I hope they have a great time.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
It's a Sadie's Hawkins Halloween
I hope they have a great time.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Meanwhile, In My Other Life...
This week was our final regular season home game for football. It was a pretty exciting night, as it was "if we win we claim the Region championship, if not we are in 4th place for the tournament." And to top it off, a local news station set up camp in the south end zone and broadcast live from our stadium for their Game Night Live. The did a half hour show prior to kick off highlighting our school as well as the other statewide high school football games going one this week.
The best part for me was the presentation of a little gift basket from the PTSA. I put together a little basket with 2 T-shirts and 2 SnowFire hats thinking the two guys hosting the show would get into the spirit of a HS game and wear them while they are there. But they are seemingly too far above us--and must receive gifts at every stop they make. I arrived while they ere setting up (about 5 PM) and introduced myself to one host, Rod Zundel, and explained I had this basket for him and the other host, Jeremiah Johnson, but asked me to bring it back during the show and have the cheerleaders give it to him on the air.
Well, I had a YW thing I had to do that would take until about halftime, so I'd miss it, but I took the basket to my co-president and she had her lovely daughter Emily and one of her friends (who happens to be one of our YW in my stake), Abbey, to make the presentation along with the cheerleaders who--apparently from Rod's attitude always bring him cakes. Well, on air (you can watch it above) the cheerleaders DIDN'T bring him treats and our little T-shirt and hat basket was all that they got. And the girls were SO good to specifically say that this was from the PTSA. Love it!
So thanks to Emily and Abbey for looking so great and doing that so well for me! And thanks to Juliet for getting the girls there to make the presentation. And thanks to KSL for coming down to bless us with your presence. And thanks football team for a memorable year--even if you lost.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The World Is A Hard Place
This week we have been meeting with our local ward Young Women presidencies. We have been doing this to have an opportunity to do some leadership training as well as some more intimate visiting about how we can help them fulfill their callings better.
One night, however, we met with one ward and in the course of the evening learned there are some of our Young Women that are dealing directly with hard things, worldly issues that can damage their spirits and even issues that leave them in physical danger. It was difficult to listen to these good women tell us their worries about the YW in their care. But as difficult as it was to listen, I was so grateful they shared their concerns. We worry about these girls too, but they have more regular contact with them and can have a more direct impact for their well being and spiritual good.
I don't want to write much more about specifics of this part of the evening, but I felt the heaviness of their reporting. These leaders have had this on their hearts for a while--and even longer without knowing just what the matter was, but knowing something was not as it should be. God knows these girls and was prompting their good leaders to watch them more carefully, with an open heart and the Spirit prepared a way for the leaders to understand more what these girls are going through, so they can help them through it. Not only that, but these particular leaders have had their own experiences with similar things as they grew up that has given them strong sympathy and understanding for their young women.
The Lord knows each of us. He will put others in our lives to help us learn what we must and get through the things we will face. That doesn't always make those things easier, but knowing you aren't along in it is better than the alternative. It was made plainly obvious to me last night that as leaders we may have had experiences in our lives simply to give us the basis to help others.
I also know that the world is becoming a more wicked place. Much of what these young women are having to deal with is not of their own making. They are facing the consequences based on other people's choices. In some cases, the world's influence and Satan's tactics have caused these girls' heartbreak without them making a bad choice. That is what is so hard to see. And it is becoming all too common to hear or see things where innocents suffer from decisions made by someone who doesn't seen to have any consequence at all.
My heart left this particular meeting very heavy. My prayers since have been very specific and more sincere than they have been for a while. And my gratitude has increased when I see the goodness around me in my family, friends, volunteer work and within the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is through the Lord, Jesus Christ, that all hurt and sorrow and suffering can be handled. In fact, it can be handed over to Him, and He will take it from us and strengthen us to get through it. Boy, we all need a little more of that around here.
One night, however, we met with one ward and in the course of the evening learned there are some of our Young Women that are dealing directly with hard things, worldly issues that can damage their spirits and even issues that leave them in physical danger. It was difficult to listen to these good women tell us their worries about the YW in their care. But as difficult as it was to listen, I was so grateful they shared their concerns. We worry about these girls too, but they have more regular contact with them and can have a more direct impact for their well being and spiritual good.
I don't want to write much more about specifics of this part of the evening, but I felt the heaviness of their reporting. These leaders have had this on their hearts for a while--and even longer without knowing just what the matter was, but knowing something was not as it should be. God knows these girls and was prompting their good leaders to watch them more carefully, with an open heart and the Spirit prepared a way for the leaders to understand more what these girls are going through, so they can help them through it. Not only that, but these particular leaders have had their own experiences with similar things as they grew up that has given them strong sympathy and understanding for their young women.
The Lord knows each of us. He will put others in our lives to help us learn what we must and get through the things we will face. That doesn't always make those things easier, but knowing you aren't along in it is better than the alternative. It was made plainly obvious to me last night that as leaders we may have had experiences in our lives simply to give us the basis to help others.
I also know that the world is becoming a more wicked place. Much of what these young women are having to deal with is not of their own making. They are facing the consequences based on other people's choices. In some cases, the world's influence and Satan's tactics have caused these girls' heartbreak without them making a bad choice. That is what is so hard to see. And it is becoming all too common to hear or see things where innocents suffer from decisions made by someone who doesn't seen to have any consequence at all.
My heart left this particular meeting very heavy. My prayers since have been very specific and more sincere than they have been for a while. And my gratitude has increased when I see the goodness around me in my family, friends, volunteer work and within the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is through the Lord, Jesus Christ, that all hurt and sorrow and suffering can be handled. In fact, it can be handed over to Him, and He will take it from us and strengthen us to get through it. Boy, we all need a little more of that around here.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Test Anxiety
Today I got to proctor a PSAT at the high school. That is a Preliminary SAT--a version of a practice test for sophomores and juniors. Our school offers it for our sophs and juniors that need a SAT score to get into some of the concurrent classes. All the juniors will take the ACT in the spring. But today we had a group of about 70 kids, all looking a little green as they entered the library.
Giving the test was a little stressful too. I can read just fine, but the directions for the test are so basic and minute it is laughable. Because they are so remedial, it caused me to have to reread some because I wasn't sure I was reading it right. So much for modeling confidence and cool calmness.
Somethings I get to do at the high school because of the PTSA job I have this year, are more pleasant than others. But anytime I get to do things with the students, the better I like it. So this was a great chance to volunteer. It is times when I get to interact directly with students when I really like my job.
Giving the test was a little stressful too. I can read just fine, but the directions for the test are so basic and minute it is laughable. Because they are so remedial, it caused me to have to reread some because I wasn't sure I was reading it right. So much for modeling confidence and cool calmness.
Somethings I get to do at the high school because of the PTSA job I have this year, are more pleasant than others. But anytime I get to do things with the students, the better I like it. So this was a great chance to volunteer. It is times when I get to interact directly with students when I really like my job.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Disappointment Containment
Today was a do-over attempt for me and a pair of dear friends to get together. We had scheduled to meet for brunch last week, and then one of the friends couldn't make it because she just had too much to do to get her family ready for their trip over Fall Break. So we didn't meet.
Today we were going to try again, but one of the friends has a preschooler who came down with croup over the break and can't go to preschool today. So we didn't meet.
I'm not going to lie. It is a bummer. It isn't a life or death kind of disappointment, but I do feel the loss of my friends. We haven't gotten together in some months and I was really looking forward to catching up with them both.
I have several small groups of friends like this. I know in some cases, it is a natural separation and and eventual drifting apart. Our lives change and we grow apart. That happens. But it is still sad.
I miss having the number of ready friends to work with at school, catch up with over lunch or sit and visit with to vent or console or ask advice. Now this isn't to say that I feel bereft of friends. I don't fell that at all. I just wish we all had more free time to be together. But families are busy. Moms go back to work. Kids get sick. Life makes demands on all of us. It just happens.
I still keenly feel affection for each one who has been important in my life. I hope that part never changes. But I sure wish sometimes that life would slow down and we'd have more time to be together. But I have yet to see any change in the speed of life beyond getting faster. I guess that is just how it goes.
And I'll learn to deal with it, whether I like it or not.
Today we were going to try again, but one of the friends has a preschooler who came down with croup over the break and can't go to preschool today. So we didn't meet.
I'm not going to lie. It is a bummer. It isn't a life or death kind of disappointment, but I do feel the loss of my friends. We haven't gotten together in some months and I was really looking forward to catching up with them both.
I have several small groups of friends like this. I know in some cases, it is a natural separation and and eventual drifting apart. Our lives change and we grow apart. That happens. But it is still sad.
I miss having the number of ready friends to work with at school, catch up with over lunch or sit and visit with to vent or console or ask advice. Now this isn't to say that I feel bereft of friends. I don't fell that at all. I just wish we all had more free time to be together. But families are busy. Moms go back to work. Kids get sick. Life makes demands on all of us. It just happens.
I still keenly feel affection for each one who has been important in my life. I hope that part never changes. But I sure wish sometimes that life would slow down and we'd have more time to be together. But I have yet to see any change in the speed of life beyond getting faster. I guess that is just how it goes.
And I'll learn to deal with it, whether I like it or not.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Not So Timeless
On Sundays lately, the kids have been going through and watching the old Disney movies we have on VHS. Yes, we still have a working tape machine in our house. (!) Yesterday she got through a handful of flicks, mostly becasue her brother has a novel he has to read for his English class that he just started Thrusday. It is due in two weeks, and he isn't the fastest reader around here. So he wasn't arguing her selections yesterday.
Anyhow, she started with "Beauty and the Beast" which is definitely a classic.
However, she shifted to the Christmas version--direct to video--sequel. Not so classic. It did give me a few good memory shots of her being a little girl and watching it and loving it. But now? Not so much.
Another one she watched was "Little Mermaid". Again, a timeless classic. So clever and the music is SO good.
"The Little Mermaid 2" however, is forgettable at best and the music isn't even worth mentioning. I hadn't even remembered we had that one.
Anyhow, she started with "Beauty and the Beast" which is definitely a classic.
However, she shifted to the Christmas version--direct to video--sequel. Not so classic. It did give me a few good memory shots of her being a little girl and watching it and loving it. But now? Not so much.
Another one she watched was "Little Mermaid". Again, a timeless classic. So clever and the music is SO good.
"The Little Mermaid 2" however, is forgettable at best and the music isn't even worth mentioning. I hadn't even remembered we had that one.
She also caught up with "Sleeping Beauty"--one of my total favorites from being a kid, thanks to an LP version with the follow along booklet, even if it skipped and I thought there were 4 good fairies : Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, and Merryweather.
And she watched "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" which, while classic, has some musical eccentricities. The Girl even mentioned that she had forgotten how nasally the Snow White voice is. When I told her that it was from a different musical time period, she asked "How old IS this movie?" When I told her, she was surprised and seemed to accept the crazy singing voice.
I'm glad she is watching some of these, just so I can remember tiny moments of her childhood, and mine at times. The classics are classic for a good reason. The sequels, well, they leave much to be desired.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
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