We made it!

We made it through the long, cold winter! I don't like winter. I don't like anything about it, except that it makes you appreciate the other seasons more. I love to see January and February go! I must say though, that we've had very mild weather in Jan and Feb, and quite a bit of sun, so I haven't had the "winter blues" as much as I've had in the past. I also think that essential oils have helped a lot too.

So much has been happening. I'm so glad I have a few minutes on this Sunday to write.

Joshua sang with the MAD Boys last week at a youth missionary fireside for the Stake. They sang an arrangement of "Be Still My Soul". It was stunning, it was so beautiful. At midnight on the night before, they practiced it a few last times at our house. So I got to sit in the piano room and listen to these six boys (Josh, Jancen, Connor C, Braiden, Sterling and Connor O) sing this beautiful hymn. Listening to music live is different than hearing it on a recording, or even through a microphone. There is a different feel, a different energy. Having learned more about energy and frequency since starting with essential oils, I understand more about why it's so different. I told Josh after his friends had left, "I'm the luckiest Mom in the world!"

Tomorrow he is singing with Jancen, Connor and Sterling for a Solo and Ensemble Festival at the High School. They are singing Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor. They are going to rehearse tonight, so I get a personal concert again tonight!

Joseph and Jesse got their patriarchal blessings recently. What a treat that was for them and for Bruce and I. There was no doubt that each blessing was exactly tailored for each one individually. I was so grateful for the Lord's revelation to our Patriarch.

Today in Church, Libby bore her testimony. She does this every testimony meeting, and it's just wonderful. Today I followed her, and then a little later, Jesse went up and bore her testimony about prayer. She said that no matter how hard her day has been, she can kneel down and pray when she gets home, and she is able to communicate with Heavenly Father and feel His love for her. Soon after that, Joseph got up and bore his testimony. He said that he has a picture in his room of the Savior with the sheep around Him, and one His shoulder. Joseph said that he often feels like he is the lamb on the Savior's shoulders, and that he is being carried and supported by the Savior. He also thanked Jesse for her example. Soon after that, Mary got up and bore her testimony too, also thanking Jesse for her great example. Jesse next to me was shaking, she was crying so hard. I was about to loose it - you know when you're crying so hard that you're going to embarrass yourself by making a loud noise - well, that was me.

Nothing makes me happier than to hear my children bear their testimony. They could win state in soccer, they could win the finest piano competition, they could get a 36 on the ACT and have 4.0's, but it would not make me happier than to hear their genuine testimonies shared. Thank you for doing that today!

Joseph turned 16 in January! He has yet to go on a date... Maybe he could use some good ribbing from his cousins to get him to go on one!

Josh went on a date with Hailey to the Tip-Off Dance at the High School.

They gathered at our neighbors house for pictures.
Afterwards, we got a shot of the Moms, and Joseph!
After that, they blindfolded the girls and told them they were taking them out to eat. The destination was two wall tents that were set up in the front yard of some friends.


It was decorated beautifully, with a fountain, plants, and a gorgeous table setting.

Josh and Hailey had a good time, and the dinner made for a memorable night!

The Bittersweet

My life is full of bittersweets right now.
I love these Young Men and Young Women, and the rest of the Spanish branch members so much. Les quiero para siempre.

Last week we were released from our calling in the Spanish Branch. We will speak in the branch next Sunday, and that will be our last week. This is bitter.

But that means that we will back in the Ward with wonderful people like Tammy, Jacob and Becky,
and Craig and Sondra. (And time to get some more current photos too!)
This is sweet.

We went to 7th ward (used to be 4th ward) today for Carly's farewell talk, and I cried for the first ten minutes I was there because I felt such a deep love for the members, a welling up of emotion. I have had to seal that off somewhat for the last two years, and today it was opened up again, overwhelmingly so. Yes - this is sweet!

Another sweet:
But the thought of winter coming on, and saying good-bye to this for another seven months is bitter.

Also, living in our home, and enjoying how wonderful it is - this is sweet. Knowing that we'd be much better off financially if it had sold is bitter.

I'm half way through my long-term sub position at the High School. I had the most wild class of my tenure (ha ha- that sounds funny) this week on Wednesday with paper airplanes flying around the room. I made them leave their backpacks at the back of the room the next two days. They were really mad at me, but it solved the problem. On Friday after school, one of the staff members pointed out 6 different examples of graffiti that were gang signs. She told me I had to put a stop to it. Hmmm - not quite sure how to do that. And the swearing. I'd love to hear something really old fashioned like dang, or Oh my heck! Ha ha. The fact that I will leave all this in three weeks is sweet.

However, I'm also starting to REALLY care about these kids and their future. And I really do quite enjoy teaching, and knowing I'm making some money to contribute to the family (besides the fact that it's really needed). The fact that I will leave this in three weeks is, you guessed it, bitter.

Nothing bitter about this, though!! This is all sweetness!

Libby's Halloween Costume is the caterpillar from James and the Giant Peach, which they are studying (and dressing up for) this month at their school. The fact that we had this costume sitting in the costume box (thank you cousins) is a tender mercy of the Lord, and a nod to my husband's persistence.

Through all the bitter and the sweet, the hand of the Lord is evident. I, with Sis. Worthlin, say "Come what may, and love it."