Primary President- Week Number Uno

Success!  
We had our first presidency meeting and we had a blast.  I am so incredibly grateful for the women that I am serving with.  They are all so different and so much fun!  We are going to do great things, so watch out, world.  
I am still alive and did not have a massive panic attack on Sunday.  I seriously considered it when the pianist told me she wouldn't be there- 10 minutes before Primary started and then asked me "Should I find someone to play?"  Um, yes.  Maybe you should have done that YESTERDAY.  But, I digress.  I played the piano for her, which is very possibly what kept me from having the aforementioned panic attack.  
I do have to mention - as I did not last entry- that in addition to me being the Primary President, they asked Tim (my eternal pest and companion) to be the Young Men's President.  What?!?!  Not fair.  So, we both had to do the ward council thing on Sunday- which is great, because it means that he has to get out of bed too and I don't have to do it alone.  Ha.
But, my favorite part of all was Sunday.  As nervous and as unsure of myself as I was feeling, I still got up and took a minute to talk to "my kids".  The minute I stood up and looked at their little sweet faces, I knew everything would be alright.  I already love them SO MUCH and cannot wait to get to know each of them better.  

El Presidente...

So...as of Sunday, I am officially a Primary President.  WHAT?!?

I struggle enough being a normal person and a Sunbeam teacher and they've put me in charge of other people's children.  WHAT?!?!

As nervous (terrified) as I am, I am also incredibly excited.

I have some great women to serve with and cannot wait to see the things we can accomplish together.

So, in looking for some kind of inspiration, I came across an article about a woman that I knew when I was growing up.  I thought she was incredible then.  Then I came across this article in the Church News from 2004 and realized that if she can do it, so can I.  Thanks Sister Cook.  I still admire you...just so you know.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/45235/Service-dog-helps-Primary-president.html

Brothers...

I've been working on my Primary lesson this week and it's inspired me...The topic this week is "I Love My Brothers and Sisters".  For those of you that are not LDS, I teach a class of 3 to 4 year old kiddos.  In every lesson, there is a scriptural story of some sort.  The story this week is about Miriam, the sister of Moses. It references how she feels a deep sense of responsibility for him and his well being.  It talks about when he was born and they were ordered to throw all baby boys in the river and her and her mother set Moses in a basket in the bullrushes.  I'm sure you  know the rest of the story.  Anywho, as I was preparing this lesson, I felt so inspired.  I love my brothers so much.  I'm not sure I tell them that enough.  As the oldest child and the only girl, I, like Miriam, feel so much responsibility for their well being and their happiness.  I want them to know how much they are loved, and needed, and appreciated.  I wasn't always nice to them.  I wish I had been.  As I've grown old(er), I have realized how important they are to me.  I have realized what good men they are.  I have realized that I would not be who I am without them.  So, dear brothers, I love your guts.
I Love My Brothers and Sisters Lesson

Dear Blank, Please Blank....Part Deux.

I am feeling this urge again. You know, the urge to tell people what I REALLY think...without actually telling them.  So, here goes...


Dear Weight Watchers, Dare I say that I love you?
Dear Mother Nature, C'mon, can it be summer already?
Dear Allergies, Enough already.
Dear Slimy Coworker, I dislike your actions and it's starting to make me dislike you.
Dear NBC, Thank you for The Voice and Dia Frampton.
Dear Color Yellow, Why must you fight me so?  Just be the right shade for my skin! (and I love you..)
Dear Skinnier Jeans, Stop mocking me.
Dear Diet Coke, Thank you for adding lime.
Dear Soda companies in general, Why must soda be soooooo expensive?  It's not like it's made out of silver or anything.  Give it up.
Dear Lady who is sitting in front of the library with a petition for me to sign, as much as I respect your right to free speech....you're blocking my entrance to the library.
Dear Stomach, You're really not hungry so please stop growling.
Dear Kittens, my pillow is not your bed.  Especially when my head is on it.  And you have plenty of food.  You're fine.
Dear 4th Ward, Who has the fastest pinewood derby car?  That's right, my husband.
Dear Summer, WHERE ARE YOU?
Dear Sleazy Coworker, How much did it just cost for YOU to complain?  Figure it out.
Dear Dia Frampton, Thank you for existing.  You're right up there with Adele in being my new best friend.
Dear Jessica, Thank you for eating cupcakes with me.
Dear Lindy, Thank you for being dependable.
Dear Husband, Thank you.  For everything.
Dear Little Girls, Fairy tales are just that.  Fairy tales.  Sometimes, they come true.  Sometimes, they don't.  And it's better.

Greek Cheese Burgers

For anyone who cares, I joined Weight Watchers.  Why?  Because I am tired of being the fat girl and because the commercials are so darned enticing...so henceforth and thus and whatever, I will occasionally post recipes that are healthy and tasty.  (what?) I know, healthy and tasty?  Really?  Is that possible?
So, starting now...I made some incredibly tasty (and only 8 points) Greek Style Cheeseburgers.  I must give some credit to the Weight Watchers website for this recipe, but next time I will make a few tweaks of my own...
Enjoy...

Greek Cheese Burgers
1 lb. lean ground beef (think 93/7)
1/2 tsp oregano (or less, I think)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 c minced onion
4 light hamburger buns
crumbled feta cheese (yum!!)
3/4 c baby spinach


Combine first 6 ingredients and mix well.  (yes, with your hands) Pan fry.  Top with feta and cover until feta cheese gets melty.  (yes, melty)  It won't melt with the consistency of cheddar, but it will soften.  Place on light hamburger bun and top with baby spinach.  Serve with home fries, coleslaw or some other healthy and delightful something or other and then....ENJOY!
So, for all of you that asked, there it is...

My Momma

First of all, Mom, don't be mad.  This is one of my favorite pictures EVER of you.  It makes it so other people can see what a fun momma we have.  


Second, I love you to pieces.  A bushel and peck and all that jazz. 


Third, I would like to say thank you for the following things...

* For always believing in me and my brothers.

* For teaching us the right way to live, even though we don't always do it.

* For being supportive of our weird habits and interests and hobbies.

* For standing up for us.

* For letting us be ourselves, no matter how weird we were.

* For not being afraid to get dirty.

* For letting us play golf with frozen mice off of the deck.

* For being the kind of mom that all of our friends wanted to have.

* For loving us, unconditionally, to the point that it sometimes hurt you.

* For understanding why we needed to dig a large hole in the garden and fill it with water.

* For trying to shield us from the world, but letting us learn on our own.

* For not killing us.

* For being a best friend and at the same time, remembering that you were still a parent.

* For making dang good food.  Obviously.

* For learning to adjust.  Quickly.  And often.

* For not only teaching about the good in the world, but more times than not, showing us how to do it.

* For many more things that I can't currently think of because chances are, they are mushy.

And fourth, I love you. A lot.

Happy Mother's Day!

I LOVE THIS BOY!

For anyone that cares, it has been dang near 10 years since Tim took me on the best picnic of my entire life.  I know that a picnic doesn't sound THAT exciting, but it was.  It was the day he proposed.  On that sunny afternoon, at that beautiful picnic spot, with the love of my life, I was sure that I could not love him any more than I already did and that it was impossible for me to be any happier than I was at that moment.  Now, for those of you that know me, you know that I hate admitting that I'm wrong.  But, I was wrong.  SOOOOOO wrong.  I love him more today than I ever thought I could and he makes me happy every single day.  I do believe that I am the luckiest girl in the world and thank my Heavenly Father every day for my best friend and Scrabble nemesis, Tim.  (and...I haven't even lost my engagement ring once!-knock on wood...)