Why am I the Lucky One?

I'm trying to figure out why I am the only event coordinator (out of 15) who is asked to go above and beyond the call of duty at Temple Square Performances (TSP) Concerts. You'll remember that several weeks ago, at the very last minute, I became the page-turner for the pianist throughout the hour-long concert.

Tonight's event was the Utah Federation of Music Clubs Honor's Piano Recital with 17 talented teenagers from the Salt Lake area. At rehearsal this afternoon I noticed that the TSP Hosts, whose responsibility it is to take care of the performers, were conspicuously missing so I stuck around to answer questions, open doors, etc. Good thing I brought a book with me; it was an entertaining but long few hours sitting on the uncomfortable benches of the Assembly Hall. I reasoned that perhaps the TSP Hosts had other obligations during the day and therefore and understandably skipped rehearsal. However, when 6:30 rolled around I still hadn't heard from them. So, with no other choice I went into crisis mode and assumed all their duties in addition to my own. I continued to answer questions and open doors but then I also escorted performers to the dressing and warm-up rooms, made myself available to help the ladies in charge, moved chairs around backstage, instructed the ushers, flipped the preset light switches, tested the microphone, arranged for the opening prayer, welcomed the audience over the pulpit, introduced the performers, and kindly invited everyone to vacate the venue at the end of the night.

After 15 hours of work yesterday, 9 1/2 hours today, and pulling double duty at tonight's event I am completely exhausted and I really think I deserve a raise. Will you all kindly write my boss on my behalf to tell him what a dedicated employee he has working for him because I'm not sure he realizes it. Thank you!

80 Miles & 3 Kids

80 Miles: I took in my 2-year old car for it's annual safety and emissions inspection yesterday and when they finished my receipt had a big, fat REJECTED printed across the bottom. I tried not to take the glaring note personally. Apparently, my Malibu needed new tie rods (please don't ask me what that is because I have no idea) before it would pass the safety check. Luckily, I was still 80 miles away from the expiration of my warranty. So, back to the Chevrolet dealership (for the second time in a month) to have them fix the problem. Gratefully, they had the parts in stock and the time available to work on my car. So, three trips to the inspector, two trips to the dealership, a couple of hundred dollars later, and I am all registered for another year. I love having a car to get me where I need to go but I really hate everything else about them.

3 Kids: Jennie sent pictures from their latest photo shoot and since she doesn't have a blog to publish them I have taken upon me the responsibility to show the rest of the world my cute nieces and nephew.

Miss Colette

Master Jamison

Miss Vera Ellen

The Mabey Kids

Going Out With a Bang!

Our Bishopric truly has impeccable timing. On Sunday, I met with the 2nd counselor and he released me from my calling as the Activities Committee Co-Chair. Of course, as Murphy's Law demands, I had already planned a rather large and involved activity for the following day: an etiquette dinner. Do you know how hard it is to get motivated to pull off a good activity when you don't really carry the mantle of the calling any longer?

Lucky for the ward, I put my best foot forward and followed through with my commitments. I took the day off work, went grocery shopping as soon as Costco opened, spent hours in the kitchen cooking my version of chicken parmesan for the whole ward, and in the end threw a very successful Last Activity. I couldn't have asked for anything more at my final soiree.

A shout-out to all those who made the evening possible: Mom and Megan for being such willing and capable sous chefs, the four committee members who followed through with their assignments, Jesse and Micah for setting up all the tables and chairs, and to Stefanne for putting together instruction on etiquette with only a couple of days notice. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!


So, I'm sure you are all wondering what my new calling is. Well, it is still unofficial but I have been asked to serve on the Temple Committee as the Endowment Specialist. I will receive the official release and sustaining in a few weeks, after stake conference and once they call someone to be the new co-chair.

If you haven't read my previous posts let me just say that being part of the Temple Committee is a perfect fit for me. Going to the temple is one of my favorite pastimes. [I'm probably revealing more than I should about my new calling, but...] I don't think the Bishopric has all the kinks worked out yet but they are attempting to organize temple work into five different sections. As head of one of those sections it will be my responsibility to encourage ward members to attend endowment sessions and organize opportunities for them to do so. I don't understand everything that the Bishop has in mind but once they get the other section leaders called we'll figure out our assignments.

I'm a bit sad to leave the realm of ward activities but I'm also excited for this new adventure on the Temple Committee. It's wonderful to think that my time commitment will be much reduced and I won't have to do much more than the weekly temple trip I already make. With work as crazy and busy as it has been and will be, especially this summer, I am grateful for a change at the ward. Can you hear my sigh of relief?

Surprise FedEx Delivery

I am writing to you all from my brand new computer! It unexpectedly arrived this morning via the neighborhood FedEx truck. Thank you, FedEx.

When I ordered it last week the confirmation email said it wouldn't ship until April 23rd. So, you can imagine my surprise when I heard of it's delivery . . . and only minutes after I paid my credit card bill. I must be living right.

But moving on...Did you know that the Church has offically declared blogs to be a form of personal scripture. You can read all about it in this month's Ensign. It's a great article. Be sure to read all the sidebars and inset text or you'll miss the Official Declaration.

The Monday After

It's the Monday after General Conference and I'm still alive...but barely. I have never ached so much after a conference as I do today. Thank goodness for ibuprofen.

Weekend in Review:
1. Three days of a 4:00 a.m. alarm and in to work by 5:30. Ouch!
2. The red and the brown outfits referenced in the previous post were busts...gratefully the alternatives turned out very well.
3. The visiting choir from a certain school down south arrived late and brought with them everything they shouldn't: coats, huge purses, cell phones, cameras, food, water bottles, beards, etc.
4. The visiting choir from two schools up north arrived on time and obeyed every rule. Kudos to them!
5. I ran into two old friends: Maja, who used to work in the ticket office; and Rhett, who used to run the PEF call center next to the ticket call center.
6. I think the M&M date with the cute security guard went fairly well. No plans yet for a follow-up date but I did get a hug out of it!

It's Almost Here!!!

I can't believe today is only Thursday...but then, I have been living one day ahead of myself all week long. I think it's because I'm anxious for this weekend to be here. I know, I'm crazy to be wishing that it were Saturday already, inasmuch as this is general conference weekend. However, I am looking forward to a few things.

First of all, it is my premier conference as an event coordinator. It will be a new and exciting experience to be responsible for something other than tickets and those horrible scanners. This time around I am in charge of the visiting choirs and overflow facilities. I think I have everything under control but I'm sure last minute surprises are inevitable.

Secondly (prepare yourself, this one is completely shallow), a few weeks ago I did my semi-annual conference shopping and found two new tops for a great deal at Fashion Bug. They've been hanging in my closet just waiting for the festivities of conference to arrive. I sported the purple one last Saturday to the Young Women meeting and the red one with tasteful sequins will make it's debut this Saturday. Sunday's outfit will most likely consist of a once-worn brown top from JCPenney with my knee-high brown boots. As you know, conference is really all about what you wear (but truthfully that's only because I am not able to sit still long enough to gain much from the spiritual aspect of it).

And finally, I'm most anxious for this weekend to arrive because I have an M&M Date with a very cute and very available security guard. We had a lengthy flirtation session last Saturday and I promised I would bring him his favorite candy to snack on during conference, Peanut M&Ms. My entire office knows about the upcoming date and I'm sure they'll be zooming in the security cameras on us and no doubt the video will be posted on YouTube before Monday. I'm just hoping that this M&M date is only the first of many yet to come. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll keep you posted.

Today's Special

Megan met me for lunch today and after eating we still had lots of time to spare before she needed to be at school and I needed to check on my next meeting. So we walked over to Deseret Book on South Temple. My favorite section of that store is always the Bargain Buys and look what I found there today...

I was so excited to see this book on the shelf...and on sale (plus with my church employee discount and rewards points it was a great deal)! It's a picture book jam-packed with random facts about all 50 States. For example, did you know that McIlhenny Tabasco sauce has been made in Avery Island, Louisiana from a secret family recipe since 1868? Or that the pipe organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle has 11,623 pipes? (Truly, this book is a must-read for all of you auditioning with Jeopardy.)

It is by Lynne Cheney (wife of Vice President Dick Cheney). I also love and highly recommend her two other children's books if you want fun, informative, coffee table-type books about the United States and its history.

Happy Reading!

No, I Haven't Fallen off the Face of the Earth

I promise, I am still alive and well (though "well" is a relative term) after my trip to Rexburg. My only excuse for silence the last 15 days is that I have been SOOO busy.

In less than two weeks I have had to coordinate five big emergency meetings, babysit missionaries at three 6:00 a.m. rehearsals, host three Apostles and four members of the Seventies, disinvite one individual from singing in the visiting choir for the priesthood session of general conference (he didn't clear the security check), coordinate another score-plus of small meetings, and attend more staff and production meetings than I care to count. And that is just life at the office.

I have also endured a check up at the dentist, threw a ward activity (indoor soccer -- it was tons of fun...you missed out!), attended a dance concert, put together an Amazing Race game for the youth city councils' annual conference in Logan, went on a date with Kedrick, managed somehow to fit in two endowment sessions at the Bountiful temple, cleaned the house, babysat the nieces and nephew, etc., etc., etc. Let me assure you that all of this did not occur without incident. I have fought plenty of fires, certain impertinent missionaries, and held back many tears, but I do see the end in sight (only to have general conference looming as the next obstacle in the way, of course)!

Part of my reason for posting today is to be the first to announce Daniel and Megan's good news (just because I like to be first). They went for the first ultrasound this morning and found out they are having TWIN BOYS!

The doctor says they are identical. We are all excited and yet not too surprised. I think we all started wondering and thinking it could be a possibility, especially when Megan mentioned last week a similar thing happening to Dan's coworker. I don't know if Megan has any twins in her family but they will be the first in our family. It is very exciting! Now we'll have all sorts of identical numbers: 3 nieces, 3 nephews; 3 children per couple. . . . . . . . I really think it is time to break such monotonous equality -- Jill and Megan-Di, you'd better get married and start your families right away!

You Can Check Off That Goal

Megan and I took a little road trip up to Rexburg, Idaho over the weekend. She went to visit a high school friend who attends BYU-Idaho and I went up for the ride. We arrived mid-afternoon on Friday. With Megan at her friend's dorm on campus I was left in a very quiet hotel room so I jumped in the car and drove 25 miles back to Idaho Falls and went to a session in the temple. (New temple #1 for 2008.)

Saturday I took the two girls to breakfast and a little shopping. Back in my hotel I tried to figure out what you do in this small town for fun. Coming up blank I picked up the girls again and we dropped in at the Rexburg temple; they did baptisms and I snuck into a session 2 1/2 hours earlier than my appointment. (New temple #2 for 2008.)

But now Megan and I had the whole evening open and nothing to do. We searched through the local phone book and tourist guide in the hotel room. We took a gander at the brochure rack in the lobby which was filled with pamphlets for activities in Utah. What to do? What to do? Luckily, this sleepy town did have a movie theater.

We ended up at "27 Dresses" with Katherine Heigl. The theater filled up fast, mostly with women: many college coeds and many married women out with the girls on a Saturday night. (Wonder what the husbands do while the wives are out in sleepy Rexburg...). I enjoyed the movie but I had to listen to commentaries from the girls behind us throughout the show, "That is the ugliest shirt I've ever seen!" "Oh, he is sooooo cute!" "They swore!" It got kind of annoying.

I'm glad to be home and back in a city that offers a bit more than a temple and a movie theater. However, I am also very grateful to have accomplished the goal I made in my last post of doing ordinance work in two never-before-visited temples. Check mark on that one...now to move on to the several that remain.

The Place I Go

Call me "Molly Mormon" but one of my favorite things to do is go to the temple. It is a place for me to sit and relax and shut out the cares of the world. No cell phone or email or bosses or clients or coworkers -- just me and my thoughts and the Spirit.

A couple of years ago I typed up a list of all the temples of the world and I began recording the date I first performed ordinance work in each temple that I've been to. Last night I pulled out my list in preparation to go to the Rexburg Temple this weekend and I realized that I have way too many blank spaces.

So, I've set a new goal: Add at least two new dates to my temple list every year. This goal shouldn't be too hard. There are three never-before-visited temples not even an hour drive from my house currently in operation and another two under construction. Temples in southern Utah and Idaho are a perfect weekend getaway. And I've been wanting to fly down to San Diego, pick up a rental car, and start driving north through California hitting all seven temples along the way for a long time.

Have no fear! I will accomplish my goal and really start filling up that list! The way the Church builds temples I know I'll probably never get to most of them but that won't keep me from trying.

Other little ditties:
* I received my endowment before my mission in the Bountiful Utah Temple.
* My favorite temple so far is the Manhattan New York Temple.
* I have been outside the doors of the Oakland, San Diego, and Chicago Temples but never inside.
* I want to marry my sweetheart in the Salt Lake Temple, following the tradition of my parents and both sets of grandparents.
* I always try to vacation near a temple and go to a session while I am there.