Letter - Valentines Day, Grandma Perkins, Hard Time

Friday, February 20, 2015

I’m writing a Friday night edition of my letter since Chad and Spencer are on a scout hike/campout and so I don’t have a date.  I’m playing catch up again since I haven’t written since Feb. 1^st.

Monday the 2^nd was Groundhog’s day.  I didn’t even make biscuits and gravy for some reason or another, but we did have it later in the week.  Tuesday the 3^rd Spencer had his last 7^th grade basketball game.  That evening the laurels went to our stake family history center in preparation for our special ward temple nights.  The youth were challenged to find at least one of their own family names for baptisms.  Spencer was able to get some names from Grandpa Angle.  Thanks Grandpa!!  Several of my laurels found some family names.  That evening Chad and I played volleyball with some friends at our church building from 9:00-10:30.  I really wanted to start playing again so I reserved our building and invited several friends who play relatively competitively.  We had 12 players show up so it was perfect.  We’ve played each Tuesday since the 3^rd and it’s been so fun, totally worth all the aches and pains!  I hurt most of the time anyway so I might as well do something fun. 

Every time Tilly watches the Incredibles she leaves the movie to come sit on my lap before the monster robot comes. She listens to the movie on my lap and then jumps down to resume watching the movie after he's gone.

Bryant diligently practicing the piano

Thursday the 5^th Bryant was chosen as student of the month for his class so we attended flag ceremony at his school to watch him get his award.  The girls and I went to the park with some friends later that morning.  That evening we hosted an end of the season party for Spencer’s basketball team.  We ordered pizza, Chad made some peach lemonade and the other families brought desserts.  The boys had fun playing basketball in the backyard while the adults visited.  It was a fun night.  Friday the 6^th Chad and I went out to Moreno’s Mexican food.  We bumped into some of our friends and ended up joining their group.  It was a fun night. 

Tilly all worn out after running several errands.  She is a good little shopper.

Saturday the 7^th I attended our stake RS meeting.  It was the same musical presentation of The Ten Virgins that our ward put on a few years ago that I was in.  Our former ward relief society president is now the stake RS president and since the production was so successful for our ward she decided to do it at a stake level.  It was wonderful.  Bryant had 2 basketball games that afternoon.  He has started driving to the basket and is a good little player now that he has more confidence.  Confidence is sure great.  Spencer got invited to go play 007 at the soccer park with several friends that evening. 

Sunday the 8^th Spencer had his board of review and is now a Life scout!!  He needs to choose and complete an eagle project now and finish up six merit badges. 

Marlee's homemade purse.  I think it is so cute.

Monday the 9^th was Amy’s birthday.  It was also my niece Sydney’s birthday.  Celeste, Jen Lee, and I met Amy for lunch at Liberty Market.  It was fun to visit.  Spencer started co-ed soccer tryouts for the school 7^th and 8^th grade team that afternoon.  That evening we missed FHE because I had to take Karalee to Twilight pediatrics.  She had been sick for a while and came home from school with a fever.  There was a LONG wait.  We found out she had a sinus infection and so they prescribed antibiotics.  She still took a long time to get better and just recently got her appetite back.  Poor girl.  She lost quite a bit of weight.  I’m so glad she’s feeling better now. 

Tuesday the 10^th was our special ward youth temple night.  Our ward set a record for the Gilbert temple for the amount of youth who brought their own family members for baptisms!!  Thursday was our special adult ward temple day.  The adults did some temple work for the family members that the youth baptized on Tuesday night.  It was a special day.  Chad went to the 7:00am session, then he came home and I went and helped one of my laurels, who took the day off school, finish up baptisms for some of our ward names.  Then I did initiatory for some of those same people.  After I got back home, Chad went back to the temple during his lunch break and did initiatory work for the family members that Spencer baptized on Tuesday night.  It was a pretty cool experience.  In ward council we talked about doing this activity again.  I hope it happens.

We are loving the weather these days!

Wednesday the 11^th Marlee had her first field trip.  She was so excited.  She went to a dairy farm. 

Thursday the 12^th we found out that Grandma Perkins, Chad’s Mom’s mom, had a stroke and was probably not going to make it.  They took her off life support and she passed away on the 13^th.  We were sad, but I looked up the letter she sent out and Christmas time and it brought me peace.  She mentioned that she was sick and was really feeling her old age, so I’m glad she was able to pass quickly.  She accomplished a lot and is an amazing woman as can be seen in her obituary.    

Thursday afternoon Spencer found out he made the co-ed 7^th/8^th grade soccer team.  Only three 7^th grade boys made it.  He was so excited.  After the first day of tryouts he came home and said, soccer was his favorite sport.  It had been awhile since he’s played on a team.  We are proud of him.  Friday the 13^th the kids had their Valentines parties and they had a half day of school.  Spencer, Bryant and Karalee had dentist appointments at 1:00 that afternoon then we met several friends from school at the park when they were done.  That evening we got movies from Redbox and had a family movie night.  We watched “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, which was cute and “When the Game Stands Tall”, which was inspirational.  

For the first time ever thanks to a YouTube tutorial Marlee gets a heart ponytail.

Karalee and Tilly crashed after playing at the park.

On Valentine’s Day Chad and I had two dates!  At 11:00 we went with our friends Troy and Emily Lines and Aaron and Kristen Wilcox on a Segway tour at Temple Town Lake.  It was SO fun.  I’d always wanted to ride a Segway so when I saw a living social deal for a chance to ride segways I bought it.  That afternoon Bryant had a basketball game.  The game was pretty close and Bryant scored six points at the end of the game and his team ended up winning!  That evening Chad and I went out with our “Gilbert Chowhounds” group that usually meets for dinner on the 2^nd Tuesday each month, for a Valentines dinner at Baci Italian grill in Queen Creek.  It was yummy and fun company.   

  

Sunday we had BYC and we decided to have the youth of our ward start memorizing The Living Christ.  We’ll work on one paragraph a month during mutual opening exercises.  That evening we went to Brenda’s for the February family birthday dinner but I had to leave for a camp meeting for part of it.  

Monday Chad took the day off work since the kids were out of school for President’s day.  We relaxed a lot, had a picnic at the park and went to batting cages that evening.  Bryant planned most of it.  He does a good job of planning fun family activities.

Tuesday this week was a busy day.  I felt like my “To Do” list was a mile long, but I got through it.  We had an appointment to get our RO water filter’s changed that afternoon but ended up having to buy a whole new unit.  I like good water though so to me it’s worth it.  That evening was Bryant’s Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet.  He earned his Webelos award.  It was a nice dinner and I was so happy I didn’t have to cook!  For mutual we had a movie night at the church.  I brought my big bean bag.  We set up a TV from the library in one of the classrooms and we had popcorn and ice cream sundaes. 

Wednesday I tried to go to the temple during Grammy days but found out it was closed for two weeks when I drove into the parking lot so I got some shopping done at Walmart instead. 

Yesterday morning I took Chad to the Gateway airport at 5:00am so he could fly to Utah for Grandma Perkins' funeral.  I really wished I could have gone too, but I had a commitment with the kids here at home and flights were pretty expensive.  Grandma’s funeral wasn’t until today, but Thursday’s flight was much cheaper so he took his computer and worked from Utah all day Thursday.  He stayed at Jay and Karen Osmond’s home with Brenda.  Jay is a brother to Donny and Marie.  Brenda’s friend Karen recently married Jay and they opened up their home to the family while they were in town for the funeral.  Chad worked in Jay’s office which has several of their gold music awards hanging on the wall.  I asked him if he felt famous now.  He said yep. 

Yesterday I also helped chaperone Bryant’s 5^th grade field trip to Schnepf  Farms (the commitment).  It is only the second time I’ve had the opportunity and available child care to chaperone one of my kids’ field trips.  The first time was Bryant’s kindergarten field trip.  I guess he’s been extra lucky to get me twice when no one else has had a turn.  Last night I had a YW presidency meeting so we could review our final plans and assignments for new beginnings this coming Tuesday.  I’m getting excited for it. 

The goat smiled at Bryant

Selfie with a giant bull

The donkey smiled at Bryant too!

Chad flew home from Utah this afternoon and I picked him up at the Sky Harbor Airport.  He reported that the funeral went well.  I kissed him hello and then goodbye again because as soon as he got home he left to go catch up with Spencer’s scout troop on their hike/campout.  I’ve missed him, but I’m glad he was able to make it to the funeral and to Spencer’s campout.  Absence sure makes the heart grow fonder. 

Chase has recently changed Chad’s commission plan.  They change it a little every year, but this year it was a big change and it is not very favorable.  I don’t think the bank will be able to stay that way for too long before they start losing lots of their lending managers, but maybe that’s their way of downsizing?  Chad will probably just ride it out and we will be fine.  We’ll just have to monitor our budget more closely and make a few cuts, which we know how to do.  We’ve been spoiled and it was nice while it lasted.  I’m sure grateful we’ve been able to build a good savings and that we’ve been able to pay down our mortgage to a more reasonable amount though. 

For the last year or so I’ve had a hard time with some relationships.  Some dear people have pretty much dropped out of my life.  I have felt like I must have done something offensive, that I’m not good enough and not worth their time.  I’ve tried to work these feelings out because I know they are going through very difficult struggles of their own.   I’ve tried to reach out and keep the relationship alive, but sometimes I don’t want be the only one trying to keep the relationship alive.  Sometimes I want them to reach out to me.  I know this is not the right attitude.  A few weeks ago Spencer spoke in church about the importance of friends and he shared a quote from Sister Dalton that has stuck with me.  “Sometimes our preoccupation is on having friends. Perhaps we should focus on being a friend.”  I know that in most cases I’ll have to reach out and invite friends ten times before I’ll get one invitation.  That’s just the way it is for most people. 

Love,

Mindy

Letter - Various Kid's Activities, New Beginnings Plans, Personal Progress, Etc.

Sunday, February 01, 2015 

This week has gone ok.  Monday was laundry day and I also went shopping for the week’s meals.  Chad worked from home that day so I was able to make a quick run to Walmart while Tilly slept.  It was nice. Karalee had volleyball that afternoon.  We were quite late because we went to the library to get a book for her upcoming book report before I realized she was supposed to be at volleyball.  Since we were so late I stayed to watch her.  She is doing well and learning great volleyball skills.  I really like the coaches. 

Tuesdays are my marathon days because I have mutual those nights.  To make matters worse Power road closed on that day and will remain closed until Feb. 4^th.  I go on power to get to the kids’ school so now I have to take a detour which is annoying.  I know I’m being a baby about it, but it is really bugging me.  Tyler and Jen since you live right by it, is it driving you crazy too?  Spencer had a basketball game late that afternoon.  They lost to a really great team, but did a lot better than the first time they played them.  Bryant and Karalee had scouts and activity days at 6:00 and then I had mutual at 7:00.  Our laurel’s class heart attacked our secret relief society sisters which was fun, but there were some weird dynamics with the girls that night that didn’t go well.  I felt like it was the worst mutual activity I had ever been to and have had it on my mind a lot trying to figure out what we could have done differently and what we can do to help the girls. 

Wednesday afternoon I had a presidency meeting and we discussed new beginnings and finalized assignments.   You can see our plan HERE.  I’m really excited about it.  Karalee had volleyball that afternoon.  That evening it was Karalee’s turn for a date with me.  (On our family home evening chart we have a date category and Chad and I take turns taking each of the kids on a date when it is their week.  The whole date has to cost less than $5.) For our date we went to Fry’s to get a slushy and then to sonic to get some food.  While we were talking I asked her if she had any crushes on boys at school.  She said she did but didn’t want to tell me about them.  I asked her if she’d like me to tell her about my crushes when I was her age and she said, “Please no.”  Oh boy!  I’ve been laughing at that all week!  

Thursday afternoon Kristen, our laurel advisor, and I visited one of our laurels who had a big seizure that morning.  We took her some of her favorite things and visited with her for a few minutes (I recently had each of my laurels and my own kids fill out that favorite things form for me).  After our visit I took Marlee to choir then ran Spencer to his game then ran back to get Marlee and went back to Spencer’s game to watch him play.  He played so well.  They won soundly.  Spencer has improved a lot this year and plays with confidence now.  He was so nervous at the beginning of the season.  

Friday Tilly and I took Bryant out of school for a lunch date which was fun.  That evening the school age kids each invited a friend or two or three over for Chinese food and to hang out and play games.  They had a great time.  They didn’t mind playing basketball on the wet court.  We’ve gotten a lot of rain this weekend which has been wonderful.  

Yesterday Bryant had a basketball game and did well.  He is a good little player.  His team won.  Yesterday evening Chad and I went to dinner at Buddy Z’s pizza in Queen Creek.  They serve Chicago style deep dish pizza and it is wonderful.  This week I got had a bad ear ache that has gone down to my neck and so last night I started taking the 2^nd box of z-pack antibiotics that Spencer was prescribed a while ago that he didn’t need because the first boxed worked well.  It is starting to work, but I still have some pain.  

Our testimony meeting today was wonderful.  Probably the best I’ve ever attended.  Chad was released as Troy Line’s first councilor in our Elder’s quorum yesterday afternoon and then immediately called as the first councilor to Joseph Johnson in our Elder’s quorum.  He was re-set apart today, but I couldn’t go listen because I was teaching a combined YW’s lesson.  Chad and I got to go serve dinner at a Men’s shelter in Mesa this evening as part of our ward assignment.  It was a neat experience.  Each man was so grateful.    

My quote for today is from our Sunday school lesson.  Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said: “The Lord is well aware of our mortality.  He knows our weaknesses.  He understands the challenges of our everyday lives.  He has great empathy for the temptations of earthly appetites and passions” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 46; or Ensign, May 1996, 34).     

  

Love,

Mindy   

P.S.  As part of my YW lesson preparation I was asked to complete a Choice and Accountability value experience in personal progress.  I did experience #3 regarding agency.  Here is my journal portion:  

Jan. 30, 2014 

I’m working on personal progress again tonight and have been asked to record in my journal my understanding of agency and the consequences of choices and actions.  The way I understand it the only thing we have to give Heavenly Father is our will.  Everything else was and is His to begin with.  We give God our will as we obey his laws.  There are divine laws that must be obeyed.  “A God who make no demands is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist” (Elder Christofferson, Free Forever, to Act for Themselves).  

Heavenly Father deeply wants to bless us.  However, He can only bless us in proportion to our obedience to His laws.  “When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21).  A few weeks ago I gave a lady, who happens to be a member of the church, a ride.  It was a Sunday afternoon.  She asked me to take her to Marshall’s.  She told me, “don’t worry I’m not doing any major shopping, I’m just returning something.”  I thought about that a lot.  I know she will be blessed for her decision to attend church that day, but she probably missed out on blessings that would have come from keeping the whole Sabbath Day Holy.  Luckily I am not her judge and I do not love her any less for her decision.  Another example of how I learned the relationship between obedience and blessings is when I first moved out on my own and started earning my own money and paying my own way.  I had to decide if I wanted to pay tithing on the gross amount or the net amount of my paychecks.  I thought about it a lot and talked with a member of my bishopric.  He wisely did not tell me what to do, but pointed out that some of the taxes taken from my paycheck go to pay police and military men and women who fight for my protection, which is a benefit to me.  I finally decided that both choices are good and it was up to me how much I wanted to be blessed.  

Because God is just he will hold us accountable for our actions.   “One day each of us will stand before the Lord in judgment.  We will each have a personal interview with Jesus Christ.  We will account for decisions that we made about our bodies, our spiritual attributes, and how we honored God’s pattern for marriage and family” (Elder Nelson, Decisions for Eternity). I know that I will have to stand before God and that my actions, inaction, thoughts, words and deeds will be judged. 

Because God is merciful He has given us his Son so we can repent and qualify for Eternal Life.  “Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His grace, our failures to live the celestial law perfectly and consistently in mortality can be erased and we are enabled to develop a Christlike character.  Justice demands, however, that none of this happen without our willing agreement and participation” (Elder Christofferson, Free Forever, to Act for Themselves).  I know that Savior has already paid the price for my sins.  I hope I will allow Him to erase them by repenting and living the celestial law.  If I do not repent I know that I will have to suffer for them, even as He did.  That would be a waste.  “Acting to repent is a self-willed change” (Elder Christofferson, Free Forever, to Act for Themselves).  No one can repent for me and I cannot repent for them or force them repent.  God will not force others to repent or to come to Him either. 

I love this quote Elder Christofferson that explains that God will help us all along the way.  “We do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with.”

Take Flight: Embark in the Service of God - 2015 New Beginnings

I am excited about our upcoming New Beginnings.  I based several of my ideas from this blog.  Here is what we have planned:

Excerpt about New Beginnings from the handbook: 

“This event helps young women and their parents learn about the Young Women program. It includes an explanation of Personal Progress and a presentation of the Young Women theme, logo, motto, and age-group purpose statements and symbols (see 10.1). It should help young women and their parents plan for events in the coming year.”

“New Beginnings provides opportunities for leaders to express love for the young women, encourage parents to help their daughters in Personal Progress experiences, introduce young women who will reach age 12 in the coming year, and welcome young women who have joined the Church or moved into the ward. It is a time to recognize young women and their accomplishments in Personal Progress. The Young Women presidency invites a member of the bishopric to give concluding remarks.”

Decorations and Set Up:  Have chairs set up like chairs in a large airplane.  Large screen up front with a time lapse video of the sky so it looks more like we’re flying.  Souvenir Photo booth for after the program with pilot hats and aviator sun glasses.  Dessert table with all the values and colors.

Flight Attendant Costumes:  Dark skirts or pants, button up shirts, a scarf/ascot, and name tags

Invitations:

Look like an airline ticket

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

7:00pm at the Maplewood building

For Young Women 11-18 and their parents

“Flight Itinerary” (Program):

Souvenir Photo Booth: Miamaids in charge

Projector and Screen for in-flight movie: Laurels in charge

Desserts and Dessert table decorations: Beehives in charge

YW Procedures Instructional posters:

Beehives Class Presidency: Beehive purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Logo

Mia Maid Class Presidency: Mia Maid purpose statement and symbol and presentation of the Young Women motto

Laurel Class Presidency: Laurel purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Theme

In-flight movie: video that introduces the 2015 mutual theme, time lapse video of the sky playing during the activity

Conductor/Narrator: 

FLIGHT SCRIPT: (# indicates a pause because of a presentation or just a pause for effect):

Good evening passengers. This is your Co-Pilot speaking. On behalf of myself, the captain and the other co-pilots, I’d like to welcome everyone to Embark Airlines, where we will be traveling nonstop to New Beginnings, departing in just a few minutes… 

#

Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that we have a late arrival - a passenger from a connecting flight is running down the fairway, so we’re going to stop for her - and that will mean a short delay in our departure, but we will be getting underway in just a few minutes… 

# pause while late-passenger enters & performs  -  NOT LISTED IN THE PROGRAM that we handed out, we had a surprise (planned) late-arrival of a YW with large amounts of luggage who (comically) kept trying to stow her bags in the (non-existent)overheard compartments or shove them under peoples seats. This was just for fun and was a big hit. 

#

Before we take off, we will begin with an in-flight opening song “Put your Shoulder to the Wheel”. __________________ will be our chorister, followed by a prayer given by _______________. After the song and prayer, please relax and enjoy the rest of the flight. 

#

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the flight crew I ask that you please direct your attention to the flight attendants as they present YW procedures.

Beehives Class Presidency: Beehive purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Logo

Mia Maid Class Presidency: Mia Maid purpose statement and symbol and presentation of the Young Women motto

Laurel Class Presidency: Laurel purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Theme

We ask that you make sure that all carry-on luggage is stowed away safely during the flight. Most importantly, please remember to keep your heart, might, mind and strength in the upright and locked position.

#

At this time, I am turning off the fasten seat belts sign so that everyone may stand and join us in reciting the YW Theme. If you are a first-time flier, please refer to the YW theme poster.  Flight attendants, please lead the passengers in reciting the YW theme.

#

The captain is turning on the fasten seatbelts sign, Please return to your seats and refer to your flight itinerary (program) for the duration of the flight.

Here is our program:

Download a word document copy of the program that you can edit HERE