Michelle's Birthday Outing

Last Friday (March 14th) was Michelle's 43rd birthday! Delightfully it fell on a Friday so no adjustments to our schedules were needed (except that Marc was on afternoon duty with Eva).

Our self-portrait for the day.

We had a very tasty lunch at Five Guys, it was fantastic.

We went to the $1.50 theater because it had better movies than the new release theaters. Michelle hadn't seen The Book Thief yet, so that was our first choice. We were loved it and were weepy messes at the end of it...it took us a little while to recover.

Next stop was to get drinks at Sodalicious.

Then we went to Cherry Lane to shop for a bit. It was a gorgeous day and the view from the front of the store was beautiful.

I really love this line of products. 

This is our funny selfie taken in a mirror in the store. I was trying to hurry (I'm always afraid I'm going to get in trouble for taking pictures in stores for some reason) but think it turned out pretty funny. I put it on Instagram and Michelle said she thinks she looks like she has Special Needs, this cracked me up and made me like the picture even more (because of course she doesn't).

This sign was hanging the store.

Michelle bought a couple necklaces and a birthday gift for her mom.

I was so pleased with how my gifts for Michelle turned out this year. 

I gave her a collection of Washi Tape I'd been purchasing from a couple Etsy shops and Pick Your Plum, a pedicure gift certificate, and a silly ring.

I got us each one of these rings because I couldn't resist it. I have mine sitting on a jewelry try in my bedroom and it makes me happy whenever I see it.

Sunday Thoughts

Just in case you were wondering, I LOVE primary.

I conducted today (which I don't usually do because I'm the secretary, but the Primary President was out of town so I filled in for her) and it didn't take long for me to be in tears. In Junior primary (ages 3-7) I became a weepy mess in just minutes as a 4 year old stood with his mouth against the microphone and gave a talk as his dad whispered words of truth into his ear. It was painfully cute, but what did me in was the presence of the Spirit as he spoke. I think the kids all felt it too because the room was remarkably peaceful for our large junior primary. It was also cool to watch the boy's mom stand in the back watching her husband and son together like that, I know she felt great too.

Then in Senior Primary (ages 8-12) I lost it again after an 11 year old boy gave his last talk in primary since he will be turning 12 and moving on to Young Men soon. I have seen him grow up and I remember his older brother (who is now 17) whispering in his ear years ago to help him give a talk. Now the older brother is getting ready to go on a mission and this boy is now a confident 11 year old who did a fantastic job by himself and closed with his testimony. I had to pull myself together after the combination of this memory and his talk.

The gospel is remarkable, and primary is the place where the kids learn it in its purest form. I love the lessons we learn as we sing and I often look around the room and see the adults actively engaged and learning right along with the kids...we're never too old to be in primary!

Weirdest Location Ever

Landon's game on Saturday was at a field clear out in Freakin Eagle Mountain in an area I'd never been near before. I had been warned that it was far away and hard to find so Whitney and I left the house an hour early and had Google Map directions with us. We followed the directions on and on and on until it felt like we were headed to Nevada! We stayed on the road until it literally ended!! What the? Luckily I had the phone number of the dad who had taken Landon that morning and he told me it was off a dirt road near the middle school being built (which we had passed). What in the world?

It was only about a mile back from where the road ended, and it's no wonder we missed it! Good grief, it was a field in the middle of miles of sagebrush. We drove down a bumpy dirt road and parked randomly because there wasn't an actual parking lot there.

We could see the boys over the top of the sage brush, but couldn't figure out why they were planning in this remote location.

This is the school being built "nearby" but really it's pretty far away from this field in the middle of nowhere.

I think they should change the name of this area to Tinder Valley or Prickerville or Desolation.

Eventually I got over the strangeness of the location and was able to focus on the game.

Here is Landon (#0) blocking a guy so his teammate could score.

Whitney's lack of interest in the game is admirable really. Her focus on drawing is intense and rarely disturbed by the game, even when a boy on Landon's team broke his ankle right in front of us! I was traumatized by it and took pictures (for his family of course). I know this boy from school and remember all too well how awful it was when Landon broke his elbow last November. I was in tears as they carried him off the field, through the sagebrush and into the backseat of his car for a bumpy ride to the ER.

Sunday Thoughts

It's time to face facts, I have become a cryer...especially on Sundays! How can church be so uplifting yet so emotionally draining (in a fill you up sort of way) at the same time? I guess it just is.

We had a recently returned missionary from Chile speak to us and his enthusiasm was positively contagious. These are my notes from his talk.

• It is wonderful to go and serve a mission for the Lord.
• You learn charity out on a mission, otherwise you'd turn into a red ball of steam. (From people slamming doors in your face and calling you names.)
• The Lord fortifies you, He puts you in a pair of bigger shoes.
• I learned a lot about pride, I went in confident but learned quickly that I didn't know anything.
• I learned there are many ways to teach something.
• I cried over that relationship quite a bit. (About his 1st companion's lack of obedience.)
• I started to learn to give myself to the Lord, I learned to give more.
• All your preparation ahead of time helps!
• You get lost in the work and find out what really makes you happy.
• Take away all the stuff you think makes you happy, then through the gospel you find real happiness.
• Happiness is not given, it is earned.
• The less I had the more happiness I found.
• I was happy when I had work to do.
• You really learn charity when someone is yelling at you for knocking on their door. You learn to really feel for that person because you are representing Christ and they are ultimately slamming the door on Him.
• New converts have an amazing spirit.
• Open your heart and widen your circle of friends so you can share the gospel.
• Preach the gospel and if necessary use words.

Edited to add: The original quote is "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." from Francis of Assisi

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: I was walking down the hall after Sacrament meeting today and said hi to this man (a former boss of mine) and he said, "Jill, you look happier than all get out, what's going on?" and I said, "I'm alive in Christ John, what can I say?" How funny is that? It just came out. I talked to him for a minute longer and he was kind of laughing at me (just like he used to 18 years ago when I worked for him) but in an affectionate sort of way.

Sunday Thoughts

So it's official, our entire Primary Presidency was released today (that was what last week's 8:00am appointment was about). I was a wreck about it last Saturday--I cried off and on all day (this was surprising to me), but did okay at church the next day and have been fine all week so I figured I'd gotten the tears out of my system. But no...as soon as they officially released us in Sacrament Meeting today the tears returned. Then I held steady during primary as I sat in the back with the new presidency giving them info and answering questions. But then during senior primary our chorister (who is the Bishop's wife and has been like a 5th presidency member) had us come sit up front so the primary kids could sing our favorite songs to us. Let me tell you, it was NOT pretty. Not only did I cry, I did the full-on ugly-faced sobbing cry in front of everyone. (Luckily, the primary president was bawling too.) Someone threw us a packet of tissues (thank heaven) and we just sobbed as we sang those songs.

{Photo not taken today, but this is what it looks like in there.}

I chose..."We'll Bring the World His Truth" (the chorus can make me cry any day)
Ilima chose..."Beautiful Savior"
Tonya chose..."I Know That My Savior Loves Me"
Our fabulous secretary Brittany was home with her week old baby, so she didn't get to participate in this sob fest.

After we sang these three songs, the chorister had us all sing "Scripture Power" to help lighten the mood a bit, but it ended up making us cry harder because each time the kids sang the words "scripture power" they held up their scriptures. It was awesome to sit up front like that and face a room full of 60+ kids singing an amazing song and happily holding up their scriptures. It was a great way to end our three year run as a primary presidency.

Also a great part of this experience, was that Jalayne (our chorister) explained how as a members of the church we promise to serve the Lord in any way asked of us, and that for the past three years it has been our job to pray, plan, teach and serve the children of our ward, but that now that time is over and four other women get the chance to do this. I know this is true, and I know these 4 women will do an amazing job as well. I have loved serving in primary far more than I ever thought possible, and I have been surprised by the flood of emotion I have experienced as part of closing this chapter in my life. I know they already have a new job planned for me because I missed a call from the Bishopric this morning (the volume on my phone was too low). I'm both nervous and excited for what it will be, but know that I will end up falling in love with it too.

Here are the Top Ten things I have loved about serving in primary.


1. The pure doctrine taught and sung each week; I always feel the Spirit in primary.


2. For the past two years our family has been in Senior primary together. Randy has been a teacher and the kids were both in their classes (Landon moved out of primary in August when he turned 12).

3. The kids. I can honestly say I love each and every child in our primary and know them by name. I always stand at the door to greet them by name as they walk in each week.


4. I have loved taking photos of the things we do in primary. The kids are so sweet and primary is a big part of their lives, so it has been fun to be the one documenting that for our ward. The pictures have been displayed on our back bulletin board and the ward newsletter, and I give them to their families when they come down from the bulletin board.


5. I have loved serving with really great people. Our entire presidency served all the way, none of us were slackers and we were able to call really great teachers (2 for each class) to guide the kids. I would often look around the room and be moved to tears by the strength I saw there; particularly in senior primary where we had many strong, male teachers (rare in primary) to serve as good examples to the kids.

6. Memorizing The Articles of Faith has been a great thing for our primary and for our family. It was our primary's goal for 2009, and it is something we accomplished as a family and continue to review each Sunday during Family Home Evening.


7. I have felt great power from memorizing 12 Scripture Mastery verses this year and I have been super impressed with all the kids who have done this as well. We have 3 year olds who are able to recite long verses because their parents have worked with them.


8. I have been so impressed with our Bishopric and their involvement and love for the primary kids. They have taken turns coming in on the first Sunday of each month to give the kids a Bishopric Message, and they always do a fabulous job.


9. I wrote and organized 3 Primary Programs over these years and have a great appreciation for all that goes into those. I enjoyed the experiences and will miss not writing next year's program and the photo slide show party we had to celebrate finishing the program each year.


10. Mostly I have loved the kids and their sweet innocence. They soak up the gospel and thrive in primary, it has been wonderful to be a part of their journey.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: I feel so emotionally drained from all this crying. I need to go to bed and sleep the sleep of the dead until I feel better.

The Girl Can Sing

The elementary school did their annual Christmas Sing on Friday, and Whitney ended up having a rather big part in the 4th grade portion of the event. I was seriously impressed that she had the guts and the voice to pull this off...of course I cried.

**Would you have had the guts to do this in 4th grade?
Ever heard this version before?**