just a daily...

I've noticed most of my posts are some form of backtracking as a result of either slothful procrastination, or I'm just far too busy in the moment to share what's happening with us in the moment. I assure you that it is the former and here's an attempt to break that slothful run of catch-up posts.

Today... (technically yesterday seeing as how it's now nearing the 2 am mark)

Today Kyle and I spoke in sacrament meeting. By choice, my remarks were on the General Relief Society Broadcast. Kyle spoke on Uchtdorf's and Bednar's talks. And the other couple who spoke? They spoke on Bednar's and Uchtdorf's talk too. So, either I was the only one inspired, or the only one not inspired. Hmmm.

Joking aside (if you could even tell that was a joke) I have to say I quite enjoyed myself sitting up there on the stand. The counselor in the bishopbric who had asked us to speak also arranged for his daughter to watch our children during the entire sacrament meeting. It was very nice being able to take the sacrament without the typical distractions like Savannah reaching for the water tray again because she's "still thirsty" or having to break her grasp from the bread tray because she was still looking for the biggest piece. Sure those are cute little moments I silently smile and chuckle at. But I am really bad at doing what I should be doing during sacrament meeting (which is to reverently think of the Savior, Atonement, repent and commit to do better) and I usually focus on damage control so that my kids don't prevent others from having a proper sacrament meeting experience. So it was just nice to sit and meditate. Granted much of my thoughts were turned to my upcoming talk and I focused a good portion of my energy quelling the nerves, but it was better than shushing my kids or having to give them the look of death if they didn't stop kicking the bench in front of them. Arrange sitters for the kids during sacrament? I'm happy to speak in your ward any time.

After sacrament Kyle and I went to Primary. We were recently called to teach Cade's primary class, which we are enjoying. Our particular primary has 3 CTR 5 classes. As my eyes were wandering around the primary room I noticed the other two CTR 5 classes had like 3 kids each. Our class? 8. Mostly boys. Yes, it is a rowdy bunch but Kyle relates well to them. I noticed that he treats the 5 year-olds in our class the same way he treated his 11, 12, 13 and even 14 year-old scouts. I guess boys don't change... or grow up much.

Some of the funny things occuring during classtime... (I wish I had a voice recorder. These kids really crack me up)

Today's lesson was on showing our love for Jesus. One of the side-shows that was occuring during the lesson was between Emma and Anna. Emma was upset because Anna wouldn't share her gum. Anna's response: "Well I'm not giving it to her because it's my gum and that means I'm in charge of it." Not a bad argument for a five-year-old.

In the middle of the lesson Kyle asked each of the kids what they could do to show Jesus that they loved him. When it was time for Anna to share, Kyle prodded her along by saying, so Anna, if you had something someone wanted, what could you do? You know, to show Jesus that you loved him? Anna didn't take the bait and looked at him with a vacant expression.

Kyle got more specific. "What if you...I don't know...what if you had a pack of gum and you had a friend who wanted some....what could you do to show Jesus you love him?" Anna responds, "I could give her a piece." About 10 seconds later it registered with Anna and she pulled out her purse and gave Emma a piece of gum.

I was cracking up. Mostly at the gall Kyle had to suggest Anna part with her precious gum. But it went over well and Emma stopped pouting.

Another hilarious moment, which I totally brought upon myself I might add, was when I asked the kids what they could do at home to show Jesus they loved him. I got nothing but blank stares so then I asked, what I thought would have been a very good leading question.

"Do any of you have little brothers or sisters who still wear diapers?"

I soon got much more than I was expecting in response to that. These are just a few of the comments:

"I got a sister who is trying to not be in diapers anymore but she keeps peeing in her underwear."
"I still pee at night so I have to wear diapers"
"Yeah, my sister still has accidents in her underwear. It's gross"
"I'm big, I don't wear diapers!"

So then I said, "well wouldn't it be helpful if you got a clean diaper for your brother or sister while they were getting a diaper changed?"

"Uh-huh."

And then I added, "and then you could even throw the dirty diaper away in the garbage."

Of course they all erupted in a "Ewwwwwwwwww gross!" response which made me regret my last statement. So I tried.

Nothing else out of the ordinary happened. Well, I guess it did actually. We came home, had lunch and every single one of us took a nap. It wasn't really planned that way, but it happened. First I put Savvy down as usual. Then I went into Cade's room to help him hang his clothes back up and noticed he had ripped his journal to shreds. Not knowing what to do with him after discovering that (and fearing for his life because I was so upset over it) I ordered him to take a nap. For some reason, Cade did not argue with me. And then Kyle found himself on the guest bed "resting" while talking on the phone, which later turned into a nap. It didn't take long for me to find myself on the bed comfortably wrapped in a blanket with my head on the pillow. It was nice. The unfortunate thing? It was too long. I woke up feeling groggy and hadn't accomplished anything of merit for the day. I had been asleep for two and a half hours. Two and a half hours! It was kind of sad because once I came to, Kyle was getting the kids ready for bed. Sad.

So that is why I am still awake at 2:26 in the morning, still feeling groggy. This feeling reminds me of high school. Taking long marathon naps on Sunday after church catching up on a week's worth of lost sleep and then beginning the week yet again with no sleep because I couldn't fall asleep Sunday evening. What a vicious cycle it was.

Good night! (I hope....)