Popping Like Popcorn!

Maybe because I've been a working girl now for a while, or because I'm in the black hole of information called the Primary in my ward, but I am astonished at the things happening all around me that I don't hear about like I used to.


Two wonderful young women I know opened mission calls last night.  I didn't even know they were going.  They will both be fantastic.  They are going to be serving on opposite sides of the country speaking English and Spanish--and I could not be happier for them.


This lovely lady will be going to Tampa, Florida.  She enters the MTC on June 25th.

And this beautiful girl (shown here with The Boy) is headed to Kennewick, Washington to speak Spanish:

I'm so happy for them!!  They are dynamic and upbeat and willing to work hard.  Both missions will be thrilled to have them.  Fairly soon, when I write to the missionaries each month, there will be more Sisters than Elders to write to!  I love that!

Another New Family

We had a Trek Kick Off meeting this week for all the youth in our stake (and the adults, too) who will be going on our Trek in June.  Genius Golfer and I are "grandparents" in a family.  Two older teens are the "Ma and Pa"  and our job is to guide them in their leadership roles to watch over the younger "kids" in the family.

At the meeting we met our "Ma", Miri, and one of the "kids", Adam.  Miri, a junior, is delightful and so is 8th grader, Adam.  He is just not sure he really wants to go on this thing.  He is quite the athlete, from what we learned so far.  And I think he is worried his summer practice schedule--for football (he wants to make the High School JV team as a freshman)--will be in jeopardy.  But I think if we get excited together he will join us.

Sometimes experiences that are really worth doing seem daunting and even not quite what you want when you are first faced with them.  But with anything that requires a commitment and some sacrifice, it is always worth it in the end.

We have three other "kids" to recruit and one that just couldn't make it to the meeting but is going to come with us.  We have some work to do with them, but I'm excited to try.  I know how much I STILL love my trek kids from four years ago.  I'd love to have that kind of connection for these new kids too.

Conference Reflections

General Conference was so terrific this past weekend. I remember being a kid and feeling like the conference weekend lasted, easily, a month.  Now, however, two days just doesn't seem like enough.  I felt uplifted from the first talk and that feeling lasted throughout the four sessions I got to watch.  It helps my attitude too, I believe, that The Girl enjoys all four sessions and watches with me.  I don't have to fight her to do that, unlike the boys.  Yes.  That was plural.  Genius Golfer golfed on Saturday--even through the on and off rain we had.  He is good to watch on Sunday, but his weekends are already spoken for through the spring and summer it seems.  The Boy just enjoys sleeping right now, so he missed the first session but wondered in and out during the Saturday afternoon session.  They both go to the priesthood session happily, as they make it an outing to Chili's afterward too.

The Girl takes copious notes through each session.  I do sometimes, but not always.  This time I sat and just listened.  I tried to internalize the messages and feel the Spirit's promptings as I heard what I needed to hear in each.

My favorite talk was easily from Sister Dalton.  Last weekend we got to go up tot he Conference Center to see the Young Women broadcast in person--The Girl reminded me that this "was my last one".  And while I got to drive a car load of neighbors and friends--mothers and daughters--I felt strongly that Sister Dalton and her presidency would likely be released this conference.  They having served through my whole time in our stake YW presidency with Pam and Amy and Taffy.  I have felt a great affinity to her personally--as she was a counselor to Sister Tanner when I was first called to serve in the Stake.  Her time in that kind of calling was longer than mine.  I have loved her directness and boldness as she taught and lead the YW throughout the world to return to virtue.  Rather an unpopular topic in the world's eyes, yet--especially since the missionary age change--a vital requirement for covenant keeping members of the church.

As she finished speaking in Saturday morning's session, I texted Taffy and said "That sounded like a Goodbye message".  Her words were like Lehi's when he knew he was dying and wanted to leave his testimony and most important word to his children before he left them.  Sister Dalton, too, wanted to leave her charges--the Young Women of the church--her best message.  And she did just that.



Not only did her message leave the YW with no doubt of her testimony and of their worth it but it shot home to me personally the value I have in my home, with my family and in my community.  Last week, you may remember I wrote of the USU host student who essentially dismissed me when I told her I was a stay at home mom and the feelings I had of insecurity and personal doubt that my work mattered.  Sister Dalton confirmed what I already knew--and a couple of you friends reminded me of in the comments (Thank YOU!)--that my work as a mom and a wife and a volunteer and all the other things I do that the world revile me for matter to the Lord.  Sister Dalton has always done that for me.  Each time I hear her speak I feel a renewed sense of worth and value as a daughter of my Heavenly Father.  Maybe that is why I loved serving in my YW calling so much!  Each week I had that calling I was able to testify of that value to young women throughout our stake--and thereby reconfirm it to myself too.

Hearing Sister Dalton's goodbye address made me miss my YW calling all over again.  I am struggling to feel that kind of value as I teach my Primary class.  And I'm not dismissing my primary calling--I know there is value in teaching these little girls--but I don't feel the same intensity of testimony I did with the YW. 

As Sister Dalton and her wonderful counselors were released I felt the same kind of let down I felt when we were released.  It was like they were the other half of our presidency  Having served along with with all this time, I feel some (crazy, I know) sense of solidarity with them.  Yet, I know that they have done what the Lord needed them to do and their service was complete and acceptable to the Lord.  I know that about my own time in YW too, but it doesn't help me not miss it.  I loved the YW we served.  I loved their leaders in the different wards of our stake. I felt the Lord's guidance in the work we tried to accomplish.  I am sure Sister Dalton has felt that too.  And maybe she will miss her calling the same way I have.

And maybe that is because in that calling, especially, I am absolutely sure the Lord cares what happens and won't let anything go wrong with his precious daughters.  He needs them at this time of the world.  He has prepared them to bring this 'hastening of the work" along in preparation of the second coming of Christ.  We saw that in our own stake.  We know this past generation of young women has been saved for a time such as this.  And it was a honor serving them and working with them as they have come to see their place in His kingdom.  Now we see some of their efforts as they join this wave of missionaries and I look forward to witnessing what their efforts bring about throughout the world.

Maybe Sister Dalton feels that too.  I just know that as much as I miss the YW and leaders I worked with so closely, I will miss Sister Dalton's leadership and example of discipleship.  And I do look froward to Sister Oscarson and her presidency and the challenges they overcome and the example they set.  But it won't be the same and that is OK, I suppose.  Change is hard, but constant.  And that is just one more lesson I need to learn. 

Dangit.

Realizations...

I am afraid that today I have this feeling, after a week of Spring Break laziness:

 But after a wonderful General Conference weekend, I saw this and realized that I have a lot of feeling about what happened and what was said.  But this is pretty good:

I loved that!!

Those Poor Elders....

I was talking with a friend this week about these excited, enthusiastic, young missionaries going out into the world.  We particularly got talking about the sisters that are choosing to serve now.

One of her good friends' parents are serving as a mission president right now.  She told me her friend relayed the story from her dad about going to the airport to pick up 20 new sisters to serve in their mission.  He got to the airport a little late and began looking for these new sisters.  At one of the first gates he saw a group of completely gorgeous young women but figured it was a dance team or something.  In fact, he called them "super models".  He kept looking. Then he continued searching all the gates and soon was getting panicky.  After not finding them, he eventually went back to the first gate and when he was looking around, one of the "super models" came over and addressed him as "President S_?"  The super models were his new sister missionaries.  Not only are they gorgeous to look at, they were so confident and self assured.  They dressed well and in an attractive--but modest--way and their smiles, hair and makeup were all cover girl ready!

Then I just ran across this article:  Sister Missionaries and it made me hope the young MEN serving can keep their minds on their service and the Gospel they are teaching!  I wish them luck!

Invasion of the...Sister-Missionaries!

Last evening I got word that two of our former Young Women received their mission calls.  One, in our ward, just turned 19 on Sunday.  She has been called to Brazil and goes to the Brazilian MTC in Saó Paulo on May 22nd.  The other will be serving in the Knoxville, TN mission--speaking Spanish--and she enters the Provo MTC the day BEFORE her 19th birthday in June.

The Knoxville Mission currently has another sister serving there that I think is pretty terrific...my cousin Sister H.  I left "the soon to be Sister E" a note that she may end up with my cousin as her trainer once she gets there...small world, indeed.

This age change for the Young Men, as well as the Young Women, has been pretty astonishing.  Not that I doubted the Lord could ask for anything of us and get it but that the immediacy of the response is typical of these faithful young people.  Especially for the sisters who now no longer need to wait until they are nearly done with their schooling, or well into a relationship, or already engaged, or just feeling like they got passed over by the "matrimonial fairy" to decide to go on a mission.  It is exciting to see.

I can't imagine how the world is changing for the mission presidents and their current mission structuring.  It's got to be crazy trying to find places fro all these new missionaries.  But what a wonderful problem to have!

Released, and Relieved

Yesterday, the release from just over six years of serving as a counselor in our stake Young Women's presidency came.   I had the privilege of serving under two presidents in that time period, and loved both groups of ladies very much. I learned far more than I imagined I would and truly came to love the YW in our stake--many of whom I still see at school each week.

We had a little meeting with our wonderful stake presidency Thursday night when they issued the release and thanked us for our service.  Friday and Saturday I wondered around like someone dealing with clinical depression.  I knew this was coming, but didn't expect to feel so out of sorts with it.

Then the relief came.

Sunday morning in our sacrament  meeting, our representative from the high council read our names to be released...along with our stake Young Men's presidency.  Then he read the names of those to be sustained for both presidencies.  Instantly, upon hearing the women's names who were just called I had a sense of relief and assurance that these ladies were in the right place at the right time.  I know all three of them (no secretary called yet) and I love them!  They will be marvelous. I know the majority of the new YM's presidency too and I think they are fabulous!

Then last night we had our closing fireside for our missionary month events.  Our Stake Youth Committee did a tremendous job and I couldn't have been more proud of them.  The old presidencies sat in the audience; the new ones sat on the stand with the committee kids.  Just as it should be.

Following the meeting there were many hugs, more tears, and expressions of gratitude and appreciation all around.  I was worried at first about having to go to that right after being released, but it was a good and fitting end to our term of service.

And I think the end of my feeling like I need medication or therapy!  Now the worry about what they give me next is slowly creeping in.  *anythingbutprimary*anythingbutprimary*anythingbutprimary*

A Sinking Feeling

My dear friend Pam called last night that the stake presidency would like to meet with us (we are all in the stake YW presidency together) this Thursday at 9 PM.  Nothing was mentioned about the topic of the meeting.  My first thought was we are being released.  My second thought--and completely full of denial--was that there were changes that needed to be made in our Fireside scheduled for Sunday night.  Denial didn't last long, before the realistic depression started to sink in last night.

The entire evening was flat--like a dead balloon.  If we are released, I'm not surprised.  But I am really bummed, if that is what this is about.

I've had this calling for 6 years and a few months.  I was terrified when it first came to me.  But I have loved it for the last four years or so.  I feel like I have finally figured out a lot of stuff that took me two years to understand at the beginning.  But I guess, that is the sign that we will be released.  We've just started to feel competent in the last couple of years.  That is about when the changes come in life, right?  Just as you think you know what you're doing.

We'll see what Thursday night brings.  No matter what the outcome, I know that I have loved this calling, the ladies I serve with and the YW we serve.  They are wonderful--all of them.  And I am better for having this opportunity to work in the YW program than I would be without it.

I'll keep you posted.

The World Is A Hard Place

This week we have been meeting with our local ward Young Women presidencies.  We have been doing this to have an opportunity to do some leadership training as well as some more intimate visiting about how we can help them fulfill  their callings better.

One night, however, we met with one ward and in the course of the evening learned there are some of our Young Women that are dealing directly with hard things, worldly issues that can damage their spirits and even issues that leave them in physical danger.  It was difficult to listen to these good women tell us their worries about the YW in their care.  But as difficult as it was to listen, I was so grateful they shared their concerns.  We worry about these girls too, but they have more regular contact with them and can have a more direct impact for their well being and spiritual good.

I don't want to write much more about specifics of this part of the evening, but I felt the heaviness of their reporting.  These leaders have had this on their hearts for a while--and even longer without knowing just what the matter was, but knowing something was not as it should be.  God knows these girls and was prompting their good leaders to watch them more carefully, with an open heart and the Spirit prepared a way for the leaders to understand more what these girls are going through, so they can help them through it.  Not only that, but these particular leaders have had their own experiences with similar things as they grew up that has given them strong sympathy and understanding for their young women.

The Lord knows each of us.  He will put others in our lives to help us learn what we must and get through the things we will face.  That doesn't always make those things easier, but knowing you aren't along in it is better than the alternative.  It was made plainly obvious to me last night that as leaders we may have had experiences in our lives simply to give us the basis to help others.

I also know that the world is becoming a more wicked place.  Much of what these young women are having to deal with is not of their own making. They are facing the consequences based on other people's choices.  In some cases, the world's influence and Satan's tactics have caused these girls' heartbreak without them making a bad choice.  That is what is so hard to see.  And it is becoming all too common to hear or see things where innocents suffer from decisions made by someone who doesn't seen to have any consequence at all.

My heart left this particular meeting very heavy.  My prayers since have been very specific and more sincere than they have been for a while.  And my gratitude has increased when I see the goodness around me in my family, friends, volunteer work and within the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that it is through the Lord, Jesus Christ, that all hurt and sorrow and suffering can be handled.  In fact, it can be handed over to Him, and He will take it from us and strengthen us to get through it.  Boy, we all need a little more of that around here.

Communication Takes Two

I had a breakdown of communication that reared it's ugly head this morning.  Our Young Women are beginning their volleyball games today.  The schedule was set August 25th and then revised (as it always seems to be) on August 31st.  The adjusted schedule was a full week and a day before now.  Yet one ward STILL showed up at the original time...six hours early.

After a few phone calls back and forth, it was determined that the YW president either didn't open the new (now more than a week old) email or didn't pass on the updated information to the girls and their sports lady in the last 2 weeks.

It is so frustrating to me when I know I have done my part to disseminate the information and try to give everyone the correct info in plenty of time.  But if someone chooses NOT to receive the information, and worse--then blames me for not getting the word out--causing everyone else to shuffle around their days to make it fit again that sure sucks the joy out of this job.

The lesson here is to either do other people's job (not the option I prefer) or realize that people can be pretty stubborn and that has nothing to do with me.  I just feel bad for the girls that were there to play and now have to come back this afternoon.

The Take-Away from Girls' Camp

We got home from camp yesterday and I have been doing laundry ever since.  It is hard to realize how dirty you really are until you get to shower--without a time limit--and all the soap you can use.  I feel do much better.

The Girl was terrific at camp.  She was a YCL (Youth Camp Leader) this year and, while I wasn't trying to spy on her, I had the chance several times to watch her in action.  She guided younger girls with kindness and gentleness and played with everyone enthusiastically and with little (seen, at least) judgement.  On our High Adventure day, she took my camera and harnessed herself to the top of the cliff with the repelling crew and photographed all the girls in their trips over the edge.  The photo are great!

The final night we had a closing Fireside all together as a camp and a testimony meeting for us stake leaders with our stake presidency and their wives.  It was a wonderful pair of meetings.  The Spirit was very strong as we shared our feelings about what had happened at camp.

I shared that I knew the purpose of Girls' Camp was not in the camping, hiking, or orienteering the girls learned--though that was part of the skill set each girl could possibly learn there.  The  real purpose is to develop young women; to build testimonies and strengthen individuals; to provide leadership experiences and confidence in themselves.

With that as our goal, I'd say we had a highly successful camp this year.

The Girl took my camera and shot all the repelling we did...off a 90 foot cliff...while she was harnessed to the top with the manly help we had with us.  This is a shot she took of our dear friend Nicole on her way over the edge.

The Spirit Speaks To Me

Yesterday I had a long day of church activities.  The day began with a visit to another ward's sacrament meeting wherein the Laurels of that ward spoke and the YM/YW did a special musical number.  The whole program was centered on the For the Strength of Youth standards.  The girls were fantastic and the musical number was lovely.  Following that meeting, President P of our stake presidency sat down to visit with us--us being three of the four members of our Stake YW presidency.

Long story short, here, but he asked what our plans were at camp in  July when the Bishops came up to meet with their ward YW and provide dinner and have ward testimony meetings.  After some "well, we could go with our own wards..." kind of talk, he asked (but it was already decided, according to his tone) that we meet together as Stake leaders.  The stake presidency would bring up dinner and they wanted to talk to us.  We would not be visiting with our own wards that night.

Following that request/decision, our fearless leader, Pam, shared some connection he has to a new location for trek, possibly, for next summer.  It is off the BLM land, away from missionaries' overly watchful eyes, and on private land where we can run a trek any way we want to.  Oh, and it does actually include a portion of the Mormon trail...and it is in Wyoming.  Jokingly, I jumped in with a snarky comment about "May we negotiate an invitation to trek is Pam gives you this information?"  And President P just smiled his wise, knowing smile at me.  Again.

I regularly ask about trek when I see our stake presidency.  They know I'd love to go.  But they haven't ever said if our presidency will still be serving when the time comes to do that.  That said, let's fast forward to a few hours later.

It was also a ward conference yesterday, so after visiting the sacrament meeting where the Laurels did the program, and then sitting through my own sacrament meeting with The Boy as the other half of our family was home nursing Pink Eye, then I went to another 3 hours of meetings in yet another ward--and another building for that matter. 

Our lesson seemed to go well, and I didn't take quite so much time--I tried to quell the rambling and chatting and stayed on topic.  So far, so good.  Eventually I'll get the time management of this lesson down and we'll be done with ward conferences.  Anyhoo, we made our way into the final sacrament meeting of the day (this was number 3, remember).

We began to sing "How Firm a Foundation" and I recalled a trek moment with that song...and suddenly the tears well up and the I felt the Spirit tell me "You won't be in this calling for long.  A change is coming."

I love this calling.  It is the best in the church, if you ask me.  I get to work with the YW leaders in the six wards in our stake.  I get to see the YW of our stake at the activities we attend, at girls' camp, on planning committees, and for their recognition nights. 

But I also get to work with the cream of the crop YW and YM on our stake youth committee each year.  These kids are the BEST.  And, inevitably, I end up loving them.  I really just adore them.  And that group--though it changes each year--is the group I will miss the most. Well, that and the ladies I have the privilege of serving with in our presidency.  I love them all.  Totally and completely.

Now, I'm pretty sure that President P's insistence on meeting with us at camp may very well be the meeting where they tell us they are going to release us.  As i recall, two stake camps ago, the former presidency I was in got word we'd be released at camp...and Fearless Leader Pam was actually called while we were at camp.  In that case, I got recycled.  I doubt I'll be that lucky this time.

Then to finish off the day--and my personal well of tears and love for these kids--I attended Seminary Graduation last night.   Seeing the majority of our most recent stake youth committee kids graduating...knowing the HS graduation is next week...and that they'll be leaving for bigger and better things (including the Young Single Adult ward) just brought that feeling of the Spirit back once again.  I need to let them go.  And be ready to do it, like it or not.

I guess, knowing how much I love change...the Spirit is just warning me. To be ready.  To say goodbye.  And to be open to whatever comes next.  Dang.  I hate it when that happens.

Tuesday Night: Brushes With Greatness

Tuesday night I went to SLC with two of the three other musketeers, I mean, our YW presidency, for our annual auxiliary training.  It was terrific.

See that nice lady in the center of the photo...in the black blazer?  That is Sister Dalton, General Young Women President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  She is amazing!

 Everything they said reaffirmed everything that we are already doing.  Actually, it affirmed just how inspired our Stake Presidency really is.  They were on the right track years ago. Now the general directions we are getting from the church are lining right up with what we've been instructed to do already.

See this nice lady?  The one smiling so big, leaning over to talk to the other nice ladies seated for the meeting?  Yep.  That is Sister Dibb, 2nd counselor in the YW General Presidency.  Oh, and she's the prophet's daughter.  She is just as smiley and friendly in real life...up close and personal.

There were a few hundred ward and Stake YW leaders in attendance Tuesday night for this training.  One woman was there from Sweden.  The church is true all over the world.  And Heavenly Father loves His daughters, wherever they live.  I love knowing that.

I feel very honored, privileged and supremely blessed to get to work with the Young Women right now.  I think this might be the greatest calling I have ever had int he church.  The fact that I have been in this spot for nearly six years now, I only feel more blessed.  I have seen some of these young women all the way through their YW experience.  That is a treat that is unlike any other I can think of.  Getting to do this while The Girl is in YW is even more sweet.  I can see, as a parent, what we do as YW leaders and how it affects each of these girls.  The girls are individuals--remarkable, unique, and divine with so much good to bring the world.  Serving in the church gives us opportunities that I might not have had any other way.  Even my PTA work--with junior high and high school kids at this current point--only gives me so much contact with the kids themselves.  That contact is fleeting.  But in YW, I see these girls growing and learning and developing into just who the Lord needs them--and knows they are--to be.

Weekend Wrap Up

I wish the week would last as long as the weekends seem to...then it would be the weekend much more often! It is Monday again, already.

This weekend was fast because there was a bunch of things happening. Saturday was our Young Women Basketball extravaganza...meaning we played a whole "season" of basketball in one day...and found a stake ball champion to send to the region tourney next month. Whew. Not that is was without its drama. But that will be fodder for another post, so let's leave it at four hours of games, and it is done. Yea!

It was also Genius Golfer's birthday Saturday. He is 46. He spent the morning--while I was at basketball--with the 14-15 year old boys tubing at Soldier Hollow. Everyone had a great time, I undestand, and no one got hurt (always a plus in my tubing experiences) so it was a terrific activity. He had planned on golfing that afternoon, but I can't remember if he did or not. I think we all stayed home and vegged out until it was time to go to dinner. It is always a good day if I don't have to cook--so we celebrated with dinner out and then home for cake, ice cream and a movie. Not a bad Saturday overall.

Sunday began early for most of us. The boys had a stake priesthood meeting at 7 AM and I had a camp meeting at 7:30, so only The Girl got to sleep in. In fact she got herself to church at 9, where we all met eventually. Once our service was over, I came home and fell alseep until about 3:30 when I got up and went ot take some pictures for a friend. Her son is submitting paperwork for his mission and need the missionary-look headshots. Then I chatted with this friend about a YW issue in another ward, and brainstormed some solutions. Then one of our Camp committee girls came over in a tizzy because she had just been released after a rotten day as Laurel president (and thus, on the camp committee) and was confused and angry and upset. We talked to her--together as it happened--and hopefully helped her see change is inevitable and that we still needed her. But I also told her to get a good night's sleep and she would probably feel better.

And suddenly it is Monday morning again. This weeke doesn'tlook quite as busy as the past two weeks, but it isn't going to be a watch TV and eat bon-bon kind of week either. Like it EVER is.

Daughters of God

Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach a young women's class--along with the rest of our YW presidency--as part of an annual ward conference visit.  We will eventually share this lesson with all six wards in our stake, but this year we are holding these conferences only once each month, rather than back to back to back in a blur within about 8 weeks,start to finish.  So far, I see the advantage of this new system.

To begin our team lesson we used a quote from Marianne Williamson, which reads: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure,  We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

After sharing this thought with the girls and their leaders, then I taught a five minute portion about "Arise and Shine Forth as Daughters of God".  My section went a little like this:

I have three pictures of three little girls I'd like you to look at.

Little girl number 1:

Little girl number 2:

Here is this same little girl in color--just for comparative purposes:

Little girl number 3:

Do you see similarities in these little girls?  What similarities do you see? 

(Answers vary, but include hair & eye color, chubby cheeks & fingers, shape of the lips, noses, pale skin)

Can you tell these little girls are related?

Girl #1 is my daughter, The Girl.

Girl #2 is me. 

Girl #3 is my mom.

As little girls, we looked an awful lot like each other, don't we?  Must be a shallow gene-pool. Do you see other ways we resemble one another?  Can you guess that we have other traits--that you can't see--that we inherited from one generation to another?  Sure.  We each can be hard headed and stubborn at times.  We each have tremendous faith.  We each enjoy music. We each are fairly smart--though The Girl really blows me away with that trait.  We are hard workers.  And we are each responsible and dependable, to name a few.

In the scriptures, let's look up 1 John 3:2:

Beloved, now are we the sons and I would add, DAUGHTERS of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

If we truly believe we are "daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us", that those are not just words we repeat ever Wednesday night at mutual and every Sunday morning in our YW meeting at church, if we really believe that, we will also find we have traits that He has.  Some of those are waiting to be developed.  They might even be dormant until we identify them and work to develop them.  Others we might see right away.

When we see Him, we will be like Him.  That is because we are His children, His daughters.

Let's go back to the scriptures again.  This time in Alma 5:14 & 19:

(14) And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren and sisters of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

(19) I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

Having His image in our countenances is a way others can see we are living according to His direction, that we are obedient to our Father, that we are doing things because we know we are Daughters of God.

Sister Margaret Nadauld, a former General YW president, said in a New Era article in Oct 2002:

"You can recognize young women who are grateful to be daughters of God by their outward appearance. They understand their responsibility over their bodies and treat them with dignity...You can recognize young women who are grateful to be daughters of God by their attitudes. They know the errand of angels is given to women, and they desire to be on God's errand, to love His children and minister to them....You can recognize young women who are grateful to be daughters of God by their abilities.  They fulfill their divine potential and magnify their God-given gifts....Grateful daughters of God know it is the nurturing of women that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this divine attribute."

(Then I bear my testimony to the fact that I love them, as one of their YW leaders.)  I know that God is our Heavenly Father who loves us.  And that as we live in accordance to His commands, following His Son, Jesus Christ--who is our Savior and Redeemer--we can emit that light to others and help them to develop an grow.  I know that as we do this, we will be happy and will make others happy in the process, including our loving Heavenly Father.

The rest of the lesson includes a segment about "Arise ans Shine Forth as Sisters in Zion" where Sister S talks about service to others and working together for good.  And then, finally, Sister N concludes with "Arise and Shine Forth as Seekers of Light".

Since my mom helped so much finding and scanning and emailing me the pictures of herself and me, I must thank her.  It worked out great!   Each time I give my section it gets a little more refined and more sure.  But for the first time out, it went well, and i was happy to share that message with the YW of the Timp 3rd ward.

"Fiddle-Dee-Dee, I'll Think About That Tomorrah"

I'm having a Scarlett O'Hara thought pattern this week.  You remember Scarlett?

When she couldn't deal with the stress of the blasted Yankees in her dearest Tara, or her dearest Rhett not "giving a damn", she'd "Fiddle-Dee-Dee" it out her mid until she could handle it.  Can't say I blame the girl.  It is a brilliant strategy.

I'm employing it right now.  This week.

Thursday I have a meeting with our YW presidency, and the rest of the stake officers, in preparation for a ward conference on Sunday.  We will be visiting and ministering some individuals in that ward in small groups.  Basically the purpose here is to let these particular young women know we love them and to see if there is anything we can do to bring them closer to Christ.  That is a tall order.

I have an assignment connected to preparing for that meeting, as well as the teaching opportunity I will have on Sunday when we teach all the YW in this ward, but I can't get to that assignment until, at the earliest, tomorrow, or maybe Thursday morning.  This delay is due to the assignments I have had yesterday and still today with my PTA job(s).

The way I figure it, everything I do can--at its roots--be boiled down to service, so it isn't like I am choosing between burning Atlanta or serving in the Confederate hospital.  It is all good stuff.  But it also all takes my time.  Throw in a little laundry, (Oh, who am I kidding?!  When is laundry ever "little"?) and dinner, and groceries, and all the regular cooking and cleaning and homemaking I am supposed to do by virtue of my position of full time wife and mother.  And the time frame gets a little tense.

It will all get done.  It always does.  But for today, and most of the week, I am taking a 'Scarlett'.  I'll think about it tomorrah!

Experiments in Volleyball

This morning was our final day of volleyball for our Young Women.  A stake representative was selected at last week's games so today was just for fun--and donuts.

We played the first game to 10 with all the girls on the big court, January-June birthday girls versus the July through December birthday girls.  Much giggling ensued.

Then, we played Buddy-Ball, where the girls found a partner who is about the same height and we tied their middle arms together.  Much like a three-legged race, the three arm volleyball players took a little time to get used to the new get up.  We quit keeping score.  Much giggling ensued.

And finally the last game we played Blackout Volleyball.  With glow sticks taped to the top of the net, and a volleyball wrapped in glow-in-the dark tape, all the girls played a game in the dark.  I am not sure how much of a game we had, but  much giggling ensued.

The seven dozen donuts I brought to celebrate together were polished off and the girls left smiling and happy.  I'd say that was a fun way to finish the season.

Now, if only basketball season would be that warm and fuzzy.  But we know that is just not the case.  Dangit.

Things as The Really Are

With my new found affinity for my "smart" phone, I was struck by this message in  a new way today.  I have an assignment to speak to our Young Women leaders at a leadership training meeting, and my topic is "Seeing things are they really are".  I am to speak to them about calling things as they see them, to speak boldly about topics their YW will encounter in this increasingly evil world, and to call repentance to one and all who might need the gentle call to walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk. 

As leaders, we cannot teach principles and doctrines we ourselves are unwilling to live.  The YW are smarter than that,  They know when we are not being honest or when we are not leading with integrity.  Hypocrisy in leaders is, in my opinion, a larger fault than ignorance.

While Elder Bednar is speaking of reality vs. virtual reality in this piece, I believe we each need to search our souls for the humility it requires to make righteous changes BEFORE we lead others.  It is difficult to call ourselves out on issues we struggle with, but our YW deserve better.  They require better.  And we should be better than that.

And here, of course, I speak to myself, as much as anyone else.  Like always.

I Did THAT As A Beehive!

Repticidal

This is EXACTLY how I feel about snakes too.  I can't stand to watch them--the way they move--is just creepy.

On our visit to a ward Girls' Camp last week, one of our just graduated YW showed me her battle scars following a near-encounter with a rattlesnake.

Rattlesnakes are my most hated of snakes.  But anything without legs is worthy of hatred and death, in my eyes, so there you go.

Kathryn had apparently been at the head of the group as they hiked one day and just as she glanced down, she saw the predator stretched out across the trail, with rattles shaking.  She had enough sense to stop the other girls from getting any closer and they careful made their way around the vile creature as it curled itself under a rock, coiled, with rattles rattling.

Somehow in all this carefulness, Kathryn slipped and scrapped up her arms and legs and hand pretty bad, but luckily wasn't attached by the snake itself.  In her recounting of the event, she told me she had a death-defying day.  I'll say.

Just seeing that snake on the trail, and not either a) hacking it to pieces, or b) screaming bloody murder to the point of passing out is success more than I would expect of myself.

But hearing about it again, doesn't make me any more anxious to mow the grass anytime soon.