Remind Us To Remember

I'm starting to feel some sense of urgency to be a more regular blogger. My little brother has sent us just as many emails as I have posts... He's only allowed to email once a week, and I can do this whenever I want to. Time to step up my game, blog world. In my own defence though, I have started sending him weekly letters thanks to dearelder.com. Its basically the most amazing thing ever. I totally miss the kid so it's nice to be able to write to him and know that he understands me and the way I am. Our relationship has definitely been strengthened in the last few years. We actually became friends. Thank goodness. Being friends with your family is what we all need. As we regularly remind each other, we're stuck together... and we're okay with it. haha..

Recently, I've been called as the Young Women's secretary in our ward. Ray and I have fallen in love with the ward. It's been an amazing experience to make our mark there. We feel so at home and so welcome and involved there. The Church is seriously amazing. I was telling my mom about that the other day, and she said something along the lines of how we're proving that no matter where we end up, we'll always be a big part of the ward we're in. That was actually quite comforting to me. I look back in my life and realized that in all the wards I've lived in, it may have taken a little while, but I always did find my place. My involvement in the Church has a lot to do with my own happiness, so I'll always be able to contribute as much as I can for the benefit of those I serve, and my own self.

Going back to my point about serving in the Young Women's. I feel like they actually like me... hahaha. I feel cool!! haha! I've always been on the opposite side until now. I've always been the one looking up to people and now I'm the one showing them what they need to strive for. It's kind of super awesome... Ray is the Sunday School teacher for the 14 to 17 year olds, and he decided that he wanted to have a Sunday School Party at our house to reward the kids for keeping up with their reading assignments he's given them each week. That party ended up being a total blast! I made pizza for them from scratch, we watched a movie, and we had boxing tournaments with the Wii. haha! They looked at our wedding pictures, we laughed a lot, and when it was all over, Ray and I looked at each other with total satisfaction, knowing that we'd done something amazing. So now at Wednesday night activities, I feel like its less awkward, and more enjoyable for everyone because we're all at ease and comfortable with one another.

I'm in charge of planning the next activity. I decided we should do some sort of scavenger hunt, but it has to have some sort of spiritual base... So Ray suggested I do a trail type thing, using the pictures that are up in the church building. So they'd have a scripture reference for a clue, and have to find the matching picture hanging up in the building, where the next clue would be put. I think it would be sweet. But just to throw them off I'd stick some totally random clues in there as well, referencing some places outside or something. I dunno.. I have a week to come up with something. No matter what, I'll make it awesome.

Today is also Remembrance Day. We get to remember those who fought for our freedom. My Grandpa was one of them. He's not with us anymore, but I still have many memories of him. He told me about how he served in the Canadian Army and his job was to repair the radios that were damaged at the front lines. He would follow behind them in his work truck, a safe distance and pick up the radios on the ground, fix them, and deliver them back up to the front lines again. The most dangerous part about his job were the snipers... They waited for people like my grandpa. So to protect himself, he would sleep under his truck. It worked pretty good, because he died when he was in his 80's. I'm thankful for what he did. I know my dad is thankful for grandpa too. Dad wears grandpa's dog tags where ever he goes. I've always admired that in my Dad. He is always showing his respect for his father by doing that. I remember when my grandpa was still alive that he would always dress up in his army uniform on Remembrance day, put on his medals, and walk proudly that day. My Dad now has grandpa's war medals, and they are proudly displayed in their home, along with a couple old pictures and some poppies that Mom arranged. The day she gave that to Dad, there were a lot of tears all around. It's a wonderful thing to have a day to remind us to remember. Thank you Grandpa...

In the middle is my Grandma and Grandpa Dyer with my Dad and Uncle when they were little and cute.