Accepting

First of all, I can't figure out how to post in normal font, so now I'm irritated. It doesn't help that I feel like crap right now & I am hungry. Not a good combination. Anyways - life right now is so beyond hectic, but I am loving it. It seems that whenever I turn around, my time is being demanded by someone - co-workers, my kids, people at church. To be needed is a great feeling, don't you agree? I hate offering help or my time & being rejected, even though I am the first one to reject any offerings made to me. But in all honesty, if I really needed something that was offered to me, I would accept. Maybe. Does anyone else have a problem accepting service & offers of help from their friends & family? I am asked quite frequently (I am guessing because I am the wife of a Bishop) of there is 'anything I need' or 'is there anything I can do for you'. How am I supposed to answer that? Does everyone who asks me that really want to know what I need? No - they don't, but that doesn't mean they don't care about me. And if they really, truly want to know, is it because they're curious or because they really want to help? And I that pessimistic? I guess I am. Just for the record, I only ask people if they 'need anything' or 'what I can do for them' rarely, but I only ask it because I really do care & I genuinely want to help. Curiosity takes up too much time and energy. Ain't nobody got time for that!

Resolution

I'm not big on resolutions, but there is one that I'd like to try & stick to this time around. 

I've let this blog go.  Almost as bad as I've let my body go.  So, I want to resolve to write a post on my blog at least weekly.  I'm not doing this for anyone except me.  I don't care if people read it or not, but I am determined to get back to it.  So, here goes.

This post will contain random beginning-of-2014 thoughts.  They are random, but they are mine.

• I love Christmas - I miss the spirit of it being unmistakingly present
• This past New Year's Eve was the first time in at least 10 years that Brad & I didn't spend it with friends.  We hung out with our kids - and we LOVED it.
• I love eating pasole at the McAllisters house
• I love that my son loves baseball & plays it every day in some way, shape or form
• I love that my daughter loves volleyball & insists on hitting it up against my house, every day
• I like working 1/2 days during Christmas break - again, to hang out with my kids
• Brad has been a Bishop for 2 years
• I'm so glad I work in Primary, otherwise I would be inactive, at least during the 2nd & 3rd hours of church
• Zoë is taller than I am now
• Trevor is not too far behind her
• I am proud of my kids & their accomplishments, but I know they're not perfect
• I've learned over the last year how to be a 'neutral' friend - it's extremely lonely, but there's no drama, so its perfect for me, and my family
• My son will be a priesthood holder in 26 weeks & will pass the sacrament for the first time in 27 weeks
• I'm looking forward to going to Antigua with Brad in a few weeks - it will be the first extended vacation we have ever been on alone.  Ever.  Including our honeymoon.
• I am grateful for eternal families
• I love Apple products.  I am 100% a Mac girl.
• I am grateful for good healthcare
• I am grateful for my job
• I'm grateful for colonoscopies....this seems like a good place to stop.

A dear friend

On Friday, June 1st, we lost a dear friend of ours, Micah Daniel Potter.  Our kids loved Micah almost as much as we did.  Sometimes they didn't know whether to laugh at him or take him seriously, which was pretty entertaining.  Personally, I have some great memories of Micah that I would like to share.

1990-1991 - This was my sophmore year in high school.  I would walk to Michelle's house with her for lunch once or twice a week, sometimes more.  Sometimes her Dad would make us his famous chicken wings (which I had never had before then).  I remember the first time I met Micah, and the only reason I think it was during this time is because it was during the day at his family home that I met him, but I could be wrong.  Anyways, I remember one of the first thoughts about him was, "Wow, he's a little odd."  I remember thinking that he was nothing like David (his little brother), they looked related, but that's about it.  Every time I went to Michelle's and Micah was home, he was always singing.  I never knew any of the songs he sang, but when he sang he was in the zone.  He was also very intimidating to me because his voice seemed so loud, which was something I grew to love.

Sometime in 2004 - Picture it - a ward talent show.  Minty had talked a few of us into singing a goofy song with actions, which we did.  One of the memories I have of that night was Micah whistling & yelling while we performed our silly song (which I have on video if anyone would like to see it!).  When our little performance was done, he was among the many that hooted & hollered for us.  Good times.

Summer, 2006 - We were eating dinner at the Potter home & the kids were playing outside.  Sam came running inside yelling "Trevor's in trouble!".  A few moments later, Trevor walks in the back door with Micah & has a sheepish look on his face, and Micah was holding a green pepper (from his garden) that had a huge bite taken out of it.  Trevor had helped himself to Micah's pepper - oops!  He knew from that moment on to NOT touch anything in Micah's garden!  The best part is that while Micah was pretty irritated, he couldn't stop himself from smiling.  Trevor giggles every time we talk about that memory.

Spring/Summer, 2007 - I lost count of how many times the Potter's ended up at our house (or us at theirs) to snack on fresh artisan bread dipped in olive oil & vinegar, it was just something we always did with them from this point on.  Anyways, I remember one of the times they stopped by our house with a fresh loaf - Sam was sitting next to his Dad at my island eating a green apple (his favorite) & he started asking Micah all kinds of weird questions.  As the conversation went on (and on, and on), Micah's voice got louder (and louder, and louder) until it was booming, just like his Dad's voice.  I remember thinking for an instant that Dan Potter was in the same room with me, and from that moment on I thought about him every time I heard Micah's booming voice.

Spring, 2009 - Brad & I were a Ma & Pa on our Stake's Pioneer Trek.  Micah was a member of the Stake YM Presidency at the time & attended the trek.  From the first moment he was a member of our family.  He walked with us, did all of the activities with us, cooked & ate dinners with us, and hung out with us.  One of my favorite pictures from that trek is the one of our family & Micah.  Brad's arm is around Micah & it seems like it just belongs there.  Our 'kids' grew to love him & learned about hard work from following his example, from chopping wood to chopping onions - he got it done.

For as long as I can remember - Anytime we questioned anything, the answer would usually end up being "Ask Micah".  What kind of tree is that?  I don't know, take a picture of it, text it to Micah & ask him what it is..... What does this word mean?  I don't know, let me call Micah & ask him...... Why does this flower grow in your garden, but it doesn't grow in mine?  You know who will know?  That's right - ask Micah.  I've already caught myself a few times over this last month & having to stop myself from saying "Ask Micah". 

The memories I have from the last 3 years have become somewhat sacred to me, and I hold them pretty dear to my heart.  I will never forget Micah Potter, and I will always feel the impact he had on my life & the life of my little family.

I love you Micah & miss you dearly.  Until we meet again!

So far in May....

We are almost halfway through May and I'm finally finding time to catch this blog up (not that anyone but me reads it).  Some of the things we've done so far this month....

• CRT's
• PTA events
• Baseball & Volleyball games (still)
• Teacher Appreciation week
• Camp meetings - can't wait!
• Field Day - fun & HOT

Today is May 16th.  Trevor has a choir field trip today & is performing in the school's Cultural Arts Festival tomorrow night.  He's even missing a game to perform - yes, it means that much to him!  Tonight we're having spaghetti for dinner (Trevor is in charge of dinner on Wednesdays) so I hope the missionaries are ok with that.

Zoë has been helping out a sister in our ward on Thursday afternoons.  I take her over to her house and Zoë moves her home health supplies back to her bathroom for her.  It is teaching her not only to appreciate good health, but she's learning to appreciate what a good family she has.  This dear sister does not have the most supportive (or even nice) family, so she is very happy that she has the family that she has.

April, 2012

Just a quick run down of April....

• Spring break - out at 10 am all week - yay!
• Baseball games
• Cannonville for Zane's Eagle Project - what a great getaway! 
• Volleyball games
• Baseball games
• Cub Scout day camp
• YW Camp fundraiser - thank you for your support!
• Chuck-E-Cheese night...crazy.
• Volleyball games
• Youth Conference
• CRT's
• Did I mention baseball & volleyball games?!

Oh!  Brad & I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.  Well, we didn't actually celebrate it.  We spent the evening at a baseball game.  It's either that or UFC for our anniversary, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

March, 2012

Wow - I'm so behind!  Happenings in March were:

• Beginning of baseball season!  Practice officially started!
• PTA carnival - what a success for all those little cowgirls & cowboys!
• New season of volleyball is upon us.  Zoë's team is moving up to the 13-15 year old division.  We'll see how they do!
• Attended New Beginnings with Zoë.  I can't believe she's going to be in YW this year.

Random happenings

Brad & I went to a Lakers game with Brent & Camille a couple weeks ago. This is a picture from our seats. It was awesome! The Lakers won, so we got 2 free tacos from Jacks. Sweet!
Brad is an 'Owl' (Woodbadge). A friend of ours, Heidi Cecil, gives Brad a hard time about his owl collection every chance she gets. I think it's funny that she contributed to his collection when she made him this little beauty! Isn't it so cool?! He decided to display it in his office at the church.

Brad & Chelsi at the Johnson batting cages (in Lance & Mindi's backyard). They're both adorable!

We were shopping in the shoe department at Dillards at the Fashion Show Mall & ran into Rich Franklin. He was really nice.

Brad & I took the kids on a little side trip in December when we went up for Kolbey's wedding. Zoë took this picture for us on the steps of the St. George temple.

This pic is from last Fall, but I love it. This is Zoë & Sav at Disneyland. She looks like a little mini Zoë to me sometimes.

This is Trevor & his cousin Lily. We went to eat at Macayo's with Katie last time they came to visit. This picture shows how much Trevor loves little kids.

In other news (pictures will be coming for some of these events).....

• Brad was called to be the Bishop in our ward. (So when do the blessings start coming?)


• I was released as a counselor in the YW program & was called as the Primary Pianist and the Ward Camp Director. How does one go from having 1 calling to 2? Hmmmmm


• Zoë started another volleyball season. So far it's been a little tough. Her coach is moving up an age bracket next season, so we'll see how that goes!


• Trevor won 1st place at the Pinewood Derby - yay! He really wants to race in the District Finals. We'll see. :)