My Thoughts on Being...

A missionary mom
I love that my daughter is serving a mission. I'm not a worrier and so I don't stress out about her being away or telling me about the experiences that would otherwise make me nuts. I know that our Heavenly Father will protect her as she's doing His work.

A volleyball official
I love the sport of volleyball. I'd rather play it than watch, coach or officiate. Officiating pays the best though. Coaching was fun but it took so much time. Officiating gets me watching the game and I get to be the one to be in charge and make the calls. Yes, it can be intimidating. I just follow my husband's advice. When you make the call, do it with authority, even if it's the wrong call.

A Nana
I love being a grandma. Part of it is because I get to watch my daughter be a mom. She's great at it by the way. I know I have responsibility to teach, but I get to hug and play and just love those wonderful little people.

A wife
I am so blessed to have a husband who respects, loves, cares for and adores me. The longer I am married to this incredible man, the more in love with him I become. I am constantly amazed that even after all these years, I discover new things about him that I love. I'm also amazed by the feelings of falling in love with him over and over again.

A seminary teacher
This is a no-brainer if you've read my previous posts. I love having the scriptures open up to me. I love the "aha" moments when I see the lightbulb come on for one of my students. I adore these youth.

The mother of a child with special needs
What did I ever do to have this priveledge? I look forward to the next world when he has all the disability removed and we can talk. He's a pretty amazing man.

A friend
I am blessed beyond measure when I think about my dear friends. There are many of you and I hope you recognize who you are. We share joy, laughter and tears. We celebrate life together. The most incredible thing about being a friend is being able to pick up just where we left off last week, last month or last year.

A sister
I have some incredible brothers and sisters. It's fun to share stories of when we were young. I love to watch the changes that we all go through and see how much we've grown through the trials placed before us. Yes, incredible siblings.

A daughter
I was blessed to have the parents I do. My dad has always been my hero. I never realized what a strength my mom was in Dad's life. I hope people will say that about me one day. I miss my mom tremendously.

A coach
I said earlier that I love the youth. Some more than others. I love track and field and look forward to the upcoming season when I have the opportunity to coach my own son. Yes, I do have my favorites but I try to give them all the attention they deserve. The pay is never enough, but truth be told, I'd probably do it for free as I love it. The money is helpful in lots of ways so I am glad there is pay involved.

A stay-at-home mom
Even though my children are either gone or don't need me like they used to, I still enjoy being at home. I love that I can lounge around and do nothing or I can plant, harvest, clean or cook. All of which do get done.

There are so many other things I could post, but for now I just had the feeling that I needed to share a few thoughts. How about my other blogging friends. Any thoughts????

One Week In

I've finished my first week of seminary for the year. We studied the plan of salvation as well as an overview of the Doctrine & Covenants and the Great Apostacy. A little more prep work and we'll dive headfirst into the Doctrine & Covenants.

I'm really excited with the youth that are attending the class this year. The first day was filled with answers to questions by only one young man. Trev doesn't realize what a gem he is and how much I appreciate him. By the end of today, most everyone was involved and talking, well at least engaged.

This opportunity has been one of the greatest in my life. I love the scriptures! I love the youth! What a better fit than this? Yes, it can be time consuming and sometimes I feel very sleep deprived, especially at the end of a week. But, it is ALL so worth the effort. I am having FUN!!!

A New Year of Seminary

These are the 11 beautiful faces that I have the opportunity to meet with each day in seminary class. I cannot express enough how much I love these youth.

A Ride Up

Today my sweetie had some work to do on our roof. He borrowed my dad's bucket truck to get on the roof. When he was finished, he gave rides to the kids. Cami was first.
Adam was actually last and complained when he had to get out.
Maddy actually did go up in the truck unlike this photo shows. She stood back while Cami went for a ride and she looked a bit envious. She was very happy to find out she got a ride as well.

1st Day of School

My baby boy is off to school this morning as a freshman in high school. Where did the time go? I recall taking a first day of school picture of just Clare and eventually of all five of my children. Now, there are only 3 more of these pictures to take. Life is about to get busy again with school in session. Seminary will start next week, soccer is already going and the homework is about to begin. Life is good!

2010 U.P. Tour

On Thursday morning I was up early with my sweetheart to make a U.P. tour for work. We left home at 6am which is a lot earlier than I cared for, but I can sleep in the truck, so not a big deal. Our first stop was the Marinette building which is actually in Menominee, MI. I didn't even get out of the vehicle there. Then off to Escanaba where I helped do a couple of piddly things to help out. The next stop was in Germfask where we delivered an LH1 organ/piano and some artwork. I cleaned some toilets and cleaned the bugs out of the lens covers over the lights.

The next stop was actually at a grocery store to buy some treats. Then off to Marquette where I refilled some paper products. From there we drove to Houghton and got a spot at the Sunset Bay campground. We set up our tent and blew up the air mattress and headed out to get some dinner. Since it was already late, we got back to the campground when the sun was already set and there wasn't much light left in the sky. This is the view we found.

Here is the same view we found this morning. I woke up in the night and heard the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore of Lake Superior. I thought it must be windy, but there was no wind. Only the sound of the waves breaking on the shore.

As my husband was heating banana nut muffins on a rock in the firepit, I took a walk to the above point. The view was absolutely beautiful. We saw a ship at night and again in the morning.

This campground obviously has a lot of driftwood in the vacinity and someone made these pieces into a raptor. Kind of imaginative.

On the way south to Houghton, there are a ton of little towns. You may not realize that you've left one and entered another, except there is a sign saying which town you're now in. I saw this "ship" last year and decided this year that I needed to have a picture of it. It's some kind of memorial built out of stone.

We stopped this morning at the rock Wal-mart. It's a rock shop that has everything rock you could ever want. I should've purchased some piece of jewelry, but I didn't.

It was a wonderful trip, but more important it was wonderful to spend two days with my sweetheart working and taking in some sights. After seeing so many beautiful things, I don't understand how anyone can deny the existance of God.

A Satisfying Sabbath

This may not sound like a big deal to anyone else, but I got to spend the Sabbath day with my sweetheart. Usually he is up and out of the house before I get out of bed.

I attended church with him the past two weeks in Stevens Point and last week in Antigo, but he had things to do and places to be in the afternoon and/or evenings so we really didn't get a whole day together. It seems a stake president's work is never done.

Yesterday we attended church together in Gresham. As I was on assignment, I had to opportunity to speak. By the way, I get that assignment again next week in Marshfield. I don't care. Speaking is easy for me.

I just have to say that I enjoyed so much being able to spend most of my day with my sweetheart. The older I get, the more I want to be with him.