Breakfast with Santa

This has been Eagle Scout project month for us. Last night I helped scrub cupboards for a friend's son's project. He cleaned and painted two two bedroom apartments and helped furnish them for the Save the Family Foundation which helps homeless families get off the streets and into a home. He is only 13 and we are all proud of him for getting his Eagle earned early.

Today I got invited to take behind the scenes pictures at another friend's son's project. This was a Breakfast with Santa to collect books, toys and cookies for the Phoenix Children's Hospital.


Can I just say, this was by far the most fun eagle project I have participated in. I am quite capable of eating and taking photographs. I am capable of cleaning, painting and shoveling dirt as well, but that's not quite as much fun.

The oldest daughter and I felt that this was a wonderful time for the grandson to get introduced to Santa so a few (more like half) of the behind the scenes photos I took included the grandbaby. Who can blame me though when he is so dog gone cute?

He happened to be one of the more content, small children sitting on Santa's lap.

I wasn't responsible for the photos with Santa, so hopefully the scout's mother, who was, got a picture that wasn't quite as blurry.

The grandson was actually a lot more interested in talking to the Christmas tree than in talking to Santa however. It's obvious he hasn't figured out where the presents come from yet.





To show that I wasn't just taking pictures of the grandson though, here is a wonderful shot of the scout doing exactly what an Eagle Scout candidate is suppose to do - Telling people what to do.

And this last picture of a very tired mother is proof positive that without moms very few young men would ever earn their Eagle Scout rank.

Did I Think to Pray?

Today we had 3 convert baptisms in our ward. A woman and her two grandsons, age 8 and 9, were baptized. I attended as the primary representative. The two boys were baptized first and then the grandma went into the water. She has some physical disabilities and wears a brace on one leg and has little use of that leg and the arm on that side. She walks with a cane. Both of the elders went into the font with her so they could both help her go under the water. She was very fearful that she was going to fall and after the baptismal prayer had been said she asked the elders to wait and try to figure out another way for her to be submersed. She had brought the chair that she uses in the shower and they decided she could sit on it and get dunked so the chair was lowered into the font but there was a back on the chair so she couldn't lean back and she got too scared when they tried to tip the whole chair. She tried bending forward, but the water wasn't deep enough. While they kept trying all sorts of different ideas and positions to accomplish her baptism I started brainstorming an alternative type chair that could go in the font for her to sit on that didn't have a back. I was thinking and thinking and then the bishop and I started discussing possible items that could be used. I was sitting next to a sister in the ward and when the bishop went to get the step stool from the drinking fountain to use she leaned over to me and said "I'm going to say a prayer." She closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to herself and as soon as she opened her eyes the two witnesses announced "she went all the way under" and the baptism was accomplished. She ended up sitting on the font steps and then having the missionaries help her turn sideways so she could go under.
As I sat listening to the special instrumental music while we waited for everyone to get dressed I began thinking about what had just taken place. Not so much the actual baptisms but the experience of trying to find a solution to the problem that presented itself. I was quick to try to solve the problem using my own knowledge and creativity. It didn't even occur to me to pray for help or inspiration. How easy it is for me to forget where to turn in times of need. I want to "lean on my own understanding". How grateful I am to be reminded in small, simple ways that my Heavenly Father is there waiting to help me if I will only ask Him for His help. Hopefully next time I will think to pray first.

Today I am thankful for

brownies with walnuts.
worthy priesthood holders.
special events that help to unite my family.

Very Short Vacation

Last Sunday when the counselor in the Bishopric released the hubby and me from nursery he told us they were giving us a short vacation and we should enjoy it while we could. I reminded him that I wouldn't really have a vacation because I was still responsible for the ward bulletin and he said "You're going to get rid of that job soon too." Well, I've been hearing that story for about two years now (since we were put into nursery) so I said "I'll believe that when it happens".
Tuesday night the executive secretary called and said we needed to meet with the bishop on Wednesday. That was a very short vacation, at least for me.
I am now officially the 2nd Counselor in the Primary Presidency. I love the Primary and being with the children in the ward, but I was thinking just maybe I would get to go to Sunday School and Relief Society for just one Sunday. No such luck though, I jumped right into Primary today. Oh, and for the one minute that it took after I was released from being the ward bulletin specialist and then called to be in the Primary Presidency I did have a Very Short, No Official Calling Vacation. Hooray for vacations!

Free Zoo Trip

The first full weekend of every month in 2009 Bank of America customers can get into the Phoenix Zoo for free if they show their Bank of America Check Card and a photo ID. I found out about this deal at the end of September, but chose to watch conference in October rather than go to the zoo. This month I was anxious to take advantage of the free deal, because as you know, I Love Free and there's only one more month in 2009. The only drawback of this deal is that only one person can get in with each Bank of America card, but since every member of my family except the youngest son and the grandbaby have their own BofA card this wasn't a huge problem. When it came right down to it only the oldest daughter, the youngest son and the grandbaby were interested in going with me. It just so happened that the oldest daughter still had one day left on her year long zoo membership and so she and the youngest son used that to get in. I used my Bank of America card and the grandbaby was free just because he was free.

It's a good thing that we didn't pay a lot of money to get the baby in because he didn't even open his eyes the entire three hours we were there.
It's been a while since I have been to the zoo (because I am too cheap to pay to get in) and a few things have changed since the last time I was there. They have added a new path to the children's area.

This was a really dumb addition, in my opinion. You use to walk down a short hill. Now you switch back and forth on a path that has 5 or 6 turns. There is nothing to look at, just a concrete path with wood railings. We decided this is the zoo's attempt to increase the patron's physical exercise.

Here is my token picture of some animals at the zoo.


I liked these javelinas hairstyles. They all looked like punk rockers.

I kept wanting to get the baby out of the stroller to take his picture, but the youngest son didn't think he wanted to wake up. He decided he could pose for pictures in his place. Here he is pretending to be Ariel.

I thought this was a really cool Saguaro slide.


The son said it was a tight fit.

This is the picture I turned around to take while the stroller continued to move on down the hill. The daughter was screaming, but no babies were injured in the process.

Now the two of them like to look at this picture and laugh at how dumb I am.
The oldest daughter and I both agreed that we needed a picture so the baby would know he went to the zoo, so here it is.



I'm sure we'll come again when the grandbaby is a little more interested. Maybe the first full weekend in December, since it's free.

Today I am grateful for

kids that are willing to do things with me.
a daughter who likes puzzles as much as I do.

a husband who washes my van while I just play.

Four Weeks Old

The grandson is 4 weeks old today. The oldest daughter and I were discussing how he doesn't look or act as much like a newborn anymore. He is definitely getting more curious and likes to try to stand on his head to find people when they walk away from him. He also seems to enjoy going places and checking out all the new things he can see. Today the community had a health fair for the employees and I wanted to attend and get a flu shot for free. The daughter had some insurance questions so she and the baby went along too. Grandpa was more than happy to show off his adorable grandson and even though we may think the boy is getting big, lots of people there commented on how new he still looked. The hubby even treated us to lunch at the Two Waters cafeteria (where he eats most days). We had turkey, sweet potatoes and green beans and it was all yummy.
The oldest daughter decided that while we were out she wanted to hit the after Halloween sales at Target. We found a few fun holiday things for 75% off and some new little boy clothes in the next size up that were marked way down. I love bargain shopping and apparently it has rubbed off on the girl.
We had such a good time that we picked the youngest son up from school and dragged him to another Target with us. He was impressed by the humongous bag of Starbursts and Skittles that he discovered. I think the little guy was impressed too. It looks like he's counting on his fingers how many pieces his uncle is going to share with him.

His uncle says that yellow is a girl color and we shouldn't make him wear yellow, but we were just happy to find this onesie in the bottom of the diaper bag when he leaked through his diaper. He still looks like a handsome little boy to me.

Today I am grateful for

free flu shots and hopefully no flu.
a daughter to go shopping with.
a son that chose to buy Skittles and Starbursts because those don't tempt me like chocolate does.

Service With a Smile

Today I spent the morning in the temple. The temple is such a happy place to be. From the time I walked in the front door until I walked out a few hours later I was greeted with smiles where ever I went. I just couldn't help but smile back.
I decided to go to the cafeteria for a bowl of soup after I finished my session. The cashier was so friendly and cheerful as she counted money and washed tables and tried to figure out how to get the trays to move on the conveyor belt that wasn't cooperating. I thought about the service that she was providing for each of us in that room - the physical service and the emotional one as well.
Then as I was walking to the front door I passed by the chapel where another volunteer was playing the organ to an empty room. Her music was being piped into the waiting room to help set a reverent mood for those individuals preparing to do a session. No one there could even see her, or acknowledge her, but she was doing her part to serve with a smile.
I started thinking about the hours of service that are given in each temple throughout the world each day. I thought of the temple workers who put there personal trials aside once or twice a week to get up before dawn and come to serve in the temple or give up their Friday or Saturday night fun to serve in the Lord's house. Then I thought of the many patrons who also give service in the temples 5 days a week. Hours and hours of service, by hundreds of individuals, all given with a smile.
When I was leaving the dressing room today I stopped at the drinking fountain for some water. As I started walking again it felt like something was brushing against my leg. I looked down and there on the ground was a man's black dress sock. Now, yesterday when I pulled my skirt out of the dryer it felt like there was a sock inside it, but I searched and searched and couldn't come up with one. I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed as I bent down and picked the sock up. One of the temple workers was watching me and said, "I was just getting ready to tell you you had dropped something." I went over to talk to her. She hadn't realized what it was that I had picked up and I told her my laundry story. Another worker was listening in and said, "One of the reasons we come to the temple - to find lost things."
As I walked out of the front doors of the temple today I once again thought of my experience there and what the temple worker had said. After a not so very good day yesterday I had lost my perspective and my smile. I could definitely say as I walked to my car that I had found both and one black sock to boot!

Today I am grateful for

smiles.
temple promises.
my Relief Society Sisters.

No More Nursery

No more snacks during the 3rd hour of the church block.
No more playing with toys.
No more sitting on the floor and wondering if I'll be able to get back up.
No more refereeing World Federation Wrestling, 2 year old style.
No more hand holding on the way to class.
No more two year old snuggles.
No more being called Mama in a sweet, toddler voice.
No more sluffing Sunday School for the youngest son.
No more two year old hugs.
No more practice making animal sounds.
No more laughing at church until my side hurts.
No more trying to figure out how to get 18 month olds to sit still for a 3 minute lesson.
No more bubbles to celebrate the end of church.
No more singing time where no one sings but everyone claps and cheers at the end of every song.
No more checking my fridge for fruit and cheese on Saturday night.
No more regurgitated food in my hand.
No more Noah's Ark puzzle.
No more soft, cushy chair for the Hubby's church enjoyment.
No more excuse for a Sunday afternoon nap.
No more worrying about which 2 year old is throwing a tantrum during sacrament meeting.
No more trying to track down snack bandits.
No more wiping tears.
Except for mine.

No more nursery.

Today I am grateful for

the Papago Ward - where life is a little less pretentious.
little children.
my own challenges. I don't really want some of the ones other people have.