Fascination Questions

There are a few very smart people I have met in my life who intrigue me. I am a general observer, watching what people do, how the operate, how they work, interaction...whatever you call it creepy you can call it that as well.

Since our move to Idaho, we have been in 5 wards. I have met men in all of those wards I want to sit and talk to for hours. Only in one have i been able too. A Bishop in one of my wards, let me interview him for a school project. I did not intend to discuss his life before Boy Scouts but we discussed a lot about his time in the military. He talked about some of the perilous situations he was in, he also showed me his very impressive resume. He discussed his feeling of retiring from the military and moving back to Idaho. I had spent quite a bit of time with him over a few years time within his office and at times when I needed guidance. He inspires me that I can become even more than I am now, I think of him often.

We moved to another ward and met another man whom I have already written about, he is in the military and has re-upped to protect our country and take care of his awesome wife. I love him so much he is a brother to my husband and it brings me great joy to see them together. They have been trough some very hard times together, times that would break any man. Those 2 together are making it through the latest trial together, it gives me great pride to know they are there for each other.

In yet another ward, I met someone else with healing hands. With such a gift we as a family can never repay his love and attention. His wife is just as glorious. They are a steady rock in our family even if we dont see them often. They have inspired my children to greatness.

There is a man in our ward who fascinates me. I dont know much about him but he teaches the Gospel Doctrine class. I do not know much about him but just listening to him speak in class I am completely enthralled by his class. He sends notes out each week, gives the scriptures an amazing view i have never seen before. He is an interesting man, he is very observant, I know he was in the military and worked for the church. I gave a talk last Sunday he was one of the first persons to tell me that he liked my talk, then said, "I am watching you" with his finger pointed at me. That made me interested and a bit scared...personally who wants someone watching them, or paying attention to what they do...I know he meant no harm, and in fact he had a bit of a smile on his face. He is a man of few words but the words he does say are important. I would love to sit down with him and just ask questions. Unfortunately that is rude....I know, I know your thinking to yourself  "Moira never stopped you before" Well as I am getting older I am learning that you dont have to rude to get what you want. There will be a time when I can....I have also learned that some people do not want to talk about their life...it may be too painful, too hard...or how about this none of my business....

Interesting, how we meet people in our life and we want to know about them. I am fascinated by people and the lives they live, how do they get here, what made them what they are? What about you what makes you what you are, would someone be fascinated by you? What has happened in your life that makes you stop, get on your knees, and beg for relief? How did you recover? did you recover....most of all could you teach someone else to recover? I have had so many ups and downs in my life that i need to write more about them. So be aware my blog from here on out may be tough to read, it may offend people (never really cared about that much). I need to put more out there so my kids know what is going on, so others can learn to rise up from ashes that consume. I love my friend who blogs all the time, i have learned so much about her, i love her deeply. She has become an inspiration for me, in more than one way. She is the reason i started a blog, one of the reasons i am so fascinated with people, plus she has an awesome accent.

So if you have any questions about me, you can go ahead and send them to me i will answer. I will also ask my kiddos what they want to know. So lets see what happens....maybe i will have some questions for you.

Presidents, Talks and Foos

So there is some interesting news in our life lately, 2 Sundays ago I got a new calling...Not too sure about it...or if I will do it justice...A calling is when the Bishop of the ward requests you to do something particular. Some people are teachers, some are create activities for everyone, some are greeters, there all kinds of "jobs" to do. In the Latter-day Saint church we have a woman who is over all of the Young Women in the ward ages 12-18ish. She has a couple of other women who help her and teaches the girls the joy of life and how to honor womanhood and become the best they can. Well apparently I am that leader. The Bishop asked me in about a paragraph or less to be the Young Womens President. I personally do not feel that I have much to give these girls, BUT i have to say they are some pretty cool girls. We met Sunday and they seem to really have a ton of great personalities. 

At the same time I was asked to give a talk. Nothing like being pulled in 2 directions....Its been quite a ride for the last 2 weeks. I am wondering what i have to teach these girls. I have been put in a strange position of responsibility and if you know me, you know I dont care much about that. I have some strong feelings about how things should be taught. I believe in open honesty and it may rub people the wrong way, we have such a chore working with the teens of today. They think we dont know what they are going through, or if they hide we will never know...I can see through all of the garbage. Mostly because I lived through that trash, I have been down out, ready to leave this world, I have been in a place where i felt so worthless I didnt think I could come back. 

Speaking of which I gave a talk on Sunday about feelings of worth, understanding love, and finding joy when in the depths of despair. About finding your path when you feel so worthless and knwoing that the Lord will guide you if you ask...if you just take the time to ask. It was one of the hardest talks I have ever given (glad I gave it when my parents were gone). There were many tears from me trying to make it through. I think my girls learned something new about me, my YW learned something about this weird lady and others who dont know me found out some information I did not want to give out. 

I am at a good place right now, its a hard place and i am tired. I dont know what direction to take yet. I am not sure I can make the best decisions. I am humbled to have been given such a charge. 

Shane at the same time, has been called as the Elders Quorum President. First question I wondered about was whether or not the beard would come off. The Stake President asked him if he would be a better EQ Pres without the beard. Shane stated he would do what the President asked of him. I think in that moment he really would have shaved if asked. Shane stated President I will follow you to the ends of the earth, do what you ask, and be devoted to the men i serve. President Lewis did not ask him to shave, he asked Shane to do his job. He gave Shane a charge to find for himself if it needed to come off. It is still there as of today...and I imagine for a while...There is much work to be done here. It is a ward in need of a bit of a push...i suppose a Shane Henrie push...those men better get ready.

It has been an exciting week or 2. Things are hard and will be even harder but I am thinking it may be good for us. By the way, i like to add in lyric from songs into my talks, this is the song i took from this time.  Video at the bottom of the lyrics. Somehow we all have to learn to walk again, find the signal that will get us where we need to be. We all have to do this over and over to make life work....

A million miles away
Your signal in the distance
To whom it may concern
I think I lost my way
Getting good at starting over
Every time that I return

Learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
Learning to talk again
Can't you see I've waited long enough?
Where do I begin?

Do you remember the days?
We built these paper mountains
Then sat and watched them burn
I think I found my place
Can't you feel it growing stronger
Little conquerors

Learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
Learning to talk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?

Now, 
For the very first time
Don't you pay no mind
Set me free, again
To keep alive, a moment at a time
That's still inside, a whisper to a riot
The sacrifice, the knowing to survive
The first decline, another state of mind
I'm on my knees, I'm praying for a sign
Forever, whenever, I never wanna die

I never wanna die
I never wanna die
I'm on my knees, I never wanna die
I'm dancing on my grave
I'm running through the fire
Forever, whenever
I never wanna die
I never wanna leave
I'll never say goodbye
Forever, whenever
Forever, whenever

Nana, Papa and Johns Birthday

I saw one of my friends last night and she said...Moira you need to Blog more so I know what is going on, you live too far away....so here I am again writing the boring life of my family.

Not so boring, my parentals came this week to visit. They are from Florida and have driven around the world and back to come visit. Sally made donuts, cake (carrot and cheesecake), pot roast dinner, tacos for dinner, lunches for kids, stocked my fridge to the nth degree and much more. My dad hung out with my boys and started teaching Jake how to play guitar, talked about cars and did some other things. It was a long week but they have left as of today, in fact just a few minutes ago.

here they are all together and at some point those boys are going to pass their sister in size I am sure. They sure had a great time with their grandparents, they come about every 2 years and the kids love it. 

Bonus of this trip they are here on Johns birthday!

he asked for raspberry cheesecake and Nana delivered, he is 13, I found the 8 and 5 for a few cents at Walmart so there you have 13. It was a yummy desert.

He didnt ask for much but the 2 things he asked for he got. First he called his Aunt Sarah over a month ago to tell her he wanted the Jurassic Park series of movies...as usual she cannot say no and delivered....

He also asked for a puzzle similar to a rubics cube. He has already mastered the cube he has, so a more complex makes for a good time for him. Look at his face he is so excited. He is working on it right now.

I am thrilled that he is 13. He is a great kid who is only 2 merit badges away from his Eagle. It has been a long road with him and he sometimes still struggles but he works through it and finds a way to get past whatever is holding him back. On top of it all, he is smart, so smart. He also has some stinking big feet! size 9 mens shoes...here is to hoping he grows some.

Having my parents here, Nana filled the fridge (as usual) and Papa and the boys drooled over cars, made for a long week and Sunday afternoon everyone crashed on the floor. It was delightful to have time just to rest.