last six months,) we lost our Webelos leader who was only 33 and left behind a wife and three children, a member of our ward and primary board lost her son this week (after losing her mother about six months ago) and now I find out that another friend's brother just died. He was 35 and leaves behind a wife, three children age 5 and under and one on the way.

If bad things come in threes, I think I've seen enough to last for a while. Although many of these tragedies has affected me because I know the people involved, none of them have affected me directly. I don't know whether to feel blessed or worried - or both.

I talked to Dad yesterday - just to check up on him. He's doing fine - especially for a 92-year-old. I was hoping to go see him this week (SPRING BREAK!) but I'm needed here for a presidency meeting (last night), dinner for a ward family (the one who lost their son), and as a chauffeur for my sil when she has her gall bladder out on Friday.

Suddenly, being called as the primary president isn't nearly so daunting. In the face of what everyone else is going through, I think I'll just shut up and be grateful for my blessings.

Tender Feelings These Days

I'm just not sure how I feel about 2011. Richard went back to work at the end of January and it's been downhill ever since. His back still hurts and his mood is awful. I find myself not doing much of anything around the house - just no real energy to do it.

Then this week, a good friend lost her husband suddenly. He'd been battling MRSA for a good two years, but he became septic and died last Tuesday. He was John's Webelos leader. His wife had been John's Bear den leader.

The funeral was today. It was sad and uplifting all at the same time. Sad because he left behind a wife and three children, ages 11, 7 and 4. Uplifting because I got to see my sons show their emotions and comfort their friends and each other. Many of the boys wore their scout shirts to the funeral as a sign of respect and honor.

So...if the dust bunnies don't get vacuumed up today, if the dishes pile up for a couple of days, if we eat hot dogs for dinner tonight...it's okay. But we will have FHE, scripture reading and prayer tonight. And we will remember our friends in our prayers. We will remember and learn more about the Plan of Salvation and be grateful for that knowledge. We will honor our friend and scout leader, Jack Wright, by continuing to learn from his example in our lives.