tenths

Last night I took a couple children and my parents to a gymnastics meet. The Utes won by over half a point. My mom remarked that they didn't win by much. I disagreed. In gymnastics, half a point is HUGE. My mom then said, "I guess that's true. Just look how many of the recent Olympic events were decided by tenths or even hundredths."

It's so true. Such a small margin as a couple hundredths can be the difference between going home with a medal or just going home.

In our church, we donate a tenth of our income. That tenth could be the difference between a temple recommend or being shut out from the blessings of temple attendance.

How many other times do tenths count? Missing a bus or train by a few seconds? Not being involved in an accident because you were running late? The game-winning basket shot a few tenths of a second before the game clock expires and the buzzer sounds? Those few extra seconds it takes to hug your children/husband before they walk out the door?

What does a tenth mean to you?

cute photos

I truly love Alec's dance photos!

church callings

Ever notice how some people keep getting the same church callings?

My mom has almost always been either in Primary or Relief Society. I think she was in Young Women's twice and she's never taught Sunday School. My friend, Jill, has been in Primary FOREVER (and she's amazing at it).

I have mostly worked with the youth.

First year of college - I don't remember
Second year - Relief Society presidency
Third year - secretary to Stake President/ Primary teacher
Fourth year - Young Women's presidency
1990 - I don't remember
1991 - Merrie Miss teacher
1992 - I don't remember
1993 - asst YW camp director and cub scout den leader
1994 - Young Women president
1995 - Young Women president
1996 - Young Women president
1997 - Young Women president
1998 - cub scout den leader
1999 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher
2000 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher/asst camp director
2001 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher/asst camp director
2001 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher
2002 - Compassionate Service leader
2003 - Enrichment leader/Stake youth conference food chair
2004 - Enrichment leader
2005 - Enrichment leader/camp director/stake youth conference food chair
2006 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher/camp director
2007 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher/camp director
2008 - 17/18 Sunday School teacher/camp director
2009 - Young Women presidency/ camp director
2010 - Young Women presidency


Either it means the Lord knows I'm NO good with young children or He thinks I still have a LOT to learn about the youth. It could go either way...

copycat

Alec played basketball with the Priests' quorum on Saturday.

A couple times during the game, Alec pulled the ref aside and yelled, "That boy hit me! He hurt my ankle!"

It was weird. Alec doesn't usually do that. He is usually just happy to play. He generally saves his complaining for me on the way home and it is usually a complaint that the boys don't give him the ball EVERY time down the court.

Then, I realized that the other boys on Alec's team were complaining to the refs about the calls (or lack thereof). Alec was just following suit. Even the ref (who refs every game) told Kevin and I that he realized Alec was aping his teammates' behavior.

It just shows how strong our need is to "fit in".

Resolutions

Two months into the new year and time for a check-up on my goals.

Lose weight - Doing great on this one. I've been eating much healthier and much less and I am losing weight. I feel better and am down a size or two in clothing.

Earn YW Medallion - Progressing well here. Accomplished a few achievements this past month and finished a project.

Write my grandma's life history - Haven't done a darn thing except recover (from a crashed laptop) what I'd already started. I know it's a stretch but it feels like progress.

Do major projects early
CPE - I did 4 hours this month.
Christmas cards - I haven't given them a thought.
nieces and nephews birthday presents - FINISHED!
Christmas gifts - I started them this month.

Write a book - Haven't done a darn thing!

Get 7 hours of sleep per night - FAILURE! I have managed 7-8 hours on most Friday and Saturday nights (I am such a party animal - lol) but weeknights are still about 6 hours. On the rare occassion that I get to bed early, I seem to wake up extra early. I think my body is used to 6 hours. I have to break that bad habit!


Conclusion: My progress is slow but there is progress in most areas. I've got to focus on the book and my grandma's life history in March.

my Olympic event

I didn't see much of the Olympics this year - just bits and pieces here and there. And I never had Olympic dreams growing up. Of course, since I grew up without a TV, it is quite possible I never even realized there were Olympics until I was in college!

However, if I had to chose any winter Olympic sport to compete in I would have to choose the 50K cross-country ski race.

I love to cross-country ski. Also, I am much more about endurance than danger. Yep. Thirty miles of slogging it out sounds much more my speed than doing aerial flips, twists, and turns with skis or snowboards clipped to my boots. I'm not much of a daredevil.

If you had to choose a winter Olympic sport to compete in, what would you choose?

and Sundays we go to Church?

As our family headed over to the church on Saturday for Alec's basketball game, I remarked that I had been there every day of that week except Monday.

Yep. Saturday for Alec's basketball game. Sunday for church. Tuesday for a Youth Conference meeting. Wednesday for Young Women's. Thursday for Shanley's basketball game. Friday for the Blue and Gold Banquet. Saturday for Alec's basketball game. Sunday for church again. Eight out of nine days.

My kids thought that was pretty funny.

I think it's the reason why most of my social life revolves around members of my ward. It probably also explains why when a friend moves out of the ward, they may as well be dead for as much as I ever see them again. Such is the phenomena of church membership.