New Callings

Well as most of you know Kirk was put in as 2nd counselor to the Bishop yesterday. It was very exciting and wonderful. We are both so excited for all the opportunities for growth that it will bring. Everyone kept saying how busy Kirk will be and how he's going to be gone all the time and I thought, so whats new? I am very grateful this chance is coming when our kids are old enough to not cry for their Dad on the stand, and when we both have to be at RS this week our kids can babysit themselves. The Bishop and his 1st counselor are such wonderful men I am thrilled for Kirk to work with them. Our Bishop works for Covey and you can tell his presence fills the room, his spirit and attitude are so contagious how can any of us feel bad to be put in a new ward when he is the one leading us. I've been so proud of my boys, Connor started passing the sacrament from our first week there even though he didn't know anyone and they do it a little different but he did it. Matt got to church early to help the teachers set up chairs and he stayed after to help clean up the sacrament. I know they will be blessed with friends and comfort for their faithful service. I do not have my calling yet so we'll see. I was smiling at the chorister and enjoying sitting with my family when they released her to be the RS president! I just laughed and couldn't believe that calling is open again. She assures me I won't have that calling so I can finally sit with my family, esp now that Kirk isn't sitting with us! Well I'm off to run, clean, and grocery shop only 3 weeks until the kids next vacation and there is work to be done!!

Retail, no chocolate therapy

So I was feeling a little of the holiday blues today. I'm missing my family even though Kirks family is great, it's still nice to see ones own family occasionally. Maybe it was worse because I came soo close to seeing family, no guilt people. So I was moping around the house being generally annoying. I thought some retail therapy would help. So my friend Celeste and I joined the holiday masses shopping. I have to say it was fun and nice to get out. We don't have See's candy stores out here but we get the kiosks every December and I resist every year, even though I crave it. But not this year, not in my weakened state! So I bought myself the small box of nuts and chews which is their best holiday box. This lead to my biggest laugh of the day because does anyone think I came home and gave everyone a piece? No I just hid in the laundry room, ripped off the holiday wrapping paper and ate 2 pieces hiding in the laundry behind piles of laundry as tall as myself! And you know what? It was worth the laugh, I have no problem being the cliche because it was delicious!

Hard lessons

The next time someone says, "Bonnie should we drive 10 hours in a possibly unreliable car with a young baby who may or may not like road trips in cold weather to see you for the holidays?" am I going to say "only if you are up to it and think it will be okay..."? no, HECK NO. I am going to say "Heck yes you should jump in the car right now because whats a few hours of pain and lots of money in gas in comparison to the incomprehensible joy of seeing your big sister and allowing her to cuddle your baby for a meager few days, I mean really what matters most? Your comfort or my happiness??? Duh?!!" Lesson learned.

Changing of the wards

So it was a interesting day. They split our ward, well they took a 1/3 of us and put us in another ward. We sang as a ward choir and it was so wonderful, one of my favorite songs that we sing. And then in the closing song it was How Gentle God's Commands and the words were ironic and wonderful to me, "Why should this anxious load press down your weary mind? Haste to your Heavenly Father's throne and sweet refreshment find". I was looking at everyone I love and will miss and couldn't quite finish singing the last line. And I sat down for what I thought would be the last time after 4 years of chorister when they opened the meeting to discuss the split announced the song and the Bishop motioned to me from the stand that he wanted me to lead it as well. So we sang We thank Thee oh God for a Prophet, which rather than the sad tears from the other song I found myself smiling with all the poignant meaning, "we feel it a pleasure to serve thee... when dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us and threaten our peace to destroy, There is hope smiling brightly before us and we know that deliverance is nigh". It was a fun end. Afterward anyone in the new ward was invited into another room to meet our new Bishop and I wanted to clarify that we are all released because they only talked about what happens to those staying in the ward. And he said, "well, would you lead the music next week?" and I paused and said, "really? (with my mouth agape)" Not my best moment and he said yes so I said of course. And he said someone would call and give me the songs unless I wanted to choose them, and I said "honestly I've been choosing them for so long I've feeling kinda dried up so I've love someone else to choose." Once again not the best foot to start off with the Bishop but it was so funny that the one thing I was looking forward to changing wards was getting out of this calling and now it looks like I might not!! And of course I accept whatever calling is asked of me.