New Beginnings Season

Dixie, Erin, Chrissy, Caitlin and me greeting each other at the beginning of the meeting.  Dixie and her cute family (of which Erin and Caitlin are two of) moved to our ward and our neighborhood this summer. They've been a fun addition. We are VT companions and we visit Chrissy.  Anyway, whatever the relationships or how frequently or seldom we see each other it's always a happy occasion to get together with the saints.

Last night was our ward's New Beginnings. It was also WP1 and Bayside so we had to split the presidency in order to visit them all.  On Tuesday Jamie and I went to LP's NB. It's a fun time of the year.  We love to visit the wards, to see the girls and the leaders and to enjoy the wonderful evenings they plan.  This year our mutual theme is: “O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day” (D&C 4:2).  I love this theme, it's recipe for doing what the Lord asks of us and the promise that if we do we will be clean before Him when we leave this life is amazingly awesome.   Besides being a wonderful theme it has also lent itself to lots of fun embarking ideas for New Beginnings. Hannah made the darling sailboat cookies that we had for refreshments. I have loved the nautical decorations and the powerful messages that have come with the power word embark.  

The rest of the day was nice as well.  I spent the morning with Jodie helping a sister in our ward clean.  Then after the kids were in bed I ran across the frosty grass to Darlainas (right next door!) and we watched Downton Abbey.

Kid news: Grace had lots of homework.  She's reading a book about George Washington at school and that's taking a lot of time.  She enjoyed A-days and is really looking forward to a service project that they planned last night.

Ethan has much less homework than her.  He's looking forward to the Superbowl and continues to pleasantly allow us to push him along in scouting.  He's almost as tall as me now.  Crazy! Sometimes I think about how short a time we have left until his mission (5 years).  It's too fast.  He's been helping with the laundry a lot more.  Trying to teach all the important life skills to that boy.

Hannah is now rehearsing for Sweeny Todd.  She is working on personal progress, working had at school and culinary.  Her grades are okay I wish they were a little better but she's a good girl and living a balanced life and has a lot of demands on her time.  She is also serving as the Mia Maid president and is really enthusiastic and engaged in that.

Jenna and Clayton are living with a lot of snow.  They often have friends over or go to friends and are happy.  Jenna is teaching primary and is the A-days leader in her ward.  Clayton is the ward mission leader.

Sierra just moved apartments and likes her new roomies.  They are Hawaiian and she's having a lot of fun with them.  She's graduating in April! and is planning for the next step.  Next week, I think, she's headed to AZ to spend some time with Andrea and Yoho.  Yoho has started his last round of chemo, things seem to be going very well.  He'll have 21 days and then hopefully he'll be done!  Go Yo!!!!

Dani is ready for Marshall to arrive.  The nursery is so cute, I have a ticket to go help, and he's big enough that any time is okay although he's not due for another few weeks. She and Greg are awesome parents.  I love to see them with the girls.  They are both serving with the youth and I think they're busy busy with babies, and Rosie, and callings and jobs.

What a wonderful blessing to have everyone doing well.  There are always ebbs and flows in families, challenges come and go and people have growing pains, disagreements and heartaches but for the most part we are enjoying a season of peace and success and I am very grateful for that tremendous blessing.