Maybe I spoke too soon.

Today was an interesting day. It started earlier than I was hoping with a cute little girl snuggling in bed with me (good:) and Spencer throwing up (bad). Cory had to be at his first meeting by 8 a.m. So I was on my own. And I knew I wouldn't be going to church and I was disappointed because it was the first day of our new ward and Cory was speaking in church with all the bishopric.

So my morning was full of yucky mom stuff like cleaning up throw up and poop. Good times! Then I find out I have a meeting with the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. I'm getting a calling. I'm thinking "please let it be a primary teacher or visiting teaching supervisor".

I was extended a call to be 2nd counselor in the Young Women's. When I heard those words I wanted to cry. I love young women's, but this was uncharted territory for me/us with Cory's calling.

Earlier in the week I was reading in Mosiah when Alma and his people were persecuted for doing what was right and for praying. If they were caught praying they would be put to death. To protect their lives they prayed to God in their hearts and he knew the thoughts of their hearts. They experienced much suffering and affliction. And the Lord knew of their pain.

The verse that I thought of today and one that I love is Mosiah 24:15:

"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

After receiving this call today I felt a heavy burden placed upon me and my family. All I could think about was the time away from my kids and the meetings and mutual night and girls camp and we are still going on trek.

Even though I couldn't go to church I had the opportunity of going to the church afterwards to be set apart with the rest of the young women's presidency. Cory set me apart which was very neat. I know this call comes from the Lord and he won't give me more than I can handle.

I know our burdens can be made light when we have faith in the Lord's plan. It does take patience and trusting in the Lord's timing. I'm so excited to get to know the other leaders and young women. It really is the best calling and I feel privileged to serve with these ladies. My feeling obviously changed throughout the day, which I hoped they would!

What did I say the other day? Out of the frying pan into the fire? Well, lets try "Out of the fire and into the burning inferno"!

Spencer's 5th birthday party.

Here is Mataya demonstrating a game we played at the party called "Hook the Treasure". The kids had to use the hook to pick up the necklaces and see who could pick up the most in 30 seconds.

Spencer got some super cool gifts. I'm not sure he is looking at his new toy, but it looks like it:)

Cute cousin Marley.

The wee little pirates.

On the hunt for treasure with Spencer leading the pack. I took pictures of things for the clues so it would be easier. We had them running all over outside and they we all breathing heavy by the time they got to the treasure.The treasure was in our outside storage bin we use for toys. It was full of goodie bags and pirate swords.
The boys running around with their treasure.

We played a game where I put uncooked rice and pennies in a big bowl and the kids had to wear a blindfold and had one minute to get as much money out as they could. This game was a time filler and I thought they would think it was lame, but I think they really loved it.

Little Mataya. She napped for most of the party, but she was out there at first running around with the kids.

We played "Pop the Cannonball". I told Parker to go easy on the little kids.....well you can see how well that pep talk went....lol!The goodie bags and treasure bottle. I got small soda bottles and had the kids put rice and small treasures in them.

Spencer and his buds.

Blowing out the candles on the treasure map cake.

It was a fun party and fun day.

out of the frying pan...into the fire!

So two weeks ago I was really stressed with life and my calling. We had a super busy weekend with Melissa's baby shower and the next day I had 3 meetings for young women's and trek. I just felt like I was running around like a crazy person barely getting by. The next day I get a phone call saying that the stake president wants to meet with me and Cory the following Wednesday. Those phone calls are scary! Cory tried to convince me it was for me, but I thought it was him.

We go on Wednesday (Feb 23rd) and meet with the entire stake presidency. And he extends a call to Cory to be the first counselor in the bishopric of a new ward. At first I'm thinking a singles ward or something, but then he tells us they are rearranging the boundaries of 5 wards and creating a new ward. It was an incredible experience and I'm grateful for these men and their words of counsel and their strong testimonies.

They didn't even tell us who the bishop was we had to walk into the high council room to find out. It is Jared Jones and we love him and his sweet wife so we cried and hugged (okay I cried:). Then we went in a room and talked and got to see the new ward boundaries and it was very shocking for our ward. And the worst part was we had to keep it a secret for almost 2 weeks. That was very difficult.

It was very hard to carry on at young women's and mutual night knowing that I would no longer be the 1st counselor in y.w. and that I would no longer be in the same ward as almost all the girls and leaders. There has been lots of crying on my part. However, I am very excited for this opportunity for Cory to serve and to have new people in our ward to meet. There are still lots of people in our ward that we know so it will all be okay.

So 2 weeks ago I was the busy one in my calling and now Cory is the busy one times a thousand! They have to fill all the callings for a ward in a short amount of time. But at least they can meet at the church and not a secret location like they had to last week....lol!

So that means no girls camp and no trek. My summer just suddenly opened up. Okay, I guess there is a chance Cory and I will still go on trek, but right now thinking about that is not a priority.

There are bigger fish to fry and they seem to cook better in an open fire:)

new stuff.

It's late and I'm patiently waiting on my chocolate raspberry cheesecake to cool so I can top it with the chocolate ganache....and put it in the fridge.

In the meantime.....I've posted a few things so keep scrolling down:)

baby bumps and cupcakes.

Emilee, Mom, Me, and Melissa.

We threw a baby shower for Melissa at her house a couple of weeks ago. She had baby Tyson just a few days ago and everything went great! She was shopping at Costco just over 12 hours before he was born....you go girl!

Melissa and Angela. This is Mel's sis-in-law. Melissa is 5'10" tall and she loves to be around Angela so she can feel like the "short one"!

Black bean salsa, vegetables, ham wrapped asparagus, chocolate peanut butter cupcakes, strawberries and cream cupcakes, and homemade carmels.....yep it's a baby shower!

(Heather we missed you tons....love you!)

Mataya @ the Dentist.

Mataya had her first trip to the dentist. She wouldn't lay there for the hygienist, but she did for the dentist. He is checking out her teeth and she's got the death grip on her toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. She did great and she loves it when I floss her teeth!

Parker's 7th Birthday

Parker turned 7 a few weeks ago. We had a little friend party and we were lucky enough to have great weather in the middle of February which made it possible to be outside for most of the party.

Lining up for a game.

Little sis having some pizza.

The party crowd looking into the sun:)

Megan....Parker and her love each other! They are in the same class at school and their afternoon teacher got married this week and on Monday they had a little party for her. There was lots of talk of marriage and love and Parker came home and told me he asked 8 girls to marry him and they all said yes. I asked him if he asked Megan and he said he asked her and she also said yes! Her last name is Jones so it would just make sense:)

There was a treasure hunt outside.The treasure was locked in the shed in the backyard.

Parker has some cute little friends and it was a fun party. Parker is an awesome kid and always has been. He is so responsible and hard working. As a mom it is so nice to be able to count on him. He is also very honest and he always tells it like it is. He LOVES school and works hard at reading and math. He is obsessed with maps! It's very cute he has a map of the world on the wall next to his bed and lots of books about the world and educates all of us. He loves to play on my iPhone and I usually think he is playing games, but half the time he's on the Google earth looking at the world!