Happy Big 20!

Happy Birthday Kido!  Jordan is 20 years old today!  We can't believe it.  We are now officially the parents of two young adults.  Yikes!!!  And after we pick ourselves up off the floor we will help you celebrate your big day!!!

Hope it's one of the best birthdays yet!!!  We love you!!!!

Finding the Balance

I never ever thought I'd be saying this, and I'll probably never say it again, but I  kind of miss teaching Gospel Doctrine.  LOL...that took a lot to say!    But I am growing to love my new calling as nursery leader.  Let me share what I've learned these last couple months.  I have to admit when I was first called I really thought it was one of those callings made by 95% desperation and very little inspiration.  The first thing I learned about nursery was they really need to have some sort of basic training course first!  Raising 5 kids just isn't enough! Had I not learned any patience in the last 22 years?  Was this why I was called?  I came home in tears the first two weeks of nursery.  I thought to myself, "there has to be something more to this than babysitting for two hours."  I think I had been on such a learning high when I was teaching Gospel Doctrine that I just missed what I personally was gaining.  Selfish...I know.  The next week I had this thought, "Okay, so some callings you receive, and some callings you give." I thought this new call to nursery was definitely a calling where I gave much more than I received...and that was totally okay.  I could do that.  Although I was still feeling a little "bummed", with a new attitude I knew I could do better.  We attended a youth fireside that evening where we watched the amazing adventure the kids in the stake had at their Moroni's Quest youth conference where they got to re-enact the Book of Mormon for 4 days out in the wilderness.  As I was sitting there listening to this amazing presentation and still feeling a little overwhelmed with nursery, one of my little nursery "friends" came up with her mom and wanted to say hello....Audrey.  Adorable, shy, quiet little Audrey.  Talk about an attitude adjustment on the spot.  I noticed over the next couple weeks following this that every where I went, no matter where, whether it was the store, miniature golfing, the library....EVERYWHERE I went little children, most of whom I'd never met or seen before,  would come up to me and want to talk or just smile or just say hi.  I thought it was really funny but didn't put a whole lot of thought into it.  Then we had the opportunity to attend the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference (always my favorite meeting) where Pres. Spjute spoke on service (Pres. Spjute is one of my all time favorite people!)  One of the things that stood out to me was a comment he made on service.  He said that in every calling we serve in...every act of service we offer...there is ALWAYS a balance of giving and receiving.  He said that we need to look for that balance.  That was like lightening from above!!!!  I had been viewing this entirely all wrong!  The next morning we were sitting in conference and as I looked around the auditorium, no matter which way I turned there was a small child either waving, smiling, or even holding out their arms to me to come hold them (one of them was hilarious..she absolutely wanted away from her Grandma).  Again, children I didn't even know and had never seen before.  Dennis even leaned over to me and said, "This is kind of like that Santa Clause movie where the kids all know he's Santa.  They must KNOW your nursery leader!"  Humbling.....There is no greater call than teaching those most tender in the Gospel.  And who could be more tender than these little ones.  There is NOTHING more precious than the love and trust of a small child, which is exactly what I was receiving.  And I found my balance.

Just a few of my favorite friends

Future Missionary

Jesus loves me soooooo much!

For Missionary Moms

In The Wink of an Eye
~Michael McClean~

With the wink of an eye I'll be home,

Just you wait..it won't take all that long.

Though I'm not really sure what's behind this new door,

I'll cling to your love while I'm gone.

With the wink of an eye  I'll be home,

And I'll show you the treasures I've found.

And I hope that you'll see that these changes in me,

Are ones that will make you proud.

As am I'm leaving I feel sure,

We've all gone through leaving home before.

 With the wink of an eye I'll be home,
And we'll laugh, and we'll hold, and we'll cry.
For this veil of tears isn't measured in years,
It's all with the wink of an eye.
The wink of a heavenly eye.

Elder Ririe Hits His 18 Month Mark!!!

***********B R E A K I N G    N E W S***********

September 4th marked Elder "Bud's" 18 months.  Only 6 more months to go!  And we had a surprise Sunday morning.  We woke up to an email from Sis. Lewis and family (the family that he's staying with this transfer) AND a video!!!  It was a video of Elder "Bud" burning a pair of pants to mark his momentous 18 months out in the mission field!  It was great to see him.  They were having a great time!  I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see his smile and hear his laugh.  How I miss that laugh!!!  Sis. Lewis also sent me a second email this morning to assure me that the blazing pants actually belonged to an elder that had left them behind.  She didn't want me to be in the dark and think that they actually belonged to Elder "Bud".  Thanks Sis. Lewis!!!  LOL...it must be a mom thing.  How did she know I was worried he was burning one of his suits!

So, only 6 more months to go!  I have mixed feelings, as I'm sure Lance does as well.  It's been such a fantastic experience to have a missionary out in the field and I hate to see it end, but there's days like today that I'm just ready for him to be home.  I'm sure it has something to do with seeing that smile and hearing that laugh. 

Keep up the good work Bud!  And as always....
Be Safe....Be Good....Be Strong!!!!  We love you!

His awesome apron from the 18th Ward Primary!

Mom's "Me" Time

LDS Bountiful Temple

With a hectic week of getting the kids back to school (and a few unexpected stresses that have come with that) and getting our home back into somewhat of a daily routine, I felt I needed a little "me" time.  Then came the question, "what, exactly, to do with this "me" time?"  Some options that came to mind were start my new book, pedicure (yes, sad to admit but its the end of summer and I've yet to get my tootsies sandal wear ready), lunch with a friend, or a little "happy present" shopping (that idea was short lived when I reminded myself just how costly it was to get the kids all in school...no "happy presents" for mom this month!)  As I was laying in bed contemplating the organization of the new day that would soon be rising, I had an overwhelming desire to go to the temple.  A desire to feel the peace, comfort, and tranquility that only the temple can bring.  And at the same time to feel that rejuvination of life that I feel after attending the temple.  There is something about walking out those temple doors and feeling like you can accomplish any task put before you.  It makes me feel that no matter what trials are placed before me, what worries and concerns I have, what personal limitations and flaws I feel, it all will be a little better and easier to cope with.  So, it was pretty much decided, that's how I wanted to spend my "me" time.  And I wasn't at all disappointed.  It was made even more special by being able to attend with a friend (thanks Coleen!) and seeing some of our neighbors there as well.  It seems I wasn't the only mom that needed a little something extra special that day.

I'm thankful for the temple and the blessings it brings to my life.  I'm thankful for the comfort that attending the temple brings and for the spirit that is felt there.  I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father that loves me, and knows me, and knows just what I need and when I need it.

So, if you need a little extra pick me up this week and you have a little "free" time, I can't recommend a better way to spend it than a visit to the temple.  Even if you just walk around the temple grounds for a little while, I promise you you'll go away with a little skip in your step, a smile on your face, and a peace in your heart.  And who can't use that every once in a while!

First Day of School 2010!

Okay, so we were all just being happy little monkeys swinging in our tree and teasing Mr. Alligator, when suddenly.... S N A P!  No more monkey's swinging in the tree.  Think I've already spent way too many weeks in nursery?  Gee....how can you tell?!!!  But that's what this morning felt like.  We were all just happily doing our thing and enjoying the summer; knowing the entire time that this "alligator"..aka...the school year was quietly lurking behind us but never admitting it was dangerously close.  And it literally seems like it just popped up out of no where and caught us by surprise.  But this first morning back to school went off without a hitch and it almost seemed like we had never left our morning routine.  There were a few minor adjustments here and there, but all in all I have to say it wasn't a bad first day back to school.  There was even a kiss of fall in the air which was almost a welcome feeling.  Notice I said ALMOST!

Rosie and Bruce got off to a good start this morning, even though Mom had to practically tie them down to get their annual first day of school picture.  The idea was met with swarms of "Really Mom?...Really!!!  But afterward I swear I saw Rosie skipping to the car (in her skinny jeans and flats no less, which she looks absolutely ADORABLE in!).  And don't tell her I told you!  Bruce was nervously excited and boy did he ever look handsome.  I had to think to myself, "When did he get so tall and WHERE did he get those broad shoulders?"  Then Nerm and I had an hour or so together by ourselves.  The cutest 5th grader lil man ever.  I'm sure you'll agree!  He was probably the most nervous out of all of them.  His teacher seemed very nice and his classroom looked great.  It was just sad to see him sooooo nervous.  It actually brought tears to my eyes and I had to tell him my allergies were acting up (which was actually half the problem - I'm pretty positive!)  I also got a little sad thinking I only have one more year of dropping a wee one off in their classroom for their first day of school.  The time really does fly by!  It feels like just last week I was dropping Lance off for his first day of Kindergarten.  So for all you moms out there who dropped off their little ones today for their first day of school, wipe away the little tear, open a can of diet Pepsi, and jot something down about your first day of back to school morning.  Because happy or sad, you'll want to remember it exactly just like it was for the rest of your life.  And I promise it really is one of the sweetest memories you'll have -  Even if it means closing the doors to another great summer!

P.S.  And don't forget to take those height measurements of the kids inside the pantry door today!  Another memory that will literally last a lifetime!

Last Lazy Days of Summer! (Pineview)

If summer has to absolutely come to an end, I can't think of a better way to spend the last few days of it than relaxing at the lake soaking up the sun and being together as a family.  (Love the view from our deck?  And Lance and Jordan we MISSED YOU!!!)  We played, we ate, we relaxed, we ate, we soaked up some rays, ate some more, sat in the hot tub, swam in the pool, watched hot air balloons float by from our deck, played on the "beach, and had one heck of a "Hit the Deck" tournament (sorry Nerm!), and watched movies. Oh...and did I mention we ate!!!  Nobody wanted to leave our little condo haven on the lake and we can't wait to get back there.  I think we're recharged and roarin to go for the new school year.  Well, everyone except for Mom - she would be in heaven if it were summer vacation every day of the year!  But for now, she'll take a deep breath, close her eyes, think happy thoughts, and get ready for homework heck, parent projects, and last minute "but Mom its due in the morning" moments.  And she'll do it with a smile (at least when she knows someone is looking) knowing that it will seem at any minute they will all be graduating and out of the house and these "precious" hectic days of scholastic chaos will all be over.  So lets all enjoy it while we can.  Another school year is just around the corner.....ready or not they shall be taught!

Hope you enjoy the pictures of our Schofield Family Retreat Week!!!

Maybe next year you can join us!

They have the same gorgeous blue eyes!!!