{sAmmY, saMMy, SamMy!!!}

This has been a crazy weekend, mostly all about Sam! On Saturday, Sammy had a dance competition. It was Dance America at Timpview High School. It was really nice to have it here locally. Usually we have to travel to Cedar City or St. George. Her team did really well. I think they had 5 dances and scored 1st & 2nd in all and high marks/point (I can't remember the exact term) on the ballet. It was the best run competition I have been to over the years. The man that was emcee did a fantastic job. He kept things moving right along and we were actually done at a reasonable time. In fact, it was right on time with the schedule or maybe even a few minutes early. Sam had an aerial in the first dance that she landed perfectly. She practices and practices. I'm so proud of her!

On Sunday, we got to church 10 min. early. So Sam was looking over the Sacrament program and noticed that the first speaker said "Youth Testimony ............. TBA" Sammy asked what this was and if the Bishop would just call someone out of the audience. I told her probably. Then she asks the Bishop's daughter, who is sitting in front of us, the same thing. She replies that is what he usually does. Sam then turns to me and says, "I going to the bathroom right after the Sacrament!" I just shook my head. Funny how the spirit prompts you! :)

Of course, after the Sacrament, the Bishop announces that he would like Sam, another girl, a boy, and then he starts to say another boys name, and then back tracks, and says he meant to say Keyan!!! Yeah for my kids. They both got to share their impromptu testimonies. Sam was terrified (tears and all). If she wasn't such a good kid, she just might have walked right on out. I don't write this to embarrass her. I just want her to know that I think she was very brave. That is such a hard thing to do and now that she has done it, maybe next time it won't be so bad!

I remember being in a ward council once when the bishop asked if we were able to give a Sunday School Lesson on the fly. I was the only one who didn't raise their hand. I need time to prepare. I know that the lessons are more meaningful if I have done my part. Sure there are things that I could give lessons about without any preparation, but not 40 minutes of Adult Sunday School!!! See I'm not so good with the impromptu stuff either!

After church, I was talking to Keyan and he said that as soon as the bishop started talking about the youth sharing their testimonies, he knew that he would be asked. He said he didn't know what to say either. I'm proud of him too!

Our youth have had some great opportunities lately. We took all the youth in our ward, which nearly everyone of them came to the Draper Temple Open House. Then last week the Bishop had a fireside for the kids to talk to them about Temples and to answer their questions. Then yesterday was the Draper Temple Dedication.

Landon and Ally were both disappointed that they were not going to the temple to see the dedication. I foolishly made the mistake of not taking them to the open house. I guess I was hoping to find a time when we could all go as a family and that just didn't happen. We couldn't go when Chris was off because we had Mutual and Scouts. Then all the kids sports started. Next time, I'll just take them all separately, because I can't not take Ally and Landon again. Luckily I'll have another opportunity in a few months!

Today, the kids were out of school. Yeah for teacher quality days!!! Sam invited a bunch of friends over to watch Twilight. We had breakfast and they watched the movie and played some games. I think they all had a nice time. Chris went with me to buy the movie Saturday morning. It was released at 12:01 a.m. Chris and I left our house after midnight. We went to the Springville Walmart. We walked in and stood in line. Then I followed the line up to the front and found a much shorter line and called Chris to come to the other line. We were in and out in less than 15 minutes. Some people in the other line said that they had been there for several hours. I guess if you want to be part of the hype, coming early is the thing for you, but if you are like me and just want the movie, they way we did it was best!!!

{dOn'T do DRUGS}

Tuesday night just after 9:p.m. Chris came home from work and asked if the street south of 1010 was in our ward. Yes, it is. He then goes on to tell me that there are a bunch of cops there and they have the street blocked off just 2 houses deep off Lakeshore Dr.

Come to find out a man, riding in the passenger seat of a car, emptied 4 rounds on the corner house. There were 9 people in the house, including women and children, at the time.

Luckily no one was hurt. Normally, across the street from this house is a handful of kids playing basketball or riding boards. That night, a parent and child, a couple of houses away, were in their front yard and saw the whole thing happen. One neighbor heard what he thought was a knock at the door and quickly went to see who it was, not knowing that the noise was actually bullets hitting a house. All of these could have been really bad if circumstances would have been even a little bit different.

So my whole point of this is don't do drugs. This house was targeted. The man who shot at the house thought that someone inside owed him drug money and was coming to collect a debt.

This is just another example how one person's poor choices affect more than just themselves. Drugs not only ruin the lives of the people who abuse them, but also affect friends and family and sometimes complete strangers in ways that the abuser could never know or care.

Christ's perfect example was centered in love. To take and abuse drugs is one of the most selfish things a person can do and far away from being Christlike in any way.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

{wiNteR sLumP}

It always seems like when it rains, it pours! However, right now I feel like I'm in a lull, that I am enjoying! :)

We've had some really nice weather recently, so it's been nice to be out and about. Our neighbor got a new basketball standard that he set up in the street. This has been a huge hit for the entire cul-de-sac.

Even though I say I've hit a lull, I'm still pretty busy. I still help out at the school. I have my young women's calling, that takes up a lot of time. I've had some political meetings lately. Landon's basketball season is just about over. He claims that soccer is his sport, but always wants to play basketball every year. It's fun! Keyan has his first soccer game tomorrow. It's a pre-season game, that just might get canceled if the weatherman is right. A storm is supposed to move in this afternoon dumping 3-6 inches of snow tonight. Yes, it's spring soccer season. It never fails, game day is always the worst weather day of the whole week. Time to dig out my winter gear again!