Mini Minnie Pearl

New Callings

Paul and I have both received callings in our recently reorganized, boundary changed ward. At the end of March we had a special fast and testimony meeting to hear about major changes in our stake. Our ward as we knew it was split in half. One half (the side we don't live on) was combined with the 4th ward. The half we live on was combined with the 10th ward and part of the 1st ward. We will continue to be called the 5th ward and we continue in the building we had been meeting at and get to keep the 11:00 time (YEAH).
The next Sunday after the split was General Conference so that gave the bishop's time to figure out how to combine these new wards. Our bishop, Harold Hinckley, did his best to meet with most of the families that were new to him. Our family met with him on Sunday and had a nice little chat. He asked us to tell him our family history in a couple of minutes. I've known the bishop for a long time because he was in my ward when I was a teenager. 20 years ago they took his street out of our ward to make a new ward. And now we're back together.
On Tuesday morning I got a call from the stake executive secretary saying that paul and i needed to meet with President Arnell, a counselor to the stake president. We figured that paul was going to stay on as Executive Secretary to the bishop.
WRONG!!
Paul was asked to be the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. Just what his very busy life needed. But he accepted the call and is glad to serve with this bishopric. He has enjoyed meeting people in this new ward. The hardest part about this calling is having him sit on the stand and not with our family.

Paul, Bishop Hinckley, Dan Hodgson

Paul is scrunching down so he's the same height as the others.

5th Ward Bishopric

(Paul at regular height)

Paul came home from a very long bishopric meeting on Wed night. There is a lot to do in this new ward to get it organized. Our ward in the combining of 3 wards had 2 RS pres, 2 primary pres, 3 YW pres plus 2 complete presidencies and advisors, 2 YM presidencies minus one president and lots more duplications on callings. So the bishopric have had a big job getting this all sorted out.

When paul got home he said the bishop had a calling for me. I asked him if the bishop was going to talk to me and he said he was supposed to do that. I told him that was bad because I could say no to my own husband. So I received a new calling from the bishopric at 11:00 at night.

Today I was sustained as the Ward Newsletter Editor. I was glad to accept this calling although I am very intimidated by the whole computer part of it. I had even mentioned to my friends that I would love to be a REPORTER for the newsletter just not not the EDITOR. Oh well, I'll figure it out. Now the big challenge is they want an edition out for next Sunday! Yikes!! And I leave to go out of town Thursday morning so I have to have it done and printed by Wed night. Wish me luck!

Using up my Luck

Brooke and I have been trying to get tickets to Wicked in the lottery they have before the show. This is common in NYC and they are also doing it here. For every show they have a lottery to sell 10 pairs of tickets, each ticket is $25. We have gone down there 3 times and haven't won yet. We even take Jared and Kamryn with us so they can put their names in to help us have more names in our favor. I've decided we aren't winning because my name is getting drawn in other things and it is using up all my luck.
The other day my name was drawn on a radio station contest and Paige won a basket of stuff for me. She's my friend that is always winning stuff on the radio. She told me to enter this contest on KOSY through Facebook and then she listens for my name and calls in and wins. So winning that used up some of my luck.
Recently, the Canyons School District sent home a note about forming a Task Force committee to study enrollment, calendering and other important issues for the new school district. Each school in the district will have one parent to represent them on the committee and the way onto the committee would be by lottery drawing of a name from parents who submitted that they were interested. You could submit your name to each school that your kids go to so I submitted my name 3 times - one for elementary, one for middle and one for high school. I was interested in the committee and figured if I got drawn good, if I didn't get drawn it would be a relief.
Well, I just found out today that I was selected to be on the committee. I am actually intrigued by the whole thing and hope it isn't too overwhelming. The first meeting is next week. So that lottery drawing of my name used up more of my luck. Hopefully Brooke has enough for both of us and one of these times that we go downtown we'll get Wicked tickets.

Brooke's Team

This is Brooke's volleyball team this year. She's playing for Mt Olympus, a small club. They are a great group of girls and Danielle is an awesome coach.

They played at "the Gym" up in Ogden today. it's a new facility and it is AWESOME!!

They had a rough start this morning but ended the day on an upswing and won their bracket in the tournament.

Deep Question

The other day I was at my sister's house just hanging out. Her sons (my nephews) were eating lunch. Jake who is 6 and in kindergarten, has a photographic memory. He is amazing at reading already and just so smart. He was eating away and then looks up and says to me,
"Lisa, Do you know Jesus?"
The question made me stop. I really didn't know how to answer him. I'm still thinking about it.
His mom asked him if he knew Jesus and with absolutely no hesitation said "yes"
The faith and knowledge of a child is amazing.

Easter Sunday Photos

We were ready for church early since Jared and Kamryn got up before eight. Since we had some extra time I convinced my kids to let me take some Easter pictures. The older boys didn't even remember it was Easter until I said something Easter pictures. They couldn't figure out why I was taking pictures.

Taylor (11), Jared (almost 4), Justin (16)

My handsome boys

My cute girls

Kamryn (almost 4), Brooke (almost 15)

Kamryn and Jared

Jared and Kamryn

It is almost impossible to get a good picture of both them together.

My wonderfully, awesome kids

Spirit of the Marathon

My friend loaned me a DVD of "Spirit of the Marathon". I watched it tonight and it was very good. A little too inspiring - as in it made me think about running another marathon. I know it won't be this year but it may happen in the next few years. I'd really like to run a 1/2 marathon this year. My biggest problem right now is I've got 2 blisters - one on each pinky toe. I could feel them coming on and didn't do anything about it. DUMB! DUMB!

So Sad

Early this evening I went to the viewing for Dan Howells. He was such a great example and friend to everyone who knew him. It was certainly evident how many lives he touched because the viewing was packed. The line to talk to the family members wound all over the church building. People have come up from Tucson where Dan and his wife Amy lived for several years. I went to high school and both of them and they are both such good, good people. I knew before I even got there that I would really have a hard time talking to Amy. I knew she would be the one comforting everyone. And I was right. She is such a strong person and so amazing. The greatest thing was their daughter Kathryn, who was in the accident with her dad, was standing right there with her mom and was so strong for everyone. She had a lot of cuts and abrasions on her face but she was smiling and hugging everyone who came through the line. It was so touching. I wish I could make it to the funeral tomorrow. It's going to be a beautiful meeting. My thoughts and prayers are with the whole family.

BTW

By the way, the Denver thing was a little April Fool's joke. Although I suppose anything is possible in Paul's business these days.

Wild Wednesday

Jared and Kamryn got to go back to preschool today. They go to Brighton High school's preschool program. The preschool is run by the h.s. students. When the trimesters change the preschoolers don't have school for 3 weeks. Only this time the break was more like a month. It was nice to have a little bit of a break but 4 weeks was a long time off. Jared and Kamryn were very excited to go back to school and Jared was even up early (one problem of being out for so long is they got on a terrible sleeping schedule). They were both so cute when they got home and showed me everything from their backpacks that they did at school.
After lunch we went over to Desiree's house so I could help her send some pictures to Costco online to get developed. The kids played and watched a movie while we worked on the computer and had a little facebook lesson.
Young Women's was very interesting tonight. This was our first night with the newly combined ward. We have a total of 21 YW now and most of them were there tonight. And then there are 2 complete presidencies plus another president and 2nd counselor from the 3rd ward that was added into our ward (a group of apartments near our ward building). The YW room was full of people. We did some fun get to know you games and the girls all seemed to be having a good time. But looks can be disguised. At the end of the night, I asked 2 of the girls from our original ward if they had fun and they looked at me like they were going to cry and one of them said,
"I would trade all of these girls to have our own girls back."
It's going to take a long time to really make this work.
Paul flew to Denver today for an interview for a new project his group is bidding on. Then he had to drive up to Torrington WY to check on a new project he is starting up there. If he gets the new project it looks like we may be moving to Denver for awhile. With all of the upheaval of the ward changes I would actually be okay with it.