A New Bishop

It has been quite a week. Not only are we preparing for our daughter's wedding in less than two weeks, but I had parent/teacher conferences at school that included a Book Fair and kept me at school from the early hours in the morning until 8pm. After the second night of conferences my sweet husband and I were invited to visit with the stake presidency, so knowing that I would need to be dressed properly, I wore my Sunday clothes all day, not out of line for a teacher at conferences, but also as a reminder of our important interview.

The Lord blesses me with tender mercies. He prepared me well for this change. For the first time in weeks I feel calm and peaceful. I have so many concerns, but I know the Lord will lift my burdens.

Our new bishop is a man that I have known for many years as our children are about the same ages, attend the same schools, and participate in many of the same organizations. Our families have carpooled to school and symphony rehearsals for many years. He has always had a big smile and greeting for us and we have felt a great kinship in our roles as parents. Recently our stake made changes in the boundaries of the wards and this family was moved into our ward. It was a hard thing to have happen, but this family followed the will of the Lord and have been very active in their new ward. Our ward is richly blessed. His wife and I serve in the Young Women and shared a tent at Girls' camp together. I have been deeply impressed with the great love this family has for one another, especially as I witnessed them prepare and send off their first missionary son. This family is a great example to me.

Now I am glad to call him my bishop. It was a testimony easy to come by whispered by the Holy Ghost as we learned of his call. I also know that Dennis is well prepared to serve as his first counselor. We have a great work to do in our ward. I'm certain that this new bishopric is ready to take the helm and lead us.

May the Lord bless and keep our new bishopric!

Change

For some reason for the last few weeks I've been hearing a song from my youth in my head that talks about change. Can't remember the name, but I know it was often played at our church youth dances. (I finally remembered, "Freebird." )

Last Sunday while studying and checking up on my friends in facebook, I heard the whisperings of the spirit tell me that there would be changes. Yes, I knew, Emily is getting married. Suzanne will be married in the spring. Scott, Russ and Chris are graduating this year...but no the spirit meant something else. At the end of our Sacrament meeting it was announced that we would be getting a new bishopric. Tears rolled down my cheeks at the thought of not having Bishop Lesko as our bishop any more. It has been his tender leadership that has helped me learn and grow so much more closer to my Heavenly Father. I still have such a long way to go. Dennis thought I was silly. He's not moving or dying, but still, he won't be bishop. Yes, he has answered so many of my questions, but I have so many more!

So change, it's part of life, but as I get older I need so much more help to make these transitions. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and the comfort it brings and the sweet confirming testimony that the Lord is guiding these changes.

Notes from Balance Fireside

Trying to get things organized around here and found my notes from the fireside on Balance by Bishop Lesko, 14 June 2009.

Balance is finding a focus that is between being deficient and excessive.

Temporal balance is found by setting priorities, preparing, planning, helping, and simplifying.

Spiritual balance is found through worship, prayer, fasting, temple attendance, reading and pondering scriptures, learning the gospel, paying a full tithing, strengthening our testimony, and being of service.

We can't do it by ourselves! We have our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. The atonement strengthens us when we cannot take it on all by ourselves.

Thanks, Bishop!

Finding Balance or It’s All About the Climb

Note: I've been thinking about this for awhile, so this is a long post.

One of my favorite new songs is called, “The Climb” sung by Miley Cyrus. It’s so like me:

“There’s always gonna be another mountain.
I’m always gonna want to make it move…”

Seems I’m always climbing at least one mountain. I often state that I’m going to live a long life because I have so many things left to finish.

As I recently got to a significant viewpoint on one mountain that I’ve been climbing for awhile, I realized that in order to reach that significant point, my life had gotten out of balance. Yes, I’d finally made it this far, but what other things had I neglected along the way?

At a youth fireside on Sunday our bishop talked about balance. I’m not exactly a youth anymore. A youth leader, yes, but not a youth, and yet our fireside was the topic I’d been pondering for a few weeks. Our bishop does this a lot for me.

There were a few signs of imbalance, such as my office, that Tom thought looked like someone had robbed it. The dining room table had become my temporary (or overflow) office and stuff was spilling over onto the floor. Then, when it came time to check out for the school year, I found my things to do lists longer than my days and my reports far from complete.

How did this imbalance happen? Or maybe the better question is: why did this happen?

I thought about all that I try to keep balanced:

• My “real” job as wife and mother with my teaching career
• My personal physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs
• Life with the children at home and those away from home
• Day to day life with a vision of the long run

Long ago I discovered that I could clean, do laundry, fix meals, and be otherwise domestic ‘til the cows come home and it will still need to be done again and again. While my children were little our home was the training grounds so they would learn the value of teamwork and service to one another. Now we have found that if we all pitch in and I assign and encourage these daily chores can be accomplished efficiently and very well, too, I might add. But I can’t ignore my role as wife and mother, because there are no fairies to get things done while I sleep. We even gave up on the tooth fairy long ago because she didn’t get the job done, either.

When I realized I needed a course correction, I found I wasn’t able to turn right back to my chosen path. I have to make a few over corrections to put things right. After school was out, I spent days focusing on getting the house in order and the laundry done. I also had a lot of little errands and things to get done, too. And yes, I had to do what was needed to be done to get my reports completed and check out for the school year. I still need to spend a few hours in my old schools to wrap up a few things, but I think I’m ready now.

Another opportunity helped with this process. I went on a business trip with Dennis. He was in class all day, so I had time to think and relax. I used this time to rest my body and mind and figure out how to refocus my life.

It was on this trip that I took a day to go to the temple. I’d just taken the youth to the Jordan River Temple. Now I had the opportunity to go by myself. I had family names, so participated in a number of ordinances. Just as Elder Busche shared in a BYU devotional: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAjZ8mfoYw

• Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet
• When life has challenges find ways to be of service

In that holy place of peace and quiet, where I could be of service, I found the strength from the Lord to make the changes I needed to refocus.

Was I wrong to pursue the goals that unbalanced my life? I don’t think so. I believe some times in life require us to devote our focused efforts. For example: when attending college, many other pursuits are put on hold. Couples also find that it is important to have an intense focus when preparing for marriage. I have found that when a new baby joins a family there is a long period of extreme focus, especially for the new mother. As parents we focus when helping our children to prepare for college, a mission, or marriage. As a wife I found that I had to have an intense focus to support my husband in college, grad school, and then again when he made job changes. Some parts of life are just less balanced than others.

In order to live a happier, more healthful life I needed to spend a lot of time each day working out and caring for my physical needs. Now that I have taken the time and focus to make these changes, my daily efforts can be brought into balance with my other needs.

Now that I have earned my library media endorsement and have been hired as a library media instructional technology specialist, I can limit my teaching career to my contract days and use my time off for family and other pursuits. I know that I will find success as a LMITS. Because I am rather new to the teaching profession I had to work a little harder to be a candidate for the position, but now my teaching career is secure and I will be able to continue in this position until I retire. I’m particularly looking forward to working with the students and faculty on a daily basis. Sometimes the balance is off kilter while we climb to reach the higher goal.

Climbing is about being firmly tethered and secure in the faith of our Lord, Jesus Christ. His guidance helps us make the climb and assures we are on the right path. Sometimes these paths are challenging, but with God, nothing is impossible. Sometimes these paths are steep and difficult, so we must have intense focus, yet ultimately, as long as I follow the Lord, I climb the right mountains.

Since He can’t always be with us, He has sent us family and friends to help along the way. I know that without my family and friends I wouldn’t have made it to such a wonderful place on my mountain. Who would really want to make the climb without them?

Why yes, I am Beautiful!

A few days ago we were doing an exercise called enthusiasm sparring in class. This particular time we were to say good things about ourselves as we sparred. My partner found it quite easy to say that she was a good instructor, a good mother, and good friend, all of which I heartily agree, but then she said, "And I'm fairly good looking considering my age." Why couldn't she just say, "I'm beautiful!" She is a very beautiful woman with gorgeous eyes and a wonderful smile. In fact, I have noticed that very few women can say out loud that they are beautiful, although men seem to be able to say they are good looking rather easily. Then my turns came and went and I found that I just couldn't say it out loud either. Why not? Who, what or why can't we just say, "Hey, I'm beautiful!" or "I'm very good looking!" I think I once said that I like my red hair. Hmmm, just not the same.

This wasn't helped by the other experiences of the last few days. I've been watching videos of myself teaching. Most of the time I've been able to focus on the great parts of my teaching. I'm enthusiastic. We have a lot of fun. I laugh often. I listen well. I explain things well. My students are engaged in learning. But who I see in the video is not who I know from the inside.

Every once in a while one of my students, quite often a girl, will comment on how awful they look on video. I'm quick to let them know that it is important for them to love who they are. I remind the teachers that I teach how important it is to be confident in front of a camera because the students will follow their example. I have so many hours of myself on video that it doesn't make me nervous as it once did to have the camera turned my way. In fact, sometimes it's quite fun! I loved watching my interaction with the students. I remembered those days--I was so excited afterwards that it took a lot of time to settle down and do something else. I love my students!

So why is it that I can't with confidence yell, "I'm beautiful!"? My husband tells me that I am. My friends tell me that I am. I'm a daughter of God and I know that He knows that I'm beautiful. I feel beautiful inside. So next time that I am enthusiasm sparring I'm going to say it. "I am beautiful. I AM beautiful. I am BEAUTIFUL!"

Dreaming Big, Step by Step

"Whatever you are, be a good one." --Abraham Lincoln.

Over the last few months I've been working towards some professional development goals that I chose to help me develop my teaching career. Since I sort of stumbled into this career, it has taken me a little while to find a good fit. I thought I'd finally found that as an elementary school technology specialist aka STS, especially when our school assignments were reduced to two, but budget cuts are likely to change things a bit. It is very unlikely that I'll be doing what I do now next year. Although I'm very blessed to know that I'll have a job, despite a few cuts in pay, I still feel like a worker on notice for a layoff. Since the first day that I heard, I've had a pit in my stomach.

Last year I discovered that the STS position fits most closely with the Library Media Specialist position of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Library Media Specialists are the teacher the other teachers go to for resources and guidance with all things media, including information literacy and technology literacy. For the most part, that's what I do, so I began my portfolio knowing that it was a three year process. I came very close to passing my first year, but fortunately had already begun to prepare my retake portfolio by the time I had received my scores at the end of November. The process is a great deal of self reflection and I find that quite difficult. I know that I am an excellent teacher and now intend to demonstrate that in my portfolio. I have all of the pieces and have until April 15th to send them off.

In my discovery of the alignment of STSs with Library Media, I took the opportunity to begin the Library Media Endorsement program offered by Granite School District. One requirement is a course in adolescent literature. It was a blast, but renewed my habit of reading that I've had to quelch to get other things done. Sharing what I've been reading has opened up a whole new way to relate to my students, too. We have such fun discussing the books that we've read!

This also opened up new opportunities for new positions called Library Media Instructional Technology Specialists aka LMITS. These are secondary teachers who are the school librarians and STSs. What a perfect combination for me! As I investigated I found that this might just be the career position from which I would retire. So, I applied for six openings that were available last summer, but wasn't appointed to any of them. This was a great disappointment. The interview process is tough. I felt like I'd been through six world class fights by the end of the summer. Now I knew that I loved my job as an elementary school technology specialist, but it was difficult being rejected. I hadn't really thought too much about the LMITS position until the first one opened up, then I could see myself as an LMITS. I knew that I'd be great--I just needed the chance.

Looking back, I'm sure the Lord was looking over me because I really needed one more year to prepare to become an LMITS. First, I needed to complete my endorsement. Perhaps that would have been possible as an LMITS, but I'm not sure I would have had the time or energy to learn both a new job and complete the endorsement requirements. I do think it would have made taking the Praxis exam a little easier--the library stuff would have been learned on the job, not through rote study.

I also needed to become more fit--especially physically and mentally. In October when Tom and I started at Martial Arts World I was quite happy with myself and the way things were. I had found that liking myself the way that I was was much easier than attempting to change. Besides, I figured that I wasn't all that bad and many parts of me were quite excellent. Then I learned that I did have the power within to change. I gained control of my physical body and started to make it better. I started exercising every day and making sure to eat well, too. It was amazing what power this gave me. I could accomplish so much more and feel so much better. I got a little angry at myself for ever allowing myself to get so out of shape. I have too much life to live to be sidelined by my physical body. I know I have a long life to live and need to have my health to live it well.

I found the power within to fight off my worst enemy, too. This became very evident when I went to take the Praxis exam. Test taking skills have always been one of my strong points. As a teacher I've had to take many including all of those for my college courses, my Masters degree and the state required Praxis exams. Yes, I had taken three Praxis exams before and even aced one of them and received high honors on another, but this was the Library Media Praxis exam and it was the toughest exam I have ever faced. I'd had some self doubt the week before and found that self defense worked quite well to fight down my worst enemy. Then half way through the exam my worst enemy attempted her biggest attack ever. My head started to spin and all I could think was "What am I doing here? Who do I think I am trying to take this test? I can't pass this test--I don't know any of this?" Then, having made preparations in advance I grabbed on to my new yellow belt (discreetly worn under my sweater), closed my eyes and told myself, "Yes, you DO know this stuff! You have studied hard! You will be an awesome Library Media Instructional Technology Specialist! You are smart! You love to teach! You love your students!" and with the power from my best friend, my worst enemy was once again defeated. I got back to the test and passed it! By the time the score report came out four weeks later I had almost finished my practicum. In a letter dated April 1st from the Utah State Office of Education I was informed that I had been approved for an addition of Library/Media to my teaching credential. Yahoo! One professional development goal in the bag!

Now to focus on the second and most important, my National Board credentials. Over the next few days I will finish the required portfolio entries and send them off and then wait. I'll be waiting until the end of next November.

But I've recently learned that even after all I can do, I don't have all of the inner power required to be all I need to be. That strength comes from the Lord. It is with humility that I've found that I need His help to be strong. I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father, who loves me and I love Him, too. It is knowing this that helps me to find the strength to be who He wants me to be. So if that is to be an LMITS or a classroom teacher, I know that I need to prepare and be the best that I can be!

Great Joy!

I've been excited about today for a long time knowing that I would have the opportunity to attend the Conference on Computerized Family History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University. With life running at full speed of late, I'm very grateful to take a moment to reflect upon what I most enjoy doing and that is Family History. The keynote speaker was Dr. Susan Easton Black, a noted researcher in early church history. She shared with us her excitement in living a life of great joy every day as she continues her research. She was also taught about her family history by a loving grandmother. I especially admire her focus to accomplish her goals and completing her projects. Our trips to Nauvoo have been greatly enriched by her efforts. Her research has allowed us to know more about our early saint ancestors.

The strong spirit here today reminds me that I must remember to have great joy in my life everyday, too. Not just pleasure, or passing joy, but great joy--like that found when researching family history and preparing to do the work for our kindred dead.

Finding Joy

Today I had the opportunity to teach our Young Women. The topic for the day was finding joy. It was a combination of lessons five and six since we had a combined lesson with the Young Men last week. It was a great topic to think about, but one with too much to present in only 20 minutes. I worry about our Young Women who seem to be unhappy so much of the time. Supposedly it is a teenage thing, but it just doesn't have to be! Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and joyful. He has given us so many blessings to be joyful about: our families, our talents, the beauty of the earth, our friends, the peaceful feelings of the Holy Ghost and so much more!

I've walked through the halls of the schools where our Young Women attend every day and it can be very depressing, especially considering how many of the adults that they must spend so much time with really don't like to be bothered, let alone want to help or care about them. Those in ninth through twelfth grade at least have the opportunity to attend Seminary, a place where they can find refuge from the depressing classrooms where they must be every day. How could school become a place where our children would want to be? I wonder if I could help facilitate these changes?

One of the resources that was part of the lesson was the talk given by President Hinckley at the 2007 General Young Womens Meeting. I was able to download it and play it in his voice for them. He promised them if they would (1) Pray (2) Study (3) Pay a full tithing (4) Attend church meetings (especially Sacrament meeting) they would have a fulfilling life full of joy and happiness. I'm not sure if they understood the full intensity of what they heard, that a prophet of God promised them a fulfilling life of happiness if they did just these four things.

It was difficult for me to keep from crying at the sound of President Hinckley's voice. He always encouraged us to try a little harder. It seemed a little easier knowing that he was always praying for us.

How grateful I am that we had President Gordon B. Hinckley as a prophet for so many years. I am very grateful to know that even though he is no longer with us that we still have the guidance of a prophet on earth, specifically President Thomas S. Monsen. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. How I hope and pray that our Young Women will also know this truth.

Get Fit

For years "get fit" has been my motto and often my password (thought up to motivate me...), so October 6th I finally started going to Martial Arts World with Thomas. Of course I was also motivated by guilt that I had promised him last spring that we would start going after baseball season had concluded. He had to wait for Scott's wedding and receptions to be over, then for me to recover from that lovely tonsillectomy...finally his patience wore out and he used the youngest child guilt on his old Mom. I had so much fun I was hooked at the first class. It soon became apparent that being one of the very oldest at the school, I needed to get clearance from my family physician, my cardiologist, my knee surgeon, and in the process I met up with a wellness physician. All told me to go for it. Roy had told me years ago that I should just work through the pain. This time I did and have found that my knees are now much stronger. But those first few times, when I couldn't even keep up with the basics in class, I knew that I had neglected this mortal body way too long!

The Gym was Lonely
Even though Dennis and I would arrive and leave from the gym together, I didn't see him much while we were there. I'd take a book, or a podcast with me, but it isn't the same as having people to work out with. Occasionally I'd splash into a water aerobics class, but none of the classes at the gym fit into my schedule. Now I usually go to class with at least one of my children, and I have the bonus of having a bunch of new friends that encourage me to do my best and work hard. I thought it would take years to get to a point where I was comfortable with exercise again, but surprisingly I found that the martial arts not only didn't make me sore like other exercise, I became stronger noticeably quickly. I have muscles!

Yellow is My Favorite Color
December 12th Thomas and I took our white belt test and passed. The next week we received our yellow belts. It felt like a huge accomplishment for me, especially since it seems to take me about 47 times to finally learn something and about 47 more times before I actually get it right. By that time I also was able to complete every exercise. During the white belt test we did 160 pick axe kicks and I did every one! (and didn't pass out, black out, or die in the process!) Dennis came that night. Not sure how much he laughed at me, but told me that he thought I should become a black belt. Me, a black belt? That was the first time I thought about it. The first time that I thought that maybe it was possible. A few weeks later we had our first black belt celebration for three students at the school. It was that night that I decided for myself that yes, I would like to become a black belt. One of the instructors told me that it would take about two years, but considering the fact that those three young students took four or five years, I think it'll take a little longer. Maybe I can earn my black belt before I'm 50.

The Reactions I Get
I think one of the most fun things is the reaction that I get when people learn that I study the martial arts. Every Monday I have the opportunity to visit different elementary schools. When I visit a K-3 classroom, I teach a lesson on exercise. The main goal of the lesson is to demonstrate to the teacher ways to use the enhanced classroom equipment which includes a ceiling mounted projector and sound system. Through the use of podcasts, energizer Power Points, music and brainstorming with Inspiration, we talk about how to become happy and healthy. I ask each student what they like to do for exercise. I haven't had one mention martial arts in the process, so that's what I share that I like to do. Then most of the class tell me that they are or have taken some form of martial arts classes. They think it's cool that their visiting teacher does, too.

When I teach 4-6 grade classes, I teach a lesson entitled "Safety on the Information Highway." We talk about the student computer use agreement and the "rules of the road." To bring home the reality of who they might meet on the Internet we play a game where each student writes three statements about themselves: two are true and one is a fib. I start out and tell them: 1. I've been to all fifty states. 2. I have been in a Hollywood movie. 3. I take karate classes. I have stumped every class so far! They just can't believe that I take karate classes or that I've actually been to all fifty states. So if this teacher that is standing right in front of them can trick them, whose to say that they aren't being tricked by the person they meet on the Internet?

The most classic response is the one from one of my neighbors. He was asking me how my heart was doing and I told him that it was much better now that I was exercising. He asked what I have been doing. When I told him martial arts he quickly moved away and made a funny comment about how he was now going to have to be more careful around me. Very funny!

Benefits
Besides becoming more healthy, I've noticed a few other benefits:

• More laughter
• Sleep better
• Cleaner (gotta take a bath after those workouts!)
  
• More energy
• Confidence
• Keep up better with the laundry (gotta wash the clothes that get all sweaty!)
  
• More motivated to be less lazy
• More respect for myself
• More respect for others
• More respect from others
  
• Motivation to reach other goals
• Confidence to take on whatever I need to (like three teens!)
  

So family, if you want to join us, you know where we are.....

Thicker Than Water

This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with my Uncle Milton and Aunt Thelma in Pennsylvania. I went a few days earlier than I needed to be there, just to have some time with them. I wasn't sure exactly what might be able to do, but one of my dreams was fulfilled when we visited the area of New Jersey where the Hoffmires had lived in the 1700s. It was a great experience to see the church where their babies had been christened and their daughters had married, especially being with someone else who was as interested about such things as I am. I learned a lot about my family this summer. Those living and those who have gone on before.

Striving to Move Forward

It happened again. This week there was a question that I was pondering, not certain with whom to discuss the topic. I usually remember such things during that quiet time between arriving at church and the beginning of Sacrament meeting. I didn't think much about it until I noted that our bishop was one of our speakers today. Sure enough he addressed my concern as clearly as if we had been in a personal interview. I suppose his remarks also answered the questions of others present at the meeting, but I know that he was inspired to also answer my prayers.

His remarks talked about how we can evaluate where we are and where we need to go in order to keep moving forward in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love how our bishop knows his flock. He assured us that if we would work to internalize what we believe and know to be true that we will see our own progress.

Bishop challenged us to Make God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost so real in our lives that we couldn't imagine life without them.

He told us there were three things we could do to expedite this process:

• Study: Know your religion.
• Service: Don't wait to be asked. Be kind. Attend the temple.
• Prayer: Talk to our Heavenly Father and ask for insight and help to refine ourselves and overcome weaknesses.

With all of this we especially need a vision of what we want to become.

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a joy to know that my Heavenly Father loves me.

The Yellow Pad Method of Getting Things Done

A few years ago when my only occupation was genealogy research, I came up with an organization method that worked well for getting the task done. I used yellow pads to keep a research log and notes and tucked the information that I found in the back of the pad for safe keeping. The yellow pages were useful to help me find my notes among the other papers that research has a tendency to collect.

Eventually the yellow pads invaded other parts of my life. They were very useful to keep lists, take notes and such. I keep one with an errands list. Tucked in the back of the pad are the necessary receipts, coupons and such needed to run said errands.

After reading Getting Things Done by David Allen I tried to use the electronic method. It works for my son, but since I don't have an iPhone and don't always have connection on my iPod touch, I just didn't find that it worked well for me. Keeping the paper files diligently labeled with my Brother's labeler has been very successful for me though. My computer case has a pocket designed for keeping files, so it's handy for keeping project files close at hand. But the day to day stuff wasn't happening as efficiently as I had hoped. One day I grabbed a yellow pad. On the left I noted my appointments for a certain time of day. On the right I made of list of the other things that needed to be done. As people talked to me about their needs I made a third list at the bottom of the page. It worked just as well as when I used the method for researching...I was prepared for my appointments, got things done in a sensible method and felt like I wasn't putting out fires all day. When I would run into someone who needed something, I could take a quick look at my list and see how it fit, made myself a note, and the day went much better. I've done this for about a week and have found other benefits. I prefer carrying it to my planner . It only has paper, not important cards, receipts, and identification. When I need to take notes, I'm set. It's yellow, so when I set it down, I can find it easily, especially when I'm working at another person's desk. At the end of the day I have all of the information and notes that I need to complete my paperwork. I love when I've finished everything on a page. I rip it off the pad and joyfully throw it away. Notes that need to be filed away quickly find their place in my file system.

Who would have thought that I could actually find order in this busy life!

So That's What It Looks Like!

It was July 11th, 2006. That was the day that Wasatch Junior High suffered a devastating fire and that was also the last day that I remember seeing my laundry room floor. The reason that I remember the exact date is that Wasatch Junior High just recently reopened for the new school year. The day of the fire Rob called me and I was on the ladder painting the laundry room. So that day, I know that I could see the floor. Since then, it seems as though there were always piles of laundry. Recently it seemed that I had to climb a mountain of dirty clothes, just to get to the washer. But persistence has paid off. Keeping the washing machine full and running every chance possible, I finally found it--the laundry room floor! Tonight after making sure that everyone was busy getting homework done, I found a good Hallmark channel movie and started folding. I also matched the socks. Once kids had homework completed they were attracted to the tv. Then during the commercials the clean, folded laundry was put away. Now to tackle the very large pile of ironing!

Getting Things Done

A few days before the reception, I found a book on the kitchen table entitled, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. I thought it was left there for me by my Dad, always trying to find ways to settle down his rather type A daughter. (Although I hope I've mellowed and been downgraded to an A- in recent years.) Nope, it wasn't my Dad's doing. It was actually a book that Scott was reading. He had told me about his way of getting things done and here was the book.

Somehow I found the time to read some of it that weekend and then took it with me when we went to Zion National Park for a few days. Here were the missing pieces to my getting organized dilemma that Covey and others hadn't been able to solve. This is productivity for a modern age. Organization for geeks.

So I bought a labeller and a huge box of file folders and began the quest to get my life in order. Yes, I'm still a paper/pencil type person, although much of my life is electronic. That's why this art works for me. I've been sleeping a bit better since, now that I have a way to capture all of those things that I want to, have to, and need to get done.

My office is still a little overwhelming, but now that I have a plan I know that it'll get done.

Oh, and I'd better buy my own copy of the book, so Scott can have his back!

The Celebration is Over (but the best is to come!)

March, April, May and June we planned. Then June 23rd I flew to Pennsylvania where Dennis joined me on June 26th. It was June 27th when we joined Michaela at the Manhattan Temple. It was an incredible day! I've wanted to visit that temple since the Cathcarts were missionaries there. Not only is it beautiful, but the spirit was awesome! After a short vacation in Washington, D.C., Dennis and I joined the Layton family with Scott and Michaela for their wedding day, July 2nd, at the Washington, D.C. temple. That was another incredible day!

The very next day we celebrated with a lovely catered dinner in New Jersey at the Layton's home. It was a wonderful evening, too! The food was wonderful. Michaela has a terrific family that we have come to love. The Laytons also have great friends who added much to the festivities.

After a few more days visiting family in Pennsylvania, Dennis and I flew home to get ready for the Utah reception on July 19th. Family flew in and came to visit from all over. It was another fun evening that included family, friends, music, food, dancing and lots of hugs and kisses. How glorious it is to celebrate the beginning of an eternal relationship between two very wonderful children of God!

Family has gone home. The house is quiet again. But the deep love still abides knowing that our family has one more beautiful member. Love you, Michaela!

Another Wedding!

We're so excited around here. Seems that when we go out of town our children get engaged. Oh well, that's fine with me. She's a wonderful girl that we're looking forward to having as a part of our family.

Yippee!

Pictures of our Adventure to Brazil

Our Prophet Has Died

Tonight President Gordon B. Hinckley died at home with his family at the age of 97. It's really not a surprise, especially at his age, but still shocking news. He kept going until Friday when he didn't go into work. I am joyful that he is now with his eternal sweetheart, but how I'll miss him!

When President Hinckley became the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints our family consisted of seven children. So much has happened! Just a week after our youngest was born, President Hinckley spoke at the Salt Lake Boy Scouts of America Scout-A-Rama at the Utah State Fair Park. One of the scouters that I worked with, Tom, knew how things would go that morning, so he led the children and I to a place where we would see President Hinckley as he climbed into the car when he left. It was exciting, overwhelming, to be just a few feet from the prophet of God! He waved at us.

Our family was present at the Sunday morning conference when President Hinckley received the message that the U.S. had bombed Afghanistan. He was very sad that other means could not resolve the issues of the day. We all left that conference session very solemn.

I have loved how we have been invited via satellite to so many temple dedications over the years from Palmyra, Nauvoo, Winter's Quarters, and Bountiful. These experiences helped us to share spiritual moments with our family. Recently he attended our stake conference and many others via satellite. In fact, when I miss him, all I need to do is visit lds.org and click on the archives and will find many videos of his conference and other addresses.

I have also loved his sweet encouragement to "work a little harder and 'be' a little better." His guidance has helped me to keep focused on what is most important in life, living the gospel and caring for my family.

It has been President Hinckley who has let us know that even though the world is in turmoil around us we will find peace in the gospel.

In his honor the youth of the Church are dressing up for school tomorrow. I plan to do the same. I also plan to work a little harder and be a little better each an every day. How grateful I am for a prophet!

An Important Day

It wasn't until I was seated in room A410 in the Harris Fine Arts Center that I understood what I was privileged in witnessing. Before me was my daughter auditioning for the violin studio of the School of Music of Brigham Young University. When it hit me what might happen as a result of that moment, I was overcome with emotion and had to fight to keep from weeping. I often cry when she plays because it is so beautiful, but in a flash at that moment, I saw her life from the time she was that happy baby, to an energetic toddler, to a curious student and a young woman. In my mind, I saw her as a young girl who took up the violin to express so many things she found deep inside. She started lessons much later than some of our other children as our family was quite overwhelmed financially when she was little. I wasn't available to oversee her practicing, as I had her older brothers and sisters, but she didn't need me. She was always quite diligent to practice on her own. In fact, even after getting home late from a long, busy day, she is known to spend time with her violin before she settles down to sleep.

Although she was nervous she did quite well playing the pieces that she had memorized and sharing with the two professors the answers to their questions. So many years and so many hours of practice coming to fruition right before my eyes.

We won't know for a few weeks the results of those ten minutes, but I do know that she belongs at Brigham Young University.

They Might Not Need Me

This is the handout for Young Women Book 2, lesson 41 about Optimism, a poem by Emily Dickinson. It is a scraplift of wagsmom's "Raising Confident Girls." I used the GottaPixel October Kit, "Autumn Harvest." Thought I'd start putting these things on the web to share. E-mail me, if you'd like the full version for printing.



I'm rather new to digital scrapbooking having only put together a few pages of my own. Creating handouts seemed to be one way to practice and create some nice things. I've also used this skill to create invitations. You can see most of my work at my online gallery.

Enjoy!