Thanksgiving and Grace's Baptism

Last week Alisa, Collin and I went up to Montana to spend Thanksgiving with my sister Kathleen and her family. We had a wonderful time and ate a lot and gave lots of thanks. However, the real highlight of the trip came the day after Thanksgiving when we got to attend the baptism of my lovely niece Grace.As difficult as it may be to believe seeing as how I am the quintessential awesome uncle, this is the first time I have actually been able to attend the baptism for any of my nieces or nephews. Unfortunately, that is one of the prices you pay when you and all your siblings end up spread all over the country. Well, not all over the country; at least we're all in the same time zone now (Thank-you for leaving Pittsburgh Erin). Anyway, it was really great to be there and participate. Congratulations Grace!

My New Calling

Well, something has happened that I really didn’t anticipate. A couple days ago a member of our Stake Presidency came over to see me and Alisa. After chit-chatting with us for a few minutes he told us that he wasn’t just there to visit. To my surprise he told me that they were reorganizing the Elder’s Quorum presidency in our ward and he asked me if I would be willing to accept the call as the 2nd Counselor to the new president. I was pretty surprised; I loved serving in the Primary and I was comfortably planning that I would continue there for the next twenty years or so. I guess The Lord had some other plans. So, today I went to Elder’s Quorum and the new presidency was sustained. I then went to Primary and taught my last lesson to the one boy who showed up to class this week.

I have greatly enjoyed this time and I really believe that being a primary teacher is the best calling in the church. I’m going to miss all the singing and the way I can get all the kids wound up and not get in trouble for it. When I was at BYU I served in the Elder’s Quorum presidency for a long time as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, 2nd Counselor and 1st Counselor (I moved out of the ward before they had a chance to make me President). But I’ve never served in the presidency of an Elder’s Quorum in a “regular” ward so I am looking forward to this new challenge. I just hope that whoever replaces me knows how to make lots of funny faces. I mean, how else will we keep the Sunbeams entertained?

Jordan's Baptism

So, this year I got some new boys in my Primary class at church. One of these was Jordan Cox. He is a really great kid who is a lot of fun to have in class. Well, back on this past Sunday Jordan (he's the one in the bow tie) got baptized. It was really nice to be there and have almost our whole class there as well to support him.