TOFW

OK- now my update for Time Out For Women presented by Deseret Book. The music was awesome and the speakers were fabulous! A new group called "Mercy River" did the singing on Friday evening and Jenny Oaks Baker played several songs for us on her violin. (I wish Kaitlyn could have seen her!) Mercy River is a 3 women group that sing hymns and other songs with a contemporary style. The ladies I went with said the group reminded them of Dixie Chicks as far as the sound goes. But that's the only comparison! They sang a lot of familiar church songs with just a little different beat. It was almost hard to sing it the right way when I went to church on Sunday! They just recently released a CD and it's definitely I will be buying in the future. Kenneth Cope sang on Saturday. Beautiful voice and wonderful lyrics.

The speakers were all wonderful and I enjoyed the insights from every one of them. Emily Watts spoke and she seems to hit the nail on the head with her observations of life as a mother. It helps me to realize that we all pretty much struggle with the same things and that most kids tend to follow the same patterns of behavior. She just makes you laugh out loud! Chris Stewart was another speaker. He is an ex-Air Force pilot. I can't remember much of what he spoke about, I just remember what he said was good. (I waited too long to write this post.) The author of "The Christmas Jar" (can't remember his name) was also a guest speaker. He spoke about handwritten letters. In this day and age, anything handwritten is almost obsolete and mail is almost reserved for bills, junk mail and catalogs! He challenged us to write more instead of type or e-mail. In the last year or so, I have been trying to do more handwriting in my scrapbooking layouts. I want my family to remember my writing, not the cute popular font of the time. The page will mean so much more to them with my handwriting on it. (I still type some jouraling, I just try to balance it with my handwriting.) All in all, it was a fun weekend and it was great to have a time out away from my daily resposibilities and worries. I came back home completely refreshed.

Oh- Elder Boyd K. Packer is the one who said that quote about faith that I posted in my last post. Apparently Elder Bednar said it in a recent talk but I couldn't find which talk.

Just some ramblings...

To start off with, I'm so excited because Sunday I cooked corned beef and it actualy turned out perfect! Hallelujah! This ends my 14+ year streak of chewy meat cooked in a crock pot. It doesn't matter if I put a lot of water in the pot or a little or change the cooking time, the meat still never turns out like the way I remember it being when I was growing up. So I gave up...until the corned beef.

Last month, my then-secretary in Primary, read a quote about faith that was so perfect. I just wanted to share it. I don't know who said it or where it came from. When I find out, I'll edit this post.

"Faith, to be faith, must center around something that is not known.

Faith, to be faith, must go beyod that for which there is confirming

evidence. Faith to be faith, must go into the unknown. Faith, to be

faith, must walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into

the darkness. If everything has to be known, if everything has to

be explained, if everything has to be certified, then there is no need

for faith. Indeed, there is no room for it. As we walk to the edge

of the light the light will move."

This weekend I will be attending Time Out For Women. A couple of weeks ago I got an envelope in the mail. In it was a letter saying "thank you for registering..." and tickets to both Friday night and Saturday Time Out. There wasn't a name or anything (except mine) on the letter so I have no idea who it came from! The letter came the day before I was released as Primary President so it helped to brighten my day (and distract my mind from being released.) I look forward to going to listen to the uplifting speakers and hear inspiring music. I'll let you know how it goes!

The anticipation is finally over!

In my last post I mentioned I was released from my calling as Primary President. The bishop told me there were about 10 different callings they were considering me for! For those who don't know, my ward pretty much runs on a "skeleton crew" (as my friend calls it). We have a hard time keeping callings filled because there's a high turnover of move-ins and move-outs. Our ward boundary has a few apartment buildings which ISU students rent, plus a lot of young families buy starter homes in our ward boundary (when they outgrow the home, they move). So there is constant change! (I learned that while I was in Primary!) I spent all of last week wondering what I would be doing next. On Saturday, after my wood badge beading ceremony (which my bishop came to) someone was asking me if I had another calling yet. My bishop was standing right next to me when I replied, "No, but I heard they want to see me so that means they already know where they want me to go!" Then I pestered my bishop into giving me the calling (instead of waiting for the counselor to do it). So we found a room where we could have privacy. Imagine my surprise when he called me to be a 1st counselor in the Young Women's presidency and camp director! I'm so excited to be able to work with the Young Women! I think it will be a fun and rewarding experience.

There are about 5 or 6 active young women in my ward. There are more that show up at the weekly activities and girls camp. It looks like I'll be able to go to girls camp at Camp Cumorah and see them enjoy the campgrounds that Eric and I helped prepare. So Marie- I'll be e-mailing you for fabulous activity ideas you have done in your ward! If anyone has ideas that you remember from days past, e-mail them to me! Since the youth meet weekly, you can never have enough ideas to choose from!

Oh, speaking of Young Women's- last wednesday the young men and young women met together and had a Spaghetti Ettiquette dinner. I peeked in when I dropped Caleb off and it looks like a fun idea! They had a couple (bishopric member and his wife) sitting at a nicely decorated table modeling and teaching appropriate behavior. They had other tables set up and covered with paper (with crayons on the table) and table settings so the youth could practice what they learn. Caleb had fun as well as learning a few do's and don'ts about table manners. This seems like something you could repeat every year! Refresher courses can't hurt- especially when you reach the dating years!

A time of reflection...

Today I was released as the ward Primary President. I had a couple of weeks to prepare myself for this big change but it was still an emotional day for me. The bishop surprised me by asking me to share my testimony. I have enjoyed every minute I spent in the Primary. I look back and see all the things I have learned and how many ways my life has been blessed because of serving in this calling. If I had never been called in Primary, I would never attended Woodbadge and made new friends and learned excellent leadership skills.

I thank Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity to serve in Primary. After 3 years, it's time for someone else to learn and grow. And it's time for me to move on to another calling so I can learn and grow some more! I'll sure miss Primary and the wonderful sweet spirit found there! While in Primary, I was always reminded of the scripture story of Christ visiting the Nephites after He was resurrected. He blessed the children one by one and the heavens opened and angels came and ministered to the children. Children truly do hold a special place in Heavenly Father's and Jesus Christ's heart and I feel priviledged to be able to be a part of Primary for a little while.

So, now I don't have a calling but I've been told not to get too comfortable! I'm just anxious to find out what I'll be doing next!

6 Quirky things about me

I was tagged by a friend to list 6 quirky things about me. I'm not sure I really want to do that because some of you might look at me a little funny next time you see me. But I'll do it anyway...at least we'll all get a good laugh out of it, right?

1. I think my trademark is the way I rub my nose when it itches. Some people just wiggle it from side to side and that satisfies them. But me...I RUB it, like round and round in a circle. When people see me do that for the first time, they always make a comment about it.
2. I LOVE storage containers! I think one year for Christmas I got my kids some sort of toy that must've had lots of pieces to it. That was wrapped in one present and the next present was a container to put the toy in. I can't remember exact details. Maybe Marie will help me out here. She seems to remember that incident a little better than me. So, with that in mind, I was thrilled when last Christmas, my SIL gave a present to my kids for Christmas- a CONTAINER filled with art supplies! I was in heaven! I'm always looking for better containers and ways to organize things. It hit me earlier today that maybe my love for containers is the reason I have so many purses?! (Always looking for something better and more suitable!)
3. 3-way light switches drive me nuts! Up is on and down is off. Any other way is just WRONG! So you can imagine that about once or twice a week I'll spend a few extra minutes to get the switches back in the "right" position.
4. I'm sensitive to salt- at first. I like chips and salty stuff, it just takes me a minute to get used to the taste. Right after every first few bites of anything salty, I have a small cough. Nothing big, but Eric noticed one time that I look (and sound) like a cat trying to get a hairball out. Ever since then my family teases me about the "hairball cough."
5. I think this quirk must be a Hansen thing and by that I mean my mom and most of my siblings (I'm not sure if all of them like it this way). I love a slice of warm banana bread with a slice of melted cheese top!! I always had that growing up. My kids even love it! But my husband, he tries to hide the cheese whenever I make banana bread. He thinks the two of them together is just sick and wrong!
6. I can't think of another one...sorry!

The infamous Gobble Bag

In my ward's last Enrichment night an organization expert came and talked about organizing/cleaning. I missed the meeting but I heard about one thing a sister in my ward does to help keep her house clean and get the kids to help. I decided to try it because nothing else has worked for me so far! One of my friend's posted on her blog about this too so I thought I this was definitely worth a try. The gobble bag made it's first appearance in our house last night after FHE. Our lesson was about keeping our house clean and all of us doing our part to help create a "house of order,...not a house of confusion" (D&C 132:8). We then introduced them to the gobble bag and told them that ANYTHING left out when they went to bed would be "eaten up" by the gobble bag and they wouldn't get it back until the next FHE (Monday night). Needless to say, there was a lot of concern and "what if's" adressed. Homework, school books, clothes/shoes, toys, whatever it is, it will go in the bag if it's left out! (I even told Caleb I'd send him to school with a note saying 'the gobble bag ate his homework' if he leaves stuff out! He's not about to test that challenge!) Right after family prayer, they all ran off to clean the whole entire house!! And it didn't take them very long to do it either!! I was impressed with how great the house looked when I went to bed...and we didn't even have company coming over! (Lately it hasn't looked that spotless unless we had company coming over!) The gobble bag didn't get very full the first night. It mostly just had a snack, but it did get one or two good things to 'eat'.

Here it is- night two and the house looks just as great! Jared keeps asking me about the gobble bag. (I don't have an 'official' bag yet; just a basket.) Any ideas where to find a bag suitable for the job?

The end of an era

I learned of President Gordon B. Hinckley's passing while chatting (via instant messenger) with a friend who lives in Utah. My heart pounded as I read the single sentence "President Hinckley passed away this evening." With tears in my eyes, I immediately ran to my bedroom to tell my family (they were watching Extreme Home Makeover). We knew his time was soon, but no matter how much you prepare yourself, the news still overpowers you with sadness. Then we pondered at the joy he is experiencing, being reunited with his beloved wife and family members who preceded him. We reflected on his last conference address. We read his sweet and powerful testimony. My cousin put this quote on her blog (hope she does't mind that I borrow it): "I know as surely as anything in this world, that someday I shall die as to the life of this world. But I have an absolute certainty in my heart that I shall go on living and doing good and having the association of my beloved companion..."

I know in my heart this is true. In Primary this year, the theme is "I Am a Child of God". It is such a simple but powerful statement. This month we focused on the theme that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. As my counselors and I taught the children about the Plan of Salvation, the spirit bore witness to us that we have a divine destiny. Our spirits continue on after we leave this earth. Amen.

I love to see the temple!

On December 31 at 8:50 am, our family had tickets to tour the long awaited Rexburg Temple. Kaitlyn woke up that morning feeling really sick. When she came to wake us up and tell us she wasn't feeling well, she was crying. She was more upset that she wouldn't be able to go to the temple. Since I had already toured the temple with my co-workers (the media was invited to tour the temple on the 27th), I stayed home with Kaitlyn while the boys went to the temple. They left at 7 am and returned at 11:30. The first thing Jared said as he ran in the door was, "I saw Angel Moroni at the top of the temple! He is huge!" I couldn't believe he was so excited about the angel Moroni! He was really good for the whole tour. As Kaitlyn listened to Jared and Caleb talk about how pretty the temple was, she felt a little sad. So I went online and reserved 2 more tickets for that following Friday. I pulled her out of school early and we went up to Rexburg, just me and her. We went through the temple and enjoyed the beauty all around us. Kaitlyn was most awed by the celestial room. That was the one thing she really wanted to see. It is a beautiful temple!

As we were driving away from the temple, I pointed over to the right and told Kaitlyn, "I used to live right over in those dorms!" (The temple is just one block south of campus!) She found it difficult to believe that I used to be a single person and went to school! Driving past Ricks College/BYU-Idaho sure brings back great memories! That's where Eric and I met and spent our first year together!! Over the years they've made changes to the school. They've added more buildings and closed off the road that goes between the Manwaring Center and the a science building (can't remember what it was called). There is a garden area that botany students took care of in that same area. Anyway, enough reminiscing! I'll save that for another post!