I love sharing...

I just want to say that I love people that share their kids with me! I have several friends that allow me to be a "fake mom" (as I like to call it), to their kids. I babysit for the weekend, sit with them at Sacrament Meeting and Stake Conference, help Christmas shop for clothes for a teenager, take them to Jackson Hole for a weekend, and take 'em to see Santa! I feel really lucky and blessed that people are so willing to let me share in the lives of their "babies".

I also get to spend A LOT of time with 16 amazing girls and even though I'm not technically their "mom", I get to give advice, have sleepovers, teach them things, love them and watch them change and grow! It's the best "fake mom" job ever, because I don't have to clean up their messes... well - unless it's powdered sugar!

This time is fleeting, and I'm in love with it!

Back.. by popular demand..

So I lied.. It was really just two people, but I'm back! I read my blog tonight (after trying to remember how to actually log in to my blog) and I couldn't believe how long it's been! October??

Then I tried to remember what I've been doing since October, and I realized I didn't have much to report on. No wonda!

For those needing an update on Alex - His hump-day is Friday, February 20th. Yep - that's right. He's been gone nearly 1 year. (It's way under 400 days now). Miraculously, I've survived. As much as I want him to be there, I honestly don't think I've ever done something this difficult in my life. I especially miss him when I need to debrief on my day, or to tell a long story. Oh wait - I think I said, "for those needing an update on Alex".. sorry - here goes.

Alex is still serving in Mexico City. His last area was more remote and was an area that he describes as "straight out of Nacho Libre - the main traffic was goats and donkey's".

He's had many baptisms and has helped many people. He helps a lot of people get divorced, so they can get re-married, so... they can get baptized. He loves his misison and has already said he does not want to come home. He's making a huge difference in his mission - and at home. He is currently serving as a District Leader and a Zone Leader. I got to talk to him for an hour on Christmas Day, and in his following e-mail he said "Thank you for not crying on the phone - it made it easier for me to not cry". Yep - that's right - I didn't cry when I talked to him.. well, at least not so he could notice.

I was at my friend Kathy's tonight and her son came to hug her before he went to bed. I wanted to cry at that. Actually - I wanted to reach out and grab him and hug him too! But I refrained, since he would think that I'm a freak!

Mom's enjoy your little boys! Eventually, they become big boys and get dates and leave home! It's an annoying pattern I've noticed with almost every boy that I've ever known!