Means I won't be around much today. That's why I'm not on anywhere. I'll be back - with abbreviated hours - on Monday.

Have a good weekend!

TREK!

I'm going on the Trek. YAY!

Last night was the first fireside, and it is going to be so fun!

First Ma and Pa training is in February, and then we'll see what we're in for.

Have I mentioned yet that I'm thrilled?

It's rather funny, actually, because Church history is my least favorite area of study (yes, I prefer the Old Testament), but I've always wanted to go on a trek. Four days of pushing (pulling) a handcart with a family of 8-12 teenagers....

Seriously. I cannot wait! It's going to be FUN.

ETA: I'm going to need a trek icon.

The irony about this talk is the title: Happiness, Your Heritage. And I'm not really happy.

I got a call from my cousin Rebecca yesterday afternoon, and she told me she was getting baptized.

Yay! I didn't know she needed to be baptized again, but that wasn't important. I asked her if I could tell mom, and she responded with an enthusiastic YES! So I called Mem.

We went, just she and I, at dh's suggestion - which turned out to be a good one - and it was wonderful. We got there early - Mom got a GPS thing, and it's fun to play with - and had the chance to talk a little to Ann and Rebecca. Aaron, Rebecca's brother, who would baptize her. - was late, and Mom's theory (probably the right one) is that it is Satan's doing. She said she'd never been to a baptism that started on time - it's his attempt to stop it. Like, if Aaron didn't make it or was late, she wouldn't be baptized.

It was crowded - packed - so I was glad dh had kept the children home. I really enjoyed the talks, the baptism was wonderful, and just... it was amazing. I was so glad we found out in time!

My aunt An looks a lot like her mother. It's awesome.

---

So today is Ward Conference, and as per usual, we had submitted questions for the Stake Leadership to answer. One had to do with excommunication, and I found out something I've never known.

When an excommunicated person is baptized again, the original baptism and confirmation dates are reinstated - as if the excommunication had never happened. The Lord said, in D&C 58:42, that he will remember our sins no more. It was just... amazing. He really meant it!

So the Sunday School teacher called yesterday afternoon and explained that he was out of town, and the peson he'd asked to give the lesson had just cancelled on him. Could I do it? and failing that, did I know who might?

I said I would.

It was a miserable lesson; I spent way less time on it than I should have. But I survived, and I think a few people might have even gotten something out of the class. And they survived, too.

I need to dig out my copy of "Teaching: No Greater Call" and read it again. I'm not a very good teacher.

Tomorrow, church starts at 9:00. We will (hopefully) be there by 8:30, as if I aim for that and miss by 15 minutes, I'm still early.

At least I have an idea of what time I have to get up and get the kids moving; I have to do it during school on Tuesdays and THursdays.

Speaking of, I haven't heard from Elyssa's teacher yet. School starts on Tuesday.

Hopefully for Elyssa, too.

Oh, today was the primary program!

Maggie has spent the last week learning her lines; as she started the program, we felt she needed to have that as memorized as she could. She got to sit up with Scott - because she was supposed to go up, say her line, and then my walking partner and her oldest daughter would play, and then the rest of the kids go up.

So, she stood up, looked a little surprised at how many people were there, and said it very slowly and clearly: "Who am I? This is one of life's greatest questions. I know who I am. I am a child of God."

Then they played a lovely duet of "I am a Child of God," and then the rest of the program went wonderfully! I was so impressed! She remembered her other line: "My family prays together", even before Tiffany cued her on it.

But the songs were wonderful, most of the children were understandable, and Taran loved it. He just sat on Scott's lap and gazed, riveted. It was cute.

I'm tired.

So, what have I done today?

I walked two miles - I tell you, that was fun! - and then took Elyssa over to Darby's for a while, came home, and cleaned out the van.

Granted, I've wanted to do that for a few weeks, but just the trash. However, as we're trading it in for a larger, newer model, um... I just cleared everything out.

It's actually quite warm out there! Yesterday was a record 75 degrees, and I'm not sure today isn't going to get there, too.

So, after I got Elyssa, and gave her lunch, I went over to the apartment of a sister in the ward and cleaned up a little. I shouldn't have worn dark clothes; she has a white dog. And my clothes smell of smoke, now. Urg.

And I am just... weary.

Scott came home so I could go to the adult session, so I've got a little kid-free time.

Mom will be here in a while to pick me up, so I should get my notebook off the table and put it in my purse. I'm already in a skirt, and just need to slip shoes on; everything else is good.

I finally got them all done.

A bit of a refresher: I took the ideas for how to make these goals S.M.A.R.T, and powerful from the Top Achievement website. It helped.

I also got the idea of how to do these from Scott:

1. is Daily: used to create or eliminate a habit
2. is weekly: what isn't daily
3. is monthly: a once-a-month occurance, or something I'd like to get done within a month
4. is yearly: a long term goal, usually with begin and finish dates
5. is an event, something like: vote in the November 2008 elections or something.

So. On to the goals.
( In six different areas )

Well, there they are. Some - most, I hope - of these are on my 101 in 1001 list, but the rest are things I need to get done, too.

Wish me luck!

I finished my book for book group last night. It's called "Sister Circle" by Vonette Bright and Nancy Moser.

It was really cool. I kept thinking I needed to put it down, write in my journal, something, but I couldn't.

It was... spiritual. No specific denomination - one is mentioned, but not all of them go there. It was cool, so many different views, but so much in common, and they focused on that. I rather liked it (certainly much better than Left Behind, which sort of preached at me - this was much more subtle and didn't have any sermons). Well, obviously, since I couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to see how the discussion goes! It's funny; the woman who is facilitating is the only one not LDS at this group, but I'm so glad she comes! It's always good to have someone else's pov, with a background different than the one the rest of us have in common. Heh. And she's MY friend! I'm so lucky....

I didn't catch most of this, as the connection wasn't good. We heard most of it, but by then, I had no idea who was speaking - no video, just audio. I so fail.
( My notes under the cut )

I'm going to try to listen to the whole session later - both Sunday sessions, in fact. And then read them when the Ensign comes out.

This happened last week, but I might as well put it in now, since I didn't then.

( My notes under here )

My mind was so not on this today. It was frustrating.
( my notes under here )

( My notes from the session )

I really can't wait for the conference issue!

Friday morning, I let Elyssa sleep in a litle, because she's be coughing a lot lately, and she sounded like she was losing her voice on Thursday. But eventually we got everyone up and fed, and then Justin showed up.

Okay. Thursday night, his mother called. She had to work Friday and the kids had school off. Justin had said he'd like to play with Maggie. Would I mind?

No. Not at all. So, he came, everyone was fed and dressed, and they played a while. Until the inevitable question: Can we go yet?

( Butterfly Pavilion )

They wanted something to eat. The Butterfly Pavilion didn't have anything, really, so I bribed them with Pizza at Costco.

Which turned out pretty hilarious, considering Mom bought them a piece, and asked them to cut it in half (those are HUGE pieces) - and then had to go back and buy another one. We did a quick run through, with specifics on what we wanted to look at and get, and then took Justin home and went home ourselves.

It was a good day. Tiring - holy cow, turned off the tv after the weather and fell asleep almost immediately.

( Saturday )

I had the morning all planned. Got Maggie to school, got to the mall to walk, and as we were leaving to go shopping over at Office Depot, the alarm on my PDA goes off. So, I look at it, being completely confused...

Oh. That's right. I was supposed to go visiting teaching today.

Crap.

So, we ran home, so I could call my companion to see if she wanted to go with me. If not, well, I'll take the kids and deal. If so, I'd work something out with Scott.

First break: Taran was asleep when I got home. Usually, I'd try to wake him up, but not today. He didn't even wake up when I put him in his bed - bonus.

Second break: my companion didn't answer her phone. So I packed Elyssa back into the car and drove over. She created havoc, and I spent longer there than I wanted to / should have, but Debbie doesn't mind kids (she used to be Nursery leader), and Elyssa didn't do anything damaging. We had a good conversation - she's a good friend, too - and part of the reason we stayed so long is that I enjoy talking to her, and it just went really well.

so, when I got home, I moved my computer onto the new computer desk, and wow. I have a lot less room on the actual desk, but everything else is nice. Well, I have a harder time seeing outside now, but when I get my file cabinet(s) in here, that'll clear up a lot. And then I can shrink this overflowing inbox.

I need to do that. Definitely.

So, maybe shopping tomorrow after the walk (if I go - my walking partner has a funeral tomorrow afternoon in Utah), and... yeah. More stuff going better, I think.

And yes, I still feel like a complete idiot.