Top 200

Joe has been invited to attend a recruitment weekend at Loyola Marymount in LosAngeles. The top 200 players in the west were invited. We are really excited for him to attend. His coach told us he will be one of the few sophomores attending so be prepared for some top play. In the past only a few boys from our valley have been invited and they have all gone on to play in college. Quite exciting for our boy!

Here is a list of the schools that will be there scouting with Joe's top picks in blue italics :

DIVISION 1

ARMY

Canisius College

Dartmouth College

Fairfield University

Georgetown University

Lehigh University

Hobart College

Syracuse University

Towson University

University at Albany

University of Denver

UMBC (University of Maryland - Baltimore County)

University of Maryland - College Park

University of Notre Dame

University of Vermont

VMI (Virginia Military Institute)

Wagner College

Yale University

DIVISION II

Domincan College

Notre Dame de Namur

DIVISION III

W & L (Washington & Lee University)

Whittier College

MCLA

Arizona State University

Chapman University

Loyola Marymount University

Girls, girls, girls

They look so innocent.

Regan spent the night Friday after babysitting and the girls laughed well into the night, so morning came early for them Saturday. Brittany Thalman's family went out of town for the weekend so she also joined our ranks. The boys were significantly outnumbered. Doug snuck off to work, Joe was at lacrosse and Bret went off to Clay's house. The girls had the opportunity to go to the best of EFY. They loved the speakers and enjoyed being with the girls in the ward.
After we headed off to the BITE of Las Vegas. Jenna's mom picked up Jenna and Brit early so they could make it down there to see Secondhand Serenade. They made it in time and we came later to see Puddle of Mud and taste some food. The bands were good but the girls were less than enamoured with the crowd, so we took off and headed home to begin the evenings festivities. Jenna had planned on staying to watch Life House, but her desire to be with her pals got the best of her and she joined us just as we headed out for the night.

Now in most crowds being toilet papered is and insult, but in Mormon world, at least here in Vegas, it is an expression of friendship. Really. Joe was tp'd about once a week for 2-3 years. That is what happens when you are the only Deacon in a ward with 18 Beehives. Last night began the toilet papering era of the rising generation. I am happy to say I had my hand in the start of this great battle. Girls 1- Boys 0! Millie was so happy last night as we headed out, she leaned forward from the back seat and said, "Mum, you are so much fun. " I told her, I learned from the best. Here is my little shout out to Kristie Lytle. Queen of the late night young women activity!

So, if you are looking at my blog and see a picture of your house covered in wholesome white fun, know you are loved by the girls in the San Miguel ward. If we didn't visit you, you are not safe. Oh to the contrary. We have just begun

Another Week, Another Lab

I have not talked much about my job on this blog. Have I even mentioned my work? I do not know. I teach Home Family and Consumer Science at the middle school the 3 youngest kids in our family attend. To put it to you in a way you will better understand, I teach home ec at my kids' junior high. Ahhhh, now you see.

Yes. Really. I do. In this crazy world John Q. Public decided about 20 years ago that junior high aged kids no longer needed to learn to cook, or sew or take care of their families. (At that same time old JQP decided that auto mechanics and wood shop and things of the like were of little or no consequence too.) Anyhow, as it so happens I had been working part time as a strategist and grant facilitator last year when the feds pulled back on funding and poof, my little job went up in smoke. Part of my little job last year involved the teaching of one expo class. I got to come up with that one on my own and decided I wanted to try teaching a nutrition class. My principal offered me a teaching job, but said she could not offer me a half time contract, so would I consider full time employment. My first thought was "Kindergarten here I come." Half time, cute kids, coloring between the lines, the alphabet... but then she added, "Be creative, make me an offer I can't refuse." I turned my thoughts to the 6 unused kitchen labs in our school. The ones I used to demonstrate recipes last year for my class and the ones in which I occasionally let the kids cook. Every junior high in Vegas is equipped with a home ec room. I know, right. There are your tax dollars being put to good use! Let's build junior highs with home ec rooms for home ec classes that no longer exist. But either way I lucked out. I now have 5 sections of 'home, family and consumer science'. My course is a semester long course which means I get all new kids at the start of semester two in January. That fact makes me both happy (4th period) and sad (2nd period). Seriously, all of my classes are wonderful, just period 4 is extra full and extra chatty. I do love my job. Some say, find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life. I think I may have done just that!

18 years with my FOREVER MAN

So Today Doug and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary, okay, well, 6th. But if you know us you know why we say 18th. You see, we give ourselves three years for every 1 we have been married. Two reasons, it makes Joe being Doug's boy 'humanly' possible (not just heavenly possible since Joe and Mill were sealed to us) and, also because it catches us up with our friends. Next year we will start counting by one again, so next October 12 we will be at 19. It is always so wonderful for me to see the look of disbelief that crosses peoples faces when I tell them Doug and I are a 'blended family". It happened twice this weekend at youth conference with different adults in the stake. Yesterday, I got a chance to spend the bus ride home talking with a bishop from another ward about our family situation and he told me that he has not seen others be able to blend two families so well. He also commented that the undoing of many subsequent marriages is in fact, the difficulties many face doing just what Doug and I have done. Well in case you want to know our little secret, here it is:

Decide. Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?

No kidding. That is it. I pick happy. So much of the undoing of marriages today seems to be in the small stuff. Arguing over little things and putting each other's faults under the microscope. Now that is not to say that Doug and I have never argued in 6 years. Or that I never think his way of doing things is half baked. He too could tell you a story or two about me and the way I view the world. But the message I want to communicate to you my loyal readers here is simple. Doug was married before. He is the SAME MAN. He may be older and perhaps a little wiser, but I think I could probably sit down and talk with his first wife about things that Doug does that drive me crazy and you know what, she would probably say that those were the things that drove her crazy too. Same thing could be said about me and all of my many faults. However, I happen to believe you can't love just part of someone. I also believe with all my heart that Doug does what he thinks is right for our family. He may take a wrong turn on the road of life now and again, but he would never willing drive our car off of a cliff. And if he does take the scenic route, or the wrong route I believe he will get us to our destination eventually. And because I know that, I have decided to just enjoy the ride. I don't need to tell him where to turn, or how to drive for that matter.

I just recently talked with a friend from work who is having a hard time in her own marriage. She was listing all of the reasons her marriage was a failure, all of her spouse's shortcomings, and all of the reasons it would be 'better for everyone' if they split up. When she asked me what I thought, I gave her my old, 'do you wanna be right or do you wanna be happy' line. She replied, "Well that is easy for you to say, you are married to Doug." I just had to laugh and wonder if she even remembered that Doug had been married before. And this same ' perfect Doug' was probably the topic of a conversation or two, or three, much like this one 12 years ago when his ex listed all the reasons it would be 'better for everyone' if they split up.

I am grateful that Doug and I were sealed to each other 18, ummm, 6 years ago today. I am grateful that our children are happy and love each other. I am grateful that Doug has been able to adopt Joey and Millie and we have all been sealed together. And I am eternally grateful that he is my FOREVER man.

YOUth Conference

Could they be any prettier?

Sillier? Goofier?

Happier?

What a weekend. The girls and boys in our stake were treated to our first out of town stake youth conference since our stake's inception 7 years ago. Friday night began as wards gathered at the stake center to complete a service project and watch movies that our kids created in their wards. Doug and I were both part of our mia maid/ teacher movie, so we were ribbed all weekend long about our acting ability. Particularly Doug, who played Peter Pan. (I am going to try to get me a copy of that there video to be showing on my blog here. That's farm talk)

Saturday morning we met at 6:30 at the Stake Center and loaded up over 200 kids onto the awaiting buses. The weather was unseasonably cold but we were ready. The stake allowed for only a few leaders to attend, each ward bringing just their Bishop, and presidents of Young Men and Young Women. Our YW president asked me to go in her place as she was out of town. I am glad that I was able to be there with the kids and was pleased that I was assigned to the sophomore group with Spence Larson, Mark Edgel and Bishop Skouson. Ask anyone, sophomores rock! We pulled out of town eating sack breakfasts on the buses and headed to St George. Our group split into lower and upperclassmen and the first stop we made with the younger kids was the St. George Temple visitors center where we watched the Joseph Smith movie. Doug and I just watched this two weeks ago, but still I sat blubbering through the whole thing. Honestly a lot of the kids did too. After that we headed over to the Brigham Young Home and onto the Jacob Hamblin house. Both of these sights were wonderful with the kids asking questions and learning much about life during the early years of the church. They are all more grateful now for the little things, you know, like flushing toilets.

We grabbed a quick lunch at a local stake center (happens to be the one that Doug and I attended church at while we were up there two weeks ago) and met with the other older kids at the St. George Tabernacle. Our group sang Called to Serve and the spirit there was strong. The kids were getting a little restless by the time we left and had some time to play in a nearby park. Following that we headed over to the Staheli Family Farm where we spent the rest of the day and night. This place is amazing. The food , the activities, the kids were in heaven. The farm offers something for everyone. Open fields for football and soccer, volleyball courts, indoor dancing and karaoke, Guitar Hero, a petting zoo , and the list goes on! Joe spent the better part of the afternoon involved in a football game. The corn maze seemed to be a favorite after dark and the dance and evening happenings were a hit with all who attended. The ride home was a little more relaxed with kids talking and laughing. At the front of the bus, Mark, Spence, Bishop Skouson and myself kept ourselves awake swapping stories. All in all, it was a great event and one I think our youth will remember for years.

Me, I had a great time. Oh and a big THANK YOU goes out to my good friends from the Aliante ward. You know what you did! :-) Love you guys!

Saturday Conference

So here we are at The Marriott in SLC. Gotta love hotel life. get up, get dressed, go out and come back to beds made and clean towels. A girl could get used to this.

Anyhow, today the girls and I went to the afternoon session. I could not have loved Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk more. Come what may and love it!

The boys went to Priesthood tonight. It was exciting for Bret to be there with his dad and his brother. While they were gone the girls went to the Gateway mall. We ate at CPK, a conference favorite. The girls enjoyed some shopping at Claire's and Forever 21. The mom's enjoyed browsing in Brighton's, Christopher Banks and Banana Republic etc.. We ended up in Barnes and Noble before heading back here to the room. Doug, Todd and the boys headed over to Hyers to get some late night munchies. We are all going to watch a movie tonight when they get back.

Here are some photos of the girls heading out to conference today.

Doug loves these overhead shots...

Conference

And we are off to Salt Lake City for general Conference. Bret's first general priesthood session, like his older brother Joe's, will be live!

Look for us girls at the Saturday afternoon session and you might spot the whole Mecham family at the Sunday morning session.

Hopefully I will have some significant insight to blog about when we return.