Super Dad Saves the Day

Well, I didn't get the guest room painting finished myself, so Tobin had to step in and help me out. He is such a good guy! I promise I will post pictures soon. I just don't have time to download now. Anyway, we have a very green room, and I like it. We are talking about replacing the baseboards now. It's only money, right?

D.I.Y. Super Woman

I really enjoy doing projects around the house, but I have lacked motivation to do much for a while--maybe even a couple of years. Recently I got a "burr under my saddle," as my father-in-law referred to it. I have decided to paint our guest room so that I can move my kids into that room. The guest room has been our storage area since we moved into our house six years ago, so now I am trying to move a lot of stuff into the garage and keep it all neat and tidy. I put some serious time into the garage on Saturday, and I'm pleased with the results. No, you can't park even one car in it anymore, but it's better than paying a monthly fee for a storage unit!

Today I moved all of the remaining furniture, books, etc. to the middle of the guest room. My sister-in-law and her cousin helped me remove the shelves I built and mounted on the wall a few years ago--those definitely are not going back up. What a pain!!! (Though I've decided I'm going to attempt to make them into a book shelf or two.) I have now taped off all the trim and laid out plastic in the room. I'm finally ready to prime and paint. If you are familiar with our guest room, you know that it is currently white with red and blue stripes--a DIY project gone horribly wrong. And yet I have left it so for four years because I worked so hard on those terrible stripes, I couldn't bear to paint over them. Now I'm sick and tired of them; thank goodness I don't have to sleep in that room. It's horrifying! :) I've selected a nice, neutral, relaxing shade of green. I want to decorate with boy stuff on one side and girl stuff on the other, so I figured green would work for both. I've been eyeing some fabric at a local store that is going out of business, and now I'm thinking up several other projects I just might dive into. Can you say snowball effect? But it's all justified, right? I want to move Peyton and Maryam into twin beds soon, which means they will need new bedspreads and some pillowcases.

I'm excited to accomplish a new project (or five . . . or ten . . .). Once I finish something and look at my work, it makes me feel like I can do anything! I really can be super woman!

Primary Program

Today was the primary program in our ward. I have been working on the program all year, with tons of help from my counselors and secretary and, of course, the children. We have practiced for a couple of weeks, and the big day was finally here. I was actually a little nervous this morning as Sacrament Meeting started. The kids did such a good job! As I sat there watching them give their parts--most of which are their own words--and sing the songs, I was overcome by the spirit. I didn't realize before how much I love these beautiful young children. They are so strong and valiant. And their testimonies are so wonderful! Through their beautiful program they lifted my spirit and strengthened my testimony. I'm so glad I have the opportunity to work with them. These are truly spirit children of our Heavenly Father. His light shines through their eyes. I am so blessed to have them touch my life.

Happy Birth Day, baby Mikayla!

Our friends Becky and Taryn welcomed their first baby to the world this morning. Peyton, Maryam, and I went to the hospital this evening to meet sweet little Mikayla. The pictures are too precious not to share. Peyton and Maryam are going to get some good training to be a big brother and sister someday. I better be careful or I might get baby hungry!

Halloween Bugs

Peyton was a bumble bee and Maryam was a ladybug for Halloween. It was so fun to take them trick or treating this year since they actually understood what we were doing. We only got to the houses on our street before they were tired out. They had a great time. Poor Peyton is really scared of people wearing masks, so we had a couple rough moments. Poor guy. He certainly seems to take after his father--a lover, not a fighter.

Our friends Sadie and Liz accompanied us for trick or treating. Liz made their costumes. Aren't they adorable?

Proposition 8

We have been working all weekend to help pass Proposition 8 in California. I spent all day Saturday and all afternoon Sunday making phone calls to registered voters to encourage them to vote yes. Then today Tobin and I stood in the pouring rain for two hours during the evening rush hour holding signs promoting Prop 8. I'm so excited to be involved in this cause. I've never really been involved in a political campaign before. It's so thrilling to think that I might help to lead people to vote for something I believe in so strongly. The news is showing this as a very tight race. I really hope we win! If not, we're going to have to think very seriously about whether or not we can send our kids to public schools in California.

The passion on both sides of this issue is amazing. There are many people who believe strongly that Prop 8 should be passed--amending the state constitution to say that marriage is only between a man and a woman. And there are many who want desperately to defeat Prop 8. I can see the argument for both sides, but God has made it clear which is correct. And so my religious convictions have determined my answer. It's interesting that church and state are supposed to be separate in our country, and yet it's very difficult to accomplish that. We have had people say to us that they didn't realize this was a religious issue at all. Seems they don't understand much about religion. I also had a woman tell me today that I am not a Christian since I support Prop 8. Seems to me she doesn't understand Christ's teachings.

Now I just have to wait 24 hours more to find out if our hard work has paid off. Even if we lose this time, the experience has been incredible! And we will continue to work to protect that which is sacred.