Creative Thursday-Tuesday Edition

Several months ago I was reading this blog and decided I wanted to take an idea from her and implement it in my life. So, Creative Thursday was born. Every Thursday my wonderful friend Emily and I get together and scrapbook (or make cards, or organize pictures, craft rooms, etc). I think we have only missed one week since we started because Emily was sick. We trade off hosting each week and usually the host provides lunch and snacks. Sometimes its quesadillas, last week Emily just wanted a PBJ (because her kids don't like them! What?) and today it was fantastic Cafe Rio! (thanks Adam!) Oh, and the snacks...I think we are getting a little out of hand with the snacks! I took a picture of them with my new camera phone but I can't figure out how to use the micro SD card! But, take my word, we had quite the spread of treats!!! Anyway, we both look forward to these Thursdays because they have proven to be a stress release as well as a creative outlet. We hardly stop talking from the second we get together and it's like pulling teeth to get us to end! This week the kids get out early on Thursday so we decided we needed to change the day to Tuesday so we didn't have the older kids for the whole afternoon.


We had Liv take a picture of us but neither of us were happy with it but I'm going to post it anyway for the sake of documentation. Next week we might put on a little gloss for a cuter photo.

I'm so glad I have had Emily live around the block from me for the last 5 years and I'm not sure what I'll do when she moves in 2 weeks! She is an amazing friend and has made my kids and I feel like her home is an extension of our own. I feel so blessed to have you as my friend, Em! Love you!

Blog Funk

Anyone else sick of seeing that picture of Curtis? Sheesh.
I have kind of been in a blog funk lately. I've thought of blogging several times but every time I sat down to do it, I just didn't have the energy. I'm not especially feeling it right now but I had to do something!

Things have been a little stressful on the church calling front. As most of you know, I'm the stake Young Womens president. About 40% of the year,it is a pretty mellow calling. A meeting here, an activity there. Then comes Standard's Night, Girls' Camp, Youth Conference, Opening Social, etc. And the craziness sets in. This year, the stress is about 10 times worse!

For Youth Conference we are doing a Pioneer Trek and started planning awhile ago but had no real concrete plans except the date and place. Then our Stake YM's presidency got released so its like we are starting over with the planning. Thank Goodness for us, the new President is one of my favorite men in our stake. He is close to my dad's age and goes to Girls' Camp every year as the priesthood chaperon. He is awesome. I finally feel a little relief about this whole Trek thing. Oh, and because I have a nursing baby, I'm planning a Trek I can't participate in! Bummer!

A few months ago, I went to a meeting with the Stake Presidency and all the Bishops in my stake. We have a pretty small youth group and some of the kids are really suffering from the lack of a structured program or the strength of a bigger group. So the Stake Pres. proposed that we combine all the youth in the stake for weekly Mutual activities. That way, the age groups can split up and have more than 2 or 3 in their group. Several more meetings have followed and I've had a few stressed phone calls from parents or young women leaders. Finally on Sunday, the program was presented to all the youth, parents and leaders in the Stake. I think it went well and am excited to get the program up and running in the coming weeks. After that meeting we went straight into a Trek meeting so all the youth and parents could be there together and hear the plans. My presidency and I kind of took charge of that and it worked out fine.

Last Tuesday, Sam was called to be on the High Council so right before our 2 youth meetings Sunday afternoon, he was ordained a High Priest and set apart. He is nervous about the calling but also excited for the learning opportunities he will have.

So, Sunday afternoon, I was feeling pretty relaxed that all these things were taken care of. Then came Monday afternoon...

We had a very capable Girls' Camp Director called that already had a ton planned before we even had a meeting with her. So, I wasn't feeling too stressed about that. Yesterday I got a call from her telling me she just found out she has some medical problems and may not be able to go to Camp! Yikes. So, we have to call an assistant that can take over the whole thing if need be. The stress is starting to creep back in.

I think this year I might lower the mellow percentage to 25...