Just because my blog feels lonely, it told me.

I don't have a lot to say, but I am sure this will still end up being long. I am a rambler. Anyone who knows me knows I can talk a lot. So let us just see where this goes.

We have a had a great time the past few weeks. We have managed to go to Phoenix, where Corky took the GMAT and we visited with his family in an all-too-short weekend. We also have gone to St. George where I had a great time with my family. As much fun as it is to get away, it is good to be home. I missed 3 Sundays of Primary in a row and was feeling very disconnected and was honestly missing the kids. It was a nice break and I felt re-energized, but I did miss them. For more reasons than 1, I know this calling is for ME right now. Anyone could do what I do as a Primary President, most people would probably do better. I am nothing extra-ordinary in my calling but I am reminded each week in the tiniest of ways that this calling was given to me, FOR me right now in my life. I am grateful. I am humbled. Most of all, I am really excited because for the first time since I have had this calling, I have had a full roster of teachers.

Corky and I joined a co-ed softball team recently and are having a lot of fun. I either play right field or second base, and I am not particularly excellent at either of them. It has been a really long time. Last night, playing right field, I was literally praying with each batter that the ball wouldn't come to me. My depth perception with pop flies is really, really rusty. My hitting though has been consistent and that is happy news. Our team won and Corky and I have a good time playing together. Times like these though is when I miss living closer to family. I am afraid our babysitters (or their parents) are going to get sick of us asking to babysit so often.

I have ice on my knee right now thanks to softball. A lot of people probably don't know or don't remember that about 4 years ago I had to have my knee completely redone. They had to break my my tibia and re-align my knee. It was a mess and extremely painful. Corky was in Iraq at the time and Gracey was a very active 8 month old. It was a blessing that it all happened at that time because I had so much help from my family. (Thank you Family!) Anyway, long jogs don't cause pain in my knee but I will tell you something....running those bases in a full on sprint and turning those corners does a number. I am pretty sure that my knee thinks it is 80 years old. It is incredibly stiff and painful.

As much as I would love to continue with my rambling (I wouldn't really) I will spare you all. Thanks for tuning into tiny bits of my life.

That "Dam" Traffic

Yesterday, my girls and I thought we would get a good start on the holiday weekend by going to St. George a day earlier than normal. We decided to go over the Hoover Dam since it is usually the fastest way to go, but only as long as you don't have traffic. I was sure that we were a day ahead of the holiday traffic, not to mention it was still early in the day, we would be fine.

The drive was nice and smooth. There were hardly any cars on the road....until 5 miles BEFORE the dam! All of the sudden we were at a complete stop. I was stressing because I had to pee, Gracey had to pee, and Emily has only been completely out of diapers for 5 days now. So we wait it out. Meanwhile, I am searching for diapers for my girls to pee in if we get desperate, even contemplating the use of an empty Tupperware bowl that I was returning to my mom!

Finally, after 40 minutes and moving only about 1,000 feet, I decide to turn around and backtracked 100 miles to Kingman. I didn't even go home. I immediately just took another route to get to Las Vegas. We did stop in Kingman to go to the restroom and to fill up the gas tank. (My girls were so patient!) I told Corky that there is nothing like filling the car up in Kingman.....and then filling the car up in Kingman only a few hours later!

So what should have been a 3 1/2-4 hour drive, turned in a 7 hour drive.

I will also report, Emily stayed dry the entire time. I stayed on top of that by stopping 3 different times, but I was so proud of her.

And my final comment/question - What in the world did we do as kids without portable DVD players? What a life saver!!!!!!

Those baby blues.

Sometimes I am crazy, busy, tired, non-creative, and boring. Those are a few words that I would use to describe how I feel some days.

Then sometimes happiness, love, humility, and gratefulness just don't seem good enough.

I love those moments that words just cannot describe.

Oops!

I will start by saying how much I really love conference. I love hearing the talks and reading them later on, and this weekend I am especially glad to finally have DVR because I can re-watch them.*

I am sure people can relate to this more than I really think. You know, trying to concentrate on these beloved leaders and drink up every last word they have to say, knowing someone will say something that is just for you. All while trying to play referee to the two little ones that seem to have a fight over everything they can get their hands on. Then you laugh (and roll your eyes) at yourself because while a church leader on TV is encouraging patience and love, you are screaming "BE QUIET!!!!! YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!" Yep, that was me. After the first session was over, which I am pretty sure I don't even remember who spoke, I got up and said to Corky sarcastically, "Well that was a good session!" He nicely reminded me that this is just our life right now. I gladly accept (on most days).

So for the 5th and final session of conference, we put the girls down for a nap. Corky and I were excited to have some quiet time to be able to finally focus and listen. Can you guess what happened?? Our quiet 2 hours of spirituality turned into a 2 hour nap. We both woke up during the final choir song and I couldn't believe that it was all over. Something about those General Authorities slow and soothing voices always does it. Apparently President Monson spoke because when I woke up, Gracey was sitting quietly and patiently at the table coloring and she told me that she had just watched him talk.

Of course, as soon as conference was over, both of my girls sat through and watched the entire movie of "The Other Side of Heaven" with us.

*So "re-watching" is probably not the right word. Truth be told, I will be watching some for the first time!