Feb 13th - March 2nd

Juli cut her hair this week to donate to Locks of Love. She looks older, Yikes! I cut Tylers hair too. They are both so cute.

I've learned a lot this week. I’ve learned how precious our family is. I’ve learned how the Holy Ghost is amazing. I’ve learned I’m not perfect. I’ve learned that I have the best missionary in Paraguay. I’ve learned how much I lovemy husband. I’ve learned that I really love homemade soft sugar cookies. I’ve learned that no matter what we do that’s wrong Heavenly Father still loves us. I’ve learned that Chaz has an amazing amount of self confidence. I’ve learned that I love music. I’ve learned that working with the young women is so different than working with the young men. They’re prettier and smell better and are more tender. I guess that’s part of being a girl.

Yesterday we picked up an organ from the empty house next to my brothers house. We haven’t figured out how to work it but it might be a sweet little find. And hey it was free. On our way out there we saw a small plane crash. It looked like it might crash into us on the freeway but then it swerved and crashed right before our eyes to the side of us. It was crazy. Taylor said call 911 fast. So I did. We looked it up on the news and the pilot was OK and walked away with a bruised face but his poor plane was not. It was really something seeing that up close.

On Thursday Chaz said that he had to play part of his final piece “In Other Words” By Ben Kweller All the kids who got A’s on their final were picked to play them at the Night of the Masters. He thought that this was a practice for that….Nope it was the real deal. He didn’t even bring the music. He had a horrible cold too. The piano was one you had to stand to play it and didn’t have a sustaining pedal. I think he was nervous but you couldn’t see that. He just walked up and told the audience what he was going to play and then proceeded to play and sing it. Man, I know I was more nervous than he was. He did great. He didn’t think he did but he did. He has a great voice and such a talent. He got straight A’s again so we told him we would pay for his paintballing with Benj and Robynne. They went on President’s Day. It was Chaz’s first time. He loved it and won a private game for him and 5 buddies.

I helped in Juli’s class painting the sarcophagus on Friday. We made rice krispie treats for the class. Juli is a great little helper. She had all her Valentines that had pixie sticks on them. Last year of school Valentines…I have done this Elementary school scene for 23 years now. Weird. I’ll have to figure what I’m going to be when I grow up.

I’ve been so helped in this Young women calling. I have given each young woman a different message unique to them as I’ve been meeting with them. I told one girl to make sure she reads her scriptures every day. That was the personal part of the personal progress program. I have challenged each one something different. It’s been amazing following the Holy Ghost’s promptings. What a blessing it is. I just read the best article on Faith in the March 2009 issue of the Ensign by Pres. Monson. It was so straightforward. It just reconfirmed why it's the first principal of the gospel. We have to believe to move forward. Wow. Powerful stuff. I did an activity with the Young women on Tues. We drew big lifesize blank girls and they had to color them with chalk. They looked like each girl by the time they were done with them. They were all so creative and unique.

On Friday we went to the Redlands temple. We were the witness couple. It really helped me stay awake. The prayer was very specific about blessing the missionaries. I always get emotional when they bless the missionaries. I think of every temple all around the world blessing our Brett.

I have a strong testimony. I don’t ever want any of my children to wonder if I have/had a testimony. It does take work to keep it strong. I heard some good quotes in Sunday School today. Faith has a short shelf life. You have to keep replenishing it. Also Faith is a decision not an emotion. I was all ready to give my Faith Value talk in Young womens today. I wore all white because that is the color of the value but we ran out of time. So I guess that is next weeks project.

We are going to be host parents to 5 -16 year old girls on Friday and the neighbors are going to have boys. Good times. The kids are putting on a carnival for the disabled children like we did when we were the specialists. Another busy week gone by and another one coming up.