Hot Date at the Cannery

Tonight Drew and I were able to go to the Dry Pack Cannery for our hot date night. We are so blessed to have grandparents close by who love a chance to watch our girls (even when the bedtime routine gets a little crazy), and it was so great to go to the cannery and help increase our food storage. The evening was very informative, and I feel that I should maybe host a "Cannery for Dummies" event, because I could have sure learned it before we went! Even though I didn't really know much about how to order or prepare or package the specific foods it was such a blessing to humbly learn what to do, and I look forward to going again.

Choir

I love our ward choir. It is pretty small sometimes, but I always have an enjoyable time singing praises with friends from the ward. One of my favorite memories of growing up in this ward is the choir. I loved going to Sister Johnson's house and laughing and singing and praising the Lord through song. And so I always want to be a part of a ward choir whenever there is one.

And I really think it is a blessing. Music is really such a beautiful way to feel the spirit- the words somehow just penetrate my when put to music. We are learning a song about the miracle of the resurrection and how, because Christ lives, we can do so many things and are so blessed. I am so grateful for my Savior, for the knowledge that He does live, for beautiful music to sing, and for the opportunity to be in a ward choir.

Phone Tag

Today I won(?) a game of phone tag with a friend and was able to talk to her after months of having her on my mind. It is such a blessing, and I feel encouraged to double my efforts to make contact with other friends that I often think of, but have a hard time getting a hold of. I love her so much, and it was so good just to hear her voice and listen to her struggles and triumphs and share my own and to just be there- even if it was only on the other end of a phone.

My Dear Drew

I am so blessed for such a wonderful husband, and today, like everyday, I am so grateful for him. I wasn't feeling very well tonight and just felt that I needed to sleep; like there was a sickness of something coming, and if I could just sleep and get some rest then I could beat it before it struck. And I am so blessed to have got that wish. I went to bed tonight before 7:30. I actually even went to bed before the girls did- Drew took care of them and did their whole bedtime routine so I could rest.

In a Sunday School lesson a few weeks back that focused on Joseph and Emma's callings to support each other I was telling my class about a tag-team marriage where one person takes the slack and makes up the difference when the other is stressed or frustrated or tired or anything. This happens all the time with me and Drew and it really is a big blessing. When one of us is needing a break, the other is there to step up and be extra patient and loving with the girls until they're ready for a break and back and forth it sometimes goes. This is usually evident for us in little things, but tonight Drew just really stepped up and let me get the rest I needed while he took care of everything. I am so blessed.

Last Minute Fun (and a little stress)

Today was a wonderful, crazy, busy day that had the potential to really stress me out- but only did for a very short time. At the last minute Drew and I decided to spend the afternoon and evening in Seattle with some friends. Drew had been planning to see his best friend, Adam, during his layover, and the girls and I decided to join in so Adam could see them too.

There were a few stressful moments of Seattle driving that remind me why small cities really are such a blessing, and the whole evening really was a blessing that it was able to be put together at such short notice. We had a great time at The Museum of Flight in Seattle and I know the girls loved it. There were definitely different aspects of the museum that were more appealing to them, and when I remembered that this was their memories in the making and let them go to the exhibits that were best for them they really had a wonderful time- and I did too!

Abbie's First Talk

Today Abigail gave her first talk in Primary. She was so excited to give it, and to sit up front- when they announced the prayer and scripture I heard her say, "I just want to give my talk!" She did a great job and knew the content of her topic of family responsibilities- and especially how she and Lauren are in charge of the strawberries : ). She did cut her talk off in the middle by suddenly saying, "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." but it was still such a blessing to be a part of this special moment. One sweet thing was that before she could even start her talk she had to open her scripture case, take out her Book Of Mormon, and open it up. It was so cute! We'd never practiced with her scriptures, and she wasn't citing any scriptures in her talk- she had just seen people do that when they give talks and decided she needed to too.

I am very blessed for her sweet spirit and for the opportunity to help and be with her during this first talk. I am blessed for a sweet husband who taught my lesson so I could be watching her and help her when I needed to. I am blessed for a sweet Sabbath morning.

Fun With Friends

Today we had some friends come over for dinner and games and it was such a blessing to have them in our home. Drew and I have been working on being more social and having people over to our home more often, but somehow life gets busy and the weeks seem to go on and on before we make it happen. So, today I am grateful and blessed that we took the initiative and had a wonderful evening together.