Basketball begins again

Last night was the first of many evenings I will spend over the next few months sitting in a gymnasium watching High School basketball. The benches are still hard, but I forgot how fun it can be.

The Titans have an extremely young team this year. During the varsity game it wasn't unusual to look out and see 4 sophomores and a junior on the court playing against Skyview's starting seniors, and those kids really held their own. They played hard and worked well together, and even though Skyview managed pull off a victory in the last few minutes, I'm still predicting it's going to be a good season. Once these kids shake off the jitters of playing against 6' 9" seniors (like they faced last night), they'll do great.

Go Titans!

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, here are a few things I'm thankful for this week:

1) It is basketball season (the Olympus Titans first game is next Wednesday) which means:

• Baseball season is over
• Golf season is over
• Football season is almost over
• Hardy travels less for work to avoid missing games; and
• I pretty much know how I'll be spending a lot of my Tuesday and Saturday nights for the next 3.5 months (on a hard bench in the Olympus High School gymnasium).

2) Dual Climate Control and heated seats in our new car which allows me to crank up the heat and Hardy to turn on the air conditioner as we drive home from Utah basketball games.

3) We are extending an offer letter to a new employee for the Neighborhood Services Division later this afternoon which means that as soon as she starts I will no longer have to do everything for my department. Hooray!

4) A patient husband who set his expectations so high for how much he thought it was going to cost to repair the garage door I busted (oops!) that rather than being mad he was relieved when I told him how much it is actually going to cost. - Thanks Hardy :)

5) And finally, I'm grateful that I don't need anything for Christmas (other than a new garage door). We have a crazy, quirky little ward and neighborhood which I love that helps us keep things in perspective and remember how much we have been blessed with. Hardy once told me a story of his uncle who, when he was first married, loaded his car with his wife and all their few belonging to move to a new state, and as he looked at that car he realized that he had everything he could ever need right there and anything beyond that was a bonus. I think he was right on, and I'm definitely in the bonus area.

Surviving the Primary Program

Yesterday we had our ward Primary Program. As a Primary President of only a few months I really had no idea what to expect from this event, but happily most the kids showed up, and only 1 left the stage in tears when he was told it was his turn to give his part. The sunbeams even managed to sit still for most of the meeting, which was a miracle considering how much they wiggled during the Satruday rehearsal. We survived, and somehow despite the chaos the spirit managed to prevail and their sweet little testimonies touched the audience. It turned out to be a really great meeting. The kids went absolutely bonkers once we got done and were back in the primary room, but at least they waited until then.

I admit that I was fairly skeptical when they called me into the Primary since the last time I was in Primary I was 12 years old, but I have learned to love it so much. The kids are so sweet (when they aren't running away, or hitting anyone, or farting at their neighbor). I thought I would miss the adult lessons at church, but I am amazed at how much I learn as we focus the basics. I think sometimes as adults we forget the real simplicity of the gospel and what makes it true. The kids remind me every week.

An afternoon with the President

Former President Bill Clinton was in town with past weekend campaigning on behalf of his wife and Hardy and I just couldn't pass up on the opportunity to see him speak. It was fantastic. He is just so captivating and an artists at working a crowd. His message was very positive and uplifting, full of great information and statistics, and all extemporaneous. No wonder Newt Gingrich calls him the greatest politician of our time.

I am so glad I married someone who loves politics. Some people go to movies, we go to campaign rallies on our dates. Hardy and I were like kids at Christmas waiting for Clinton to enter the room. There is just something special about hearing from a former President of the United States. They have a very unique view of the nation and where it's headed. I had the opportunity a few months ago to hear from George Bush, Sr. in Philadelphia and came away with a similar rejuvination of my patriotism.

And to top off the weekend, today I got to vote. It doesn't get much better than that for we lovers of politics.