Busy, Busy, Busy...

Well, I been so busy lately that I haven't taken the time to download pictures again. We have been busy getting ready for Christmas. I went a week ago to Albuquerque to do a temple session while my girlfriend Karina spent some much needed time with her husband whom she is separated from. Everything went great. I got home in time to welcome Shanna and her kids for a visit. My kids were so happy to get a little time with their cousins that they just don't see often enough. I enjoyed shopping and spending time with Shanna as well.

Sunday morning I had to go early to church to meet with the bishop for a few minutes before church. I was a little nervous cause there was an opening for a primary secretary position in our ward. But then I remembered the bishop isn't the one who extends calls to primary. He extends calls to Relief Society, OH NO! There was an open teacher position. That is scarier than teaching primary. I guess I am a little intimidated by the older crowd. So it was a complete shock to me to sit down and have the bishop ask me if I had any feelings about what calling he was going to ask me to take. Uh yeah right Bishop. No way am I guessing that one. Well I guess the second counselor in the RS was asked to be the new Primary secretary. So I was asked to be in the RS presidency. I am the counselor over Enrichment night. I was actually really surprised. This is one of those times where one feels almost completely under-qualified for the calling. I do have crafty skills and connections but being in charge and responsible is a little out of my comfort zone right now. So I guess I have a lot to learn. I do feel though that this is where Heavenly Father wants me right now if not for anyone else but for me. I need the chance to serve and get outside myself for a while. I know I wouldn't have been called if I can't handle it. I guess I just have to find a way to handle it.

Then we had Christmas eve dinner here on Monday night. I had William's parents, grandparents, and brother's family here. Karina and the missionaries where supposed to come but Karina went back to Albuquerque and the missionaries got invited to an investigators home for dinner. We had a nice time and finally did our first nativity. There were enough kids to put on the little play while William read from the scriptures. Then the kids all opened their one present, pajamas (our Christmas eve tradition.)

One of my favorite gifts this year was the Payne Game we got from George and Joanne. We have been asking them to make us a board for years and we finally got one. Yeah! We have had fun with it already.

Karina and her husband are getting back together and will be moving to Albuquerque. So until they find a place they had to move out of where she was living. They had no where to go with only hours notice so I have their family staying with us right now. My kids are in heaven. Alisa is almost 11 and Dalen is 5. Amy and Emily fight over who he should play with but he loves them both. They are both great kids so I don't mind them being here at all. I have gotten to be really close friends to Karina so I want to help them anyway I can. Besides it is fun to have another couple here to play the Payne Game with us every night before bed. Oh and Alisa and Makenna, best friends from the moment they met.

I will be back later with some pictures to add.