He Reached the Beach!

So, Nate's team finished at around 4:10 PM on Saturday. They did great - coming in ahead of their anticipated time, and only about 20 minutes slower than last year even though they had added some new (slower) runners (like Nate). The kids and I arrived to see them cross the finish line ... about 5 minutes after they crossed the finish line. Oh well. The kids hardly noticed. We had stopped at Zion's Camp to drop off firewood and water and attend the first part of the Stake Activity (Nate pointed out to me that the activity was actually right on the way to the finish line of his race, so I was able to do both - sort of). It was great to see him and the team he had run with, and the kids LOVED the beach. This is the closest ocean beach to our house (I have to say ocean, because I have the kids convinced that the lake beach right hear in town is just as good!) but we had never been there before. It was beautiful. Sam had wanted to pack the big beach bag, swim suits, etc. but I told him that we were not going to be swimming. Silly me, you would think I had never met my kids! Of course the boys jumped in about 2 seconds after they saw the waves crashing against the beach. At least they took off their shirts, socks, and shoes first. Grace was more hesitant- we took off our shoes to wade in, but even that was making her a little nervous. Then she saw that Aunt Lora was out with Nate and the boys (who were diving into the waves). She took off running to go get Aunt Lora and got bowled over by a wave. I had to run and grab her, so I ended up with soaked pants. I had originally intended to have Nate drop me off at Zion's Camp on the way home so that I could catch the end of the activity, but that idea pretty much ended with the soaking-wet-covered-with-sand-didn't-even-bring-a-towel pants. Oh well, we had fun, and it was nice to just go all the way home with Nate and spend the evening with him. He is still trying to talk me into doing it with him next year - it all sounds great except for the running part!

Today was a double-ward-conference day. Nashua 1st Ward at 9:00 and Merrimack (my home ward) at 1:00 (they both meet in the same building). So, I left for meetings at 8:30, after setting out clothes for the kiddos (didn't pack a diaper and treats bag, oops, sorry Nate - actually sorry kids who ended up at church with no baby wipes and nothing to amuse them, although he did grab some fruit snacks). The meetings went well, I accompanied musical numbers in both Sacrament Meetings with no big mistakes, held Presidency meetings during both Sunday school hours, had an AP/YW meeting (with lunch) during the hour break between meetings, and spoke in the second ward YW meeting. We are doing a slightly modified format with the ward conference meetings for the youth. We start out all combined and President Durham (the 1st Counselor in our Stake Presidency - he is over the youth programs) speaks to everyone. He always does a great job and the youth LOVE him. Then the young men split off into their quorums. The Stake YM Presidency is working with them on how to effectively conduct meetings, so they wanted them in smaller groups. So far I have had the young women all stay together, and we have done slightly different formats depending on which ward it is and what their needs are. Today I had my 1st Counselor and Secretary speak to the 1st ward, and my 2nd Counselor and I spoke to my ward. I wasn't sure if I wanted to speak in my own ward or not, so I let each of them chose their assignment and I took what was left. I think that it turned out well. They are all dynamic women, and the young women love them. They each bring such a unique and important spirit to our Presidency. I am blessed to know them and to call them my friends.

It has been a nice Sunday afternoon, and we are looking forward to what we hope will be a productive week. I am going to "Time Out for Women" in Springfield, MA on Friday and Saturday and Nate is going to be home with the kids. I haven't been to one before, but I am looking forward to it, and I am sharing a hotel room with two of my good friends (one is my 1st Counselor, and the other one is the previous Stake YW President, so hopefully we'll get alot of good ideas for future events/activities).