My little girl is growing up. These are some old pictures of Amber and I just wanted to share them. When she was in middle school, she signed up for the High School Lip Sync contest. I was terrified! That was really something I would never had done, and didn't want my little girl up on stage in front of a bunch of teenagers and parents. I didn't want her laughed at or made fun of or to experience any embarrassment at all! I tried to talk her out of it but she was determined to go through with this.

This is her performing her song. She was a natural at it and really seemed to be at home on the stage. Proving that our children are not us. She did a Hillary Duff song and the audience loved it. She won 2nd place! I was so excited for her.

Last weekend we had an Especially for Youth in Omaha. John Bytheway was speaking and we were all excited. Annette, my wonderful friend and second councilor, suggested that we get there early so we could have our youth in the front. This was a 4 stake event. And I'm glad we did. We got the 4th row from the front. Ben and Amber were able to come, Amber was a little late because of a Jazz Band competition, where they won first place, so pleased with her, but we had a seat saved for her up with our group. I was a little concerned about Ben, his idea a good time is not sitting in a church meeting in a shirt and tie on a Saturday. But when is was over he was smiling and said "I really liked that guy, he was funny!" Which is exactly what I wanted to here. I hope he got the spiritual message as well. After the speaker they had dinner, then the under 14 year olds had to go and then they had a dance. Amber really enjoys the dances. She said on the way home that she loves the church dances because it's a time when she can just let go and go crazy and not worry about what people are thinking about her, because everyone is going crazy. But just watching her dancing with the boys made me think of her upcoming birthday, when she turns 16! She's going to be starting a whole new chapter in her life. Scary time for a parent.
I'm so thankful for the Gospel. It's such a help when your having to raise kids. I kept thinking at the dance as I watched all those special "Mormon" kids dancing and having a great time, that the Church is a wonderful thing. You wish every child and teenager in the world could have that wonderful spirit of Christ in there lives to help them along and keep them on the right path. There was such a wonderful spirit in that church that night. One of our girls from our Branch, Kelsey, brought a non-member friend who is interested in the church because he noticed how different she was, he saw that special light in her eyes that a strong testimony of the gospel gives you. He wanted to know what that was all about. I hope he listened and that his spirit was touched.

Sunday was also great, we had our Branch President speak first and tell us that the process for us to have a new addition to our building has been set in motion. So the summer of 2011, our church will finally be getting that extra room we so desperately needed! So excited.

Doing good with the running thing. I wasn't able to get my long run in on Friday due to wind a few technical difficulties, and fighting children. I hope I'm ready for this marathon, time is short!