Overflowing

Notice how nothing else will fit in the cup? Notice how it's been this way for awhile...so there's lots of stuff overflown all around the cup? Notice how it's still coming, coming, coming, regardless??

Yeah...

Rogan & Oreos

Happy, happy birthday to our dear little grandson, Rogan Jack, who turns THREE today! What a cutie pie! He's a  smart little guy who loves Nerf guns, Angry Birds, ninja balloon popping, wrestling, playing outside, Arby's ham & cheese sandwiches and LEGOS.

Adorable!! LOVE his facial expressions! Here with his big brother and new "big boy" bed and blanket Mommy made!

"Angry Birds" Cake Nathalie made for Rogey!

And also...very important...it is the 100th birthday of the fabulous, wonderful, delicious, incomparable, delectable OREO cookie! (They are "DA-BOMB!" wink, wink) Who knew that OREO and my grandson shared this special day?! Two of the sweetest things you'll ever love!

Sylvia Allred

Sister Sylvia Allred from the General Relief Society Presidency came to Nashville yesterday. She was accompanied by Elder Robert Hymas of the Seventy. What started out as a visit to address the Spanish-speaking sisters in this region for a fireside turned into a full day of meetings and learning from this wonderful lady! It started early when she met with the missionaries, then she held a general session for all Relief Society sisters, then a training for Relief Society Presidencies. Then she addressed the Spanish-speaking sisters and provided dinner for them.

We went for the 10am session, went to lunch, and came back for the RS Presidency training. The general session was standing room only.  I was sitting on the stand, and it was amazing to look at the crowd filling the chapel, the cultural hall, and the stage all the way to the back wall! They also had the meeting piped into the Relief Society and Primary rooms.

I had the privilege of singing just prior to Sister Allred's comments. I sang one of my favorite songs, "The Shepherd of My Soul" -- accompanied by Susie Kartchner, and it went well.  (Side note: the microphone was lifted WAAY up for this long tall singer -- and had to literally be brought down about a foot for that tiny little lady afterward!)

Me & Susie-Q

It was such a wonderful, enriching, inspiring day! I was impressed with Elder Hymas' comments -- I've heard him speak several times with visiting general authorities, including Elder Christofferson last October (see HERE) and always enjoy his gentle spirit and strong messages.

Sister Allred's comments focused on the three-fold purpose of the church, the new "Daughters in My Kingdom" book and the blessings of Relief Society. The training centered our callings as sisters and leaders in Relief Society to "MINISTER" to the needs of our sisters and families. She framed things in such a way to make it seem very 'easy' to do what's needed, even when we feel overwhelmed and questioning our ability to do all that is being asked of us. She stated several different ways that 'whom the Lord calls, He qualifies.' 

In talking about the mantle we hold in our callings, she said we listen to her because she has the mantle of the General Relief Society. We listen to general authorities because they are General Authories. And we listen to our Stake and Ward leaders because they have the mantle of leadership for our areas. Then she said, something like, "When they're released, you listen to them not so much."  (laughter) She has such a fun personality, great sense of humor, and was able to answer what I considered touchy or difficult questions during the training with ease. You could tell she really knows her stuff, and has been called to do this work.

I got to meet Sister Allred, as she spent time after each meeting shaking hands and talking with the sisters. And I got to hang out with my RS Pres-sisters...What a great day!

Recycling

Okay, I'm late to the game in recycling. I admit it -- I've been a holdout for the past few years, not wanting to go to the trouble to separate out our trash, take up extra room in my kitchen for a separate container, etc. (I know: bad, bad mama)

Well, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to start recycling -- baby steps. Which worked out nicely, because Grayson decided to create our Harris Recycling Center as part of one of his scouting merit bagdes.

So he did some research, shared details on the importance of recycling, what can be recycled, etc. and we bought a new trash can for trash and used the old one for recyclable items -- with spiffy blue trash bags.

It was Grayson's project, but I must admit I was so proud to see our little blue bag out by the trash can that first Wednesday morning for pickup. The trash collectors have probably been talking about us behind our backs -- "that lame family at 1619 -- no blue bags!!"

But now, of course the Harris' recycle!

Rain Garden Man

Sam and his friend, Justin Kievit, are on a team in their Science Class with Colin Barnes and Bryce Pierce. Their assignment was to create a project around a Rain Garden. They decided to make a video clip showing the destructive affects of erosion on the environment, and how rain gardens can help fight erosion.

So they wrote a script, and all got together at Justin's house one Saturday afternoon, and did a skit-type video, using Justin's laptop camera. Then they edited it down to a very cool video clip using software on the laptop -- with sound and background music! WHO in the world does that in 6th grade? (What happened to posterboard and colored pencil displays?)

Sam and Justin

Sam was RAIN GARDEN MAN, Colin was DR. EROSION, Justin was the GARDENER GIRL (wearing a dress & wig), and Bryce was the HOMELESS HIPPIE! They made up their own little story, with Rain Garden Man being the HERO. (I didn't get there in time to get photos of the whole group in their costumes, darn it!) But I watched the video, and it's very silly and very cute! They still have other parts of the project to complete, including planting the actual rain garden at school.

Technology -- AMAZING to me what they can do these days at eleven years old!