Changing

Change is usually a good thing, I've decided.  I don't think that without change, any of us would grow very much.  Our family is going through some changes at the moment!  Of course Lydia is growing and changing, that much is a given.  Every day she surprises me with some new thing she has learned and it brings my heart so much joy that sometimes I feel I could just burst.  My relationship with my daughter gives my relationship with my Heavenly Father more depth and meaning.  He wants us to grow and learn--to be like Him.  Nothing gives Him greater joy than watching us make steps toward our full potential.

A couple of weeks ago, Ben received a new calling as a seminary teacher.  For anyone not familiar with the concept of LDS seminary, all high-school aged youth in the church are encouraged to attend daily seminary classes.  Where it is geographically feasible, these classes take place early in the morning, around 6am, before the school-day starts.  This year the youth will be studying the Old Testament.  While being less than thrilled about having to wake up at 5am every morning, Ben is really looking forward to being able to study the scriptures and gain new understanding about the Old Testament.

As if Ben being a seminary teacher wasn't enough ...

Today I was set apart as the Primary President in my ward.  I mean, yikes!  When I got the call a week ago, I felt overwhelmed and a little stressed out.  I feel much better now, but this is going to be a lot more challenging than just being a counselor in the Presidency.  However, I feel like this is exactly what I need to be doing right now.  I've been working with these beautiful children since December of last year and I absolutely love them.  I am excited to learn what the Lord has in store for them!

Most of all, I know that Ben and I need the blessings from serving in these callings.  I am so happy that the Lord has allowed us, through these callings, to qualify for the blessings that he has in store for us!

Happy Cow Appreciation Day

Or, as I like to call it, "Chow Appreciation Day". I love me some Chick Fil-A!

A Happy and Busy Fourth of July

This year we were invited to two different gatherings by very good friends on the Fourth of July.  Unfortunately it led to some overindulging which literally made me sick (I'll never do that again, I swear!), but we had a fabulous time.  The first get-together that we went to was in the afternoon and I don't think I've ever had so many tasty dishes at one party.  Being on Weight Watchers, I tried hard to just eat a little bit, but when I added up my points I was surprised to find that I had used quite a few (darn that kielbasa)!  It just goes to show that when it comes to dieting, I'm helpless without something like Weight Watchers backing me up.  I was still full by the time we got to the second party, but I had made Chicken Oriental Salad (one of my faves) and I just had to eat some.  Ahhhhh, why am I so in love with food??  There were also some deviled eggs (which after learning the PointsPlus values for I now understand why they are NOT nicknamed "angelic eggs"), and the quintessential buffalo chicken dip.  If you have never had buffalo chicken dip, you don't know what you are missing.  I NEVER make it.  EVER.  If I did, I would eat the entire thing in one sitting.  Yes, it is THAT good.  Someday I will share the recipe on my blog, but there will be no picture, because as I said, I NEVER make it.  Of course you can't eat buffalo chicken dip without tortilla chips and then there were peanut M&Ms and some really yummy looking soft sugar cookies w/ frosting ... Need I say more?  It all made me sick, even though I swear I didn't eat nearly as much as I did last year.  I think I'm just getting used to my new diet, hooray!  Well, my body is.  Every once in a while my brain likes to go on a vacation, led by my emotions ... it's kinda like the dish running away with the spoon ...

But, I digress.  The best part of the Fourth of July was not, in fact, the food, but it was how much my darling daughter enjoyed the fireworks.  At the second party (nicknamed "Cul-de-sac of Fire"--for reasons I'm sure you can deduce) we enjoyed some absolutely splendid fireworks.  Lydia was fascinated with them.  I was worried they would be too loud for her, but every time I tried to cover her ears she just brushed my hands away.  We sat next to some friends who had brought a small foldable bench.  Lydia had fun sitting on it, but then I turned it around so that she could climb on it, but wouldn't be able to go anywhere--it was perfect.  (She is such a wiggleworm!)  She went to bed at 10:30 last night, which is the latest she's been to bed since she was about 3 or 4 months old.  Hopefully we'll be back on our schedule soon ...

And now for the motherload of pictures:

Lydia: MOM!! Daddy is forcing me to play T-ball!!

Daddy: I swear she was having so much fun before you showed up!

Playing in the sandbox (she even ate some sand too ... yummy!)

Lydia's favorite pastime: running away and being chased by Mommy or Daddy

I found a ball!!

The girl LOVES watermelon ...

She only fell off the bench once.  I seriously think

she might need a helmet with all of the tumbling she does.

Here, lemme get that for ya!

Some of the peeps, getting ready to watch some good fireworks!!

Clapping for the show!

See, we DO get out occasionally, even Ben!