Some people may file this under the "What Were They Thinking?" category, but here I go: I was called, sustained, and set apart to be the Young Women's President in my ward yesterday.
The best response I had all day was this: As I was standing there after my name was called, waiting to be sustained, feeling the heat rise in my face and my legs shake a bit, one of the young women in our ward two rows ahead of us with a look of incredulity on her face said to me, "Did you know about this???"
Now that would be a hard pill to swallow, get a calling right over the pulpit like that. Makes me think of missionaries of yore. Those poor men, and their poor wives!
I've known for six weeks this was coming. The day I was called into the bishop's office I got a call at 8:00 a.m. from the exec. sec. "the bishop would like to see you and your husband." My initial thought was that the bishop was checking up on us. He knew we'd been through a rough patch and had said he wanted to talk with us a few weeks earlier, so I assumed we were going in for a regular old chit-chat. Then the thought came, he wants to talk to me and it has something to do with Young Women. But still, I denied denied denied. I'm good at that. But when the talk turned to me and my work schedule and my life responsibilities, I could see it coming. But even then, I didn't see THIS coming. I mean, are you sure? I'm not exactly a pillar of hugs, lovey-ness, and crafts. You may remember a couple posts back....I'm not a camper!
What does this all mean? It means I get myself some fantastic counselors and a rockin' secretary and go to work. Now that's something I CAN do. And I'm pretty good at delegation. And I'm super super excited to earn my own Young Woman Medallion (you see, I never earned mine all those years ago), and I get to surround myself with some amazingly fantastic girls whose personalities and testimonies amaze and humble me.
If I can only overcome the first hurdle......which is the mass amount of stink eye I got as the YW were saying goodbye to their old leaders. Yikes! This isn't my fault. I swear I didn't campaign for this. In fact, I always said I'd probably stink at being in YW. I just assumed I wasn't the type. The type always seemed to fit into a certain body mold which I broke through in the 10th grade. And the type always seemed to have perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect lives. Perfect craftiness, perfectly done nails, perfect testimonies and perfect make-up.
Me, with my mascara that streaks, my hair that hangs flat, my pantyhose (if I even wear them) with runs going from waist to toe, my size {cough, cough}, my imperfect life, my over-opinionated self....
Where will you file this? Which category does this go under?
For me this one doesn't get filed yet. This one is a WIP (work in progress). This one will assuredly try me and test me. And fill me up, further than I've ever been filled before. Because that is how the gospel works.
I know my young women, can I call them that yet? My YW? Will they let me? I know my young women probably won't ever read this blog, but if you're out there one day, wondering how I felt about this most monumental occasions in my life, know this:
I love the Lord. I know He lives. I know His gospel has been restored. And I will do everything in my power to see that you have a desire to stay on the path that will lead you back to him, via the temple. I will do all I can to support your righteous parents in their your desires for your eternal future.
And, we are gonna have a blast! So brace yourselves, this ride may get bumpy.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The School Bell Ringeth
School Updates:
The Boy: This story could go on and on. As many times as you've heard me rant and rave about SEPs, this one was different. This SEP was the first time I ever felt like maybe the teacher isn't a good match for my child. As we walked in, the boy was telling me how many times he has had to "pull a card," which essentially means he had some sort of behavior problem during class. Now, my boy has pulled a few cards in his day, but nothing like the amount he was reporting to me. I listened, tried to explain to the boy that there are times when talking during class is inappropriate. But, the more he described his experiences, the more my hackles were raised.
I went into the classroom and couldn't even look the teacher in the eye. Why? Because she was intimidating, even for me. She was about my age. But, she just came out of the gate so fast and so stern. I left feeling small, truly I did. This year, I need to pay close attention to the boy. Make sure he is getting the TLC he needs. He is a sensitive boy with a heart of gold. If the teacher makes a sweeping request, "Anyone talking right now, pull a card!" and my boy will go do it, because he's honest like that. Unfortunately, not all children respond the same way as my boy. So, he is constantly feeling berated and low in the classroom. Like I said, I gotta keep on eye on that.
The girl: This paragraph will be significantly shorter. Why? Here is the reason. All A's and one A-. I want to hug her and squeeze her and prance around showing off her grades for all the world to see. Her dedication so far is amazing. Go Girl GO!!!!
The husband: Yes, if I'm going to talk about school, the husband gets a shout out. He decided to enroll again. He's going to pursue a degree in counseling, an LPC to be exact. He will be in class for six weeks, and then he'll receive either a stamp of approval from some kind of LPC experienced round table, or a stamp of denial. If approved, he'll be in school for 2 years, then go into an internship for three more years. He's feeling good, feeling strong, feeling like this is the right pursuit. And, as his wife, I stand behind my man. Go husband , GO!!!
The Boy: This story could go on and on. As many times as you've heard me rant and rave about SEPs, this one was different. This SEP was the first time I ever felt like maybe the teacher isn't a good match for my child. As we walked in, the boy was telling me how many times he has had to "pull a card," which essentially means he had some sort of behavior problem during class. Now, my boy has pulled a few cards in his day, but nothing like the amount he was reporting to me. I listened, tried to explain to the boy that there are times when talking during class is inappropriate. But, the more he described his experiences, the more my hackles were raised.
I went into the classroom and couldn't even look the teacher in the eye. Why? Because she was intimidating, even for me. She was about my age. But, she just came out of the gate so fast and so stern. I left feeling small, truly I did. This year, I need to pay close attention to the boy. Make sure he is getting the TLC he needs. He is a sensitive boy with a heart of gold. If the teacher makes a sweeping request, "Anyone talking right now, pull a card!" and my boy will go do it, because he's honest like that. Unfortunately, not all children respond the same way as my boy. So, he is constantly feeling berated and low in the classroom. Like I said, I gotta keep on eye on that.
The girl: This paragraph will be significantly shorter. Why? Here is the reason. All A's and one A-. I want to hug her and squeeze her and prance around showing off her grades for all the world to see. Her dedication so far is amazing. Go Girl GO!!!!
The husband: Yes, if I'm going to talk about school, the husband gets a shout out. He decided to enroll again. He's going to pursue a degree in counseling, an LPC to be exact. He will be in class for six weeks, and then he'll receive either a stamp of approval from some kind of LPC experienced round table, or a stamp of denial. If approved, he'll be in school for 2 years, then go into an internship for three more years. He's feeling good, feeling strong, feeling like this is the right pursuit. And, as his wife, I stand behind my man. Go husband , GO!!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
She Camps!
Ok, that might be overstating things....just a bit. However, our family joined some good friends this weekend at a place in Fairview canyon and went a'camping. Hi ho, the merry-o, and all that.
Now, did you know I'm not a camper? Did you know that the entire time I grew up my parents never, ever took our family camping? When father's/son's would come up, my dad would entice the boys away from camping by luring them to a baseball game instead. And girl's camp? Nope. I went one year when we lived in Utah...but when we got back to California, I just wasn't interested. In fact, a lot of years when I'd go pick up my sisters at the church on a Saturday afternoon at the end of their girl's camp stay, I'd joke around with the mothers that were there that our idea of camping was a Motel 6.
Here's the deal: I like to shower. I do. I like being clean, doing my hair, and putting on make-up. I like flushing toilets. I like being comfortable at night, and not having a rock in my back, or be frozen solid when I "wake up" which is a complete joke, because I just don't sleep AT ALL while camping.
So, off we went to Fairview. But the clincher is this-Our friends have a camper. We got to sleep inside where it turns out, there was heat! and a bed! and a toilet! and a shower! Not to mention a kitchen and a refrigerator.
I was warm and able to flush a toilet! Ahhhhhhhh...............
And we did my very favorite activity of all time. Activity is actually a misnomer. We did nothing. Teehee....I love that!
My friend actually warned me that she and her husband might be boring while we were out. I was a-okay with that. I had a great time doing nothing. It rocked. And I can see why people go camping, but only with a camper! and with great friends!
Now, did you know I'm not a camper? Did you know that the entire time I grew up my parents never, ever took our family camping? When father's/son's would come up, my dad would entice the boys away from camping by luring them to a baseball game instead. And girl's camp? Nope. I went one year when we lived in Utah...but when we got back to California, I just wasn't interested. In fact, a lot of years when I'd go pick up my sisters at the church on a Saturday afternoon at the end of their girl's camp stay, I'd joke around with the mothers that were there that our idea of camping was a Motel 6.
Here's the deal: I like to shower. I do. I like being clean, doing my hair, and putting on make-up. I like flushing toilets. I like being comfortable at night, and not having a rock in my back, or be frozen solid when I "wake up" which is a complete joke, because I just don't sleep AT ALL while camping.
So, off we went to Fairview. But the clincher is this-Our friends have a camper. We got to sleep inside where it turns out, there was heat! and a bed! and a toilet! and a shower! Not to mention a kitchen and a refrigerator.
I was warm and able to flush a toilet! Ahhhhhhhh...............
And we did my very favorite activity of all time. Activity is actually a misnomer. We did nothing. Teehee....I love that!
My friend actually warned me that she and her husband might be boring while we were out. I was a-okay with that. I had a great time doing nothing. It rocked. And I can see why people go camping, but only with a camper! and with great friends!
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