Guess Who's Bishop!?

We got a call from our Stake President's secretary asking us to meet with the Stake President.  We were out of town at the time and so we were left to guess what he wanted to see both of us for until we could meet with him.

The Stake President asked if we could start our meeting with a prayer.  In that moment I knew he was going to call the "husbird" to be Bishop.  My heart fell to my stomach.  It was like I was having an out of body experience, like it wasn't real.  I felt an immediate increase of love for my husband, knowing what a responsibility this would be for him, for us.  After the Stake President went over what all of his new responsibilities would be (which are many) we left with a "deer in the headlights" look on our faces.  The word overwhelmed is an understatement when it comes to how I was feeling.  We didn't say much to each other on the drive home.  

The first couple of days we were in shock and had many heart to heart talks.  I had an upset stomach and couldn't concentrate on just about anything.  As the week went on I got more and more used to the thought of the "husbird" being Bishop.  Even though I felt a ton of nervous energy as Sunday approached I also felt a calm, peaceful feeling.  
The big day arrived, when the "husbird" would be sustained and set apart as bishop.  The Stake President called me up to sit on the stand.  He asked me to say a few words right before the "husbird" spoke.  I do not enjoy speaking in front of people.  I felt unusually comfortable while speaking, not like I want to do it again, but better than I normally do.  I hope that means it will be easier the next time I need to do it.  After the meeting was over I felt an unexpected outpouring of support and love from so many people.  The long hugs and kind words meant the world to the Bishop and I.  

It is so weird to call the "husbird" Bishop and is going to take some getting used to.  It's also going to take some time getting adjusted to him being gone at least three days a week, two nights and all day Sunday, if not more for other ward events and activities.  I'm not sure I will ever get used to that.  I know he is doing good by serving the people of our ward and even though it is a sacrifice to have him gone it couldn't be for a better reason. I might need to repeat that statement to myself when times are hard, when I really need his help and don't feel like I can do the things I need to on my own.  Even though it will be challenging to have him gone so much, I know we will be blessed for his service.  

If you have questions about what a bishop is or want to know more click here and here.

Us at 18

We've officially been together as long as we lived at home with our parents.  That's a crazy thought. I guess we're not kids anymore and we really have to grow up now.  Ha ha.
We've lived in three nests (homes), the one we're living in now we built from the ground up.
We've made five babies (six if you count the one I miscarried, which I do) who are now 4 to 14 years old.  
We've tried our best to laugh instead of cry when life has been hard, sad, or in between.  
My mom gave us the gift of watching the nestlings for two days.  We used some credit card points and went to the Montage Deer Valley.  It was amazing.  In the picture above we are in front of the fireplace in what the "husbird" called the living room, which is a huge, beautiful common area. 

 

This is what we found when we checked into our room, such a meaningful, sweet touch.

This was our room.

Here's the "husbird" checking out the view from our room.
The other side of the room, complete with a fireplace. 
The first night we played some pool.  I was awful at it, but the "husbird" wasn't half bad.
When we woke up the first morning it was snowing little tiny snowflakes and and it kept snowing all day long.  At first we were disappointed it was bad weather but then we ended up loving it.  It made our day feel so romantic.  We ended up going to the spa.  We sat in the steam room, sauna, and hot tub.  Then we swam in the gorgeous lap pool.  Then the "husbird" had the crazy idea to go swimming in the outdoor pool (94º), so we did, while it snowed on our heads.  We were the only ones in the steaming pool.  It was a super fun adventure.   
Not sure why the "husbird" snapped a photo of me saying good night to the "nestlings"on the phone, but I like it because it shows how our room looked at night.

 

Since the Montage is nestled in the mountains this was the view from the balcony in our room.

We loved chilling/relaxing by the fire in the living room.  We needed some interrupted time just to be together, no meals to make or faces to wash.  I feel so blessed to spend my life with such a wonderful man.

Dinner and a Movie...

are the husbirds favorite things to do on a date.  They're not mine, but I love him and I'll do just about anything to spend some alone time with him,  so we go to dinner and a movie occasionally. Even with built in babysitters it feels like a small miracle when we make it out on a date.  Tonight was especially crazy since I had just gotten back from taking T to an eye appointment and I still needed to shower, make dinner for the kids (chicken quesadillas), and round up and say good bye to each of the kids friends when their parents came to pick them up.

     (Baby "G" wearing his sisters scarf, holding a sucker, and asking me to take pictures of him in all the glasses he was trying on while waiting for the eye doctor to see "T")

As I was blow drying my hair "D" asked me, "Why do you and Daddy still go on dates if you're already married?"  
I told him, "Because it helps us stay in love."
 
I let out a long sigh as I sat down in the car and it rolled down the driveway.  I smiled at the husbird, happy for pulling off what felt almost impossible, a date with my man.

We don't pay "A" to babysit.  I usually just bring her back some left over food from our dinner as a little thank you.  She loves it.  Tonight I brought the other kids some mini candy canes I bought after Christmas that I'd been hiding in the car.  I love when small things make them happy.  Maybe I'll make it a tradition to bring them all a little treat, because then they'll look forward to and encourage (stretching) the husbird and I going on dates.  I'll try anything to make it easier.

One of my favorite dates, if you want to know, would involve a low key dinner, possibly Cafe Rio, probably wandering the aisles of a book store or a trip to a lighting, plumbing, or flooring store to pick out items for the basement, and for sure a large dose of attention and affection from my man.  

Dating takes a major effort at this stage of life, but I love the closeness I feel with the husbird after a date.  I won't mention how I feel when we walk in the door from a date and it looks like a toy bomb exploded.  Ughhh.  Can you relate?