New Day

It's a new day. I printed off a 7-day free pass to 24 Hour Fitness and I'm going to check it out this morning. Beginning tomorrow, I will get back on my diet. Had my swimsuit on yesterday and looked in the mirror. Eww! Seriously, I look about 6 months pregnant. It's not pretty. I've got to do something.

I don't think there is anyway that I can afford to actually join the gym, but I'm looking at being 45 years old, really out of shape and really overweight. I know I would feel better if I lost the weight (again) and got stronger. I know that I would have a better "later-in-life" if I would up my strength and stamina. Knowing that my grandmother lost about 10-12 inches in her elderly years and my mom probably lost at least 3, I've got to start taking care of that.

So...introduction today and strength training the rest of the week. Then? I don't know. I guess if this is something that I'm supposed to do that a way will be provided, but how do I justify it when Chris needs his wisdom teeth out, James and John need braces and Richard's just in all kinds of issues. What could I give up? Eating out? Probably need to do that anyway. Pedicures? Hmmm...there's a thought. Especially as fall and winter come along. Hmmm...I just might be able to make this work! :-)

Ok...so...gym. I can do this. And I can keep it up. And I can eat better. Help me out people!

Holy Cow!

Has it really been three months since I last blogged? Whoops. Let me justify it by saying that spring and early summer has been a stressful and busy time. Richard quit his job - sorta. We had the bajillion end-of-year concerts/banquets/parties/etc. Chris was involved in the multi-stake youth Jubilee which ended with three performances the last weekend of June. Then scout camp for James the following Monday. Not to mention birthdays in there. And primary. PRIMARY! And the end of the school year for me - which meant getting John ready for middle school. Ack!

So...that's pretty much us in a nutshell. (Nut being the operative syllable there.)

Summer is flying by! We just celebrated John's 11th birthday. How the heck did that happen?!? He's 11! No more cub scouts! No more elementary school! He has a Facebook page and will be getting a phone! 'Scuse me - what? Where did my baby go? Oh wait...he's still here as he curls up and snuggles next to me. :-) Whew!

The fact that John's had his birthday means that it's already July. JULY! I have six weeks left until inservice. Man! I'd better get going on the relaxing and rejunvenating! Here's to July 4th pancake breakfasts and barbeques and fireworks (done by the professionals, of course.) And naps. Gotta throw those naps in. What else is summer for if not napping?

Happy 4th to all three people who even check back in to see if I've posted in forever. I'll try to do better. We'll see....

April 10, 1999

Twelve years ago today our middle child was born. We had waited a good two year to get him here. Many months of not getting pregnant, a miscarriage and finally he was ready to join our family. And we're blessed on a daily basis to have him.

He turns twelve today. Twelve is important. His father ordained him to the Aaronic priesthood today. His brother and his grandfather (who shares his birthday) were in the circle. When I asked him how he felt afterward he said, "AWESOME!" Of course you do, James. Because you are awesome. And we're blessed to have you.

He's been a smiler and a heart-on-his-sleeve kind of boy since he was born. He's been totally social since he was born. And he finds butterflies wherever he goes. And we're blessed to have him.

Happy birthday to my favorite 12-year-old, to the newest member of our deacons' quorum, to our newest priesthood holder. I now have three priesthood holders in my home. What a blessing!

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.