It's Like a Friday

I know today is Thursday, but it feels like a Friday because tomorrow The Girl and I have big plans.  It is A Day at Utah State University--a special event for incoming freshman students where campus tours are offered, and an introduction to what university life in Logan will be like for them this fall.  And I get to go with her.

We are carpooling with one other friend--we've known since early elementary school.  The two hour drive will be starting very early tomorrow morning as we have to be there fro registration and check in before 9 AM.  But it will be so worth it.  Ive only ever driven by twice, on our way to visiting ward girls camps over the years.  From the outside looking in, it looks to be a beautiful campus and comfortable in terms of size.  i hope that perception is true.

I'll let you know later this weekend how it all goes once we get back.  But I have to say that I am excited to spend some quality tie with The Girl.  That doesn't happen all that often any more without a bit of planning.

That's What She Said

The Girl read her scholarship winning essay yesterday at the PTA awards luncheon.  I had a kleenix ready, so I wasn't taken by surprise.  As much as I'd like to take credit for all she has become, I can't.  I know that she (and her brother) came to us pre-wired for goodness and success.  Genius Golfer and I are just the lucky ones who get to be their parents. See if you don't agree after you read her essay:



"For as long as I can remember, my family has been involved in PTA. My mom has served in various leadership positions and on diverse committees; my brother and I have helped out at activities at many schools; even my dad has helped out by chaperoning at the Save Ferris dance this year. The hours that are requisite for these kinds of activities is monumental and my mom has put that time in away from home doing whatever needs doing simply because someone has to do it. Sometimes I think she feels bad because of all the times she’s left us on our own, but I don’t regret it at all—not one bit.

"PTA has taught me valuable lessons at many points in my life. In elementary school, the organization taught me to have fun with my family. At the annual carnival, we would play games together like potato sack races or pie-throwing contests. We would sometimes get discount tickets for these games and activities which taught me to appreciate the work we would do before and after: if I helped set up before the event, I would get enough tickets for the Sandy Candy booth. If I helped clean up after, I would get leftover dessert. In elementary school—and now—it doesn’t get much better than leftover dessert.

"In junior high, it first embarrassed me to see my own mother at school so frequently. I avoided her at all costs. But I quickly learned that everyone who knew my mother—students and teachers alike—loved her. I soon realized that it was a good thing. She would talk to everyone who knew her, including my friends, in such a kind and genuine manner. I couldn’t help but want to be like that. I began to own up to being Shauna DeBuck’s daughter. I was pleased to call her “mom” in the hallways of my school.

"Because of this eye-opening experience, PTA taught me to be confident. I learned that it didn’t matter what other kids thought. I didn’t care what they said about me or my mom. I was going to school for an education, to learn as much as I could, and to make my mom proud. I also learned that my mother would check up on me by talking to my teachers. However, this didn’t worry me; this gave me a chance to get to know my teachers. Instead of avoiding doing anything bad that my mom would inevitably hear about, I tried doing good things I hoped she would hear about. Due to this behavior, there are many members of the faculty at the junior high that I call friends.

"These three years at the high school have been busier for both me and my mom. She’s co-president this year and always seems to be on a committee of some sort. Very rarely are there days when she’s not at the school. Though I was embarrassed and awkward in junior high, I now embrace the fact that she followed me to high school. I stop at the Viking Store to chat with her when I can. I see her in the front office on a weekly basis. She’s even in the planning group for the senior party—my senior party. When she was initially approached about helping prepare it, she asked my permission. I was appalled. I wanted her to be on the committee because then I’d know for sure that it would be fun.

"I’ve had too many experiences with PTA to put in fewer words than 1250, but this is a start. This volunteer organization is the first one I was ever involved with. PTA taught me to work; I worked at Central’s Cowboy Round-Up, at the PGJH sucker table on Fridays and school events, and now at my job and within other organizations I’m a part of.

"PTA taught me to be sincere; little kids can see right through any guise when it’s directed at them—and you do not want their mother (or your own) angry with you.

"PTA taught me to think; whenever I helped sell suckers, we never used a cash register. By doing those simple left-brain equations, I improved my mental math skills and learned to check my work every time.

"PTA taught me to manage my time; frequently I would commit in advance to helping out at some event only to remember the day of, which was usually when I had extra homework. Somehow I always pulled through, helping out all day at the event and getting all my homework done before it was due.

"PTA taught me to be a friend to everyone; I got to know a wide assortment of individuals at all the activities, kids and adults both. Some are hard to work with and some are easy to work with. Regardless of personality, I still worked with them. Many kids I became good friends with and remain friends with to this day. I became like an adoptive daughter to many adults and hope always to be considered family. Above all, PTA taught me to be a good daughter. Because of these and many more characteristics, I have been shaped into a mini version of my mother. I have been shaped into someone worthy of her praise. I have been shaped into someone worth being."

Does a Tissue Come With That?

Today is the Council PTA's Awards of Excellence luncheon.  It is also the luncheon where the PTA scholarship winners get to read their winning essays.  The Girl won.  I'm pretty sure I will cry when I hear her essay.  I haven't yet, but the snippets I have seen made me tear up.  That is a problem because after the essays I will be required to stand in front of the group and present the awards the high school is giving to two bus drivers, a teacher and a volunteer.  I will do my best to avoid the "ugly cry" but I can't guarantee it.

At least The Girl knows what to expect from me.  In fact, maybe she wrote this essay with this moment in mind.

I hope she isn't naturally that cruel.  But the whole family seems to think it is funny if they can make me cry over good things.

I'll get her essay and post it tomorrow, so you can see if her intentions were cruel to start, or just too heartfelt for her mom.  If I can see thru the tears to post it.

Wow. Just, Wow.

This weekend was our Stake conference weekend.  Normally, that is a good thing, but this weekend, we had stake conference, attended by Elder M. Russell Ballard.  He is an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  THAT was a really good  and quite a remarkable thing!

Her presided at our stake conference.  He spoke to the adults on Saturday night,  then he spoke to the youth of the stake on Sunday morning and then he spoke to the entire stake in the general session after that.  We are so lucky!

I don't remember any other stake conference that I felt so powerfully.  I have attended a lot of good meetings where doctrines of truth were taught.  I have had the Spirit confirm teachings with power before, but this weekend was different.  The only thing I can account for this difference is that we literally sat the the feet of the apostle and were taught by him.

Most conferences I can usually sense a theme that ran through the speakers' messages.  But this weekend the only real thread that ran throughout the messages was that of the Divinity of Jesus Christ, of his teachings, His love, His Gospel, His Atonement. Maybe because today was Palm Sunday and my mind has been leaning to the final week of the Savior's earthly life simply because of the pre-Easter time of year, I felt an overarching renewal to my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ.  And that holds a power unto itself.

I do "stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me."  This time of year especially. But we were taught about Charity, and learned what we can do each day to be a little more like the Savior in the ways we care for those around us.  We learned that regardless of what the outside world says about us and our church, Jesus Christ IS the central focus of our worship and this is His church, restored to the earth once more.  We learned as we are obedient to the Lord's commandments we increase in faith which, in turn, gives us power and a desire to keep covenants. We learned that joy, contentment ad peace come from being worthy of, and having the companionship of the Holy Ghost. We learned that "women are the Lord's secret weapon".  We learned that we must avoid complaining about the "why ME?" situations in our life and instead focus on the strengths and growth we gain as we endure whatever challenges we have well. 

We learned that our youth must develop spiritual roots long before they leave our homes.  We learned that we can be strengthened as we seek to understand the scriptures and the doctrines of Christ. We learned that having a great DESIRE to know the mysteries of God will drive us to search the scriptures, pray with real intent and listen closely to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and as we do these things, the Lord will visit us with his spirit and we will learn more of what we want to know.

We learned that we do, indeed, have a Savior who loves us and that our discipleship cannot be a spectator sport. We learned that we can't expect God to make our decisions for us, but He will confirm righteous decisions we bring to Him for approval.  We learned that when we repent and are forgiven, the final step is to forgive ourselves. We learned that we must give our best efforts in order to be prepared to serve and influence others within our individual spheres of influence to become more like our Heavenly Father.  We learned that our callings within the organization of the church are so we can help others mature spiritually and if we do this together we will be tuned into the promptings of the Spirit.

And finally, we learned that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and He loves us.  He lives and wants us to choose to follow Him.  His Atonement is more than just a way for us to change and repent of our sins and do better--though it is that for sure!  His Atonement gives us the ability to forgive ourselves, heals our heartaches, mends our souls and soothes our hurts that are caused by others. 

I knew that before, but now?  Wow.  Just, wow.  Easter commemorates Jesus's resurrection and victory over death but also His ultimate triumph over sin and sorrow.  And for that, I am forever grateful.  For the messages this weekend that reminded me that all I knew, I'm grateful.  What I comprehend of His sacrifice for me is still overwhelming in the effect it plays in my life and all the opportunities He has offered me by that perfect  love He shows me.

I'm humbled and so very blessed.  Wow.

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