Kenzie finished the 2nd grade today. Congratulations my sweet Kenzie! I'm so proud of all the hard work she has done to learn. She really has improved so much with her learning by attending this Charter School Endeavor Hall. I'm so glad this school year is done. I'm so glad the girls are going to be in the same school this coming school year. I'm so excited for Summer break, and so are the girls. Here's to a great grand summer! 3 more days till our trip, Hooray!!!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Kenzie's Spring Music Performance
Thursday May 31st Endeavor Hall had a Spring music performance where each grade sang a song, and a couple all together. It was Patriotic themed, and totally awesome! Kenzie and the whole 2nd grade did great, and the whole school did too. So proud of all of them. The music program went like this:
National Anthem- All Grades
America, the Beautiful- 1st. Grade and 1st/2nd split.
This Land is Your Land- 2nd Grade
You're a Grand Old Flag- 3rd Grade
Armed Forces Salute 4th Grade.
1- Army Song ( The Caissons Go Rolling)
2- Navy Song (Anchors Aweigh)
3- Marine Song (Marine's Hymn)
4- Air Force Song
During each of these songs they wanted to recognize any members or past members and their families. They wanted them to stand for each song that represented the branch they belonged too. Matt wasn't able to go, so I stood up in his place.
Peace Like a River- 5th and 6th Grade
God Bless the USA- All Grades and Audience
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Making my life more enjoyable and learning in the meantime
As I mentioned in an earlier post that I was putting pinterest on hold. Pinterest is good, but it was distracting me way too much. It actually was making me unhappy, and feeling overwhelmed. I felt like I had to pin everything. I looked at my boards and realized that more than half of the stuff I wasn't ever going to do. So I went through and deleted about 2000 pins. Man it felt great! I'm not going to do any more pinning, but I will keep my boards up for when I need or feel like I need to use them.
I'm also not using facebook as much. I'm not deleting my account, but will go on to wish people a happy birthday, and once in awhile just scan through. Facebook was also making me very unhappy. I know this sounds ridiculous but it made me envious of everyone else's life. I felt like I wasn't good enough, and that I was always in competition with the world. It's exhausting. It just gets so exhausting trying to keep up with everything. Life is not about how many followers or friends you have, or who comments on your posts or status updates. I have realized that life for me is about learning, and improving, and enjoying it at the same time.. I know for me personally I wasn't learning and improving and enjoying it by these things in my life. For me to addicting. I don't like the feeling of being addicted, and having it rule my life. I'm not saying that it's bad for everyone just me.
As an afterthought I have also realized that life is not about how many push ups, or sit ups you can do, or how much you weigh, or how far you can run. I have also felt like I have been in competition in those areas as well. Fitness and health are important, and i'm going to keep exercising and being healthy. I need to learn how to not feel guilty when eating crappy and feeling like I need to go do an extreme workout to burn off the calories. I realize I am a good person. I realize that I do have things to offer the people around me, I just need to figure out what those things are. Wish me luck! It feels great to admit these feelings and get them out of me. Please keep me in your prayers that I can find ways and things to do make life totally awesome for me and my family. Thanks! I'm a big boob, and a drama queen.
Memorial day
I just realized that I forgot to post about our Memorial day. Whoops! Our little family, Quinn and my Mom drove out to Logan to visit the providence cemetery, and Logan cemetery. I had Matt go and buy single roses to lay on the graves of my older brother Curt, my Grandpa and Grandma Zollinger, and my Grandpa Kotter. I had a bag of marshmallows to lay on my Dad's grave. It was a good cleansing visit. I hadn't been to my Dad's grave or the other graves in about a year. It's really hard to get out that way. After visiting my Dad, Curt, and Grandpa and Grandma Z's graves we went and visited with my Grandma Kotter. We went with her to put flowers on my Grandpa Kotter's grave, and then took her out to lunch at the Texas Roadhouse. Yummy! She really enjoyed herself and was very happy that we came to visit her. She is very lonely. I need to get out there more. I hope I will have more time, or that I can make time. After visiting with her we left and visited my Aunt Maryann, and Uncle Derald. I love their house and yard, have lot's of good memories there. I need to visit them more often as well.
We left and came back to my mom's house and visited for a little bit, and then my Mom says who is in the mood for ice cream? Of course we all were, and so she says let's go my treat. So we went to Dairy Queen and got some yummy treats. Thanks Mom! We didn't have time to go put flowers on Matt's Grandpa Layton, Or Grandpa or Grandma Lemmon's graves. Matt bought a big candy bar to lay on Grandpa and Grandma Lemmon's grave. They always had candy bars for you when we came to visit. So he had gotten a huge snickers bar because that was the one he always chose. We were able to lay flowers on his grandfather's grave as well. We were able to do this the next day for our family night.
Ch Ch Changes
Yesterday Sunday June 3rd we had some serious changes happen. On Sunday May 26th we went to Church. At the beginning of Sacrament meeting they told us the following Sunday we were to meet at 9 AM with the other 2 wards that meet in the same building for Sacrament meeting, then at 1 PM we were to meet at the Stake center as a Stake. Well this information perked everyone right up. We were all wondering what was going on. After the end of Sacrament meeting the Stake president who was visiting our ward had some closing remarks. He told us that our area was going to be included in the Salt Lake City West mission. I can't remember how many missionaries were going to be called specifically for our area. This is really neat! As I have mentioned before our area has really been struggling. We have a lot of inactive people in our neighborhood.
We left after the meeting had ended so we could go to Jason and Rachael's for a memorial day before get together, and to finish planning for our trip. I was so excited thinking about the coming Sunday to find out what was going on. I thought maybe they were going to combine wards, or talk more about the mission for our area. Then later that night my good friend Becca sends me a text message saying I'll bet you $1 that they are changing boundaries. When I read that I got a pit in my stomach. I didn't want to be separated from my friends. Becca and Dan have been through a boundary change before. Dan's Dad was a Bishop for 8 years, and had been through 6 boundary changes through his time of serving as Bishop. I really think they know what they are talking about. I was now nervous for Sunday to come.
I spent the whole week thinking about it. Thursday I checked our home phone caller ID and answering machine to see if any one had called or left a message. We really don't use our home phone any more because we have so many telemarketers calling. Plus it kept waking Matt up, and it was just annoying me to hear the noise of the phone ringing. I have to apologize to family and friends who have tried to call our home phone.several times and have left messages which I never returned. I'm so sorry! I have just had a rough few months and haven't really wanted to talk on the phone. Everything was bothering me. I even keep my cell phone on silent so I don't have to hear it. If you call my cell, you have a better chance of me answering, or calling you back sooner.
Going back to going downstairs and checking phone messages we had received a couple of calls from one of the Stake high council members Brother Stauffer. He wanted to meet with us. I had checked when Matt was still asleep and I got busy and forgot to tell him to call Brother Stauffer back. Saturday I checked again, and there was another call from him. I told Matt this time, and he called him back, but nobody answered, so he left a message. I had to get out of my house, so we decided to take a walk to Dan and Becca's house. Kenzie rode her bike, and Madisynn took her scooter, while we walked.
When we got to their house we started talking about the possible boundary change. I got teary eyed. I didn't want to be separated from my friends. Dan and Becca both teased me that they were just going to take our house and put it in a whole other stake. Then we told them that Brother Stauffer had been trying to get a hold of Matt. They both teased Matt that he was going to be the Bishop of the new ward, or be in the Bishopric. We were both like NOOOOO!!! While we were talking Brother Stauffer called Matt back on his cell. He asked if he could meet with us at our home in 15 min. Matt said yes, and so we had to leave in a hurry to get back home.
When Brother Stauffer got to our house we had him come upstairs, and we sat down on the couches. We talked for a bit, and then he said well I was sent from the Stake to tell you thank you for your service as the ward clerk we are releasing you. Matt says thank you, but you released me a couple of months ago. Then Brother Stauffer instantly says that is right we did release you. He apologized. The poor man has had a busy week. He said that he was given a ward list with those that needed to be released. He had to track all of these people down to tell them that they were going to be released. Apparently the ward list calling hadn't been updated yet, and still had Matt as the ward clerk. Brother Stauffer says " oh no! Now I need to get a hold of Blaine Kimber. He works swings doesn't he? I'll figure something out." He then apologized again, and left. Both Matt and I let out deep sighs of relief when we closed the door after him. Then I instantly sent a text to Dan and Becca telling them about what had just happened. Then it was time to get the girls to bed since it was going to be an early morning. Then Matt and I had prayers, and opened our fast since we would be on vacation during fast Sunday. It felt right to fast, and pray for all of these changes, and to feel better about them on the actual day that it was happening.
I slept surprisingly well. I have been up lately sleep walking several times a night for a long time now. I think that I actually had one sleep walking episode which I kind of remember. The only reason why I kind of remember is that one of my hoodies was on the floor by my bed. It wasn't there when I went to bed, and the more I thought about it, the more I remember getting it out of the closet. Weird! Anyways I got up at a decent time and got ready. Then it was time to get the girls up and ready. We actually made it to church 10 min. early. That hasn't happened in a long time. We are usually late. Matt wasn't able to make it to this meeting because he had worked all night. The girls and I were able to sit with Dan and Becca, and Brad and Brittany some other friends in our ward. We were wondering what was going to be said during Sacrament meeting. Nothing was mentioned about the 1 PM meeting, but all of the talks were on missionary work. Very good talks too! After the meeting had ended our little group chatted and said let's meet at the Stake Center at 12:30 so we can sit together. I said I'll let Terri our other friend know that she was welcome to sit with us since her family wouldn't be going to the 1PM meeting.
When we got home I helped the girls get a snack, and then sent a text to Terri letting her know that we were meeting at 12:30 if she wanted to sit with us. I also said she could have a ride with us if she wanted. Then I organized my Pinterest boards because I'm done pinning for awhile. I'll have to explain why in another post. Then I played a game of sorry with the girls. Matt got up, and I told him that we were meeting at 12:30 so he would hurry quicker. Then I started thinking maybe I should call Terri back to see if she got my text. I kept on debating on whether I should do it or not for about 5 min. I decided that I would, and boy am i glad.
I thought the phone number I had was the cell phone. It was the home phone and that is where I sent my text too. So when Terri answered I asked her if she had gotten my text. She said um no. She asked me what number I had sent it too. She laughed and said that was her home phone. So the short version of this I told her what we were doing, and asked her if she wanted a ride. She said yes, and she had thought to call me and ask if she could ride with us, but didn't. When I hung up with her, Matt came into the room and I told him about what had happened. I asked him if that was the spirit telling me to call Terri. He said it sure was. Remember in my earlier posts when I said I having a hard time listening to the Spirit, or if knowing it was the Spirit? Well I have been praying to be able to know, and to be able to listen. This little situation was an answer to my prayer. Again I'm so glad I listened.
When we got to the Stake center all of the pews were full except 1. Only 2 people were sitting on it. We really didn't want to sit on the hard folding chairs, so we went asked if we could sit with them. They said sure they only had 1 other person coming. I felt bad that we wouldn't be able to have enough room to have Brad and Brittany and their daughter Shayla sit with us. They hadn't arrived yet, because we got there before 12:30. Only Dan was able to come to this meeting because Becca's sister was having their baby blessed, and having a family get together after. She had to support her sister. Anyways so we were able to all fit on this little side row bench only if I were to have Maddie sit on my lap. I'm so glad we came earlier than we had planned.
The meeting started on time. We opened up singing the Spirit of God. Then they released some stake callings, and called some people to new stake callings. Then they had each ward stand separately so they could sustain the released people. Then the Stake President stood up and read a letter from the first presidency giving permission to dissolve the Lakeridge 5th, and 16th wards (16th ward is our ward), and to change the boundaries. Then he said that everyone holding callings in these two wards are released and given a vote of thanks. This means i'm no longer an activity days leader, nuts! Then he had someone pass out a paper with the new boundaries of each ward. When I looked at it my heart glad, but sunken as well. We were apart of the old 6th ward which was happy news, but half of the old 16th ward was now divided and not going to be in the the 6th ward with us. They were going to be a part of the new 8th ward and going to a whole separate building. The boundary line was to the Jefferson street. They were not going to be in our ward. I teared up.
This will not be the end we told each other we have to make time to see each other now. This is going to be hard, but I know it's right. I'm so happy to have a bigger ward, with more KIDS!!!! The Stake president then called the Bishop's of the new wards and their counselors to be sustained. Our Bishop and first counselor of the the 16th ward were called to be the New Bishop and 1st counselor of the new 6th ward. I can't remember who was called to be the 2nd counselor. Then the Stake President had each new ward stand and be recognized. Each ward now has about 400 members. I don't know how many are active or inactive. After that he went on to say that they as a Stake presidency had prayed about and over these changes for months and months, and months, and that they knew that this was the right thing to do. This really needed to happen. Each ward has been struggling for a long time.
I don't know why the Lord confirmed to the Stake presidency 8 years ago to separate the 6th ward and make a new ward the 16th ward. Who have been struggling the entire time, and now to dissolve the 16th ward but separate half of them again. The Lord has his reasons, We need to trust in him. Good things will happen. Have faith! After he was done speaking each of the Bishops that had been released were asked to come and up and say some words. The bishop of the old 6th ward said something that confirms to me that this had to happen. He said that the last 3 months have been so hard trying to fill callings. They couldn't do it. 3 months ago was when I started to really struggle with our ward and everything, and started to pray harder for some changes. Again my prayers were answered, but not how I wanted them to be answered.
After each of the Bishop's had spoken we sang a closing song i'll go where you want me to go, and then had a closing prayer. Matt and I, Terri, and Dan started talking more about the changes. Then Terri left to go give the people that were split off from our ward a hug. I was going to follow, but then Dan started talking some more. I told him that I couldn't believe that his scenario had happened in a way. All of the people that they hang out with are on our street, or behind our street. So it felt like their house was plucked up and taken to another stake. We both started crying, and I said I thought you guys moved here for me. They have really been good to us. He said we are still here for you, and I told him the same thing. This is not goodbye. Their little girl Alice who is Maddie's age will be going to Endeavor Hall as well, and we are carpooling with them. Dan has Mondays off like Matt so we can get together then as well. We will find opportunities. Then I needed to make my rounds and give some people hugs as well. We can't let ourselves become strangers I said as I hugged them. They agreed. I hope we don't become strangers. Then it was time to leave.
What an emotional hard day yesterday was. All in all i'm very happy with these changes. I have a hard time with change. I wonder what the upcoming months will bring. I wonder what callings Matt and I will receive. I wonder how the new mission out in our area will go. It will be effective July 1st. I wonder if we really will see the old people in our ward. Very concerned with a small handful of them. I hope they will stay active, and become stronger. I wonder how my kids will do with new kids, how they will fit in. Lot's on my mind! A few things to help me out and get me through this week: Tonight Dan and Becca and the girls are coming over to hang out and have dinner with us. Wednesday I have my old crossing partner and good friend Allyson and her daughter coming over for lunch and play date, Thursday shopping for our trip and packing throughout the week, Friday we leave for Illinois. It's finally here, hooray! Can't wait to see Matt's parents, and Jacob and Tally and their girls. See you soon!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Maddie's last day of school
Maddie's last day of school was Friday June 1st, Hallelujah! As much as I don't want her to grow up, i'm so glad that Kindergarten is done and over. It has been a very long year. Maddie was in half day Kindergarten. I felt like I could never go anywhere because she was in the afternoon class. I couldn't do Mornings because I would have no way of getting her to school with my crossing being the same time her school started. Matt would be home in the afternoon so he could pick her up. Everything would have been fine if Kenzie and Maddie were in the same school. Kenzie could have walked with her to school from my crossing spot, and back home to my crossing spot. My day would go something like this: I would go to my morning crossing come home and a couple of hrs. later have to take her to school. Then a few hrs. later I had to be to my school crossing. Fridays were the worst because it was early day. I really couldn't do much.
On Maddie's last day I picked her up a little early because Matt was having back problems. When she came up to the office she says "Mom my brain is full!" I replied back saying " I'm so glad! You learned all that you needed to know from Kindergarten." It was so cute and funny. She is excited to be done. She is going to miss Mrs Dunbar so much, and so am I. She was a really good teacher. I'm so glad that she had a good experience her first year in school. I hope she has more good years. She is so excited to be going to school with Kenzie this next school year, and to be in first grade.
Maddie The Kindergarten Graduate
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The program went like this:
Poem: Sit on your bottom
Song: Who let the letters out
Song: Peanut Butter
Song: Have you ever been a fishing?
Song Each of us is a flower. (This is the song that I got teary eyed on)
Song: Day O
Song: Tooty Ta
Demonstration: Rainstorm
Poem Tee Hee Hee
Awarding of completion certificates and medals
Presentation: kindergarten slide show
Refreshments!!!
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