Relief Society

January 29th I was put in at the Relief Society President.  Last night I wrote Doris and this is what I wrote:

Didn't you think that when our children grew up we would have more time? It is just the opposite. I can't believe how busy my life is now that I am a Relief Society President. I'm just crazy busy! I hope it will be a little better this summer but I'm not so sure. There is so much I have to get caught up on. My office is so messy right now it is just embarrassing. When I was put in they had just divided the ward. We lost 75% of our ward members and then we got 75% from another ward. The only one left in a RS position was one Sunday teacher. It was like starting from scratch which can be nice but it has just taken time to get things going. I also found out that the budget was depleted before I was put in. We get $200 a quarter and the last presidency spent $185 of it. I think they decided to turn in all their reciepts late and it came out of this years budget. The problem is that we have the RS birthday dinner which has now turned into a RS birthday party. Some of the old timers are upset because tradition has always said we have a dinner. There was also about two pages of women that no one knows anything about. They don't have VTs and we don't even have phone numbers for most of them. We are trying to do visits and asking everyone amoung the members we got from the other ward about them. I even called the other RS pres and she didn't know about them either. I feel like a detective. :) We are making progress though. I have a really good presidency. Anyone of them would make a better president then me.

I always knew that with callings comes a mantle or stewardship over that calling.  I didn't know how powerful it was though.  I've served in Primary for the majority of my service since Roger and I have been married.  I served in YW for a while too though.  Anyway, I loved the children and girls I was with.  I thought it was a natural thing.  I realized now that it is more than that.  Because now that I am in RS and I really do love all the women of the ward.  It is a wonderful feeling to have so much love for so many women.  I just hope and pray that I can do a good job.  My memory is not very good and I struggle with all the things I am suppose to remember.  I just got a really good planning calendar and I think it is helpping. 

Addie's Birthday Party

Addie turned FIVE years old on Friday.  I helped Jennilynn with the party on Saturday and then we had a birthday dinner on Sunday.  She was the prettiest Fairy Princess ever.

Ali

Its been harder lately to keep caught up on the blog.  Alot has happened but my new calling takes up a lot of time.  I'll start with us loosing our dog.  Stephanie wrote on facebook that we lost her but I'll add my comments here. 

Everyone was coming for the Superbowl in January and she got out.  The poor girl driving the car never saw her until it was too late.  We could never train her to stay in the house or the yard and the first chance she would get, she would take off out of the house and across the street as fast as she could go. 

Ali and I had a love hate relationship.  Here are the things I loved about her:

• She would follow you everywhere.  If you went from one room to the other she was there.  If you went outside in the back she would follow you around the yard. 
• I felt very protected when she was here.  She would bark and sound very mean whenever anyone came to the door.
• She cleaned up anything I dropped in the kitchen.  Some may think this is a silly thing but it made cooking just a little easier.  I would clean up after she was finished but if I spilled milk or dropped ANYTHING, she cleaned it up first.
• She never got on the counter or table to get food, and she never jumped up on people.
• She kept me company when Roger and the kids went to Utah and I stayed home.  I wouldn't be afraid. 
• She slept in our room by our bed.
• She would sit when I told her or would lie down or turn a circle. 
• She kept the neighbor's cats and dogs out of our yard

Here are things I couldn't stand:

• We had to always guard the door or she would escape
• She would dig in the middle of the yard, or anywhere else she wanted to dig
• Ali was a barker and would bark at anything that moved outside
• She didn't love children.  She would tollerate them but never really liked them
• I hated the dog hair.  She would sneak up on the couch and leave hair there.  I hated that.  There would be dog hair on the carpet, under the table, and even in the hall.  It would be everywhere because she shed a lot.

I was at the store with Stephanie yesterday.  I saw a man carrying a large bag of dog food and the thought popped into my head that I needed to go down that isle because I hadn't bought dog food for a while.  Then I realized that I didn't have to buy it.  Thoughts like that pop into my head all the time and then I rethink it.  Like when I'm carrying in groceris.  I think that I have to make sure I close the door but then realized I don't have to any more.  All in all, she is very missed. 

Dad's birthday was Monday the 16th.  We celebrated it last Sunday.  I still see him . . . well maybe not the 22 year old I married, but I still think of him being in his 40's!  That's the truth of it!  He filed for his Social Security this week and it is just plain weird to think that we are getting that old! 

Dad was also set apart as the 1st Assistant in the High Priests.  The High Priest Quarom (Gee wiz, how do you spell Quarum?)  Anyway, the High Priest Quarum leader is going to be in Austrailia for two months.  Dad will take over his duties until Brother Rasmussen comes back.

Christmas

 Everyone came to our ward for Christmas and I loved having them all there.  I was going to write something about the meeting but it wouldn't be that nice so I'll skip making any comments except it sure made me happy that all the kids here in Idaho came to our ward. Afterward they all came to the house and we had a wonderful Christmas Day.  I stress and worry that the kids aren't going to like what they get.  I would never know if they did or not because they all seem so happy about everything.  It was fun to see them open their gifts.  I love giving gifts and there is nothing like watching someone open a gift that you have given them and they act surprized and happy.  I love that part of Christmas. 

We were all exhausted at the end of the day!

Brian's birthday!

I thought I'd better post about Brian's birthday.  I sure do love this guy. Thanks for letting us continue to celebrate your birthdays with us.  It always brings back memories and I am so proud to be a Mom of such a great person.  I know Dad feels the same way.  We love you Brian!

November Birthdays

Scott and Gabriell both have their birthdays in November.  Actually, so does Lucas and Cooper.  I hope they will post their birthday fun for us to see too!  Happy birthdays to all of you.