So Much For Updating...

Heh. Remember when I said I'd be better about blogging? Back in February? Yeah. That didn't happen. But what has happened since then (in no particular order...no, wait. That's a lie. This is mostly chronological since my last post):

1. I was called as the YW President in the Canandaigua Ward.

It was a crazy thing. The bishop called me into his office and sat me down...I was figuring he was going to release me from my calling (non-lds readers can take that as "unpaid, volunteer job") as the Young Women organization's secretary because the YW President was moving. So the conversation went something like this:

Bishop Warner: So, as you know, Barb is moving.
Me: Yes.
Bishop: And when a president leaves, her presidency is dissolved and a new president is called. Then she calls two counselors and a secretary.
Me: Uh huh..
Bishop: We're going to need a new president. Who do you think it should be?
Me: Um...isn't that your job to figure out?

...I proceeded to throw out some ideas of people who would keep me on as secretary, but he pretty much shot down all of my suggestions.

Bishop: So what about you?
Me: Um, I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but this? [Motioning to myself] This is not leadership material.
Bishop: I beg to differ. So take some time, pray about it, and tell me who we are calling as your counsellors and your secretary. Congratulations, Sister Steele.

So yeah. That happened. And it's been hard and at times I feel like I'm drowning, but I have an AMAZING presidency who gets crap done. And I love those girls so much. I'm in a good place.

2. I half-quit, half got fired from the YMCA. I really started hating it there. Like LOATHED going into work and working with one or two particular people. It was crushing my soul. And after taking on the responsibilities as the YW president, I'm SO GLAD I'm not there anymore. Because I would die.

It was an interesting experience, having never been fired from something before. My "supervisor" (self-assigned title) and I haven't gotten along since I was hired. Just a personality clash. It really started wearing on me. So incident after incident, we both kept reporting the other to our boss. I think our boss just got sick of it and said I needed an attitude adjustment. Which wasn't wrong. When I couldn't stop complaining, she asked for my letter of resignation. I didn't give it...I just left. Which was probably the wrong way to go about it, but I hated that place so much in the final weeks I was there. So I still have a bad taste in my mouth with the whole being partially fired thing, but it was one of the best things that could have happened. Especially since I actually have time and a desire to work out there now instead of just going there to work! Oh, and I get to spend more time volunteering at school and at home with these beautiful babies.

3. WE WENT TO TEXAS. Which deserves its own post. Which I will get to some day. But in the mean time, I will just tell you that I loved every second of spending a straight week with my very best friend in the whole world. Guys. Danielle Baer Williams is my soulmate. I'm so lucky to have her in my life.

4. We have a new addition to the family. No, not the dog. I posted about him last time. This addition is 12 years old and her name is Bailey. Over a year ago, Zac and I both felt pretty inspired to start taking foster parent certification courses through the county. Fast-forward to the beginning of March when our final home-study was being completed and I found out that one of my Young Women (in the aforementioned Young Women's program) was taken into foster care because her circumstances at home were not good.  We were asked if we were willing to take her since we had a previous relationship, but our caseworker advised against it simply because our licensing wouldn't be complete for another week. So we didn't and she was placed in a different foster home. But fast-forward 5 weeks and whatever home she was in "wasn't working out." So we were asked to reconsider. And now we are trying to figure out how to parent a 12-year-old who has never been parented before in her entire life. It's an interesting adventure. This picture is from her first day of school in Canandaigua.

So now you're caught-up-ish in the goings on of the Steele household. Future plans and upcoming events? Probably getting the puppy groomed. I'm getting my tonsils and adenoids out on Thursday. It's going to be awful, I'm sure. We are talking about a summer vacation...possibly to Washington D.C. since a) I love being a tourist b) It's a reasonable drive and c) Logan has taken an interest in early American history, most notably with old documents like the Declaration of Independence. Oh, and d) it's close to an Ikea AND a Cafe Rio. Boom.

Oh, Hello, Blog Old Friend...

Yeah, I haven't blogged in forever. No apologies. I've been busy. So to recap the last 13 months of me NOT blogging, here are 13 random updates in no particular order:

1. We retired the Swagger Wagon and brought home "Ruby" the Freestyle. She is pretty legit.

2. Zac and I spent a weekend last November in Albany and it was awesome. We are hoping to take the kids for a weekend sometime and get to teach them a little bit about the state capitol. 

3. I finished my "Jade" manuscript and started another 2 projects...one I did at a writer's retreat that Julie Berry invited me to. (Yes, I'm name-dropping). The other manuscript I banged out during NaNoWriMo. It was my first time participating and I met my month-long goal and ended up with 73,000 words. It's not finished yet, but pretty close. 

4. About a hundred of my friends got married over the summer of 2013. 

5. Both kids started attending the Canandaigua School district. Logan in 1st grade, Kaylee in UPK at the Y. 

6. March of 2013, my very best friend and her 3 beautiful kids came and visited us. (And we get to go visit her next month in Texas!!! But my kids don't know we are going, so shhhh. Good thing they don't read this blog.)

7. I had 2 nephews and 1 niece born. They are all pretty amazing. 

 

8. We celebrated our 10-year high school reunion Bloomfield-style in Julie Driscoll's parent's driveway and had a bon fire in their backyard. 

9. The kids and I really enjoyed summer in Canandaigua. 

10. I lost 40 lbs. Then put 10 back on over the holidays, but still. 

11. I started writing/interviewing for Mormon Artist Magazine

(One of my more recent interviews) I've gotten to know some really stellar people. 

12. I was called to serve as the YW Secretary in church...a calling which I'm about to be released from only to take on another calling which is shaking me to my core.... more about that later. But it will be a good thing. 

13. And last but not least, we added a new family member. Chewbacca. He is the best puppy. He is calm and happy...doesn't really lick or jump. Was housebroken in like 5 days. And only chewed one shoe. He's a keeper for sure. 

Here's hoping I'm better at blogging this next year :-)

"And I Miss You..."

Ugh. Sad post time. Seriously, don't read this if you're in a happy place.

So I had a good chat with Mary Therese this morning. It was quick because the kids were in the car. But I said hi, caught up on some life happenings, told her I missed her. Told her the anniversary of my Grandpa's death is just around the corner, too. But then I told her how that anniversary isn't as sad to me, because Grandpa had lived a long, full, happy life. No doubt hers had been happy, too. But not nearly as long as it should have been.

So then I got in the car and made my way back home and started cleaning the house, my Pandora radio station playing. And this song came on. And you all should know me well enough by now that when I hear a song that is applicable to whatever my current mood it, I latch onto it. But this one is a triple-whammy.

It's called "From Where You Are." Oy.
It's by Lifehouse (one of MT's favorite bands). Double oy.
When I watched the video, I found out it was produced by Allstate's Teen Safe Driver program and at the end, the video is dedicated to teens who have lost their lives in accidents and to all those who loved them.

Like I've said before...some anniversaries are happy; some are sad. And then there are those that make you want to hug your loved ones a little bit tighter.



Miss you, MT.

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas this year (even in spite of my annual grinchiness). We had Thomas family Christmas on the 23rd at my Aunt Karen's house. The kids were spoiled out of their minds. And for the first time in many years, my Aunt Bobbi joined us. It was almost like we were a complete family again.

When Zac and I got back from our anniversary stay at Belhurst Castle, we spent Christmas Eve at my in-laws' where we made bank in the present department. Probably my favorite gift (next to my new BJs membership) was from my MIL...a "Willow Tree" nativity set. I'm in love. I almost look forward to next Christmas when I can set it up :) Oh. I also got a stainless steel bucket from my father-in-law. Not sure why, exactly, but I'm having fun with it. I'm trying to use it for something different every day. Today it is transporting Christmas decor from the living room to the storage closet.

Christmas morning was wonderful. My parents came to our place to partake of brunch and the joy from the tiny children opening their presents. Again, spoiled. We rounded out the day by spending time with Savannah and Brandon before their return trip to Utah.

So there it is. Christmas 2012 in a nutshell. And now for pictures:

Simply Thankful...

The last few days, I have been thinking about how truly thankful I am to have my kids. My two incredibly smart, funny, happy, healthy children. They are my world, and I don't know what I would do without them.

Wait. That's a lie. I DO know what I would do without them. I would sleep more. I would go on more vacations with my husband. Have more "me time." Like peeing alone, or showering alone. I'd have more money. I wouldn't be driving a minivan...I'd probably have something much nicer and newer. I probably wouldn't have mac and cheese three times a week. I wouldn't get the "Dora the Explorer" theme song stuck in my head on a daily basis. I would buy clothes that are dry-clean only in a heartbeat. And I would have a marginally cleaner house.

But you know what? All that stuff...it doesn't compare to Kaylee tip-toeing into my room at the crack of dawn, putting her chubby little hands on my cheeks, and saying "Morning. I love you. Can I have a Gogurt?" Or how when Logan steps off the school bus in the afternoons, he runs full-speed right at me to give me a hug and tell me about his day. Or when they are saying their prayers at night and say things like, "Heavenly Father, I thank you for my mommy and how much she loves me."

I have experienced far too many tiny coffins in the last two years. Too many babies that have entered this world for too brief a time. I have seen friends of mine coping with the loss of a child, learning how to deal with a void in their family. And it breaks my heart. There hasn't been a single baby lost that I've known, that I haven't shed tears over. Spent hours grieving for. Spent days praying for their families they have left behind. And not knowing what to say or to do, because... what can you say or do?

So this year, this Thanksgiving, I am simply thankful for my Logan and my Kaylee. Yes, they drive me crazy at times. But I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. They are my life, my joy, my loves.

Rearranging...

I've been rearranging a lot lately. I get bored, so I move furniture, I put up new pictures, I buy new throw rugs.

So my latest conquest has been our bedroom. The layout is a touch annoying...there is only one logical place to put the bed. And the bed has been there for over a year. So I got creative.

The head of the bed now rests against the window.

Crazy? Perhaps. I wasn't sure if I would like it. But as it turns out, I have found many little perks that make the new bed location just that much better.

For one, there is the symmetry of the night stands, wall outlets, and lighting that we've never had before.

Two, Zac and I like to be cold when we sleep. So having our heads by the windows that we can open and let in. a brisk night breeze is fantastic. Which also leads me to

Three- along with the "liking to be cold" thing, there is nothing I dislike more than a hot pillow. So with the two pillows I have, I can keep one next to the window which chills it very well. So when I wake up, as I do frequently, I can swap out my warm, slept on pillow for a "Chillow," if you will. Ask my brother-in-law, Matt, about that one. I think he copyrighted the phrase :)

This evening, I just found another bonus to being close to the window. The window sill now houses my water bottle throughout the night, keeping it chilled like it came right out of the fridge. With the convenience of not having to travel to the kitchen.

Best idea I've had in ages.

p.s.- I know the red curtains don't match. I'm working on that ;)

September/October iPhone Photo Dump...

A trip to the children's museum, riding the carousel, painting pumpkins, eating gelato and other delicious treats, and the "Guitars and Stars" concert with Momma Steele (where I got to see Lonestar and Martina McBride...and like 3 other country singers I don't know, but liked anyways!). It's been an eventful 4 weeks.

A Day At The Grove In Pictures...

Logan was still on 24-hour fever watch and stayed home from school again yesterday. But since he was feeling better, we met up with Grandma Jaylene for a picnic and hike through the Sacred Grove over in Palmyra. It was a bit breezy, but a lovely day.