REFLECTION

As most of you know, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In the church, the jobs we perform as a service is called our calling. My calling/job the last two years at church has been Primary Chorister, the music lady for kids ages 18 months to 12 years. I HAVE LOVED THIS CALLING!!! Every Sunday for the last two years, I have taught the kids song after song and had to come up with clever ideas to make it fun and interesting. It has been the most rewarding experience for me. When I started, I had a row of boys who refused to sing...who thought it was uncool to be caught singing. Guess what! They sing now and no longer make the other boys feel self conscious about singing! So rewarding!

On Friday, I got a phone call from the stake. I met with him on Friday evening and he asked if I would accept a new calling to be the Stake Primary Music Director/Specialist. A stake consists of multiple congregations. So, I am going to be released from my ward (congregation) calling and was called to the stake today in church.

I have been reflecting on the last two years alot these last two days. I am excited about sharing with other choristers the experiences I have had on what does and does not work. I feel like I have alot to offer but I'm scared at the same time....and sad to leave the ward kids.

I'm just going to have to sub for them every once in a while to get my fix!

EMBARRASSING?

I was driving Christian home from school today and said, "Christian, do you know what I love about you kids?"

He says, "What?"

I then proceed to tell him how I love that, at least to my knowledge, he has never been embarrassed to be seen with me or dad.

He looks at me funny and says, "What do you mean?"

Are you kidding? I have to explain it? Yep, the thought never even crossed his mind to be embarrassed to be seen with us. I know, the day may come. He's only 12 and in the 7th grade, after all. But, I am cherishing these moments where my handsome young man isn't afraid to be seen with me.

After looking a this picture, maybe I should be the one to be embarrassed.......but I'm not!

I AM BACK?

Notice the question mark at the end of the title. Will this last? Am I really back...we shall see. This was the busiest summer and fall on record for our family. This week......I can breathe. Soccer is no longer 6 days a week. Now it's only 3. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh......

So what is new in the Egli household? I posted a while back about my love-hate relationship with running. Now I am happy to report that it is all love! I ran 9 miles on Monday and loved it! It feels so invigorating. I love that I'm not winded at the end....I love that my legs feel like jelly. I LOVE THAT I CAN THEN EAT ANYTHING I WANT AND NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT!

My goal, you might ask? If my knee holds up, I am going to run a half marathon in the spring. I think I could run one right now. In case you are wondering, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO RUN A FULL MARATHON!

So, if you have always hated running and said you sucked at it....mark my words, you CAN learn to love it. Slow and steady!

GROUP SHOT

Here is a good portion of our family....not everyone was at the reunion but this is most of us. I love my family! Click on a picture to see it up close and personal!

LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP

There is something I'm learning to like that I have never enjoyed...jogging. JOGGING? That's right, jogging. I have never liked it. I have avoided it like the plague. Well, my cousin Corina inspired me...she does so on a regular basis on so many levels. She started up jogging so I thought I would give it a try.

I feel like I am in pretty good shape but I have always had an issue with this sport. It isn't the perfect sport for even now due to my knee injury 5 years ago. I was told to never jog on cement. So...I have taken to the treadmill in my quest to be a better jogger. When I started, it was hard for me to complete a mile. Now I'm up to 3.5 miles! The problem I have is I'm just blasted BORED by the time I've ran for that amount of time!

I ran on cement twice in one week when I was at my brother's house and have paid for ever since. My knee aches when I'm driving or sitting too long.....back to my lovely treadmill. It is possible to love something and hate it at the same time...I'm convinced.

THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH

Mom and I headed over to Lacey, Wa to Mike and Julina's on Tuesday, August 10th to wait the arrival of my new nephew. We went to bed only to be awoken by Mike that night at 2 am to let us know Julina was in labor and heading to the hospital. Mom and I got to the hospital at 2:30am. We were getting settled and trying to sleep when Julina's water broke and she said she needed to push. A couple minutes later, Phoenix Townsend was born at 4:56am with no doctor in sight. Everyone was in shock that Phoenix was born so quickly!! He was 8 lbs. 4 ounces, beautiful and perfect! Phoenix was born on my oldest brother's birthday. Christopher Townsend died when he was 8 months old and it was a nice tribute to him to be named after him.

This was my first experience watching the miracle of birth firsthand when someone else was doing the laboring. I loved everything about it. An experience I will never forget! Thanks, JJ!

The night before we left, cousin Jen Hannah Skar came over with her 2 week old baby boy, Brayden. Babies....they're everywhere. I love it.

CHRISTIAN'S PRIESTHOOD CONFIRMATION

My boy is 12....such an important age. Following Macy's baptism, Christian received the Aaronic Priesthood with some of his favorite father figures in attendance.

left to right: Bishop Flint, Erik Hebdon, Gpa Les Sousley, Dad Ken Egli, Uncle Bob Sousley, Gpa Boyd Drennan, Uncle Brad Sousley, and 2nd Dad Jim Hansen.

By the way, he passes the sacrament beautifully!

MACY'S BAPTISM

My baby is 8. I can't believe it. Where does the time go? She's half way to dating....let's not go there. The day after we got back from our family reunion, we baptized Macy on August 7th while we still had family in town. It was a sweet baptism. Uncle Brad and Uncle Bob gave talks. Gma's said the prayers, Gpa's witnessed, and Dad baptized.

MOSSYROCK FAMILY REUNION

We love our Mossyrock Family Reunion each summer. It's the highlight of our summer. We take our trailers and camp on my Aunt Lorel and Uncle Dan's property in Mossyrock and play for a week. This year we took a day trip to Mt. St. Helen's, spent a couple of afternoons at Mayfield Lake, had a kids talent show, played Win It In A Minute, hiked, fished, and just hung out. One night we even had a flashlight candy hunt for the kids.

1ST ZOO TRIP? WHAT?

Ken and I found ourselves at home for two days with only Macy, our youngest. When does that happen? Madison was at girls camp and the boys were in Seattle at a live in soccer camp. We decided to take Macy to Seattle for the day before we picked the boys up and do whatever activity she wanted. Macy picked the zoo. I couldn't believe it.....my daughter had never been to the zoo....well, when she was a baby so that doesn't count.

We spent most of the day at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Macy was so engrossed in every exhibit. We couldn't miss a single one! The gorillas totally grossed us out. One gorilla continually pooped in his hand and then ate it right in front of us!

1ST ZOO TRIP? WHAT?

Ken and I found ourselves at home for two days with only Macy, our youngest. When does that happen? Madison was at girls camp and the boys were in Seattle at a live in soccer camp. We decided to take Macy to Seattle for the day before we picked the boys up and do whatever activity she wanted. Macy picked the zoo. I couldn't believe it.....my daughter had never been to the zoo....well, when she was a baby so that doesn't count.

We spent most of the day at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Macy was so engrossed in every exhibit. We couldn't miss a single one! The gorillas totally grossed us out. One gorilla continually pooped in his hand and then ate it right in front of us!

4TH YEAR HIGH ADVENTURE

This year for girls camp, I was in charge of the stake 4th year girls High Adventure. I had 34 girls to take on an adventure so we took to the Yakima River and went tubing on an 8 mile float. We had a blast blast blast.

BIRTHDAY WEEK

For their birthdays, the boys got a WII which completely shocked them!!! Macy got the IPOD she so desperately wanted and Madison got the rabbit cage she was dreaming about! Everyone was happy! Madison turned 15, Christian turned 12, Caden turned 10, and Macy turned 8.

AAAMMMAAZZZINNNGGG SOUNDERS EXPERIENCE!

On a whim, I decided to take 3 of the kids along with our adopted Chandler to my brother Mike's house for a few days. The thought occurred to me to see if the Sounders had a game. Not only did they have a game but it was at their practice stadium in Tukwila and tickets were only $15 a piece!!!! I made some phone calls and see who else wanted to go and immediately bought tickets.

Who knew what we were in for! We got there as the gates were opening and it was first come first serve. We got front row seats and were literally feet from the field of the Seattle Sounders vs the LA Galaxy. We got such a kick out of watching the warm ups and seeing these players we watch on tv so close up in person.

With a few minutes left in the game, I sent the kids over to where I thought the players would pass on their way to the locker room. Wow, was I right!!! The kids got autographs of all the players and were able to talk to them one on one. What an experience none of us will ever forget. One kid (not mine) asked Zakuwani if he could have his shoes and Zakuwani took them off and gave them to him!

VISIT TO THE CEMETARY

On the way to the Sounders game, we (including my brother Mike) stopped and visited the grave site of my brother Christopher, Aunt Paula, and my Gpa Sousley. It was the first time I took the kids and I hadn't been there in several years.