My Weekend in Thoughts

*A girl's night out on Friday night for a Chocolate party-a real treat! My friend Emily Parma has an annual chocolate party.  I finally got to go this year.  It was delicious! It was really fun to chat with the ladies.  Thank you so much Chad Ostermiller for watching my kiddos so that I could go since Peter was camping with the scouts.
*I stayed up late on Friday night ironing and watching episodes of Once Upon A Time.  It is my new favorite show.  If you have not seen it watch the pilot on ABC.com and you will be hooked.
*Peter took Joey camping with him.  It was just a basic overnight camp out and they did Scouting for Food Saturday morning.  It was the first really cold weekend here-like 20's.  They had a great time.  Each of my loads of laundry on Monday had campfire smelling clothes in them.  It is a good smell.
*Saturday, I slept in until 7:30. Then cleaning and taking care of kids and such. I also spent some time working on sewing some pieces for a large tee pee that Peter is building for the blue and gold banquet this coming Saturday.  I have more to sew.
*We helped Joey make an invention out of a water bottle for school.  He chose a backhoe.  Peter and Joey worked together but Peter let him do most of it.
*Since Peter had been doing church calling stuff for about 24 hours, he decided to stay home and watch the kids so that I could attend the Worldwide Leadership Training meeting that afternoon at 4.  It was such a wonderful meeting.
       +I am thankful for the truths of the gospel. I am a Christian and I will strive to live my life so that those who are not of my faith will know by the way I live that I am a follower of Christ.
       +The Priesthood is a great power in our lives.  I loved what was said about any elder has the same priesthood power as the prophet; they just hold different offices that come with different keys.
       +We are an organization of families.  We need to do all that we can to get families to the temple so that they can be eternal families.
        +Marriage is something that must be worked at, strengthened, empowered, energized and several other marvelous things that Elder Nelson shared.
        +When we focus on the WHY of the gospel the who, when, how and what will fall into place.
        +We must serve, rescue and honor our covenants.
*I was watching Pres. Monson's talk from the past general conference and struck by the fact that he took his opportunity to speak to us to focus on the 10 commandments and the basics of the gospel.  We sometimes demean the "standard Sunday school" answers but it is by holding fast to these gospel basics that we will find peace, happiness, and enjoy the fullness of the gospel.
*After the training, I raced home and fed Lily in time for the babysitter (a sweet sister from our ward) to show up and watch our kids so that Peter and I could chaperon the stake youth dance.  We ate a quick dinner at Pei Wei (yummy) and then danced the night away until 11.
*It was like a night of flashbacks but oh so much fun to dance and hear some of those standard youth dance songs played.  Although, I was highly disappointed no to hear Lady in Red.
*Watching the youth made me realize that you know you have found love and are at peace with who you are when you are willing to make a fool of yourself and not care what anyone else thinks.  There were a few awakward youth and I loved that they were there participating in a good wholesome activity that provided them the opportunity to associate with other LDS youth which will one day ultimately lead to a relationship (or at least they are learning the skills they will need to form a relationship) that can last for eternity.
*Sunday morning Peter headed to a training meeting at 7 am with the Stake YM presidency in conjunction with ward conference. Then I headed off at 8:40 to make some copies for an upcoming RS activity and then attend ward council at 9.  Home by 10:15 and out the door again at 10:45 for church.
*After church, we snacked and rested.  Then Peter got a call from his sister to let us know that his grandfather had passed away.  It is sad and we are praying for his mom that she will be comforted during this time. Edwin Kent Baggs (Peter's middle name Edwin is from this man) lived a long life especially for being a survivor of polio.  It was a joyous reunion I am sure when he was united with his wife Josephine once again.
*I stopped by an inactive sister's house that afternoon.  She and her family (non member husband and youth aged children) moved her in October and her dad convinced her that she should let the church visit her.  They were really nice people.  She said to me that she did not know if she would come to church because she had not been in 18 years and she might feel awkward.  I told her that nobody in the ward knew that she has been inactive so this would be a great place to return.  I hope she comes.
*Over to another member's house to fill out a food order form and then I raced home to finish up my agenda for my presidency meeting that night at 8. The meeting was a great one.  We laughed and had a hard time staying on topic but we made some great decisions and assignments.
*It was a full weekend.  It was filled with a lot of church related activities.  The truth his that I would not have it any other way.  There really is not better way to be spending my time than in the service of the Lord and his children.  Peter and I try to maintain a balance though remembering that our children are His children to and they need our love and service more than any others.  I am so thankful for all that my membership in this church brings to me.
***On the schedule for this coming weekend is JOEY'S BLACK BELT TESTING!!! I am so proud of him. He will do wonderfully! He can actually break a real board with a kick and an elbow strike.  Amazing!  I promise to post all of the details and plenty of pictures.***