Call coming

I have created a new blog for Alex's mission. I know it may be a little premature, but we are expecting his call Wednesday or Thursday. Go check it out here and leave a message with your guess as to where he will be sent.

Strange Bishop Aaron

The first item of business on this absolutely glorious day in late March is a birthday party for Katie Young....well, after Taylor got off at 9:00 for ACT prep and Mary Catherine and Sarah Beth left for a bike ride and run! So, I need to do a little background on this story I have to tell. At New Year's the Young's have been having a sleep over for Katie and Sarah and their friends to ring in the New Year. But, to avoid staying up ALL night they set all the clocks in the house back a couple of hours. Well, in past years this has posed no problems, but this year for Christmas Emma received a watch. Sarah Beth was the first to think about the problem this could cause for the Young's. So when we dropped the Emma and Lily off we informed Bishop Aaron of the problem. We didn't really know how to handle it and finally he just said, "Emma, you have a watch! You're going to have to give it to me. We don't allow anyone but ME to have watches in our house." Emma seemed confused, and reluctantly gave it to me to bring home. Well, ever since then, when she goes to play with Katie she will just give me her watch. Nothing is said, she just kind of rolls her eyes and hands it over. So, today for the party, she had already hopped out of the car and got to the door where Bishop was, when she wheeled around and ran back to my window where she tossed the watch in to me! It is so funny. I guess we should tell her at some point. I don't know.

Did I mention what a wonderfully beautiful day it is today? It is in the 50's this morning, warming to the 60's with big bright blue skies overhead. Not a cloud in the sky and the new leaves on the trees are just shinning! It is amazing. Makes me happy to live in the South on days like this. And Zack and I are about to go out and plant some fruit trees! Finally!

And remember.....Do not wear your watch to the YOUNG's!!!!!!!

Aunts and Uncles

My brother, John, and his wife, Kristy, and their baby, Julia, are in Park City for John to attend some continuing education workshops....and to play. They went to Provo on Tuesday to visit BYU and Alex. Today, they invited him to come to Park City and ski with John. Alex had a great time. I am so grateful that they did that for Alex and that they got to spend some really great time together. And see that really cute baby that Kristy is holding. Can't wait to hold her at Easter!!

It got me thinking how grateful I am for all the aunts and uncles that my kids have. They all add something great to our lives, either by example or by action.
1. Aunt Ang--Alex started calling her this when he was little. Funny, because she doesn't really go by Ang at all, but that is what we call her. She is a lawyer and stay-at-home mom to my 4 nieces and nephews. Angela is extremely well read. She loves politics and knows something about just about everything. She is very organized and my kids love to go stay there in the summer and best of all they are moving to Natchitoches this summer and will be so close we can go for the day! Can't wait!

Of course, there is her husband, Ted. He is a dentist and the reason they are moving to Natchitoches. Ted is always on the go. He loves to play, loves bad weather, and doesn't mind watching a load of kids. He is a committed man and just good.
2. Uncle John--John is a doctor and just moved back to south Louisiana. He is such a great example to my kids about staying in school and working hard. He also challenges the kids to think. John also likes to play and entertain. I have to say, as much as I think Angela knows about most things, John knows more. He researches absolutely everything. To me he knows something about all things.
Aunt Kristy is also a doctor but has retired to stay home at take care of baby Julia. I am so proud of her decision to do that and am glad that my kids can see her make such an important decision. Kristy has always been sweet to do cute things with the kids and be a great aunt to them.
3. Aunt Tara--Tara works at the LSU library as an archivist and has a Master's Degree. She has always done sweet, thoughtful things for the kids. Recently she crocheted Lily and Emma little blankets for their babies. She sent Alex homemade cookies at BYU. She is a great cook and is always thoughtful of everyone. Such a good example to our kids.
Harry is a professor at Southeastern University. Although we should have known, because he is a professor, Harry has his doctorate in history and has even taught at West Point. He is such a humble quiet spoken guy that we didn't even realize this until Zack googled him one night. He is a great professor, too. He often takes his students on "field trips", even in Europe. He and Tara love to travel, making several trips to Ireland.

4. Aunt Stephanie-Stephanie has a degree in Education from LSU and had a successful career before she quit to stay home with Rebecca and Erica 17 years ago. She is extremely well organized and a great mom. She is also very thoughtful of our kids and has gone out of her way to know each one of them personally. She is such a great example of how to run a home. I am grateful that my kids have had her in their lives.
Uncle Rick-Rick is a partner in an Architecture firm in Dallas. He has been very successful in his career and is a GREAT dad. He is very involved with his daughters. He is funny and fun. Rick is just an all around nice guy. He is always interested in what is going on with the kids...spending time talking to them and playing with them. I am grateful that he is their uncle.
5. Aunt Jill-Jill has worked with Zack for many years...putting up with him!! She is currently back in school working on her degree. I am so proud of her and am grateful for my kids to see that it is never too late to do that. She is very dedicated to her work and makes straight A's. She worked hard for years raising her 2 boys. She is a great housekeeper. I admire that.
Kevin and Jill have been married for several years now. Kevin works shift work at one of the plants. He is an avid Dallas Cowboy fan...giving Taylor lots of opportunity to trash talk! He is a father to two teenage s and has stayed very involved with them. He and Jill like to go to Toledo Bend on the weekends and fish and play.
These are Jill's supercute grandkids who made Zack and me Great Aunt and Uncle!!!

As I sat here to write about our aunts and uncles I got overwhelmed by the diversity that we have in our family. They are all great people who add a different dimension to our family. I love that they all have sacrificed in many different ways for their families. They are a great example of commitment and love for family. I hope that my kids will follow their examples and know that they always have them to turn to. Thanks for all you do!

Alex submitted his mission papers kast night!!! It should take 2 weeks to find out were and when he will be going. We are super excited, but probably not as excited as he is. He is off to Washington tomorrow with his roommates, John and Dustin. They are going to have a blind date and do a mystery dinner date for the girls. How fun! John is also going to the temple in preparation for his mission. I can't wait. It feels better than Christmas as a kid!!!

Finally...........

Mary Catherine and I went to the eye doctor yesterday. I needed some new glasses and she was complaining of trouble seeing. I probably should have taken her earlier, but it's been hard to believer her because she wants glasses so badly. In fact, she has wanted them VERY badly for years and years. She tried to tell me she needed some in the 3rd grade so we signed her up for an appointment, only to be disappointed when they said she had PERFECT vision. What in the world would they say that for? Didn't they know how they disappointed a little girl? So, Aunt Tara was sweet enough to give her for Christmas a fake pair of really cute glasses. After the holidays she began wearing them to school everyday. One day she just didn't wear them and left them in her backpack. Her teacher noticed that she didn't have her "glasses" on and sent her to get them on. Well, in those days Mary Catherine was pretty quiet in school and didn't want to tell Mrs. Blaire that they weren't real, so she just went and got them and wore them the rest of the day!!! We have laughed and laughed about that story over the years. Then last year Whitney got real glasses and Mary Catherine loved them, but she didn't think she could still get them, because it would look like she was copying Whitney. So, you can see that glasses to Mary Catherine has very little to do with actually being able to SEE! So, finally she has been able to justify real glasses after 6 years of trying really hard to get some.

Mary Catherine is doing so great! She is a very genuinely happy girl. She smiles all the time, flashing her beautiful pearly whiles. Recently, a friends daughter got her braces off and asked her mom if her teeth looked as good as Mary Catherine's. She loves to show them off! She is also doing great at school. She is on track to earn a 4.0 for the year end grades. In French she has to make a 99 on the last 2 six weeks AND the final to pull out an A, but instead of thinking it is impossible, she is trying! She is being much more careful about her studies and is very independant about it.

I love Mary Catherine very much and am very pleased with the Young Woman she is becoming. She is a great example to us all of happiness and reading the scriptures and making good descisions. And now she will be able to happily wear her glasses, too. I will post pictures tomorrow.

I already have butterflies

I went to Maplewood today and Mrs. Goode, the principal, stopped me and asked if I would be interested in taking a 6-week maternity leave at the very beginning of school next year. There would be a 1st grade or a 4th grade. Oh, wow, while I AM very interested, I am also VERY nervous about this. I need to think about it, but I think that it would be a good fit. Emma will be a 4th grader and Lily will be in 1st grade! We would have the summer to prepare for the changes by getting the house in tip-top shape and I would have that time to prepare for the teaching. Just the idea makes me nervous.
But, first things first....I have to get certified. My pay would just be a sub pay unless I was certified and then my pay would increase more than 4 times. THAT is a big difference. So, I have to take the Praxis test and then apply for certification. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
I feel changes coming that I have been nervous about for years!! There will be lots of prayer about this.

Goals for Monday, March 16.

1. Clean all floors in house
2. Clean bathrooms
3. Make Menus for the week
4. Cook supper
5. Plan Famiy Home Evening
6. Feel happy and what I got done for the day