New Beginnings (March 3, 2010)

Ellie was welcomed into Young Women with our annual New Beginnings program! I'm pretty sure she can hardly wait for it to be official 9 days from today.

When It's Time for Change, You Have to Rearrange

Last Sunday (August 30), I was set apart as the new YW president in the ward. Due to the new massive responsibility and time commitment that comes not only with the call, but also with the upcoming Joseph production and my current publishing project, I have decided to postpone my return to BYU. Although I started the first class, if I don't complete it by November 1, then my conditional acceptance to the program is rejected and I can reapply at a later time.

The week between when I was called and sustained was brutal. I haven't had panic attacks like that for a long time. As I pondered and studied and learned and read, I was overwhelmed with fear. Now we all know that faith and fear cannot operate at the same time. The nightmares of booing and opposing votes were nightly. The fears of disappointment were rampant in my mind. And then, Sunday came, and it was time. I was shaking so hard I was sure people could see my heart beating out of my chest. We had a teary and moving testimony meeting in our young women class and then I was set apart. As the prayer was said, the nonsensical fears and worries I'd been struggling with fell by the wayside. Although still in shock, I've been able to accept that the Lord must want me here for a reason.

The former YW presidency

Sec: Carma Williams, 2nd C: me, President: MarChelle Oldham, 1st C: Lori Gray

The new YW presidency

Sec: Carma Williams, President: me, 1st C: Marie Gutierrez (one of my former YCLs), 2nd C: Carol Wolfert

I have started a new blog that you are welcome to follow: http://lakeridge8thyw.blogspot.com/. The Beehive Blog will probably be discontinued unless my counselor wants to keep it up. Otherwise, I've just started one that everyone can post on.

Death on a Popsicle Stick

Sorry for the lack of updates. This has been a very busy week. We had our New Beginnings (Young Women) on Wednesday. My niece and class president, Emma, did a great job planning it. There's something about a simple and short program that has impact. I think sometimes we get caught up in trying to do something that is grandiose with an in-depth spiritual meaning. What I found through my years planning camp and working with cub scouts (kind of two ends of the spectrum) is that it's about keeping things simple. One of the young women commented to their mother that they really enjoyed this meeting because it was short and she didn't become bored through it. I think that's a great compliment. Much kudos, again, to Emma for her foresight and great conducting of the meeting.

With that over, I moved on to helping Ellie who developed croup. (I heard that barking cough, sat up in bed and thought, "Oh no. Who has it?" Her doctor was surprised because kids her age typically don't get croup, but then again, nothing in our family is typical.) John stayed home sick on Friday while I ran back and forth to work, the doctor, the school, etc. By Friday night, I felt it hitting me and just thought, "I don't have time for this!" I quickly started on Nyquil and have been keeping up with Dayquil and Nyquil since. (And no, that picture is not of me. No cameras allowed right now.)

Yesterday was a full day with a stake meeting in the morning, mini-enrichment class immediately after, and then a break where I could lay in bed before a ward dinner that evening. I got up to help Ian prepare a fruit tray for his group Sweethearts dinner/dance date and made dinner for the family. I came home from the dinner/auction and took my cold/flu meds and hit the sack. Today is ward conference and with the rest of the presidency out of town, I need to go to "represent." I've taken my meds for the day, checked on how everyone is doing (half will be staying home today), and enjoyed a long HOT shower.

I've been reflecting on the time I took off while I had and recovered from my neck surgery. It's so interesting to me that I can be still and do nothing for something like that (heavy duty drugs probably influenced that) while with a swimming head, achy body, etc., I just kind of say, "Oh well. Got to keep going." How is it that I feel guilty about one and not the other? Maybe it's a matter of weighing the seriousness of them or just putting my trust in the Lord and saying, "You know I can't be down right now. Help me through." Maybe it's just being silly. I don't know, but I've found that when I'm doing what I should be, regardless of pain or illness, I'm bouyed up through as long as I need to be.

A special thanks to Diane Van Dyke who gave me some of the leftovers from the dinner. That means I don't have to worry about making dinner tonight and can just come home and crash!

It's Official!

Today I was called as the second counselor in the Young Women's presidency, over the Beehives. (Finally, a life long dream to be called into YW--and stake camp director didn't count since it was nearly all administrative.)

Griffin put it all together throughout sacrament meeting, finally reaching over and asking, "Does this mean you're going to camp again?" I told him I was, bracing for the worst, and his response was, "Who will pick me up from school?" I said, "You'll be out of school by then." And then, these precious words: "Oh, okay." And that was it. With age comes wisdom, no matter what age you are.

I think I'll start a new blog for them. Come see it at http://busyasthebeehives.blogspot.com!