Update

Hmmm...I have been a super slacker with this whole blog thing...but!!!! I will now officially have a lot more time on my hands! I finished my Masters, hooray for me! It's strange to not feel so pressed for time. I'm sitting here not sure what to do with myself. I painted the kids bathroom, I patched up the dings on the corners of the walls from the kids vacuuming adventures, and I even scrubbed the last bit of lemonade off the ceiling from the kids lemonade war (don't ask, it wasn't pretty--one of those things you laugh at later...years later).

So, if anyone even checks on my crazy blog...I shall return...just probably not until after Christmas! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my wonderful friends and family!

Winchester Ward Blog

Hey Friends! We have a new ward blog, come check it out!!! If you want to post on this blog let me know and I will send you the info. so you can keep in touch with your friends here Winchester.

http://winchesterward.blogspot.com

The Bag of Cookies

Have you ever opened up your door to find a dirt covered baggie filled to the brim with squished chocolate chip cookies???

Yes? Good, keep reading, there is something you must know about squished bags of cookies.

No? That's okay, maybe someday you'll be lucky enough to be given your very own bag of squished cookies, and this lesson will help you be prepared with the proper response when that day comes.

So, you open your door, and there lying before you is a small baggie filled with what looks like they use to be chocolate chip cookies--a few walnuts sticking out here and there. There are brown streaks of mud running down the sides of the bag, and to be honest...they're just boring old cookies, right??? Wrong.

These cookies have a story.

It's the sabbath day, and Julie wanted to teach her 2 boys about the importance of service, and doing kind things for others. The boys decided that they should make cookies, and take them to the Elders, and to the Duncan's--they love the Duncans. The Elders came over for dinner, so the kids packed up a small bag of cookies for them to take home with them, that left only the delivery of the cookies for the Duncan Family. The boys carefullly picked out the very best cookies, only the best would do! They gently placed them in the bag, grabbed their bike and scooter and set off with their mother to take the cookies to the Duncans.

There is a new subdivision being built that separates the Duncan's neighborhood from the Peterson's neighborhood, and there is a new road that has been paved that will eventually connect the two neighborhoods. The Peterson's decided that they'd walk down the new road, and then pick their way through that last bit of field that stood between the two neighborhoods actually being connected.

It started out okay, but about the 10th step in, they realized that they'd have to carry the bike and scooter across, as well as the dog, the weeds were just too high--but it was okay--they were doing this for the Duncans....20 steps in, Julie trips and falls into a thorn bush and cuts up both of her arms, they're both bleeding now....30 steps, uh oh! there's a stream that runs through the middle of this field, Ah! both of Julie's feet sink into the mud all the way up to her knees--she manages to pull her feet out, but loses both of her shoes in the mud. Barefoot and holding a squirming dog, she falls backward and slashes the back of her arm on another thorny bush...still worth it! She stuck her arms elbow deep into the mud and slurp! pulled her shoes out of the mud! Poor doggy fell in the water and is covered in mud. Both boys have bug bites and scratches up and down their legs. Zach's tan church pants now look like army fatigues. Yowsers! How are they ever going to get out of there? Taylon gets stuck in the mud, the bike is covered in it, Julie can barely move without getting another cut on her arms.

Where are the cookies through all of this??? The cookies have now been dropped, and rescued, provided padding for a falling child, and taken respit in the pocket of Zachary less they take yet another tumble down the hill. The boys are still determined to carry their scooter and bike through this field turned jungle! Julie, on the other hand, bleeding, soaked through and through, and covered in mud, decides that to be safe, they better head back up the hill and go around to the Duncan's house on a "real" road. If they thought going down the hill was bad, it was nothing compared to the hike back up! Needless to say, it was an adventure in and of itself, and a small field turned into an hour long safari--which left them all battered and torn, but still in great spirits.

They still had the cookies!!! Hooray!!! They were a little worse for wear, but the boys were bound and determined to deliver those cookies. They arrived at the Duncan's, quite a sight to be seen, and the Duncan's weren't home, and there was no paper in which to leave a message. So, there they were with a little dirty bag of cookies, with no one home. The only thing they could do was to leave them at the door and hope that the Duncan's would know that these were special cookies, they gave it their all to get these cookies to them.

So, remember, a bag of smashed cookies may initially look just that, a smashed bag of cookies, but if you look beyond the little baggie you'd see that it's really a bag of love, a bag of determination, and a bag of hard work from two young boys whose wish was to give you something special.

It all made me stop and think today about the gifts we have, do we take them for face value, or do we realize the sacrifice and time that people give on our behalf. Yes, it was a silly bag of cookies, but I was there, and I will tell you what, those kids were bound and determined to get those cookies to the Duncan's...no matter what...and they did. They wear their cuts and bruises, their stained Sunday clothes as their reminder that sometimes doing something for someone else isn't always easy, but it always feels so good in the end.

Check out our adventure

Our Fabulous Adventure

We had a blast this month, we spent it traveling from Eastern Kentucky to Utah. It was a long drive, but it was a lot of fun! We spent a few days in Moab hiking at the arches and Canyonlands, then on to Capitol Reef for some 4-wheeling. Next we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House and some boating fun at Jordanelle Reserviore in Park City. We topped it off with a surprise birthday for my mom...she didn't know we were all coming, and my dad brought her to the park in Capitol Reef and all her kids, from all over the country and all her grandkids were already there...it was awesome! Then we went to the Mt. TImpanogas Temple where my brother, Bryce, and his wife Christy were sealed to their little girl that they adopted from the Philippines. It was a truly awesome trip! I wish I'd had more time to see all my many friends, but I know they understand!

A Good Wife Knows Her Place???

Thought this was interesting—although I don't know about putting ribbons in my hair and never complaining even if my hubby wants to stay out all night. Just remember ladies, you have no right to question his actions-yeah, whatever.


An Actual 1955 Housekeeping Monthly article.

Need A Laugh? Check This Out!

I am laughing so hard that tears are rolling down my cheeks--oh this is too funny! Go to www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com I have some seriously funny pictures I should send in of my sister and I jumping on a trampoline when we were little--she looks like an Ewok, and I look look like one of the Nelson twins. You have to look through more than just the first page, keep going back to older posts--once you start laughing you won't be able to stop--my favorite is the family photo on the beach--look in the background!

Shadow Diseases

I just have to share....

Evidence suggests that the following conditions are connected:

Migraines--Those who have migraines are more susceptible to having a stroke or heart attack, if you have even one migraine per month you are 50% more likely to have a stroke or heart attack.

Endometriosis--Melanoma (I have had both--must be something to this after all). Women with endometriosis are 67% more likely to have abnormal skin growth causing melanomas--makes sense I suppose.

High Blood Pressure--Diabetes

Psoriasis--Heart Attack. This was from a study that followed 1/2 million people for 5 years and found that if you have psoriasis your risk for a heart attack doubles, mainly related to inflammation.

Metabolic Syndrome--Kidney Stones

Asthma--Depression and Anxiety Disorders

This can all be found in Prevention Magazine July 2009 or Prevention.com;

Spread the Word - Army of Women

Spread the Word - Army of Women

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Join Army of Women Today!!!

Hey ladies,
I have joined the Army of Women, I highly encourage you to join as well. This is a way to help study and hopefully prevent breast cancer in the future. Go to armyofwomen.org to sign up today!

My Grandmother died from breast cancer when I was 8 years old, I never really got to know her very well. I'm sure that most of you know women who have also battled breast cancer...this is an AWESOME way to do your part in finding a cure!

We're a little bit twisted!

We had a game night the other day...it was so much fun! We got a lil' bit twisted and turned around:)

I Scream! You Scream! We all scream for ice cream!

Hooray! We won the "Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute" Ice Cream party! Wahoo! I entered a submission, an essay, and I won! We won an ice cream party for 100 people--the entire shin-dig for our neighborhood! Tee hee! The kids are so excited, Winkie is too, she loves ice cream!

Fun Games for Girls--tee hee, and they're FREE

Okay, so I am a nerd, I know. Check out this game, it's a penguin catapult--I spent way too much time launching penguins! There are lots of games, I think Steph, Madison, Grace and Soph would love it! I miss you girls!

http://www.girlsgogames.com/game/Crazy-Penguin-Catapult.html

More pictures on the way...

I'm having issues with my pictures...more pictures of Zach, Tay and the family under construction...

What in the World Have We Been Doing???

It's been a while, I know! Wowsers we have done a lot! So, here's a brief overview. Zachary is now 14 and is 6'3" and loves looking down on his mother. Ali is 13 and looking more like a young lady every day. Taylon is 11 and the king of the school--he'll be in middle school next year.

Zachary is playing baseball this summer, and can't wait to go home to Utah this summer for a visit. He's in 9th grade this year, and already registered for 10th. He's sweet boy, he gets up every morning at 5:30 to be at seminary at 6:30 every day! He's a real trooper! He's a good sport with his mom who loves to tease him!

Ali Roo just finished a busy year of color guard, fiddlers group, orchestra concerts and tutoring, and the Technology Club where she invented a robot and they got 2nd place at the state competition. She is so much smarter than I ever was. She's growing into a lovely young lady and is training to be the pitcher on her softball team.

Taylon is also playing baseball on the Bats this year. He can really hit the ball this year! He's made a lot of progress since last year! He's finally back in activity days--now that our ward is having it again, and he loves it! He loves school, and you should see this kid on the computer, he's a whiz! I have to call him to help me figure things out, he's a wonderful joy to have in our family!

Austin is still 6"5, and will soon be looking up at his 14 year old son. He's still with Nestle, and is looking forward to cruising around on his motorcycle now that things are finally warming up around here. He's a great coach and loves to help the kids learn to pitch, he was nicknamed "the Arm" when he was a kid and playing baseball.

Julie has 9 hours left before she completes her Masters Degree--yay! She is excited to have the marvelous opportunity to speak at the American Dietetics Association, National Food and Nutrition Conference in Denver this October. She will be speaking about her research for her thesis. She is very excited about the opportunity!

We took the kids to Washington DC for Easter. It was beautiful! It was the cherry blossom festival and it couldn't have been more lovely! We visited the Smithsonian, the Capitol, The Holocaust Museum, The Washington Memorial, The Lincoln Monument, The Vietnam and WWII Memorial, The Korean Memorial, The Pentagon, The Iwo Jima Memorial and the White House. It was too cool! The kids had never been on the subway before, they loved it! I was in DC a few months ago and really wanted the kids to be able to see all this history.

We also visited Arlington National Cemetery and watched the changing of the guard. They always keep a wreath there in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and my Grandpa Adams, was invited to place the wreath there several years ago. He was a pilot in Italy during WWII, and he was shot down. We went to visit the men he fought with that are buried there. It was very moving. President Kennedy is also buried there at Arlington, as well as the Lee Mansion. It was just amazing! If you ever get the chance to visit downtown DC, take it! We also went to the theater where Lincoln was shot--so much history!

So, in a nut shell, that's what we've been up to!

Note: Winkie Marie turned 2 this year. Her birthday was April 19...Ali made her a hot do and tuna birthday cake, and she was spoiled all day long! Winkie also went to DC with us, I ended up having to get some sleeping pills for her and wrapping them in salami so she would settle down..don't worry I researched animal tranquilizers and made sure what I gave her was safe...so, if you do go to DC, don't take your weiner dog!

May the 4th Be With You!!!!

Hee Hee Hee!
My wonderful friend Jen told me about the best idea last year, and we have decided to implement it as a tradition in our home. I simply must share the fun!!! For those of you who don't know, I really "dig" Star Wars spoof stuff! I collect the little M&M guys that are dressed like Star Wars characters, and I have all the Mr. Potato Heads--Darth Tater, Spud Trooper etc... anywhooo...this was too fun to pass up! On May the 4th, you celebrate Star Wars, oooh! I love it! I can't wait. You can celebrate however you want, but this is our plan--thanks to the many sites dedicated to those insane enough to love Star Wars too. We will have Yoda Sodas and Galactic Pizza for dinner--Yoda Sodas are lime sherbet with Sprite---yummmy! Austin is going to dress up like Darth Vader and we are all going to tackle him with our light sabers, he will then at the end declare..."Kids! Wait! I'm your Father!" Hee Hee Hee... then the kids will freak out, (sounds fun, right?) Ah!!! the joys of bossing your children around and making them act like ninnies:)

Okay, so the next day to celebrate is March 14th. Why celebrate March 14th? It's Pi day! Yep, Pi! We make different pies and totally "pi"g out! Thanks for the fabuloso idears Jen!

The most beautiful baptism

About a month ago I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet a most amazing woman, she was investigating the church, and her son, who is 11 wanted to be baptized. Several years ago she was just like the rest of us, she was active, loved to be outdoors and be with her family. One day she went out for a bike ride and woke up in the hospital to find out that she had been hit by a car. Not only had she been hit by a car, but she had lost both of her legs, completely amputated, nothing left. She is very open about her accident, but what is even more surprising, is that she speaks very freely about her depression following the accident, she literally gave up on life, and lay in bed for months.

It took her a long time to decide that life without legs was worth living. She knew she had to try, she had to try to take care of her two boys. It wasn't long after she decided to get out of bed, that two young men knocked on her door to share with her the beautiful gospel message. She accepted the message, and knew she wanted to be baptized, but when the time came to actually be baptized, she got scared. How do you baptize someone who doesn't have any legs? What do they wear? How do you keep their clothes from going over their head? Our church is old and not very accessible for wheelchairs to get to the baptismal font, that meant difficulty getting her to the font to start with. Nevertheless, she decided that she was going to do this, and a date was set. The date came, anxiety got the best of her and she backed out. She didn't know what to wear, she didn't know how this was going to work.

When Austin's beautiful mother passed away, I received her temple clothing, and because she worked in the temple, she had acquired several lovely dresses and suits for the temple. I offered these to this sister, in hopes that this would ease some of her anxiety, we could pin the skirt or dress at the bottom so it wouldn't come up over her head. She has very strong and defined arms, and decided that it wasn't worth trying them on because she was too big through the chest and arms. Miraculously, she decided to try one top, one of Austin's moms that she purchased and never wore, and it fit her, perfectly. She looked so beautiful, it looked like it had been tailored just for her. I know that Austin's mom must have been smiling from Heaven knowing that through her this sweet sister would have something beautiful and white to be baptized in. Now she had something to wear, but how was she going to get in the water, and how would they baptize her?

Everyone had a suggestion, put her on a chair and tip the chair backward, build her a bench, etc.... I didn't know what they had decided to do, all I knew was that the baptism was by invitation only, she was so scared, and I feel so blessed to have been able to be there to feel of the spirit that was there. I have never felt the spirit so strongly at any baptism I have ever been to. This sister also faced another difficulty, her son, her 22 year-old son is going through chemotherapy and is very sick from lymphoma, this made her decision even more difficult; so much on her mind; so much anxiety and worry.

The time finally came for her to go to the font, we all stayed in the Relief Society room while she got ready. When we got down the hall, we found her already in the font, it was only filled half-way, and a member of our bishopric, and one of the missionaries were kneeling in the water beside her preparing to baptize her. They both held onto her and kept her stable while the ordinance was performed, it was so touching, I don't believe there was a dry eye in the room. Her confirmation was also just lovely, and I can't tell you how touching it is to see someone overcome so much, and to be so strong. She smiles, she laughs, and she is an example to me of perseverance and of relying on the Lord. I know that there were unseen beings with us there, I could feel our Heavenly Father's love for her. I have never met anyone in my life who shines like she does. My testimony is strengthened by knowing her, by being able to witness her conversion and her baptism. I wish everyone could know her, I know I am a better person because of her.

Filling the Void

When life gets the busiest, is when I feel the most lost and confused--my life is SO FULL, that I feel empty inside. When I read this article, it really brought it home for me, it put my exact feelings into such beautiful words. Enjoy!

Victoria Anderson, “Filling the Void,” Ensign, Mar 2006, 56–57

I had a yearning to fill every minute with music, television, or some other stimulus. What need was I trying to satisfy?

It was a cold, clear night, and the moon lit the snowcapped mountains as it peeked above their rugged edges. I shivered as I climbed into my car, waiting for the heater to warm my frozen toes and hands.

My last client at the clinic where I worked as a psychologist had left an hour before, but even after finishing phone calls and paperwork, I continued to be drawn to thoughts of concern for her welfare. Sherry (names have been changed) was a 19-year-old college student with an eating disorder. She had been sexually abused as a child by her stepbrother and had never received treatment because her parents were afraid it would ruin the family.

My thoughts of Sherry were interrupted when a car sped past me and swerved in front of me on the freeway. My heart started pumping harder, and I mumbled a few words under my breath. I tried to regain my composure as I drove toward home by turning on the radio. I flipped through the stations to find a comfortable song. “All the same empty noise,” I thought. “I wonder why I keep this crazy thing on so much of the time. It’s almost like I’m trying to fill a void somehow.”

I looked toward the mountains again. The moon was so bright and full that it illuminated the clouds sitting above the mountaintops. I turned the radio off and began to be thankful for the majesty of nature. A feeling of enormous debt filled my heart and soul, and I began to pray. After thanking Heavenly Father for the beauty surrounding me, I began to muse: “I wonder, Father, why I have a yearning—almost a need—to fill every minute with music or television or something to satisfy the void. Why does Sherry seek to fill her void with food? Why does Susan feel a need to fill her void with drugs, and why does Bert seek to fill his void with sex? Why does there sometimes seem to be a giant hole in our lives, even when we want to do what is right?

After these questions, thoughts, and feelings filled my heart and soul, the answer came in a peaceful awareness. I had lived with my Heavenly Father in the premortal existence. In that realm I was filled with His divine love for me as His daughter. When I came to earth, I left His presence, and a void was created. I felt the void was placed in my heart for my earthly journey so I would seek Him again. As I seek to know and love my Heavenly Father, the void can be filled.

It was a soft and quiet answer—as quiet as the moonlit night. But it touched my soul, and tears began to well up in the corners of my eyes.

How many wasted hours and years do we spend searching after things to fill our voids in our lives: riches, possessions, sexual gratification, food, power, popularity? All of these can elate our senses or bring excitement, but they also return us to a place where we feel even more wanting. Thus begin the addictions, for we can never fill the void through earthly means.

Through the hundreds of people I see each year in counseling who are suffering from pain, loneliness, and addictions, I have reached a new awareness that they are all trying to fill their void in ways that only tear them apart. The void cannot be filled by external sources but must be filled from within.

The only way for us to fill the void in our lives is to come to know our Heavenly Father and His love for each one of us. That means to love Him enough that we want to do His will. Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). Christ is the bridge for us to return to our Heavenly Father.

Jesus explained this to the woman at the well: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13–14).

As I rounded the final corner, my house came into view. I knew my family was inside and would welcome me home in love. I thought of another future reunion filled with love—perfect love: that of returning to Heavenly Father. As I pulled into the driveway, I was filled with gratitude for what I had been taught about the power of knowing God’s love. I thought of the promise made in different words nearly 2,000 years earlier by His Son:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Our ice storm adventure

Going three days without power doesn't sound all that bad, but when the temperature outside is in the single digits, and the roads are covered in inches of ice--you know you're in for the long haul. We had no power, so, no lights, no heat, no TV or internet, no stove, no microwave, no hot water, no refrigerator--you get the idea--it was not fun! Poor little Taylon has such sensitive skin, and he was breaking out in a rash all over his face from the cold.

We hunkered down in the living room next to the fireplace and brought in wood from outside, even with the fireplace going it was so cold you could see your breath. We survived, just like everyone else. It was a wake up call for me, I really need to be more prepared. It wasn't too bad eating out of cans, but it was SO blasted cold!!! There were trees down everywhere, roads blocked, and the rain and snow just wouldn't stop. Our poor little pine trees were lying flat on the ground, so sad. Even now, there are still power lines down and people who don't have heat, and I am so grateful to have ours! You don't realize how much you rely on it. Sitting on a mattress with your family, in the cold, with nothing to entertain you but each other was actually kind of fun--makes ya feel like you're a pioneer--a pioneer with can openers, UNO and Monopoly, of course.

Once we got up and going again, Ali and I needed to take the car through the car wash, and you will never believe my luck, I got stuck, yes, STUCK, in the car wash. When you go in the door in fron of you comes down, and so does the door behind you. When the wash was done it said to pull forward, only problem was, the door wouldn't open--Ali thought this was pretty funny. I kept honking the horn in hopes that someone would come let me out--10 minutes later, (not nearly as bad as 3 days), but still, it was so ridiculous!

Anyway, we're still here, we haven't blown away yet! All is well!

The Johari Window

Arena (known to self and others) caring, dependable, loving	Blind Spot (known only to others) adaptable, bold, clever, confident, dignified, energetic, friendly, giving, idealistic, ingenious, introverted, logical, mature, nervous, observant, organised, powerful, proud, quiet, reflective, self-assertive, self-conscious, sensible, silly, spontaneous, sympathetic, tense, warm, wise, witty
Façade (known only to self) happy, patient, religious	Unknown (known to nobody) able, accepting, brave, calm, cheerful, complex, extroverted, helpful, independent, intelligent, kind, knowledgeable, modest, relaxed, responsive, searching, sentimental, shy, trustworthy

All Percentages

able (0%) accepting (0%) adaptable (14%) bold (14%) brave (0%) calm (0%) caring (14%) cheerful (0%) clever (28%) complex (0%) confident (14%) dependable (14%) dignified (14%) energetic (28%) extroverted (0%) friendly (14%) giving (28%) happy (0%) helpful (0%) idealistic (14%) independent (0%) ingenious (14%) intelligent (0%) introverted (28%) kind (0%) knowledgeable (0%) logical (14%) loving (14%) mature (14%) modest (0%) nervous (14%) observant (14%) organised (14%) patient (0%) powerful (28%) proud (14%) quiet (28%) reflective (14%) relaxed (0%) religious (0%) responsive (0%) searching (0%) self-assertive (14%) self-conscious (28%) sensible (28%) sentimental (0%) shy (0%) silly (28%) spontaneous (14%) sympathetic (14%) tense (14%) trustworthy (0%) warm (14%) wise (14%) witty (14%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 2.2.2009, using data from 7 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view Poohlie's full data.

The Ordinary and Unexciting

• "A house does not have to be perfect to be a home of joy, a child does not have to behave perfectly to love and be loved, and every moment of life does not have to be perfect to be of value. Too often, I realize, we fail to see the glorious reality of the simple joy that abounds in the seemingly mundane routine of day-to-day living. Instead, we tend to idolize the past, idealize the future, and devalue the present.... What better way to show our appreciation to Heavenly Father for what we have than to embrace our lives, albeit 'ordinary' and 'unexciting,' with joy?"
  --Winnie Dalley; Ensign, March 1998, page 59
  

Do you ever feel this way? I certainly do—this really caught my attention and helped me to focus in again on what's really important. It's so hard not to compare yourself with others—it's even scarier to realize that others are comparing themselves to you—if only they knew.

I am going to embrace the dents in the corner of my wall upstairs, and be grateful that my kids were trying so hard to learn to clean and vacuum when they slammed it into the corner, denting it forever more (a memory forever)

I am going to embrace driving Zach to seminary every morning at 6:30 am, because I know all the wonderful blessings he's getting because of it.

I am going to embrace my friends, my friends who aren't movie stars, who aren't rocket scientists, but who are my life line, my comfort, my joy, my strength—I don't know where I'd be without my friends.

I'm going to embrace my sweetheart, my Prince Charming, I'm going to love him for all that he is, and overlook the things that just don't matter.

I'm going to embrace my kids, I'm going to laugh with them, and play with them, I'm going to be thankful for every moment that they're with me, and even after they move away.

What are you going to embrace?

Nursery--what gives???

My current "job," if you will, at church, is the 2nd counselor in the stake primary--over the nursery. Well, I volunteered to do the nursery in our ward until they found someone to do it--which they still have not.

Here's my problem, and I would appreciate ANY, and ALL suggestions--how do you have a nursery when no one is willing to help? Sure, ask someone else to do it, they say yes and never show up. The primary presidency can't do it, they're already overwhelmed with the kids in primary. The parents can't do it because the have their own callings.

A friend of mine suggested not having nursery, she said that when her kids were young they didn't have nursery because there just weren't enough people to make it happen. So, do you suggest that nursery is cancelled and have all the mommies and daddies be upset, or do you ask them to do nursery and have them say they can't.

I am not in any way saying there should not be a nursery, but I am also at a loss as to what any other option would be. The young women can't do it--and there aren't 2 people willing to do it.

A few weeks back I was in the nursery, ALONE! Gasp! I know! I love the kids, and I don't mind it, but I had nine toddlers in there--yes, ALONE! Two of them were tipping over a little toy kitchen on themselves, so I ran over there to stop them. While I was attending to this, two other children on the other side of the room climbed up on the table, and one of them pushed the other off the table--this resulted in a loud thump as his little head slammed into the counter next to the table he was standing on. This was not all--oh no! The entire room was filled with the stench of poop--I think that every one of them decided to fill their britches at the same time! So, we're all crying, (and gasping for some fresh breath), at this point, and I have no one to help me. I opened the door and lo and behold the Bishop, that lucky man, was the first person I saw. I am not proud to say that I was at my wits end at that moment and wasn't overly kind about the way I went about expressing my distress. All the mommies were summoned and little diapers were changed and they sent in a member of the presidency to help me out--thank heaven above!

I am not complaining here--well kind of--I just don't know what the answer is, and I do know that one person in there is ABSOLUTELY NOT SAFE, NOT FUN, AND NOT THE ANSWER! Help me my friends! Ask your friends--draw on the wisdom of your wards and please send it this way!!!!