Relief Society Presidency's Last Meeting

The first Relief Society Presidency for Maricopa 5th Ward in the Maricopa Stake in Maricopa, Arizona was called the beginning of September 9th, 2007 and released July 6th, 2008.

From left to right: Stephanie Martinez who was the 1st Counselor, Kathy Amador standing next to her was our President, then me sitting down was the secretary and Jenna Scoresby the 2nd Counselor. I had an assistant, Sarah Dominguez that was recently called but was out of town for the past month so didn't really get to work with her.

We decided to have one last get together as a presidency last week. We met at Jenna's home, had McKenna snap a couple of pictures of us and then headed out to the local Sonic which is a dine in or drive through only (not the normal car hop Sonic). These ladies are awesome and such a great example to me!

I fotgot to mention that I was the OLDEST person in the group too!!!

Photo taken July 9th, 2008

Church Callings....

Will was called to the Young Men's Presidency as the 2nd Counselor and he was released as a Young Men's Advisor but kept his other calling as the Assistant Scout Master. It's official now as he was sustained today in church.

I think that Will has pretty much always had a calling in Young Men's since we've been married actually so almost 12 years. He loves it and the boys do too. I'm very proud of him and his desire to serve so willingly.

I love you babe!

Funny thing that today as we were hearing all of the new callings and sustaining them...my successor is going to be my very dear friend Robyn Barker. I was thrilled because it will be such a great transition and so easy letting go to such a wonderful person who I know will do an outstanding job! The funniest part was she called me this morning and asked me if I could help her during 2nd hour with her 4 year old primary class and I told her that the new RS President had asked me to train the new secretary today...little did she know that it would be her because they just called her right before church. :o) She's amazing and going to be missed in Primary & in Scouts I'm sure but she'll be great in Relief Society!

I think it's safe now...2 hush hush items

#1 - July 1st I started a new job at Maricopa Unified School District. It's been more than a week and I haven't wanted to quit yet so that is a good sign right? ha It's the district that I have wanted to work at for a little over a year now but it's tough to get hired on...luckily I had a couple of friends that put in a good word for me after I interviewed. So it's part time 8am to 12pm Mon - Fri which is perfect! I'm a payroll clerk doing payroll for all the schools & district employees. Over a million dollars in payroll every two weeks for little Maricopa...yes I'm amazed too!

#2 - On the morning of July 6th I was released from my calling as the RS Secretary along with the entire RS Presidency, the Young Men's Presidency, the Primary Presidency and Young Women's Presidency. It was kind of a shock especially to our ward that afternoon, but one that I totally know was inspired. It was funny because Jenna Scoresby (2nd councilor) and I had discussed it twice before within the past 3 weeks...weird huh? Sunday morning as I was praying I had a feeling that I was going to be released and have to turn over my box of attendance books etc. I'm so thankful that I had that bit of a warning because when it actually happened it wasn't as big of your heart dropping to your stomach feeling. It's a bitter sweet release. My calling was taking about 20 hours a week of my time and although I've complained a time or two about it; it truly was fun for me and one that I thoroughly loved. The new RS President has asked me to stay on for a week or two so things flow properly, attendance is done correctly and training of the new secretary & assistant secretary....which I'm happy to do.

We went in to the Bishop's office last night as a family for a new calling and saw about half of our ward there...no surprise when you release all of those presidencies. :o) So if you were wondering it wasn't for me! Bishop told me that they don't have a calling for me as of yet because they felt like I had one of the toughest in the ward and deserved a break and thanked me for doing such a great job. Wow...what a surprise! That was very nice to hear but I know their callings are much harder and demanding. I'm so thankful for all of the men and women that volunteer their time and talents to callings within our church. I've learned alot in this calling and feel extremely blessed to have had it for 10 months. I know the new Presidencies will do a great job and I will help out however I can.

Heavenly Father blesses us in so many ways....I lost 20 hours a week in a calling but gained 20 hours a week to a job so I guess I know what I'm doing with my extra time. ha ha I think it's Will that is going to have a bit less time now a days with his new calling but he's very excited about it! I guessed it before hand so I was WRIGHT I mean right. :o)

Donuts....remember these????

So we were really poor growing up but I'm not sure if that really mattered or not maybe back in the day everyone made donuts out of those can biscuits you buy in the refrigerated isle of the grocery store. All I know is I had gotten a ton of them with coupon sense for 39 cents a can and they are expiring this month so last night I was making taco's and thought I should fry up some tortillas and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on them for a dessert which I did. While doing that I had another great idea....make donuts with those biscuits like my Mom use to make. So I did and wow they were as good as I remembered when I was a kid! :o) Not pretty but very good, cheap and easy! Everyone loved them so much I made some more tonight. :o)

If you are what you eat, then I'm fast, cheap and easy! ha ha (I made a vinyl sign for my sister that says that since practically everytime I call her she is ordering take out at a drive thru...hee hee....Love ya Brandy!!) But add sweet because we've gotta have our sugar and she really is sweet!

So were we the only ones that ate these cinnamon sugar donuts or did your Mom's make them too??? If yes did you like them and have you ever made them??? Will & I are curious and have a little bet riding on your responses if any. :o)

Are you a teenager or an angel????

I posted about Calvin and the milk now I need to post about McKenna my tween. About two weeks ago McKenna and Calvin were arguing as usual or so it seems. Anyways I come out of my room to see what all of the yelling is about (see the yelling I'm passing on). Both of them begin telling me their side of the story at once all the while both crying. I tell them very loudly to "LISTEN (see I do scream that word alot) to me...we need to lower our voices" all the while lowering mine and then ask them to explain one by one. Calvin goes first and to be honest I have no idea what they were evening arguing about now but it was obviously very important because we had a serious melt down. ha

So after hearing what happened I start to tell McKenna that she needs to listen to what I had told her 15 minutes ago and this would have never happened (I told her to get in the shower) and before I could continue my sentence she yells at me, "you NEVER help me out!" and stomps off to her room.

I have to admit I was a little taken back I was still talking and she just talked back to me and walked off while I was still speaking and then shut her door. Had she slammed the door I think we would have had a serious problem in the house because I would have LOST my temper. Normally this would have made me extremely mad, caused yelling and maybe even cursing but for some reason it seemed a bit surreal....a bit funny....and a bit sad all at the same time. My 10 year old was acting like a teenager already.

So I sent Calvin to time out because he did deserve it but she didn't wait for that otherwise I think she would have been satisfied that I was helping her out.

I decided to not do or say anything to her about it until I had more time to evaluate this situation and think of how to best handle it....so I finished the laundry. It was towels and so I took a stack into the bathroom where she was showering and put them away and as I was walking out she said, "Mom?" and I said, "yes", she peeked her head out of the curtain and said, "Mom, I'm really sorry that I yelled at you and stomped away especially since you were still talking to me...I didn't mean what I said, you do help me all of the time and Mom, I'm really sorry." I said, "thank you for apologizing, that means a lot". She then gave me that cute little smile and said, "I'd hug you but I'm wet and in the shower". With tears in my eyes I walked out of the bathroom wondering are you a teenager or an angel? :o)

It was a real eye opener.....ONE - that I might not survive the teenage years but TWO that my baby girl is maturing and much faster than I want her too. I know there is going to be many more of these type of conversations in the future, I just hope that they all end the way this one did and that she still cares enough to ask for forgiveness and to forgive me as this is a learning situation for both of us.

I wish all kids came with detailed instructions for their parents sometimes and I'm sure I'll be wishing that even more as we approach the teen years shortly ahead.

I love you McKenna!

Don't cry or yell over spilt milk........

Ok so first thing this morning Will had already left the house to go show houses. I was reading the new Ensign and really enjoying that while the kids slept in. Calvin got up and came down stairs and decided he was starving, so he proceeded to get himself some cereal...no big deal. So I continue reading about our amazing first presidency and then I hear a huge mess. I jumped up to see what happened and Calvin spilt about a half gallon of milk all over the table, himself, the chair and all over the floor. My first thought was to yell, "what were you thinking...you know you can't pour a full gallon of milk?" but because I had just been reading something spiritually uplifting thought twice. Luckily I didn't say a word because when I looked down....my little Calvin had the biggest alligator tears you've ever seen running down his face. Instead of yelling I found myself trying to stop him from crying. I told him lovingly it's OK, it was an accident don't cry, I'm not mad at you and got a two towels. The tears were streaming down his cute little chubby cheeks of which I'm so thankful he still has, because I just love chubby cheeks and it was me trying to convince him not to cry over the spilt milk. I was proud of myself for not yelling because unfortunately that is something that I tend to do more than I'd like to admit and without hesitation. (I'm working on it) I gave him the other towel and we both cleaned up the milk. He actually spilt so much that he was soaking wet, so he had to go shower before he could even eat poor little boy. I needed to mop the floor anyways right? :o) I should have stopped to think how many times I've spilled milk and especially when I was little. Why sweat the small stuff?

The Name Game

Scattergories
I like the game Scattergories but have not played it in forever so here is a mini version of it. You have to use the first letter of your name to answer each question.

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each question:
1. What is your name? Leslie
2. 4 letter word: love
3. Vehicle: Lexus
4. City: Las Vegas
5. Boy Name: Leroy
6. Girl Name: Lily
7. there was no seven from the person that tagged me
8. Occupation: Lecturer
9. Something you wear: Long undies
10. Celebrity: Leona Lewis
11. Food: lemon meringue pie
12. Found in a bathroom: Lotion
13. Reason for Being Late: Leslie is my name Late is my game
14. Cartoon Character: Lilo
15. Something you shout: LISTEN
16. Animal: Lion
17. Body part: Leg
18. Word to describe you: Likable
19. Something you like to do: Laugh
20. Place you'd like to be: London

I tag...everyone. :o)