Forty and Three

I arrived home from the gym early Wednesday morning and Bruce said, "I have the worst news ever." He'd been left a message that he and I were to meet with the stake presidency Thursday night. He was a bundle of nerves for the next 36 hours, and when we pulled up to the stake center offices the next night and not a soul was there except for Bruce and I and President G., I knew something was up. And the something was this: Bruce was called as the Second Counselor in the bishopric. We knew change was afoot but we definitely did not expect it to affect us quite so personally, mainly because we aren't completely righteous.

He accepted the calling without hesitation (or at least any I could see). We know that the next few years will be busy and frustrating and rewarding and a blessing and a lot of other things but we are up for it. Bruce began this year by expressing the wish that he could really grow and progress, and now the Good Lord has given him a big helping hand with that.

The next day was Bruce's birthday, and he wanted to keep things quiet and I gladly went along with that. Secrets are hard to keep so it seemed wise to lay low for a few days. Kiki was dying to give Bruce presents so I let her pick out a couple of movies for him even though I knew he really wanted hiking boots. I was clearly preoccupied during the selection process because I was very surprised when the newest member of the bishopric opened a couple of rated R movies for his birthday. They were promptly returned.

We went to Tepanyaki for dinner.

The family has been into pies for birthday lately instead of cakes, and Bruce was no different: he picked cherry and coconut cream and I pretty much rocked them both.

George was our only invited guest.

"Where's the party?" he said.

"YOU are the party," we told him.

Bruce's parents were able to find a flight up on extremely short notice, and arrived in Saturday afternoon. I'm sure suspicions were aroused when we walked into church with Bruce's parents, my mom and step-dad, a dear family friend, and my brother, sister-in-law, and 2 nephews. I was so grateful when the sacrament was over and they were finally called and sustained and I didn't have to keep it a secret anymore. Mormons are funny, because if there is even the smallest suspicion that the bishopric is being changed the rumors start circulating like mad and that really stresses me out. Even when I don't have anything to hide.

Which I did.

Bruce's dad was able to set Bruce apart as a High Priest, and that was really the most important reason for his parents to have travelled here. The stake presidency set the new bishopric apart, and I will say only a little bit about it- it was a very spiritual and very private experience. We are both humbled by this calling because we have many things we need to change and many opportunities to be better people. Nevertheless, I'm confident in Bruce's abilities. I only hope I can be the support he needs because honestly, emotional support is not my strong suit. My "emotionally supportive" conversations all sound something like this: "Times are tough all over. How about let's suck it up?"

Kate is on Spring Break which presented us with the chance to spend a whole day with Grandma and Grandpa Hatch and Grandma Donna. We elected to go to the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU. It's good...way good. I was so emotionally moved by some of the artwork that I was choked up for much of the time.

Kiki was well behaved and fully embraced museum etiquette. She frequently reminded others to not touch the paintings and loudly chided Grandpa Hatch with a "GRANDPA! STAY BEHIND THE LINE!!!"

Kate whined, and whined, and then really started whining.

"I thought you said this would be entertaining. So when is this going to get entertaining?!?!"

So instead of time-outs to punish her in the future, I suppose I will force her to watch Bob Ross on public television or peruse my old Art History textbook.

Modern Art was more her thing. She totally dug this giant book sculpture.

It actually was pretty cool. Grandpa Hatch and Kate

Kiki has some awesome poses to go with her awesome outfits.

They are even better close up.

I love this kid so much I can't even stand it sometimes.

Same with the other one.

(It has to be said because lately there's been a lot of fighting between the girls about who is my favorite. It's gotten to the point that I told Bruce I needed a third child so the two fighters would have someone to unite against.)

Kiki, me, Kate's hair, Ruth, and Donna

All said, it's been a very eventful birthday for Bruce.