Hi, Remember Us?

So, the Mom in this picture has been a terrible blogger and many of you have reminded me of that.  We have had a few months that can't quite be summed up with the English language.  It's been crazy and I hope that part of my repentance will include being better at updating this blog.
In September, our ward was split, and later that week we were invited into the Bishop's office.  We knew this.  Our new Bishopric has an entire ward to staff in a week.  So we are getting ready to meet with the bishop, and I chuckle to myself thinking "it's about time Darren got a more complicated calling" because it's usually Darren they seem to have mercy on.  (He might disagree with this) I think Heavenly Father appreciates irony more, because of me.  The Bishop proceeded to ask me to serve as our new ward's Primary President.  He then extended a calling to Darren to serve in the Young Men's presidency.  To say the least, we were surprised and since September we have been swamped.  I've never been a part of a ward from the ground up, let alone the President of an organization, especially one so large.  It has taught me many, many, many things.  It challenged me more than I ever thought and our family went from average to crazy busy overnight.
I've heard many leaders in the church on every level talk about how they pray for us, they love us, they think about us everyday....and in the back of my mind, I thought it was all very nice.  Now I know that to be true.  I pray for and worry about every. single. child. and teacher under my stewardship.  I also see how much of this goes on behind the scenes.  My plea to every member everywhere is this: serve.  Be open minded, be open hearted with callings, with new leadership, with mistakes.
I remember the strongest impression that came to me one morning not long after, that if Darren and I put our little family first, and each other, that these callings will prove to draw us closer together as a family.  I know this to be true already.  And when we aren't doing that, we feel it and our callings suffer.
In January, Darren's mom and dad were called to serve in the Westpoint, NY mission.  We all knew they would be serving a mission and doing it sooner than later.  I think it will be so amazing for both of them, but especially for Mom.  There are some major growth opportunities in a mission.

What I didn't expect to feel so soon, was their absence.  We live in Idaho, so we don't get to see them as often.  But I am feeling their absence even 3 hours away.  Clearly the growth in a mission situation isn't just for those who are gone.  

There have been other things that have driven us to our knees and we are forever grateful for our testimonies, but for our friends who are clearly, our family.  

As I write this and I think of our friends in the places we've lived, I'm humbled by the blessing it has been to have you in my life.  Hopefully soon, we'll see you.  

Here is to the possibility of me returning to blog before Christmas!!