*Author's note* This was written Monday, January 24th, but I'm finally getting around to tying it up and publishing it on Thursday, January 27th.  Perhaps I'll go into more detail about the events since this post later . . . maybe not.

So we had fun stuff this weekend that I will blog about, but pictures are on the computer at home . . . and I'm ready to shoot myself at work, so I'm going to blog about my current obsession - Dragon Age Origins.  

I'm really good at playing make-believe.  I had to be since I'm an only child who wasn't very social :) I get emotionally invested in books, movies, and video games (that are in-depth enough for me to do that, anyway).  


So anyway, had another late night last night playing Dragon Age (went to bed around 2:30am).  There are two cute characters my character can play with, and the one made it sound like there could be a romantic story line - but then I wasn't positive if it was anything you could act on....and I kind of like the other one better anyway - so this morning, I researched and found that yes, you can have romantic story lines with some of the characters.  Now I just hope my relationship (ahem...Lyna's - my character's - relationship) with Alistair isn't too damaged by killing Connor . . .

I know, none of that makes sense to the rest of you, and you don't care, but it's important to me...er..Lyna.


So for fun, let me introduce you to my two Dragon Age crushes: Alistair and Zevran.

Rather, it is stupidity that leads to a lack of sleep. 

So remember how we got a lot of video games for Christmas?  Well I finished Fable III (though I need to finish the side quests - like shooting all of the gnomes), and I haven't really played anything since then.  Matt keeps wanting me to start Mass Effect 2, but I'm not feeling it.  Matt, however, started DragonAge . . . and then Jason started DragonAge, and so I wanted to start DragonAge - so I did. :)  Last night.  That part wasn't problematic.  Staying up until 4:30 this morning playing DragonAge was.

I got about 4 to 4.5 hours of sleep this morning, and I'm exhausted.  I did manage to get up, shower, and get ready on time.  So on time, in fact, that I decided to take a nap - but the bird and cat prevented me from falling asleep.  Still, it was nice to lay there with my eyes closed for a bit, even if I didn't manage to fully fall asleep.  Too bad I then had to get up and finish getting ready so I could come to work.  Now I've only been here for 2.5 hours, and I'm so tired!  Hopefully I make it clear 'til 8pm.  I'm sure I will . . . but I'll be super sleepy. :)

I am, still, planning on playing tonight, but a bit smarter - like getting ready for bed completely, and then actually going to bed at midnight, since I have a Primary meeting at 9am tomorrow.  However, if I'm too exhausted, I don't know if I'll make it that far.  I may just have to go home and crash!

So Thursday, Monique and John were sealed. Yay! I got off early so I could go to her reception.  Can I just tell you how much fun I have had lately catching up with old friends? I love it!  I got there the same time JoLyn and Jacob got there.  And then as we were finishing our food, Brad, Brenda, and Alicia were there, so we stayed and chatted, and snapped a pic with the newlyweds :)

BTW - this is my 150th post! woot!

So I had my first presidency meeting Wednesday night.  I left a bit overwhelmed, but I'm back in control now. :)  I know that I need this calling.  I have never felt so much like I need to do all of the things I should be doing anyway.  Since I was called, I've studied the handbook and the sharing time booklet.  I've been trying to say a good prayer at night.  I pseudo read scriptures Wednesday night (looked up scriptures on baptism via my phone and lds.org because I was already in bed and didn't want to go get my actual scriptures).  I'm bad, I know.  I should be doing all of these types of things anyway, but I haven't been.  Or not consistently, but I know that's the only way I'm going to get through everything I need to do and the only way I'm going to feel prepared to fulfill this calling.  Already my life is doing better, and it's not even been a whole week :)  I'm having more meaningful prayer, and I'm happier.  I've also been blessed so much beyond general happiness.

For example, we're bird sitting our friends' bird while they're on a cruise (jealous? me too ;) )  Anyway, Simon is fun, but he is loud and demanding.  But, I've been praying for patience, and it's getting better.  I can tolerate his screaming a lot better now.  I'm also one for getting really annoyed at other drivers (still do - last night comes to mind), but I didn't curse up a storm at them.  I'd say that's improvement.  Though, I did let one swear out when I almost hit the wall because I was paying attention to the cop on the on ramp I was passing . . . . Don't worry, I didn't actually hit it.

Also, I offered to make the invitations for our baptism preview that is a week from Sunday, because I like to make cute things :)  I looked all over for some freebies to go along with baptism, but didn't find much.  So as I was going to bed, I came up with a fun design using just the words.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't my intellectual genius that did it though, because I'd been pooring over baptism preview ideas all night, and then as I laid in bed, I drew out this idea, which I implemented yesterday, and both the president and second counselor like it :)  I really wanted to stay away from an "8 is Great" or "It's great to be 8!" theme because we're inviting any kids who haven't been baptised, and I think 8 is Great is cheesy. 

I just love what getting back on track is doing for me and, I'm sure, my family.  Anyway, just felt I should share that with y'all.

(Here is what the invites look like! I like them - what do you think?)

This week, Matt and I were released as Primary workers.  Not going to lie, Matt's excited.  Primary has not been a favorite for him.  (We struggle with controlling our class for 40 minutes . . . or 5 minutes for that matter :). )

For now, Matt is calling-less - except for home teaching.  For all we know, he may still be on the scout committee too - not sure since they never really said anything when we were called to Primary.  Either way, he figures he's set for awhile because he told the counselor that his nights and weekends are booked for awhile with school. (Partly true.  Night classes so far until he finishes his bachelors in a year, and then his Friday nights and Saturdays will be full with grad school.)

I, however, have been called to be the 1st counselor in the Primary presidency.  Our previous 1st counselor (who lived in our building and was my visiting teaching companion) just bought a house with her family (their first :) ), so they are moving, and this week was their last week.  So I am to take her place.  

When the bishopric counselor called us Saturday night, we figured we were being released.  Then I thought, "We haven't even been in a year, why would they take us out?"  So I knew someone (probably me since girls can teach alone but boys can't) was getting called to something else.  Thoughts ran through my mind of what it would be.  The callings I would love to have were recently changed.  I hoped it wasn't Young Women's (the idea of going back to camp is not appealing, not to mention, with my work schedule, mutual attendance isn't going to happen).  Then I remembered Jill had announced the week before they were moving.  I kind of thought this was the direction things were going, so I wasn't surprised really when I was asked to be 1st counselor.  If anything, I'm kind of excited to stay in Primary because I'm comfortable there, having been in Primary for 2 1/2 years.

Lots of people have offered me their congratulations.  I'm sure most meant it, but I like what Matt said about it (because it fits sort of how I feel about this new calling).  He said what they really meant by it was, "Better you than me."  Made me laugh. :)  I am excited, and a bit nervous.  Beyond Sunday sharing times and the like, I don't know what the Primary presidency is in charge of, or, more specifically, what the 1st counselor is over.  We have a meeting Wednesday, so I'm sure I'll get lots of insight then :)  I'm also serving with two amazing women, so it shouldn't be too big of a deal.

I admit I'm excited not to have to teach a class (unless someone doesn't show - see previous statement about them not sitting still!)  I was so excited when classes didn't have to do Sharing Times this year, because I hated coming up with ideas.  However, maybe it won't be so bad to do Sharing Time when that's all I have to focus on (not that and a lesson, and how to involve my class in the Sharing Time lesson).

So for right now, I'm a bit excited, more nervous, and just don't know what's going on.  Hopefully that will get better after Wednesday.  If not, I should be okay in a month, right? :)

I love Saturdays - I don't have to work, and usually I can hang out at my house (or clean it if I'm in the mood).  Matt and I also get to spend the whole day together, and sometimes we like to do things like going to the aviary (last Saturday).  I mostly love any day I don't have to work, but Saturdays are better than Sundays (does that make me a bad person?) because Sundays you're limited on what types of activities you can do - like no shopping.  Even though we have memberships to the aviary and zoo (hence wouldn't have to pay...), I don't go because I don' t want to support other people having to work on Sunday.  So, Saturdays are generally my favorite day.  This Saturday, though, we had lots going on..... okay, I had lots going on :)

To start, Matt's littlest brother, McKade, was baptised. It was great because most of the family participated in the program in some way, and we got to visit with extended family. :)  After the baptism, we went to Matt's parents for lunch and more socializing.

So I was listening to Taylor's new album on my way home from work (cuz that's what I do), and I thought I'd share this song with y'all.  It reminds me of my mom because at some point, I promised her I wouldn't grow up.  She even brought it up once in my teenage years.  Tonight it struck me more than usual, so I'm posting it (because nothing else goes on now that the holidays are over). 

I put it first in my country playlist, so you don't have to listen to everything or search around to find it.  This was the only way I could easily get it here.  All the YouTube recordings are bad and typically pitch-shifted because of copyright, and since it's not a single with a video.... this is what you get.