To my mother, and the mother of my children - Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day, and I want to take the opportunity to thank my mother and my wife and the mother of my children for all they have done, are now doing, and will do to help me and the children live a better life. Its amazing to me the influence a mother has over her family. This year, my wife Misti has gotten serious about improving her health, and by extension, the whole family has benefited tremendously. I have had some pretty crazy diet ideas in the past (Dr. Atkins, South Beach, etc. that I never really felt were following the Word-of-Wisdom counsel to eat meat sparingly. But, as my last post explains, the Culprit and the Cure, Food, Inc. (the DVD), and most recently, a book specifically about the Word of Wisdom have helped me realize my mistakes and set a new course (much less meat and dairy and fat, much more whole grains, fruit and vegetables). Weight loss is naturally following, and I have lost 27 pounds so far. Misti has lost even more with less to loose. She is rigid about counting her daily calories and is much better at it that I think I ever was when doing the LA Weight Loss program. I am very thankful for her good example and support in fixing low calorie low fat meals for the family. I think we are eating now very similar to what I remember my mom doing when I was a kid. Lots of home made whole wheat bread, granola, skim or soy mild, etc. We haven't quite gotten to making our own sprouts, or downing shots of wheat grass juice, but we are making progress. Happy Mother's Day to both of the mothers in my life.

This also happens to be the first day we or any one else has attended the newly reorganized Hazel Dell ward. Last Sunday at Stake Conference, the Stake Presidency announced that the ward boundary lines in most of the wards in the stake were being redrawn to more evenly distribute the membership and help the stake grow. During that meeting, we found out that our home address was now on the boundary line, with our house falling within the Hazel Dell ward, instead of the 1st Ward. Several other families from the old first ward were also impacted, including a major portion of the choir members, so now Hazel Dell ward will have a strong choir member base (when it gets re-organized). Because of the change, the primary had not yet had a chance to practice together for a Mother's Day number, so for the first time I can remember, the primary did not sing to their mothers. Misti was a little sad about this. Brother Miles had prepared a treat for the mother's and gave them all (including all females 18 and older) a package with candy bars in it (diet sabotage - don't know if Misti is going to eat hers or not). She said she would have rather had flowers or a plant this year.

The Hazel Dell Ward Bishopric was also reorganized, with the old bishopric members release, and the new ones sustains and set apart following Stake Conference. All previous ward callings were released, so there is much reorganization going on currently. Today, a new financial clerk was sustained for the new bishopric, and I was sustained and set apart as the Elders Quorum Secretary in the new Elders Quorum Presidency, with President Mark Brogan, Corey Johnson 1st Counselor, and 2nd Counselor still to be named.

Our corn is all planted at the Stake Center Garden, and we have some of the backyard planting, but still have a fair bit to till. Elms just got their tiller back from the shop, so we need to arrange with Trent before the elementary school plant order comes in.

We found out today that Johnny's cub scout camp in the Hazel Dell ward is right in the middle of our planned family vacation. We are checking into if he can still attend with 1st ward.

Kristi and Traci will now be attending the Clark Ward (YSA). Looks like a good plan for them, there are very few YSA in Hazel Dell ward.

I've tried to call my mother several times today, but each time, the phone is busy. Guess they don't have call waiting. I'll keep trying.