Catching Souls

“Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”~Mother Teresa

We have had a 2 week hiatus from 'regular' church -- first we had General Conference and then Stake Conference. That's given us 2 weeks off from the routine of weekly Primary, with the accompanying Sharing Times, talks, scriptures, etc. -- all the stuff that goes into doing Primary every Sunday. Someone asked me after our last week of 'regular' church if I was ready for my vacation.

I really wasn't -- I love Primary: being with the kids and seeing their spiritual lights that shine so brightly. I miss it when I don't get to be with them, hear them sing, give their talks and feel the spirit with them. My gospel fire is brighter because of theirs. I also know how hard it is to step back into the routine -- it's much easier for me to just keep going than it is to stop and then start up again.

So as we met as a presidency last night, we were all a bit tired, I think, and with the Trunk or Treat and our Sacrament Meeting Presentation staring us in the faces, there's a lot to be done right now. I think we all felt it last night -- and honestly, for me it would have been easier without this 2 week 'vacation' that we're coming off of.

I loved the above quote by Mother Teresa [who else? She's the one who knows all about loving, isn't she?] -- that's what I'm fixing my sights on this week. I'm going to go into Primary on Sunday feeling joy: joy that I'm back with the children, joy in our wonderful teachers, joy that I get to share the gospel with all of them, joy that we have both fun and important Primary events coming up. Mostly just joy in their presence.

With that joy, we can do just as Mother Teresa has said -- we can catch their souls. It doesn't get better than that.

And now I'm not feeling so tired anymore.

I Can Skip!

As a brand new owner/operator of a DVR, this one tickled my funny bone today. I am proud [and happy] to say that not only can I skip with my feet, I can skip with my remote too.

Progress!! AT&T U-Verse is awesome.

Re-Committing

We had Stake conference yesterday, where our former Stake presidency was released and a new one sustained. We listened to the humble, overwhelmed comments of a new Stake president and his counselors and the grateful comments of the stake presidency that had been released after nearly 10 years of service.

I loved hearing all that was said, but what struck me most was what our outgoing Stake President said: how he had been unable to sleep and was up at 3 a.m. thinking. He said that he realized he needed to re-commit himself to do and to be better and made that commitement as he spent the middle-of-the-night time pondering and praying.

Bear in mind that this is a good, good man and one who probably has very little to regret or repent of in his life. But he felt he needed to re-commit and do better-- which, as I apply that to myself, means that I have much more to do.

But he inspired me. He really did. I too want to do and be better. And I too am committing [again] to try harder and improve myself.

At least with me, there's lots to do and lots to choose from! Maybe that will make it easier!

Happy Birthday to Mark!

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment." ~Horace

Today is Mark's birthday -- and as I think about him, I realize one of his best qualities [and he has a lot of them!] is that he is able, at a moment's notice, to be silly and to find the silliness in just about anything. We joked yesterday about how we look at everything in life in an opposite way -- we like different things [and we have strong feelings about them], we have very different tastes in just about everything and we are amazed after all these years that we are still together. Really, the only things that we both like are each other and our family. But that's the gift, right?

I met Mark when we were both really young and dumb, we survived lots of years living at poverty level [at least that's how it felt], we have moved together all over the country and back, raised a lovely family together and now are enjoying very silly moments with the most beautiful 4 [nearly 5 now!] grandchildren you can imagine. Every one of those precious little ones adores their Grandpa and wants to spend time with him.

He's wonderful. He's funny, he's spiritual, he's the hardest worker I know, he's pretty dang cute, and he's a wonderful head of our family.

Happy birthday to my sweetie!

Picture Tag

I've been tagged! [I think what really happened is I've been ganged up on -- Sarah, Rachel and Renae all called me out.] So here's my 4th picture in the 4th folder of my pictures file.

And look who it is: Baby Masey, the dinosaur! I have to say that I thought the chances of ending up with a good picture were pretty slim but I got lucky with this one. Clearly, time has marched on: this little boy is now a tall, funny 2 1/2 year old instead of the baby you see here.

How can this be Mason?? Mason is the boy who loves Cars, likes to pretend he is a doggie [or a baby!], and loves to tease his Grandma. "Masey, are you going to kiss me or not?" "I not!" Which is my cue to grab him, tickle him, and cover him with kisses while he roars with laughter.

What a fun trip down memory lane! Thanks, Rachel, Sarah and Renae!

Tag? Anyone who wants to try it!

Making Me Smile Today

I'm slightly cranky -- Time Warner Cable [which we have, for one more day] has not picked up the local NBC station - they've had some issues and haven't been able to resolve them. Which means, to those who don't get it, that I can't watch 'Jeopardy' or 'The Biggest Loser'. Sigh. This feels unheard of -- not to be able to watch the local NBC station. Just plain weird.

But tomorrow? We become subscribers to the new ATT Uverse which will include their high-speed internet, TV [more channels -- not that I need any more, but I do need NBC!], and digital phone as well. We are moving into the new milennium.

Yay for us. And yay for AT & T -- they carry the NBC station. Now is that so hard?

What I Learned

Oh, how I loved General Conference. My favorite? [could I really pick just one?] Well, I think it would have to be Pres. Monson's Sunday morning address when he talked about loving people and letting them know it. As I listened to his words, I realized that there are way too many occasions when I do appreciate something or someone, I do have those loving feelings and thoughts in my mind and heart, but never articulate them. I am going to do better because I know from experience how much it means to have someone let you know the feelings of their heart.

Mother Teresa said it this way: "Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." She really knew how to get to the heart of things, didn't she?

Now I am impatient for the church to get the talks online so that I can re-read and re-think about many of them.

Combine a wonderful General Conference with some family time, a good soccer game, and a sweet husband who remembered family tradition and brought home not only donuts but ice cream as well after the General Priesthood meeting -- and it doesn't get much better than that.

General Conference

The above made me smile -- I know that has to be how Heavenly Father feels about me sometimes -- He just wants to box my ears and make me listen. And this weekend is my big chance to do just that.

I'm excited that we get to experience General Conference again. It's a unique feeling, knowing that so many people who share my beliefs and values will be gathering, literally all over the world, to hear the words of our living prophet.

I'm grateful for the chance to find some great insights, some thoughts that I know I will feel are just for me, and for the chance to slow down and really feel the spirit.

Have a lovely weekend!

The Big 8

8 Favorite TV shows...
1. The Amazing Race
2. Project Runway
3. Jeopardy
4. Cash Cab
5. Survivor
6. Dancing with the Stars
7. House Hunters
8. The Biggest Loser

8 Favorite Restaurants...
1. In-N-Out Burger[absence makes the heart grow fonder, apparently]
2. The Melting Pot
3. Willy O's [fabulous burgers and fries]
4. Pei Wei
5. Chuy's
6. Pok-E-Jo's (BBQ -- really, almost any Texas BBQ place is a favorite]
7. Popeye's Chicken
8. Thundercloud Subs

8 things that happened yesterday...
1. Taught an adult class on the Sermon on the Mount
2. Laughed at Mason: when I called his name, he said "That's my name" -- cracked me up
3. Was amazed by Mason when he managed to call me on the phone all by himself. No one knows how he did it.
4. Had a sub from Thundercloud. So yummy.
5. Looked at Maya's amazing growing/shrinking horse
6. Drove down to the temple in San Antonio -- barely made it in time.
7. Forgot to get my white chocolate raspberry bundt cake from Natalie. Sigh.
8. Drank Diet Coke too late last night and then couldn't sleep.

8 things to look forward to...
1. A new grandbaby -- soon! Can't wait to meet baby Simon.
2. General Conference this weekend
3. Stake Conference the next weekend
4. Maya's birthday & big party on Monday
5. My sister's BD on October 8
6. Mark's BD on October 9 [October is a good birthday month for us!]
7. More beautiful Austin weather. I love the warmth here.
8. Trunk or Treat -- Seeing our Primary kids all dressed up for Halloween makes me happy.

8 things I love about Fall...
1. The color change -- which we don't see here, but I am enjoying it via the blog world.
2. Watching Miss Maya play soccer. She's awesome.
3. Slightly cooler weather. I guess everything is relative!
4. Halloween - the enjoyment of the kids is infectious.
5. Holiday shopping (& sales!)
6. Just the feeling of change in the air. I'm all about change.
7. School being in session -- the feeling of routine and scheduling. I like that.
8. Our upcoming Primary program -- I love those.

8 things on my wishlist...
1. For baby Simon to arrive safe and healthy, and for the birth to be easy, easy, easy on his Mama.
2. A new kitchen table and chairs
3. Someone else to clean my bathroom. I am not into cleaning and our bathroom is bad.
4. A new house -- sometime. This is a good house but it's not 'my' house.
5. Time with family. So many of them live way too far away.
6. That my family is all safe, happy and well.
7. That I get to stay in Primary forever.
8. That Mark's spots would fade away completely.

Waiting

She's not quite at this point yet, but she's close!

Me? I can't wait to meet Baby Simon. Hurry up, little boy!