NEWS

Wow, I actually DO have news.

Pete and I have been asked to be Tribe Leaders for next summer's Moroni's Quest.  It feels a little overwhelming- but most of my concerns are selfish.  I felt very strongly that if I go- with the attitude of helping the youth- that it will be very healing to me.  In one sense- in many- whatever.  And so- we go.  Having this experience again- only a bit different- well, I feel very lucky.  Not too many get to experience the outpouring of The Spirit that comes with this inspired program.  It is a sacred learning experience. 

We are at 3 months exactly left for Ben!  Taren Quinton reported today.  And i remember cleary that right after he left 2 years ago- Ben basically left.  He will be home before we know it.

We have decided to rent the cabin in Whitefish in August.  It's too bad- Ben will miss it by literally days.  But it's the only time we can go when Tessa is done work- and before school starts.  It will be nice to go somewhere!

Pete is coaching U16 summer games in Claresholm in July.  That is- if they can get enough kids to play.  It will be right after camp too.  I think the boys are going to Koocanusa.  The girls are going down to Montana- to someone's cabin and calling it "camping".  Again.  Tessa is supposed to be working full time- but might get a few days off so that she can go. 

Upcoming in June-  finals and grad!  Pretty crazy how quickly everything is coming to a close. 

Vietnam

I've decided just to put a few pics up here, so I have some.  We have loaded about half so far.   Here is a teensy sampling.

Mid-May

 I've been thinking about Charity a lot lately.  It seems like such a hard one for some reason.  For example- if we really have charity, we will not take offense.  But how do you not take offense IF the person giving offense actually means it AS offense.  I do love the part about how it is looking beyond the physical.  i find this easier and easier all the time.  sometimes even to myself!  Not always.  It is hard to get past the physical sometimes- even at church- when people seem SOOOO focused on it.  It is hard not to catagorize people.  You know what i think one of the best qualities of charity is?  Being able to listen for the sake of listening.  Listen to understand.  Don't listen to formulate your own answer or thought.  But just listen!  How many people really do that?  yeah- I can't think of too many cases either.  It is a huge human folly in my opinion.  but since i am so sensitive about it- hopefully that will help ME to do it right - once in awhile anyways.

Last sunday I personally had a great Mother's Day.  i don't get too caught up in it all- some people are devastated if they don't get breakfast in bed.  Not I.  it's just another day- and hopefully your family appreciates you each day.  well, once in awhile.  Well, actually, it would have been nice if my 2 teenagers would have attempted to celebrate, but oh well. But i do love my kids a ton, and being a mother is simply the greatest thing possible.  NOTHING would be better in this world. 

 We got to skype Ben!!!  And i just realized it is for the last time!!  I feel a little bad about that.  I feel badly for him- that it's ending and now he has to figure out life a bit.  I feel bad for me- I have enjoyed so much calling myself a missionary mom.  I have enjoyed people asking me about him.  I guess we will go back to not talking to anyone soon.  HEHEHE.  But it was a fun visit- pretty easy going and relaxed.  We met some of the sisters who were there skyping as well.  He skyped from the visitor's center.  I am so happy for his experiences!! 

 Oh looky!  I recieved a great Mother's Day gift- and a total suprise.  A storage cabinet for my bathroom which was actually HUGELY needed.  Pete bought it on the way back from Edmonton.  My bathroom looks so much better.  AND it has a nice full-length mirror. 

 Ayden is ALMOST taller than Tessa.  They are acutally about even right now. 

Soccer season has begun.  It is so short though.  Our team won the opening tourney last week- we have a great team.  Ayden is doing so well.  He has developed a very strong kick and can pass and do corner kicks so well!  It is fun to watch because he is enjoying it so much.

This coming up week we have
-victoria day.  would love to plant a garden, but too muddy.  may go see a movie.   appointments, work, church activities, more work.

Pain.  just the usual.  every day, never ends.  thinking back.  is it strange that the worst of the pain began after our house fire?  is it strange that i had so many problems last year- right after Ben left?  coincendence?  i don't know.  i've been wondering why nothing ever changes- no better- but usually worse.  is it something other than physical?  not sure- but some interesting things to think about.  I have heard many times that stress causes pain.  maybe...

This is a stressful time of year.  Tessa is finishing up grade 12, figuring out her U of L classes, trying to find some place to live, working on finances, graduation- work full time- and then leaving home.  Crazy!  People think they are cool with change- until it actually happens to them.  Then- not so much.  Life is so short though- there is no point in NOT going with the flow.  It's just a blip- a small blink on our way to much larger and greater things.

I wish i had more time for family history work.  What do i cut out- so i can spend more time?  I barely watch TV- I barely read-

Elder Hamula

He is the 70 that came to our stake conf today.  He gave such a great talk.  i am looking him up right now on lds.org to see what else he has said.  He had such powerful words about the sacrament.  He spoke about the storms and whirlwinds of the last days- and how we are in them now. He spoke about the second coming, and how he feels it's not too far off.  I think most of us can see that.  He spoke of finding safety in our covenants and how family history and covenants bind us all together.  He spoke about those who wander- and how based on what he continually feels and learns- that things are going to work out better in the end than we imagine they will.  He spoke about the sacrament. 
I remember a time when i was trying to prepare myself for the sacrement, and trying to focus really hard on it.  Someone i was sitting next to, was with a friend- and they began to make fun of me and mock me.  Basically i thought it was pretty dumb, and figured i would just keep focusing.  But i still think about that from time to time.  It was a good lesson to me not to make fun of people when you don't really know what's going on on the inside.  There is only one Person who knows our hearts.  Only one Person who can judge.