Ahhhhhhhh!
AND TIME OUT (For Women, That Is)
Can you hear me? That is the sigh of relief after I was done speaking in Sacrament Meeting today. Call me crazy, but I don't mind Public Speaking. I don't get that nervous about actually speaking in public. What I fret over is sorting out the millions of thoughts that come to me as I prepare to speak or teach. If I get nervous about anything, it is that I want to make sure I say what the Lord wants said and what the audience needs to hear.

After Church, I went to a Girl's Camp Meeting for Parents and Young Women planning to attend Camp this summer. Hard to imagine that I finally have a daughter going to Girls Camp. After years of being Stake Young Women's President and putting my heart and soul into Girls Camp for so many other girls, one of my very own finally gets to go. I have the next 10 years for Girls Camp with my daughters and their friends. Katherine already has a plan as to how to raise money for her Camp Cost. The fun is just starting.

When I got home, it was time to hit the kitchen. We had 6 Missionaries over for dinner. Since this morning felt like the PERFECT fall weather, I was happy I had planned to make Taco Soup and Homemade French Bread (aka Jolynn's Sunday Bread). Wherever you are enjoying fall (or freezing winter), try my Taco Soup and French Bread Recipes. Taco Soup is from Cindy Jump and French Bread is from Jolynn Watson.

No nap today when I badly wanted one. I am so happy to have my latest big projects over. I have had so many big things back-to-back and need to take a deep breath and STAY HOME. As Ron commented last week (as he NEVER does) "I am thinking that it is time for La Hacienda to have some of your attention." (You know it is bad when he verbalizes what he observes as far as the house is concerned)

This week, I am getting my house ready for Christmas Decorating. I started deep cleaning yesterday. My house needs to be cleaned UNDERNEATH. Just a quick skim/run-through will not do at this time. I got some closets and drawers cleaned out and the fun is just beginning. I am super excited to put up my tree, for some reason.

We are leaving for Gainesville at the end of the week. Ron is marching in the University of Florida Gator Alumni Marching Band on Saturday. I am so excited! I love Alumni Band Weekend. We sit with the band and enjoy every minute of that party. The Band Section Rocks...Literally!

This week, I have already warned my partners in Volunteer Crime that I will not be showing my face at the school (other than for delivering and retrieving my child) or at any Community Projects. I am taking a TIME OUT!

Speaking of TIME OUT.....I am on the Deseret Book TIME OUT FOR WOMEN COMMITTEE Team for the Orlando Event to be held March 20-21. Yahoooooo! This is an amazing event and I am delighted to help make it happen in this corner of the world. I am always amused when people say things like and I give answers like.......

• They should not charge members of The Church (the whole Priest craft thing....) Hello... have you never purchased a Book from Deseret Book?
• Have you ever sent your children to EFY (Especially For Youth?) It costs and is not advertised in Public Meetings or over pulpits, yet ....Bingo...all can agree...there is not one Youth who should miss a summer at EFY.
• Have you ever attended BYU Women's Conference...Sponsored by The Relief Society of The Church? Hello.... It costs and IS advertised in Chapels and on Bulletin Boards.
• TIME OUT FOR WOMEN is too expensive...Hello...have you ever compared the cost of a Christian Women's Conference (Retreat) to Time Out For Women. No Comparison in Cost or Quality. AND did you know that Deseret Book would rather have people attend for NO COST rather than NOT ATTEND? There is a Ticket Scholarship Program for those who cannot afford the cost. No one is turned away due to cost. Try that one on for size!
• Trust me...this is not a money making venture for Deseret Book. Expenses are covered, at best. Authors may sell a few more books, yet, that is not the focus intended. At the end of the day... lives are touched...lives are changed... spirits are re-charged...cups are re-filled..WOMEN are better off at the end of TIME OUT FOR WOMEN than they were when they arrived.

Check out Time Out For Women coming to a city near you. Call up a friend, reserve tickets, and commit to attend. Thank me later!

I hope you are still with me...the above post started out as a brief check-in and quickly meandered all over every subject on my brain's agenda. If so....thanks for reading through this far! Have a Great Week!

Have you ever attended a Time Out For Women?

Have you made Taco Soup?

Do you like Girls Camp as an adult or did you as a child?

Are you excited to set up Christmas?

In Our Own Backyard....

Last weekend, while setting up for an event at Binks Forest Country Club, I realized I need to zip home for a few supplies. I told the manager that it would most likely be quicker for me to walk home for the supplies rather than hop in my car and drive. He immediately said, "Take One Of Our Golf Carts". With that suggestion, I headed home in a golf cart. And yes, it was truly the quickest way to go. For some reason, Megan was excited to accompany me. Obviously, spending a few moments with me was not the draw.

When we got to our backyard, I let her drive.
Happy Weekend Everyone!
My days have been packed with bloggable moments. At some point, I will begin to post photos and details.The school auction is over as well as most of my big projects in other corners of the Community and State. I am actually HOME this weekend. Hooray! The next FOUR weekends, you will not find me at HOME. I look forward to a week of accomplishment within the FOUR walls of my HOME.

Perspective and Choosing Between Good and Good
Some Fridays I say ahhh....hooray for the Weekend!
Others I say... AAAGGGHHHHH...the weeked is here...I can't wait until it is over!

Today I am saying the later of the two....this weekend will be FULL. Just plain packed full. Speaking of packing, time to pack up everyone (not Mr. Riley) and head North to Orlando.
Ron and I will be conducting our first Regional LDS Singles Event in Orlando tomorrow (a Temple Day, A Mixer Luncheon at a local Hotel, and a 2009 Planning Session)
The Bonus...we are bringing the girls with us and we get to see my parents (and of course, get to attend the Temple)

Sunday brings ever favoriteThe Primary Children's Program in Sacrament Meeting with yours truly coordinating the Thank You Cupcakes and snacks afterwards. (No I don't have a Primary Calling...just remember what it's like on that day for those leaders after being a Primary President TWICE. I am happy to remove that load from these leaders who have worked so hard) Whoa...I just realized....this is Katherines LAST Primary Program.

Sunday afternoon, it is our Wrap Up Event for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. We give out the awards, announce the final amounts collected, recruit helpers for the 2009 Walk, say some nice words, get our photos in the Newspaper again.......the whole drill.

All of this with the PTA Carnival in one week and yours truly, the Chairperson of the Basket Auction, is fielding Concerns from 90 Room Moms. Oh were the calls and e-mails flowing on tap yesterday!Putting out fires all over Room-Mom-Land is worth a blog post alone!

I know the weekend could be even more packed...it really is behind the scenes....we have said NO to that many more GOOD events (Birthday Parties, Primary Practice and Party, Carnival, Out to Dinner with Friends, not to mention to luxury of accomplishing a task or cleaning my garage)

Choosing between Good and Good is something I face almost every day. I am not alone in having to make these choices. Every individual and family is faced with full schedules and calendars.I do know that not every GOOD event deserves my time and energy. I have to weigh the cost/benefit of each GOOD choice placed in front of me and choose well for myself and my family. Sometimes the best choice is to just stay home (which is what I am craving right now)

Maybe...just maybe next week, I will be able to clear a path through my house...in between School Carnival duties, Bring Your Parent To School Day, Breathing, Megan's Chorus Performance, Orthodontist Appointments, Hair Appointment, and more (that is just what I can think of as the words flow from my fingers)

Meanwhile, I had confirmation that I am still sane....very sane....I have heard it said that a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind....No worries here if there is even a hint of truth to that saying! And if the condition of your office counts.....I should be charging for my SANE PERSPECTIVE! I thought about snapping a photo, but you would think I staged it...yes it is that bad.

Do you have weekends that are too busy?

Do you have to choose between good and good often?

Do you crave to stay home?

Is your Desk Clean or Messy?

Stephanies Quinceanera

Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

What an incredible evening! It was a Fairy Tale and we got to participate!

Stephanie, you are beautiful inside and out!

In Latin cultures, a Quinceanera, or sweet 15 is a young girls "coming of age" party. She sets aside her childhood and is presented a a Woman. This was a beautiful event for a beautiful person. Her mother, Ana, did a fabulous job planning every last detail! In the background of some of these photos, you will get an idea of just how beautiful this event was. This was also totally fun for everyone in attendance.

Megan, Stephanie, and Katherine

Stephanie looked just like a princess.

Here I am with Stephanie. Hopefully her youth and beauty help me out! I love Stephanie dearly. She is a very smart, talented Young Lady with a bright future waiting for her!

Here I am with Ashleigh who is growing up all too fast.

When it comes to dancing, my little girls are definitely MY daughters. I LOVE to dance and so do they. Katherine is dancing with Joshua (above) and Megan is dancing with Jacob (below) They could have danced for many more hours. The DJ was great and all the kids enjoyed dancing with each other.

In the photo below, note the "throne" or chair that Stephanie sat in as she was surrounded by family and friends as the guest of honor.

Note the gorgeous floral arrangements in the background. Each table had one of these exquisite arrangements in the center. They were absolutely breathtaking!