I Love To See The Temple...

...I'm going there this week (twice in fact)

Yesterday was ward conference. For Relief Society, the Stake Relief Society Presidency taught the lesson. They focused on the Temple. I have to say that never in my life have I felt motivated right on the spot to get to the temple. Sister Bassett, our Stake Relief Society President, spoke about a period in her life where she couldn't have been busier and couldn't have had more serious trials going on in her life, and I'm mean serious trials. She spoke of how that was the time in her life when she realized the strength and power of the Temple. She talked about how she had so many awful things going on, including her sister being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, that she prayed, at night, that she would be taken from the earth instead of her sister. She was always disappointed when she woke up in her bed and not in heaven. One day she woke up and had the feeling she should go to the temple... she knew, however, that she couldn't, she had too many pressing and important things she had to do that day.  She listed off some of the things she had going on and no one would have faulted her for putting it off for another day.  But she said she made about 25 phone calls and covered her responsibilities, and she went to the temple.

I wish I would have taken better notes, but I'm not sure you can really take notes on the spirit.  This is what I did write down:

~The temple is a sanctuary of education
~We will have strength and power when we attend the temple
~We are promised that unseen angels will watch over our families and loved ones when we go to the temple
~The veil is made thin when we go to the temple
~When we go to the temple we will be greatly blessed and happy
~Sister Bassett talked about Ezekiel 47, which has beautiful imagery of the temple. It compares it to a river
~The temple is a healing river
~The temple is a river of love
~The temple is a river of truth
~The more often we go to the temple the bigger and deeper our rivers will get.

So, all that being said and all that I felt yesterday I'm planning a trip to the temple tomorrow. We also have a Stake Relief Society Conference on Saturday at the temple.  I want my river to become bigger and deeper.

Sister Bassett also reminded us that the adversary doesn't want us to go there. She says she is looking forward to having all of us having many roadblocks in our path come Saturday morning.  I'm guessing I'll have some tomorrow morning too.

#55

Brady has just finished his 8th grade basketball season as #55.  When I was a teenager my number was 44. For some reason I have fond memories of that number.  I think it was because my dad called me Forty-Four.  So it was kind of nostalgic that Brady had #55 -- ok so it doesn't totally line up, but still.

Anyhoo, it was bitter sweet for these boys who have played basketball together since the 5th grade, and other sports together even longer.  Many of them are going on to San Benito High School so maybe they will have a chance to play together again.  They work well as a team and really finally came together this year, thanks to some great coaching by Coach Greg. Their record for the season was 6 and 2. Not bad for a small town team. In their defense, they only had 6 boys playing for most of the season, this meant there was only 1 sub. They were extremely tired most games but you couldn't tell, they gave it all they had.

Here's Brady going up for the shot!

Body check, caught on film.

Brady gets some coaching from... well... The Coach

Blocking the shot! That's my boy!

One of Brady's strengths is his speed. He's a good jumper too so he's also quite good at rebounds.

About to make the play!

The moms! Me;) Charley Guevarra, Leticia Marquez, showing a little team spirit!

This was after a particularly hard loss against Maze Middle School. They lost 57-50 in overtime. You would think you were looking at a police line up.  They actually did really well for most of the season.  They went undefeated until the end. Spring Grove and Maze were their two nemesis. They are hoping to beat both of them in the tournament this week, just for a little vindication.

Look at the difference in expressions the very next day, after beating Aromas (their arch rival) in another very close, very intense, overtime game. 

What's that they are holding you ask? Twelve years ago, the coaches of San Juan and Aromas devised a way for their teams to show a little more effort and competition against each other. "The Oar" goes to the victors for that season. By the way they were touching it and holding it and practically licking it, you would have thought it was made of gold. We were able to win it back this year! Go TEAM!

Above all Coach Greg taught them how to be good sports. Here they are cheering for the other team after the hard loss.

Aren't they cute? I love these boys!

Here we all are at the Pizza Factory in celebration of a season well played.

This is what I got when I told them to look cool.

The parents can look cool too (NOT!)

I had to post this picture. Here's Johnny of the 7th grade team. He won a PSP for $1 out of one of the arcade games at the pizza place. He's not happy or anything...

Congratulations boys! It was a great year and super fun to come and cheer for you all season! Play Hard...

and just remember... it never hurts to have a cute fan club. (these girls were at almost every game, with drinks and signs and lots of cheering)

It's the Little Things

I know Brad thinks he is overworked and under appreciated. This is probably true, but I'm posting this because I want him to know that I AM noticing AND appreciating the little things he does for me.

Monday is Laundry day. It's also running day. This morning I was changing into my running gear and trying to sort laundry to get a batch in before I left.  He hopped up and said, "I'll do that, you go run." and then he pushed me out the door. When I got back, the laundry was all sorted and one batch was already done! Sweet...

The other thing that he's been doing for me is switching my shower towel.  We've always had the dilemma about only having one towel rack near our shower. This presents a problem if we are both showering within a short amount of time of each other.  Drying off with a cold, damp towel is not fun.  So finally, after washing one too many towels that wasn't really dirty (used once and then discarded because it was wet) I decided to put a hook on the wall next to the shower for another towel. This was adequate in my book but he took it a step further.  He went out and bought his "own" towels (tan, as opposed to our regular white) that way we wouldn't have to figure out which was the dry one when we were ready to use it.  So I know you're thinking - "this sounds like it's as much for him as it is for you Stef". Well true, but it just started to dawn on me today as I reached for the closest towel and realized it was mine and it was dry.  Not only does he use his own towel but he replaces it with mine, in the spot that is the easiest to reach from the shower. I think he's been doing this for days. My bad, for taking so long to notice. What a thoughty guy.  I kind of like him.  I think I'll keep him.

I'm Not Inclined to Resign to Maturity...

So I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time!
I mean watch and you'll see.
I know, I've stooped to an all time low, but really, who does this?

Hahahahahaha!