Sweethearts weekend

Feb. 12, 2012

Dear Elder Alex,

Well, we've survived another sweetheart's weekend. Dad and I went down to BSU yesterday afternoon and decorated, then we took tickets at the door. The hardest part was just having to yell in order to be heard over the music. Other than that, it was pretty fun seeing everyone. We had a few couples showing up from the other dance down the hall, so that was fun explaining our standards at the dance and waiting to see if they still wanted to come in. A few did, most didn't. The Purnell's put this whole dance together to give the kids an option for the other sweethearts dance that has quite the reputation for dirty dancing and bad music. Not to mention that the dress standard seemed pretty lax at the other place. Both dances were held at BSU. Ours was upstairs on the 3rd floor and the other one was on the 2nd floor, so they were pretty close to each other. The other dance is actually not even sponsored by Eagle High. It's sponsored by a group called the Daughters of Job and it's open to the whole valley. So the kids pretty much know that there's no one there that can point them out for something inappropriate and get them in trouble at the school later on, thus the reputation of the dance.

Our room was packed and it looked like everyone was having a really good time. Dad and I left around 10:15 to get home so we could get the pazookies ready for Kristina's group after the dance. Can't remember if I've told you about pazookies, seems like I have, but they were a hit. Caleb said it was the best dessert he's ever had. I'm not going to tell his mom that it was only two ingredients, cookie dough and ice cream. For dinner they had Hawaiian haystacks at the Binghams. Those are always a hit.

Kristina went with Adam Guyman (Dr. Moss's nephew). She used to complain about Adam being so geeky, but apparently he's grown up and is fun to be around now. They had a paint war using water bottles with watered down paint at the park during the day. Then they played dodgeball at the church.  Now we can rest from the dances until Prom.

Last week I took a digital photography class.  I loved it. It got me so motivated to get back into photography, but when I've been trying to use our camera for the things I've been learning, somehow it doesn't turn out like I think. I guess I need to practice more or hey, maybe I need a better camera...

I had 2 ward conferences today and didn't get home until after 6pm. They were both wonderful-the 1st ward and the 8th ward. They announced today in church that there are going to be ward splits and five wards have to meet next Sunday to see what the new boundaries are. They will be creating a new ward too, Eagle 9th ward. The wards that will have have splits are Eagle 1, 2, 4, 6, 8.  According to Pres. Stafford, our little ward will be totally obliterated because we are caught right in the middle. Those were his words. I'm really not looking forward to a big change, but it sounds like there's no way out of this. They are changing the wards to help spread out the youth too. Eagle 8th has 36 priests and E1 hardly has any. So next week, we'll let you know the new layout of the stake.

I spoke with the Smacks today. Jay is coming home on Wednesday and will be reporting this Sunday. We won't be able to go because I have another ward conference. I'll try to run into him somewhere and say hi. Also I still need to check on Graham and I'll let you know what I find out.

I'm waiting to hear from our Spanish missionaries tonight. I'm hoping they'll call me and let me know how their meeting with Maria and her family went yesterday. I wasn't happy with them last week because they had set an appointment with her for last Saturday at 9am. Maria and her husband were both there and waiting for them. The missionaries finally showed up in their p-day clothes because they had been moving or something and told Maria they didn't have time for the appointment. Maria's husband was very nice and even invited them into their house, but the elders said they were busy and set another appointment for this last Saturday. So I am anxious to hear what happened. I had to be at World Wide Training meeting this last Saturday or else I probably would have shown up at her door with Kirk just in case the elders didn't show.

So please don't ever blow off an appointment with a referral no matter what you're in the middle of. I was so sad and even Maria felt let down. I'll keep you posted.

This week dad and I are taking a quick trip Vegas, kind of like what we did last year. We're going to see a couple shows, Donny and Marie and Cirque. We're going to the Vegas temple, probably to Cici's (just because we have to), we have reservations at Bobby Flay's restaurant, etc. I'm looking forward to it. Kirk will be home to babysit. We get home on Saturday, then Saturday night Sarah gets in for a weeks' stay with us. No word or update on their visa yet.

Before I close up, I wanted to share a true story that Bishop Sam Smith told today at ward conference. He was talking about using the Book of Mormon as a tool in our lives. Sam is friends with this young man who was getting ready to graduate from high school. He was an awesome basketball player and was being recruited heavily by a few schools, one of them was BYU. His decision came down to 2 schools, BYU and another one. Sam didn't want to tell the name of the other one. The boy couldn't decide and one night he saw his Book of Mormon in the drawer next to his bed. So he took it out and laid it on the side table, halfway on and halfway off. He said a prayer and told Heavenly Father that he would go to BYU if in the morning his Book of Mormon was on the floor. Guess what happened???     Well, he chose the other school.  Bishop Smith said this was an excellent example of how not to use the Book of Mormon as a tool. Only by reading the words on the pages written by prophets of God will give us answers to our problems and questions. Reading the book is the only way that the Book of Mormon becomes a tool for us to use in our lives and a tool to bring the spirit into our every day lives.  I loved this example of how not to use the Book of Mormon. (also thought it might be a good story for you to use when you're teaching)

I hope you are well and that you were able to reach your goals from last week. I remembered your goals in my prayers and I know Heavenly Father is very aware of people in your area who are ready to hear the gospel message, ready to walk down another street as I say in my ward conference talk.

As I go to ward conferences, several people ask me about you, want to know some of your stories and how you are doing. There are many people who love you and care about you, not as much as me though. :)

Act in harmony with the spirit. Reading the Book of Mormon will bring you an abundance of the spirit and your very footsteps can be led by the Lord. Have a wonderful week.

Love you,

Mom xxoo