Things never stay the same

My 3+ years in young womens has come to an end. I remember the day I was called thinking three years seemed like an eternity and now here I am at the end. This past Wednesday instead of going to an activity, my counselors and I treated ourselves to dinner. I sincerely hope my friendship with these ladies continue now that this sojourn is over. I have been so blessed with great women to work along side me and keep me sane.

I've known for awhile that this was coming which gave me time to think about a parting gift for my beautiful young women. I decided the best thing I could give them was my testimony. The day I was called, I added 40 more daughters to my family. I will always consider them one of mine. I prayed for them a lot. I laughed with them. I cried over them. I thought about them incessantly. I loved them deeply. I will miss them. I will miss talking with them. I will miss listening to their conversations in the car. I will miss their silly pranks. I will miss their insights during lessons. I will miss their texts.

BUT, to be frank . . . I will not miss the activities. I loved everything else about young womens. I did not enjoy coming up with weekly activities. Sorry girls. That was just not my forte nor my passion. I would prefer to give a 100 lessons to planning an activity.

This may have been my first stint in a young women calling. I do not think it will be my last. Just like these flowers (from my stake YW presidency) will slowly wilt and die, things never stay the same.

My testimony letter:

Hi there!

I am no longer in the position of Young Women president and wanted to leave you with one last gift from me. I thought about this for quite awhile and felt that my testimony was the greatest gift I could give. I once had one of you young women ask me how I knew this gospel was true and right. So let me tell you and that young woman what I know and how I know.

I was once a young girl like you, full of worries about the future and not quite confident about myself and speaking my beliefs. In fact I was so terrified of getting up in front of people that I didn’t bear my testimony in a testimony meeting until I was an adult with small children (please don’t be like me in that regard . . . be brave and share what’s in your heart . . . the Lord will bless you for it). Since then I’ve come to know that I was born with the gift of faith. I’ve always just felt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, there came a day where I encountered a faith-shaking experience. You too will have something or someone who will shake you to the core -- will your faith and your testimony be strong enough to withstand it? I had to really decide if what I had been taught all my life was all really true and right. I prayed. I studied. I read scripture. I never got an earth-shattering answer but more a feeling of peace and content. From that moment forward I CHOSE to believe and have never looked back. Let me share a few things I’ve learned in my 41 years (Yes! I am old.).

**Faith is a conscious choice. You make a choice every day whether to believe or not.

**Cling forever to the things you know when you’re surrounded by things you don’t know. The time to jump ship is not in the middle of the storm. STAY IN THE BOAT. STAY FAITHFUL. DON’T WALK AWAY.

**The Son always comes up. In the darkest of nights, the Son is always on duty and when we need him, we can find him through prayer, through meditation, through the scriptures.

**Faith is an assurance that things will work out for my good. I may not know how, I may not know when, but I know they will because Heavenly Father is in charge.

**Faith is a real power. Some might think it's a crutch to lean on in times of difficulty, but I know otherwise.

**Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space. Same with fear. When I start to be fearful and worry, my faith is waning.

**One aspect of the atonement is there is no end to the Savior’s ability to succor us in our pains, afflictions, temptations. The atonement is as much for me who hurts from other’s choices as for anyone who had ever committed a wrong.

**Sometimes when going through a difficult time we want to ask the Lord to take away the trial, the pain, the sorrow. Instead we should pray for the grit to continue, the willpower to hang tough, the strength to persevere. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Keep trying.

**Instead of asking WHY questions . . . Why is this happening to me?, I learned instead to ask WHAT questions . . . what do I need to learn from this experience? What can I do to help those around me? What can I do for my family?

Faith comes not simply by knowing and believing but by doing. I choose to consistently grow my faith and testimony by DOING what God had asked me to. Is it easy? Heavens no. It’s downright hard a lot of the time. But the blessings that have come to me are worth the price.

Heavenly Father asked me start reading the Book of Mormon with my little family more consistently so I did that. He asked me to continue to attend church every week and I have done so. He asked me to begin attending the temple with more frequency than I had been. So I started attending at least once a month and I have only missed 2 or 3 months in many, many years. He asked me to start sharing my beliefs with those around me. So I started a blog (ahumandoing.blogspot.com) where I record those things for others to read. I got brave and began bearing my testimony out loud in fast and testimony meeting (that first time was soooooo scary).

I tell you these things because testimony and faith and most importantly conversion comes from action. You have to do something to get something. If you want to know if the Book of Mormon is a true book from God, you must read it and study it. If you want to know that Joseph Smith did indeed see God and Jesus Christ than you need to study and read and pray about that . . . MORE THAN ONCE! If you need to know if there is even a God in Heaven than again you must put some work into finding out. He will tell you. I promise you that. Those answers come in quiet ways, usually through our feelings.

More than anything I know that our Heavenly Father loves each one of you individually for who you are. Don’t ever forget that! Work on your relationship with him and his son and it will be a safety net in the tumultuous days ahead. I know that this gospel is what brings me the most joy and I testify of its truthfulness. I know because I have tested it and there is nothing that comes close to the peace and happiness in my life when I am doing and becoming what the Lord needs me to be.

If you ever feel like giving up or giving in or have questions that don’t seem to have answers, I am always available, day or night to talk. I love you and consider you an extension of my family. I gained 40 new daughters the day I was called and am so blessed that the Lord allowed me to be a part of your lives for such a short time. You have truly been a blessing to me.

Young women and their trials

Life has dealt some of my young women some hard obstacles these past couple of weeks. Being their leader, teacher, friend, I just want to take away the pain. Any parent with children knows that feeling. But the hardest thing is they have to endure it alone. Sure I can be there to support and help and love but it doesn't take away the hurt.

I have one who is moving right before her senior year of high school. I vowed I would never move if my parents decided it was time for a change. But she is courageously going with her family. She is my expert snipe hunter and I'm not sure how girls camp will function without her.

I have one who had her tonsils out this week. Poor thing is getting to eat all the ice cream she wants. She is being brave and mending.

I have one who desperately wants to make the ballroom dance team. She has worked for over a year to improve herself, taking extra dance classes. Tonight she'll find out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I have several who are in the thick of cramming for AP exams which commence on Monday. I know it's been nonstop study sessions at my house for Kiersten who almost thinks of prom tomorrow as a burden and a hindrance to her studying.

I have one who had major facial surgery a month ago only to have to go in on Monday to repeat it. This surgery involves breaking her jaw and wiring her mouth shut for 8 weeks. She's the one that breaks my heart the most. You know that for this second surgery she knows what she is in for -- the pain and the recovery. She has been such an inspiration to everyone, but especially to our young beehive with the tonsils taken out.

I didn't know when I got this calling as Young Women President that it would stretch my heart like it has. I didn't know I could love these girls just like I love my own kids. They are my family. Their successes are my successes, their hurts my hurts, their triumphs my triumphs, their pain my pain.

I've tried to minister to them a little more diligently this week as our Savior would. They have become an extension of my family. Instead of five kids, I have thirty-five. I try to attend and support them in their activities and I hope they know how much I love being a part of their lives and how much I pray for them individually and collectively.

This is one of the busiest callings, one of the hardest callings I've had but also one of the most rewarding. I absolutely love rubbing shoulders with the young women of this gospel. They are so strong and full of goodness.

Good things
unbrella
Bandaids
priesthood blessings

Young Women basketball

Our young women combine with the young women of the other Lake Point ward for basketball, creating a whole new identity -- Big Lake (formed from Big Canyon and Lake Point). I think the other wards in our stake aren't quite sure who we are exactly when we tell them we are Big Lake. We're just a mystery team, an enigma.

Corrie, Brailey, Meredith, Melanie, Naomi, Kiersten, Coach Jamie, Hannah, Kallie

Our little team made it to region this year and boy were they excited (they did last year too). The lady who coaches both wards was going to be out of town and our sports specialist wasn't comfortable enough coaching. So I became the coach for a day.

That was an experience I've never had and found it quite enjoyable. But I had a dilemma. I did not realize region play could take all day and had scheduled an outing with my sisters for the evening. I really wanted them to win, but I didn't want them to win all three games. Maybe just one or two.

They played their hearts out, but without any official practices, there were just too many things that could have been improved on.

They all took heart in that they performed better than last year. Losing 32 to 17 was much better than losing 40 to 5.

Kiersten has taken it upon herself to set up practices in our backyard every Thursday at 7pm for the next year in hopes that they might win region next year.

Silent auction fundraiser

Our annual young men and young women fundraiser is over and done. I'm just now beginning to realize that this calling is jumping from one big event to another. This next Sunday is our ward conference and a few weeks ago a new stake was created which took several of our wards including our stake young women president. Well, she was scheduled to give the lesson.

Today we sustained a new stake young women president and no counselors and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed for her. I am currently waiting for her to call me back to discuss this upcoming Sunday. And then it's on to youth conference and girls camp. I'm learning to take one day at a time and not let myself get overwhelmed. I do what I can do.

Our fundraiser was a success. The past 4 years they've done a dinner that has progressively gotten worse as far as donations and people coming. When we first moved into the ward, they held an auction that we loved. So we opted for this route again. Low key. Not a lot of overhead. The kids, old and young, enjoyed it.

What Was Successful
Flyers: the youth delivered one to every door TWICE, one asking for donations, another was about the event; Advertise, Advertise
Baked potato bar: didn't cost hardly a thing; we asked for donations of toppings
Kids area: we charged a buck for the hot dog and popcorn and movie

Bake sale: always a huge hit; we didn't offer dessert with the meal so hopefully they would spend their money on treats

Service auction: I almost think people enjoy bidding on services more than stuff; we made it more into a help wanted board

Things To Do Differently
Drinks: I think we could make more money by charging for drinks with the meal
Items donated: limit the amount to maybe two, three, four things tops; we don't need everybody's junk
Carnival: maybe try a kids carnival where they buy tickets for games
Solicit: ask local businesses for items
Bidding: everything must have a minimum bid; bid sheets could be half the size; table for things that could be bought immediately
Service auction items: tear off bottom portion of service flyer to send home with whomever donated the service so they know who won their service

Super-dee-duper-dee Busy

I think I can actually take a breather, starting in about 2 hours, after choir practice.

Life has just been slightly chaotic these past couple of weeks. Nobody told me how time consuming this calling can be. :)

Two weeks ago was our Young Women in Excellence program. I've got a good bunch of ladies who help make things come together.

Volleyball ended with us making it to region and spending an entire Saturday morning playing. Unfortunately our ward does not have enough girls who actually like to play so we are combined with several wards: Lake Point, Captains Island, Bayshore, and Mill Pond. Our fearless team captain Meredith and crew came up with a team chant on the way home one night that involved all the wards names: Legendary People Create Inconceivable Breaded Mushrooms.

And then last week was a local tradition called The Over 60s Dinner where the youth of our ward feed the people of Lake Point who are over 60. Flyers had to be delivered, a menu created, food prepared, a program to put on, and clean up afterwards.

Oh and I also volunteered to fill in and play the organ today on a farewell Sunday. It's only been twenty years and I didn't do so hot. I began playing and quickly realized I needed more sound. So I fumbled with the pedals and pretty much massacred the beginning of the opening hymn until I got the sound right. Only then was the sacrament hymn too loud and I quit playing all together as I fumbled through that. I made a decision not to touch the pedals on the last song. I didn't care if it was too loud or too quiet.

And did I mention it's been a crazy couple of weeks of subbing. Sickness has hit teachers and subs and because of the shortage, everyone who can work has been needed.

We were also down one vehicle as our van sat in the shop getting some repair work done.

Erik had basketball tryouts for the high school freshman team. Sadly he did not make it. He didn't even make the first cut, so he's been pretty bummed about that this week.

Can't wait to see what this week will be bring.

I've joined THAT bandwagon

I've gone digital and gotten me my first cell phone. Actually when I met with the bishop and accepted the call to be Young Women's president, I told him, "I guess it's time I get that cell phone." He simply replied that it was up to me but that is how the girls communicated a lot.

And he was right.

It's actually been quite fun to figure it out. I've added a few apps. At first I was only wanting a basic phone, none of this smartness stuff. But when I finally narrowed down the plan and who I was going to go with, the phone I ended up with was a basic smart phone. It's simply a go phone where I pay for the minutes I use. Not having a data plan has been wonderful. I don't feel the constant need to update and check in because I don't want to pay the data fees.

This last Sunday I gave a lesson to the girls on digital media. I started off with these quotes by President Kimball and President Eyring:

In 1974 President Kimball said, “I believe that the Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions of which we laymen have hardly had a glimpse” (When the World Will Be Converted, Ensign, Oct. 1974).

The spiritual strength sufficient for our youth to stand firm just a few years ago will soon not be enough. Many of them are remarkable in their spiritual maturity and in their faith. But even the best of them are sorely tested. And the testing will become more severe. . . . The flow has become a flood and soon will be a torrent. It will become a torrent of sounds and sights and sensations that invite temptation and offend the Spirit of God. It is getting harder and may soon be frighteningly difficult. --Henry B. Eyring, August 2001, CES Symposium

Then we listed all the latest and coolest inventions of the last 10 years which revealed that a torrent of sights and sounds and sensations have truly washed over this generation like never before in the history of world. The world is brighter, louder, and busier.

1993 - Email
1997 - Netflix, growth started in 2002
1999 - Blogger, became mainstream in 2004
2000s - Hi-Def TV, Home theater systems
2001, January - Wikipedia
2001, October - 1^st iPod
2003, October - 1^st Social Networking site (MySpace)
2004, February - Facebook
2004, May - Sony PSP
2005, February - YouTube
2006, July - Twitter
2006, November - Nintendo Wii
2007, June - iPhone
2010, March - Pinterest

2010, April - iPad 
October 2010 - Instagram

Internet: It only communicated 1% of the information flowing through two-way telecommunications networks in the year 1993, already 51% by 2000, and more than 97% of the telecommunicated information by 2007

Texting: November 1995; in December 2009, 286 million US subscribers sent 152.7 billion text messages per month, for an average of 534 messages per subscriber per month

I showed them a video clip from Elder Ballard's CES Devotional in May where he addresses the concerns of digital media. He posed a question to the audience, "Do you have any personal quiet time?" He even brought up the use of scriptures on digital devices which is something I've been struggling with. But he mentioned that the church keeps up with the changing technology and that it's okay to use your scriptures in such a manner but to put your phone on airplane mode so that you won't be tempted to look at the notification that pops up. So I told the girls that if an apostle says it's okay than it's okay but that we should try to follow the guidelines. However, I personally like my old paper scriptures I can mark.

We discussed the need to BE wherever they are. If they are hanging with friends, give them your attention. If you are on a date, give your date your attention. If you're sitting in a church Sunday class, give your teacher your attention. Don't let your cell phone be a distraction.

I challenged them to a digital fast for the next four weeks. This means no digital media (except for school work) for a 24-hour period, one day each week. If they do it, we're going to break our "fast" by having a night out at the movies.

Oh my, did they balk at that. They for sure think they can't do it, but I know they can. I tried it on Monday and found I sure got a lot more accomplished without the distractions of the computer. I loved the quiet and know that the Lord wants to share great things with us, but he needs a quite channel to work with.

There is such a need to make time to be still, to pause, to reflect, to meditate, to ponder, to pray, to really listen. And you know what? It's hard. It's hard to just BE, to just sit and do nothing. The Lord has blessed us with so many great technologies to help do his work on the earth; however "we must be careful not to fall victim to their destructive side. We must not only avoid the base and degrading content some sources contain, but we must also recognize when electronic distractions keep us from quieter, more significant uses of our time. We must guard against becoming so attached to digital devices that we become detached from God." (Scott D. Whiting, March 2010 Ensign)

I'm alive

I just completed my first mutual activity last night and I think it was a pretty fun evening.

Wait.

I didn't tell you.

My life has been spinning out of control the past couple of weeks, but I'm slowly making my way to the eye of the storm where it's calm and controlled.

Remember this post singing-by-seat-of-my-pants? Well, I was right. Changes came.

But you know, I actually knew this was coming since January. Sometimes you get those thoughts and feelings as a way for the Lord to prepare you.

However, I was still caught off guard sitting in the bishop's office.

You see I thought I was going to be Relief Society president. But then I got called to go to girls camp and knew they wouldn't redo the presidency until after girls camp.

At girls camp the bishop asked me a question that made me think, "Okay, maybe Young Women president." So I started gearing up for that.

Either way, I knew something BIG was headed my way.

When I was called to meet with the bishop, they still hadn't reorganized the Relief Society and I knew it had to happen before the Young Women's organization was redone.

So as I sat waiting I was back to thinking it was Relief Society president.

This is where I was caught off guard, when I was asked to serve as the Young Women President in our ward. My brain had to switch gears pretty quickly.

Anyway, it's been a crazy ride the past couple of weeks as I try to sort through all the logistics of how this organization is run.

I have not been in Young Women's since I was a girl. That's over 20 years ago! And it is all so different now.

I'm going to love it. I already love those girls and am so glad I had that chance to go to camp before getting called to this position.

Stayed tuned. Life just got a whole lot busier.