Ch-ch-changes

A month goes by and my how things have changed. There is no longer a The Colony 1st Ward and a The Colony 2nd Ward. We are one ward - The Colony Ward. This is exciting and scary all at the same time. For a few years now some of us have been saying that it should happen. But now that it has...it's definitely going to take some getting used to.

And yes...I'm still the Primary President. Only now I have over 60 kids in primary instead of between 30-40. Our room just doubled. I've said many times over the last two weeks: "Putting together a whole new primary board, much less a whole new ward, is not for the faint-hearted." This has been nuts. My stomach has been in knots. I've had to revamp my presidency - yay for the new people; boo for losing the ones I had. The TC2 presidency was just a dream team. We worked together and fed off each other so well. Absolutely from the beginning.

The new presidency will be awesome as well. It will just take a bit more time. The most positive part is that the cub scouts and seminary and some things were already combining just to have numbers, so for most of the kids this won't be a huge change in everything. However...in classes...major changes.

I think I have enough teachers today. I texted Bishop Warner (TC2's final bishop) and told him that since he called himself to the primary board as his last official act as TC2 bishop, he could come sub for Sunbeams. He called last night and asked if I really needed him to. Aww.... I told him that I would keep an eye out for him - and he was welcome to join us for crowd control anyway. :-)

So...I stayed up way late last night to watch the Rangers win Game 1 of the ALCS. Now I'm up at 6:00 getting ready for this first day of a brand new ward. I think a nap will be in order this afternoon. This morning is going to be AWESOME!

I Love Primary

Who knew? Who knew I would really, really enjoy being the primary president? I have the best counselors and secretary in the world. We complement each other quite nicely. We're all busy with our jobs and our families, but we find the time to get together every other week and keep our primary running smoothly.

Really.

It runs smoothly.

That doesn't mean that there aren't constant challenges and changes. But we each enjoy our calling and we enjoy the kids. That feeling translates to the kids and life in the primary room is calm and fun and wonderful. I look forward to seeing the kids, the teachers and the rest of the adults.

Primary is AWESOME!

The Start of a New Year

Society says that the new year begins on January 1st. In my life with everyone in school (or most everyone), the new year begins at the end of August. New clothes, new books, new pens and pencils and folders and binders and backpacks and instruments and a host of other cool things. Actually, new clothes usually wait for the temperature to go down because what's the point of buying fall clothes when it's still 105 outside?

It's been a bit of a rough time, but we have somewhat of a promising outlook. Ok, not really, but I choose to see it as promising somehow. Richard has a job. He's working for Williams-Sonoma right here in town at their catalog call center. He works Monday-Friday either 8-4:30 or 8:30-5. The schedule is awesome. The "commute" (I put it in parentheses because he's still in town) is awesome. The lack of stress over the job is awesome. The pay and benefits? Not so awesome. Low pay and no benefits. But he's working. It's something. And we'll have to see how it works out.

We've made it through two weeks of school and now it's time for Labor Day weekend. I have a plan. Really - I do. Today I'm doing nothing and I'm not expecting anyone else to do any work either. Today is relax from the first two weeks of school day. It's nearly 1:00 and I'm still in my pajamas. But I paid the bills - so that's something. (As I hear the boys play and then yell at each other for playing "too hard," I'm thinking I might have to come up with a better plan for them, but maybe I'll just close my door instead.)

As I think about where we are in this life, I realize that, other than our financial woes, we are in a really good place. We have a roof over our head, even if it is too expensive and there's no way to sell it. And we like our roof over our head, so we'll deal. We have food in the pantry and the refrigerator - including Diet Coke. :-) We may not have the trendiest clothes in the world, but we are clothed appropriately for the weather. We have air conditioning - which is probably the hugest blessing right now with the heat we've had this summer. We have the basic necessities and quite a few of the wants. And we have friends. Oh do we have friends. We have a bishop who loves us and is there for us. We have family who help when needed - in many ways.

I look at the bills we have to pay and wonder how we're going to pay them with the money we're making. (Our insurance just went up $500/month (we have insurance - that's a blessing too) because Richard is no longer teaching. That's gonna be interesting.) But somehow, something works out. Today I tried to pay my emergency room bill from Texas City. I'd waited until after September 1st so that I could use our newly-minted medical flex card. When I typed in all the information, the website couldn't find a matching account. I checked, double-checked and triple-checked the information. Couldn't find it. So I called. Gave all the information to a computer voice. She couldn't find it either. I requested a customer service rep. The office is closed on weekends. Little blessings in the form of someone else's hands - most likely my daddy's.

So...that's where we are. Same song, same verse, 462nd time we've sung it. But...it's just a little bit different this time. The stress isn't there like it used to be. The worry and the loneliness of it isn't there. We'll get through this. (It's not like we're the only ones in the country who have been downsized in one form or another.) Chris will graduate this year and he will go to college this summer. James will get a violin. The orchestra fees will get paid. The bills will get paid. Cooler temperatures and fall colors will get here. The only constant is change. And sometimes the change isn't in the big picture. It's in how we perceive the big picture.

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. :-)