Not a great week for pictures apparently. Sydney started swimming lessons. No pictures. Tansy learned to undress herself. No pictures. Zack learned to wave at people. No pictures. So what the heck is this one and only picture of? Good question.

The toilet paper holder in Sydney's bathroom is on the wall opposite the toilet. This means that it is completely impossible, by any stretch of the imagination or five-year-old arms, for Sydney to reach it. Since it is not being used for toilet paper, and Sydney didn't like her wet hands dripping on the roll sitting on the counter while she reached to dry her hands, she came up with this little idea. She was so proud. So was I. She actually asked me on Friday if she could invent something before she went to bed. She was disappointed that she couldn't actually think of an invention. But those little wheels were turning.

Zack tore the binding off of a library book this week. Seriously, is this my kid? How can he not be born with a reverence for books? I found a replacement on Amazon that was really cheap, since the book was in used condition to begin with. I wasn't going to buy a brand new one. Tansy also made me question her parentage when she colored a hymn book yesterday. It's a book! I get upset if I crease the binding on a paperback! Deep breath. Okay.

I took all three kids to the church for a baptism yesterday. Four different people were baptized. It was so amazing, and the Spirit was just what this weary mommy needed. I hadn't actually met anyone that was being baptized before, but it opened up some great conversation with Sydney and really reenergized my soul. One of those tender mercies from the Lord.

Today I got to teach the 11-year-old girls about the Saints being expelled from Jackson County, Missouri. It was amazing to talk about events that happened in a place that is only about an hour's drive away from us. Of course, it was also a challenge to keep the conversation off of the "awesome mall" in Independence. These girls are so smart and ask good questions. It was such a great opportunity to spend a couple of weeks with them. I get to teach Sydney's class next week. Give me strength.