Here's a link to James' blog. He is posting some of his short stories, and they are really good...(even if I am a bit prejudiced!)

The first (and only one posted so far) had me riveted! James learned a new word...he didn't know what riveted meant...ha ha.

http://zingmonkey.blogspot.com

Que buena!

It has been so fun to catch up with the Meza family from my mission. It's so gratifying to know how they have been for the last 25 years and to see the things they have done. I was chatting with Francy tonight. She told me that she was Relief Society president for four years and now is working in the other Relief Society meetings as well as teaching the temple prep class. Her husband is an assistant in the high priests. They are preparing for a temple trip to Guatemala on October 20. She says they go every year and she loves being in the temple. I know they are excited to have connected with me as I am with them. This technology is great! I need a current photo of them. This is the best I could do from their facebook albums.

Nancy (I think), Francy and Jasmin

Francy and her son Manases when he was on his mission--coming or going, I'm not sure which

And with all this Spanish floating around on my facebook I think my English is slipping a little. I was filling out the conducting sheet for Relief Society today and wrote for the lesson "Faith en Cristo" ha ha!

Sometimes I'm slow

The other day I wrote about something I finally "got" while at the temple with Johnathan and Laney on Saturday.

Tonight I went to a Regional Auxiliary Training meeting and had the opportunity to learn at the feet (almost literally...I was on the second row back, within five feet of the speakers) of two members of the General Relief Society board. On top of that, the Relief Society presidents from our stake and one other stake were invited to attend a focus group with Sisters Staples and Doxey from the General Board.

After being spiritually fed and having several "ah ha" moments, I can honestly say...

I feel like I finally kinda know what I'm supposed to be doing!

200th post

I've seen people do fun contests and drawings for their 100th and 200th posts. I'd like to do that sometime, but at this stage in my life I'm noticing something a little strange.

At 100 posts...Johnathan came home from his mission and I was writing about it.

At 200 posts...Johnathan was getting married and I wrote about that.

Oh well, maybe things will slow down a little and I'll get to do something really fun for the 300th post. LOL

Change in perspective

I've had a little time to collect my thoughts about Saturday. One thing the sealer did with John and Laney was to have them look in the mirrors. He told them that the one direction was their ancestors and stretched on and on forever. The other direction was their posterity, which also went on forever. I've seen this done several times, including our own wedding, but I never caught the full vision of what it meant. One thing that made Saturday so powerful for me was that I finally got it.

I've been playing a game on facebook called "FrontierVille." In this game you are given tasks to do and as you complete them you are given new tasks. There are tasks for the house, barn, school, inn and so on. Each series has 5-10 (or so) tasks in it.

I've been thinking how much life is like that. Heavenly Father set up a series of tasks for us to do. There's the "growing up" series of tasks that includes: attending elementary school, getting baptized, graduating from primary. Then there's the "teenage" series: going to Young Men's or Young Womens, attending junior high and high school, dating, learning to drive, and graduating. Then there's the college, mission, and marriage series, which ends with the "get married in the temple" task. All that is followed by the parenthood series. At that point some of the new tasks are: teach your children to work, get your children to do their homework, and raise your children without killing them...to name a few. One of the tasks in this series is the "get your children to temple marriage" series.

Yesterday was a culmination of the "get your children to temple marriage" series for us as we watched Johnathan and Laney get sealed as a couple. However, the next series was opened up for us to see...It is the "help get your grandchildren to the temple" series. We think we know the entire plan and then another view is opened up and we see more of Heavenly Father's perspective. That can be mind boggling.

It all makes me so happy to have the gospel in my life, and to know that Heavenly Father has a plan. I don't understand the entire plan, but I know He does. I'm glad I've learned to trust Him, and I know He is in charge.

The big day

At this moment I'm having a hard time putting my feelings to words (too little sleep, too much stress and too many feelings all at once). Besides the fact that it was such a special experience that I don't know the words to express it all. Today "a picture says a thousand words" will have to do.

Johnathan and Laney Jenson

September 4, 2010

Boise, Idaho

The part that got to me the most was watching them drive away. True to fashion, Johnathan honked all the way down the street!

Just another one of those goodbye times. (see the post before this one)

Tomorrow...

First I sent him to kindergarten. He ran in to greet his teacher and new friends without looking back. I went out for some shopping therapy.

Then I sent him into the lone and dreary world when he went on his mission. He was excited and didn't look back. I read my mission journals and reminded myself of all the blessings and growth he would be gaining.

Now, I send him off to start his own family. He's still only looking forward with excitement...

I feel anxious because I know he is starting on some of the hardest years of his life, as he creates this new family, gets through school and settles into a career...

BUT I'm looking forward to grandchildren!