Love Is In The Air

      I'm reminded all around of love.  I'm blessed with a wonderful husband, stepkids, family, friends, financial stability, health and intelligence, and many things that I enjoy doing...and eating.
     Here's how I've seen the love in my life recently.
     Last week my cousin, Vivian, invited me to attend the ballet with her.  I LOVE the ballet!  When I was young I wanted to be a ballerina.  I took dance classes as a child, even a couple of years of pointe- which is much harder than professional dancers make it look- and was a sophomore cheerleader, on the drill team and the dance company in high school.  I continue dancing today with video games (I'm a LOT less flexible and have less ability now, not to mention having a lot less energy).  I haven't been to the ballet for a while, so I was really excited for this chance to see The Sleeping Beauty with the same music (by Tchaikovsky) that you hear in the Disney movie.  Such a wonderful time!
     Then last Friday night our ward had a Sweethearts dance.  It started with a pasta dinner then we went into the cultural hall for the dance.  It was all decorated with pink and red balloons.  We had an unofficial DJ who played some really good music.  It was so nice to dance with Lyle!  We don't often get the chance.  There was a room set up for the children and there were volunteers to go in there for a half hour to do activities with the kids, although in truth the kids spent just as much time dancing as they did doing the activities set up for them.  There was also a room set up to take pictures with your Valentine.  People got a kick out of one of the pics Lyle and I took.  As usual, Lyle's being a ham and I'm pretending to be annoyed.  I think the photographer showed this one to others in the ward since they commented on how funny we are. I'm so glad we enjoy being together so much.  Lyle's a good husband.
    This past Tuesday the Young Women in our ward had an activity that Annie was actually able to go to- we rarely have her on the day of the week that they have activities.  They went to a bridal shop and tried on wedding dresses.  That's Annie right in the front.  I can't believe how much older it made her look.  She's not a little girl anymore!  It makes me dread how fast time is going.  Someday she's going to be ready to take the step of getting married and while I'm can't wait for that day, I also don't want it to come.  When Lyle picked Annie up from the activity a couple of the girls in the ward were trying to hide her and insisting that Lyle leave Annie with them because they were having so much fun and wanted her to stay.  I almost cried when Lyle told me that.  It means more than I can say to me that the Young Women in our ward are so loving and accepting of Annie.  I know she needs good friends and I'm so happy that there are people in her life who are positive influences and who genuinely enjoy having her around.  Last month they came to our home and 'heart attacked' it for Annie.  I love these girls!  Annie carefully took all of the hearts down and put them  in her room so that she could have them where she could see them...a reminder of how much she is loved.  Thank you for the love and caring you have showed to my daughter, Young Women and Leaders!  You're fabulous!
     Yesterday, Lyle brought home my Valentine's Day present.  Flowers and chocolate truffles.  How can a husband go wrong with that?  The only problem...Lyle and I are currently on our 17 day no carb diet and I can't eat the truffles for another week and a half!  Ah, but they'll be worth it once I can enjoy them.  In the meantime, I can bask in the glow of the feeling I get when my husband brings me flowers.  My present to him is two parts.  For the first part: candy (that he can't eat for a week and a half), a coupon for a free massage and something even better...my own words of love.  Taylor's cell broke a couple of months ago.  Lyle found an old one that still worked and gave it to him.  Last month Taylor told me that there were texts from me to Lyle from way back when we were dating that Lyle had saved on that phone and forgotten about.  So I typed them up in a love note to give to him this Valentine's Day which was Taylor's idea...and a good one at that!  For the second part: on Monday night (we have the kids this weekend so I'll wait for our time as a couple), I'm making our dining room into a restaurant and fixing dinner for him.  Then I'm going to present him with the bill- to be paid in affection instead of money.  Then we're going to play the Newlywed Game to cap off the evening.
     My mom also gave me a Valentine's Day present: those chocolate covered pretzels with nuts from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  I love my mom!  She's someone who deserves a great Valentine's day.  I bought her a book for her present...which she'll get late since she flew yesterday to visit her brother and sister-in-law in Arizona.
     Ah!  I'll have so much yummy things to eat when I get off my diet that I'll have to be sure not to send myself into a diabetic coma from the sugar rush I'll get (oh, but what a way to go)!.  And I'm pretty sure that all these yummy things will directly counteract the diet itself!  Well, darn.  So goes life.
     The last thing I have to say about love in my life has to do with my calling: primary music chorister.  Last Sunday the presidency and I went to a stake meeting.  Representatives from the Priesthood Department for the Church were there.  Our stake, along with 2 others, has been selected to do a sort of pilot program.  They have a new format for sharing/singing time that they want to test out...which we'll start this Sunday and continue for 6 weeks.  After listening to  people from the priesthood dept, I'm really excited to try this new format!  It includes more singing time than we have now (YES!) and replaces the gospel instruction by a presidency member with the children sharing their gospel experiences.  I think it's possible that this will help the kids tie together what they learn in class, home and in sharing time together and help them experience the Lord's love in a more focused way.  And it gives me more time with the kids!  We'll see how it goes.  I plead the Lord blesses us with the help we'll need to teach the children.  I love my calling!

     That's all for today, but come back next week to hear about how the adoption process is going... I'll have news!

     Love to all and Happy Valentine's Day!!