"Art has always been the raft onto which we climb to save our sanity." (Dorthea Tanning)
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| Halloween in AZ is usually WARM! |
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| This boy is ALWAYS sweaty! His temperature runs HOT! |
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| Andrew carved this skull all by himself! Impressive! |
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| Barik's Headless Horseman that Paul carved. |
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| Cooper's Vampire Kitty that I carved. |
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| Drake's happy Kitty. |
My hubby joined the “Old Man” club today. He is now learning how to sleep sitting up…
Yup, he was ordained a High Priest today. Mike and Carol flew down so Mike could ordain Paul a High Priest. President Thalman (1st Counselor in the Stake Presidency) set Paul apart as the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric of the Sierra Montana Ward in the Surprise Arizona North Stake. President Thalman administered the blessing from the Lord. Instead of saying “I bless you with…” he said “He blesses you with…” “The Lord is proud of you. Not because of this calling, but because of your willingness to serve and the way you strive to live your life.” He also blessed Paul that he would know when the boys needed more of his time and that it was OK to spend that time with them…away from work and his calling. He blessed Paul to be able to continue to keep a balance between work, family and his calling. We are so glad Mike and Carol were able to take the time to be here with us. And because Mike has served in a Bishopric, he was also able to stand in the circle to set Paul apart.
We’ve known about this for 3 weeks now. As Paul was getting ready this morning, I asked him how he was feeling. I expected him to say that he was nervous or scared. Something I would have felt. But he didn’t say anything of that nature. He said he was anxious to get to work.
After the blessing, Mike commented that Paul had the same look on his face as when they dropped him off at the MTC…the look of getting to work. Focus. Devotion.
I am married to a good man. A REALLY GOOD MAN! I’m more in love with this man today than I was on our wedding day. He continues to amaze me.
Paul has always done an amazing job helping with the little rowdy ones. He takes them out of the chapel and disciplines (or probably just chats with the other parents in the foyer) leaving me in the chapel with the other better behaved boys. I’m slightly overwhelmed to think of taking all 4 boys to Sacrament meeting by myself.
Before we went to church, I pulled each of the 3 older boys aside to tell them that their dad was going to be receiving a new calling today and he wouldn’t be sitting with us in Sacrament meeting anymore. I reminded each of them how important it is to sit reverently…now more than ever...They each responded a little differently…
Andrew: {very annoyed} “Why does dad have to get a stinkin’ new calling?! What is it?”
Barik: {sweet and inquisitive} “Oh. Like the Bishop?”
Cooper: {inquisitive} “What’s a ‘calling’?”
In Sacrament meeting after Brother Schulzke was released and Paul was called, Brother Schulzke went and sat with his family and Paul took his seat on the stand next to the Bishop. Right after that, the sacrament was blessed and passed. Before the bread was even brought to us, Drake INSISTED on sitting with Paul on the stand. After a loud “NO!” I hauled that tiny kicking and screaming little boy out to the foyer for a time out. Paul had mentioned that I should be prepared to share my testimony…This screaming child may actually work out in my favor…but alas, he calmed down after the sacrament and we were able to join the rest of the boys with Grandma and Grandpa.
After Brother Schulzke’s testimony, Paul bore a very sweet testimony of the scripture Ether 12:27 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” He also thanked me for my support.
I bore a testimony of answered prayers. I find it very interesting (maybe a coincidence, maybe not…I think not) that during the month before Paul was asked to serve in this calling, we both felt uneasy about moving forward with purchasing a new home. When we finally decided against the new home and paid off our current mortgage, a huge weight was lifted from our shoulders. We had mistaken those uneasy feelings as financial nerves. But it was during that same time that the Bishop was considering this new calling for Paul. Was there another reason beyond financial reasons that we were feeling uneasy about moving? It makes us wonder…The Lord works in mysterious ways. When we follow His direction, we will ALWAYS be blessed. Always.
