I am so ready for the snow to go away. Have I mentioned lately how much I don't love winter? Oh yes, that's right--I can't seem to shut up about it. It snowed AGAIN all day--from about 1:30 in the afternoon until about 9:00 last night. Even BRITTANY came home from school fed up and cursing the snow! That says a lot, since she is the one who couldn't wait for the first good snowfall so she could go sledding.
The main thing that's driving me nuts about it right now is the fact that I mopped the stupid floor yesterday and you can't even tell. If it was just melted snow it wouldn't be as big of a deal but the salt makes such a mess. I guess I just need to become resigned to mopping every stinking day and counting on the floor looking like crap at night after everyone's gotten home.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Lots and Lots and Lots of Tears
My goodness, I haven't cried as much without breaks as I did yesterday and last night.
As I alluded to in my "Feeling Chatty" post, our stake was realigned yesterday. I've been through realignments and splits before, so figured I'd be okay. I had a pretty good idea of where our family was going to end up, and I was right. The thing that made it so awful was that. . .
The ward we have been attending for the past 9 years, since Shane was in 3rd grade and Brittany was in 2nd, went up in a puff of smoke. Gone. Obliterated. I wasn't prepared for how the words "Cherry Hill 4th Ward is now dissolved," would feel. There have been a lot of challenges in our ward and the thought that we should be dissolved and redistributed has entered my mind many times over the past 3 years. . .I had no idea it would be so darned emotional for me.
Everyone in the stake met for their scheduled sacrament meetings only, and then we had the "stake business" meeting at the Provo Tabernacle. As I walked into our sacrament meeting and sat there I was flooded with memories and since I already knew our family was vulnerable to being moved because of where we're situated I had some very real grief at leaving people I have developed so much love for. I've been teaching Relief Society for the past 4 years and have loved and grown so much in that calling. We have amazingly sweet sisters in our neighborhood.
Anyhoo, I thought that what they would do is expand the ward over to the rest of the neighborhood where they added that part on to another ward on the other end of the stake, so that we would have more members. I had the hope that we would stay, but knew the likelihood was low because our house naturally goes with another ward and was actually added on to 4th ward at a previous realignment about 15 years ago. As I thought would happen, we were restored to the previous ward. Comforting to me was the thought that a couple of other families further down our road would go with us, too, but our little section of add-on doesn't go down that far. I will be pretty much by myself sitting in Relief Society on Sunday, because we are almost the only active people on our part of the street.
After the meeting I just couldn't keep the tears back; especially because we were sitting by one of the families that we thought would go with us. She looked at me and I just fell apart. Our ward was redistributed among 4 wards. I was feeling particularly picked on because just about everyone else has a good chunk of the neighborhood that will stay together, and we don't. I felt like an 8-year old crying, "What if they don't like me!"
I'm feeling better today, and I know it's the right thing for this neighborhood of ours. We have had the largest area of "mission field," and this is going to give two wards opportunities for service that they probably haven't had before. Whoever our poor bishop has been at any given time in 4th ward has had to deal with situations that would toast a lot of people's toes. I remember one of the counselor's wives telling me when we first moved into the ward that her husband had gotten calls to houses before, late at night, and told her if he wasn't back by a certain time to call the police. That has been par for the course.
I've found myself wondering how the very affluent ward who acquired part of that neighborhood is going to handle the elderly sister who likes to get up every fast Sunday and sing a song as part of her testimony? And the special needs family whose 18 year old is mentally 4 years old, likes to wear princess tiaras to church, carries a pink and purple toy cell phone and is very loud and strong when she is upset, and the mother is mentally about 12 and likes to lead music by just waving her arm around? That sister has been leading Relief Society for several years--she has no idea what she's doing, but she loves it and that is a way she can be involved and our ward has just accepted them where they are. There are going to be some eye-popping moments, methinks. One thing that has been wonderful about 4th ward is the unconditional love and acceptance. We felt that immediately when we moved in, which was a relief to me because we were going through some very tough times financially. Absolute acceptance. The active members who have been "holding the fort down" for many years are some of the most Christlike people I have ever met.
One thing that struck me today after I got up and my head cleared was what a beautiful thing it can be to have 4 bishops in that small area instead of one. Four sets of stake missionaries, four Relief Society presidents, four young men's presidents and four young women's presidents. 4th Ward has been carrying a lot for a long time, and was just to the point where it couldn't go on anymore the way things have been. It has been really hard on our youth, who have been dropping out of activity like flies for the past several years. I think the changes will be good for the kids, who need the association of more active LDS youth.
I really hope that we can still maintain the relationships that are there. It absolutely kills me to think of losing them.
As I alluded to in my "Feeling Chatty" post, our stake was realigned yesterday. I've been through realignments and splits before, so figured I'd be okay. I had a pretty good idea of where our family was going to end up, and I was right. The thing that made it so awful was that. . .
The ward we have been attending for the past 9 years, since Shane was in 3rd grade and Brittany was in 2nd, went up in a puff of smoke. Gone. Obliterated. I wasn't prepared for how the words "Cherry Hill 4th Ward is now dissolved," would feel. There have been a lot of challenges in our ward and the thought that we should be dissolved and redistributed has entered my mind many times over the past 3 years. . .I had no idea it would be so darned emotional for me.
Everyone in the stake met for their scheduled sacrament meetings only, and then we had the "stake business" meeting at the Provo Tabernacle. As I walked into our sacrament meeting and sat there I was flooded with memories and since I already knew our family was vulnerable to being moved because of where we're situated I had some very real grief at leaving people I have developed so much love for. I've been teaching Relief Society for the past 4 years and have loved and grown so much in that calling. We have amazingly sweet sisters in our neighborhood.
Anyhoo, I thought that what they would do is expand the ward over to the rest of the neighborhood where they added that part on to another ward on the other end of the stake, so that we would have more members. I had the hope that we would stay, but knew the likelihood was low because our house naturally goes with another ward and was actually added on to 4th ward at a previous realignment about 15 years ago. As I thought would happen, we were restored to the previous ward. Comforting to me was the thought that a couple of other families further down our road would go with us, too, but our little section of add-on doesn't go down that far. I will be pretty much by myself sitting in Relief Society on Sunday, because we are almost the only active people on our part of the street.
After the meeting I just couldn't keep the tears back; especially because we were sitting by one of the families that we thought would go with us. She looked at me and I just fell apart. Our ward was redistributed among 4 wards. I was feeling particularly picked on because just about everyone else has a good chunk of the neighborhood that will stay together, and we don't. I felt like an 8-year old crying, "What if they don't like me!"
I'm feeling better today, and I know it's the right thing for this neighborhood of ours. We have had the largest area of "mission field," and this is going to give two wards opportunities for service that they probably haven't had before. Whoever our poor bishop has been at any given time in 4th ward has had to deal with situations that would toast a lot of people's toes. I remember one of the counselor's wives telling me when we first moved into the ward that her husband had gotten calls to houses before, late at night, and told her if he wasn't back by a certain time to call the police. That has been par for the course.
I've found myself wondering how the very affluent ward who acquired part of that neighborhood is going to handle the elderly sister who likes to get up every fast Sunday and sing a song as part of her testimony? And the special needs family whose 18 year old is mentally 4 years old, likes to wear princess tiaras to church, carries a pink and purple toy cell phone and is very loud and strong when she is upset, and the mother is mentally about 12 and likes to lead music by just waving her arm around? That sister has been leading Relief Society for several years--she has no idea what she's doing, but she loves it and that is a way she can be involved and our ward has just accepted them where they are. There are going to be some eye-popping moments, methinks. One thing that has been wonderful about 4th ward is the unconditional love and acceptance. We felt that immediately when we moved in, which was a relief to me because we were going through some very tough times financially. Absolute acceptance. The active members who have been "holding the fort down" for many years are some of the most Christlike people I have ever met.
One thing that struck me today after I got up and my head cleared was what a beautiful thing it can be to have 4 bishops in that small area instead of one. Four sets of stake missionaries, four Relief Society presidents, four young men's presidents and four young women's presidents. 4th Ward has been carrying a lot for a long time, and was just to the point where it couldn't go on anymore the way things have been. It has been really hard on our youth, who have been dropping out of activity like flies for the past several years. I think the changes will be good for the kids, who need the association of more active LDS youth.
I really hope that we can still maintain the relationships that are there. It absolutely kills me to think of losing them.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
2 Thumbs Up for Shannon Hale!
I just finished the 3rd book in the Goose Girl trilogy by Shannon Hale, River Secrets. Can I just say that if you haven't discovered her books yet, you really need to! My sister raved about The Goose Girl so much I was driven to read it and loved it. The very first Shannon book I read was Princess Academy, which my mother gave my daughter for her birthday a couple of years ago. I of course snagged it and read it myself.
I'm trying to decide whether to read The Book of a Thousand Days or Austenland next. I'm really glad that there are more books! I hate it when I find a wonderful author/series and get to the last book. It makes me sad.
When I run out of Shannon books, I will probably start over on The Goose Girl and read the sequels again, too. They're that good!
I'm trying to decide whether to read The Book of a Thousand Days or Austenland next. I'm really glad that there are more books! I hate it when I find a wonderful author/series and get to the last book. It makes me sad.
When I run out of Shannon books, I will probably start over on The Goose Girl and read the sequels again, too. They're that good!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Feeling Chatty
Hmmm, I'm finding myself coming back to type a lot today. I keep remembering stuff that I forgot to write about. Stuff like:
*I'm so proud that I have a cute background on my blog now. I didn't get how to do that, but with a little help from friends on my favorite message board, I mastered the cutting and pasting off of The Cutest Blog On the Block. I'm feeling very cool!
*We got cell phones for Christmas (I can't believe I didn't do a Christmas post; that bears witness to how tired I was by the time the day rolled around) and I now know how to text. It's a beautiful thing. Shane even texts back sometimes and seems to not mind.
*Our stake is being realigned tomorrow, and we stand a very good chance of ending up in a different ward. We will know after a 3:00 stake meeting tomorrow.
*I need to clean my bathroom. That's probably what this "chattiness" is all about. Avoidance.
*I'm so proud that I have a cute background on my blog now. I didn't get how to do that, but with a little help from friends on my favorite message board, I mastered the cutting and pasting off of The Cutest Blog On the Block. I'm feeling very cool!
*We got cell phones for Christmas (I can't believe I didn't do a Christmas post; that bears witness to how tired I was by the time the day rolled around) and I now know how to text. It's a beautiful thing. Shane even texts back sometimes and seems to not mind.
*Our stake is being realigned tomorrow, and we stand a very good chance of ending up in a different ward. We will know after a 3:00 stake meeting tomorrow.
*I need to clean my bathroom. That's probably what this "chattiness" is all about. Avoidance.
The One Good Thing About Winter
The only thing I like about winter (aside from Christmas) is. . .
Cute scrapbook paper. That's it. I love snowflake designs on light blue or other pastel paper. And that's all I've got to say about that. Now I've just got to get some photos of someone enjoying winter so I can make some cute pages!
Cute scrapbook paper. That's it. I love snowflake designs on light blue or other pastel paper. And that's all I've got to say about that. Now I've just got to get some photos of someone enjoying winter so I can make some cute pages!
Sorry Girls, He's Taken!!
Have I dished lately about how wonderful my husband is? I don't think I have. So now I think I will!
Kelly has been playing Mr. Mom since December 18, which was about when my work hours went way up. He always takes the last two weeks of December and first week of January off of work because he lets his paid leave hours build up during the year. It's always really nice to have him around so much and gives him a nice break. I'm really proud of the fact that this year he has done NO JOB-RELATED WORK during his time off! I told him that's a sign of a recovering workaholic, LOL.
I'm particularly grateful that he has been willing to let me do what I wanted with working and has been completely supportive as far as picking up the slack at home. He's done (including folding and putting away) laundry, dishes, vacuuming, chauffering the kids around, etc. All of that has been really helpful. The biggest thing he's done that I'm grateful for, though, is. . .
Getting the kids caught up on their schoolwork. Both of our kids have some difficulties with how they process learning, and so we inevitably come to crisis points several times during the school year where things aren't turned in and grades are down. Even before the break and end of first term this year, he has taken that by the reins and worked with them to get on track with their classes. He's worked with both of them on schoolwork, getting Shane through his Government class and Astronomy packets and helping both, particularly Brittany, with Geometry. He is so patient and knows how to break things down into managable amounts. When frustrations are running high and almost everyone in the house is screaming, he is the one who is able to bring calm and approach/explain things in a way they respond to and understand. There is absolutely no way Brittany would be passing Geometry this term with the mountain of work she had to do (she missed a lot of class periods due to illness/migraines) if not for him working out a schedule for the holidays and sitting down and working with her. I'm eternally grateful for his patience with them and also with me (I am pretty high-maintenance since I have so much anxiety). He told me that it's his turn now since I did so much to help them when they were small. He really is so much better at handling teens than I am.
I'm grateful that when I've come home after a long day at work he immediately tells me to put my feet up, and he even massages them for me. One day I came home at dinnertime thinking I needed to get dinner ready, and he already had some soup on the stove. It was so nice!
Today we had a nice time together. After I played the piano at a baptism this morning, he went to the pool with me so I could do some water aerobics on my own and we had such a fun time just talking. After that we went grocery shopping and had lunch. I'm really glad that I enjoy just hanging out with my husband. There doesn't need to be anything special going on; we just enjoy being together.
It's a beautiful thing to me to see how we've grown together over the years. I have a sign in my house that says, "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all." I think that pretty much says it for our relationship--we fill in the gaps for each other when we think outside of ourselves and support each other. Kelly pointed out not long ago that he's known me for over half his life. That is pretty cool! We had our 19th wedding anniversary in December, and we met over 18 months before we were married. That is a long time!
Kelly has been playing Mr. Mom since December 18, which was about when my work hours went way up. He always takes the last two weeks of December and first week of January off of work because he lets his paid leave hours build up during the year. It's always really nice to have him around so much and gives him a nice break. I'm really proud of the fact that this year he has done NO JOB-RELATED WORK during his time off! I told him that's a sign of a recovering workaholic, LOL.
I'm particularly grateful that he has been willing to let me do what I wanted with working and has been completely supportive as far as picking up the slack at home. He's done (including folding and putting away) laundry, dishes, vacuuming, chauffering the kids around, etc. All of that has been really helpful. The biggest thing he's done that I'm grateful for, though, is. . .
Getting the kids caught up on their schoolwork. Both of our kids have some difficulties with how they process learning, and so we inevitably come to crisis points several times during the school year where things aren't turned in and grades are down. Even before the break and end of first term this year, he has taken that by the reins and worked with them to get on track with their classes. He's worked with both of them on schoolwork, getting Shane through his Government class and Astronomy packets and helping both, particularly Brittany, with Geometry. He is so patient and knows how to break things down into managable amounts. When frustrations are running high and almost everyone in the house is screaming, he is the one who is able to bring calm and approach/explain things in a way they respond to and understand. There is absolutely no way Brittany would be passing Geometry this term with the mountain of work she had to do (she missed a lot of class periods due to illness/migraines) if not for him working out a schedule for the holidays and sitting down and working with her. I'm eternally grateful for his patience with them and also with me (I am pretty high-maintenance since I have so much anxiety). He told me that it's his turn now since I did so much to help them when they were small. He really is so much better at handling teens than I am.
I'm grateful that when I've come home after a long day at work he immediately tells me to put my feet up, and he even massages them for me. One day I came home at dinnertime thinking I needed to get dinner ready, and he already had some soup on the stove. It was so nice!
Today we had a nice time together. After I played the piano at a baptism this morning, he went to the pool with me so I could do some water aerobics on my own and we had such a fun time just talking. After that we went grocery shopping and had lunch. I'm really glad that I enjoy just hanging out with my husband. There doesn't need to be anything special going on; we just enjoy being together.
It's a beautiful thing to me to see how we've grown together over the years. I have a sign in my house that says, "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all." I think that pretty much says it for our relationship--we fill in the gaps for each other when we think outside of ourselves and support each other. Kelly pointed out not long ago that he's known me for over half his life. That is pretty cool! We had our 19th wedding anniversary in December, and we met over 18 months before we were married. That is a long time!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Real Job and a Shrink-Wrapped Car
I forgot to post that a couple of weeks ago, the director of the Church Distribution Center called and asked me if I would be interested in staying on permanently after the holidays. I was very surprised because my understanding was that there weren't going to be any new permanent positions available. He said I "have been a wonderful additon to the Center." I felt like Sally Field in her famous, many-times mocked "You like me! You really like me" Oscar speech. The catch is that for the first few months of the year it will only be a shift a week or every TWO weeks unless I pick up shifts from people who need someone to work for them. That's okay by me BECAUSE:
I got a call from H & R Block about part-time receptionist work for tax season, and they are okay with working around the Distribution schedule if I get hired. I'm waiting to hear back for an interview with them.
And an update on the shattered back windshield of our car: One of the guys I worked with at Lehi Mill told us to get the plastic you use for weather-proofing your house windows, etc. It comes with double-stick tape to adhere it and then you take a hair dryer to it to shrink it to size. He suggested double layering it and then putting duct tape around the edges. I was kind of horrified at the suggestion because it sounded trashy to me, but since we were desperate we did it and it's working great. It doesn't even look that bad. So if you're ever in a pinch with your car windows and can't get them replaced right away, that is a pretty good alternative. You can do it for between $6 and $10.
I got a call from H & R Block about part-time receptionist work for tax season, and they are okay with working around the Distribution schedule if I get hired. I'm waiting to hear back for an interview with them.
And an update on the shattered back windshield of our car: One of the guys I worked with at Lehi Mill told us to get the plastic you use for weather-proofing your house windows, etc. It comes with double-stick tape to adhere it and then you take a hair dryer to it to shrink it to size. He suggested double layering it and then putting duct tape around the edges. I was kind of horrified at the suggestion because it sounded trashy to me, but since we were desperate we did it and it's working great. It doesn't even look that bad. So if you're ever in a pinch with your car windows and can't get them replaced right away, that is a pretty good alternative. You can do it for between $6 and $10.
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