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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Earth Day

This morning I had to wake up early and begin my day with a little work. Even though I'm on furlough this week. Also, another memo came out today and we will be on furlough next month too.

Faith Mickley and I jumped in the car this morning and went to The Museum of Science and Industry. We went to a presentation on the earth and that we need to reduce, reuse, and recycle. After that, we traipsed through the entire museum. The highlight of my day was going to the Toy making factory. While there you get to design your own spinning top and watch it be made from start to finish. It is even inspected to make sure that it has been made properly.

After a couple of hours, we went on another adventure. We went to the Pupuseria El Salvador and picked up pupusas. They are so yummy! Pupusas have pork and cheese in the middle with masa on the outside.

Tonight a group of us went and saw the new Disney nature movie Earth. It was absolutely amazing. James Earl Jones did a wonderful job narrating it. I highly recommend this movie.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Slacking in my Writing

I can't believe it's April and I haven't written on my blog in a couple of months.

February 17th I went to the Jason Mraz concert in Dekalb, IL with Jillian and Carl. It was a wonderful concert, but on my way home I started reflecting on my life and where I was at and where I would be going in this next year. I began pouring out my soul to the Lord, and told him that if my work here in Chicago was done, to allow me to leave the area and be of more use somewhere else. Honestly, I was quite frustrated, especially with the current economic situation and my current employment.

The week continued and whenever something big is about to happen in my life, I freak out and I'm a bit annoyed with the change. Sometimes I don't even know what's coming, but get a feeling of uneasiness.

Sunday, February 22nd, I took Chelsea Barnett to the airport fairly early. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep the night before, so I thought I would take a nap at the church before my meetings. I decided I needed to read my scriptures, so I went into the nursing mother's room, where it was quite and began to read. I then read my patriarchal blessing and as I read the words of my blessing, "Relief Society President" came into my mind as clear as day. My first thought, "I've definitely lost it, and I need to get more sleep!" The feeling continued and I felt quite overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for the sisters' in the ward.

After sacrament meeting, the Bishop called me into his office and he extended the calling of Relief Society President to me. All I could get out was, "Ok, Ok....Ok" Then the tears started streaming down my face from the overwhelming task ahead of me. I then relayed the experience I had had only hours earlier. He then told me that that is when they as a Bishopric had determined I would be the next Relief Society President.

The rest of church was pretty much a blur.

While sitting in relief society, the lesson was about lifting where you stand. Our closing hymn was, I'll go where you want me to go." I purposely sat in the back and tears again streamed down my face.

That afternoon, I went home and fell asleep on the couch. When I awoke, I asked my mom if I was just dreaming that I was the new relief society president. She said, "No, you still are going to be the next relief society president." I asked my father for a blessing. The most poignant part was when I was told to not worry about my temporal needs and that He would take care of them, but that I needed to focus on the spiritual things and my new calling.

I know that the Lord is mindful of each one of us and our needs. He will not leave us comfortless. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve and grow in ways I never thought possible.

The following Sunday I was called as Relief Society President. That day was filled with quite a few different tasks and meeting with quite a few of the sisters. We had a break the fast meal at the Stake Center and then a fireside. I was so overwhelmed. I was about to leave and Chelsea said she needed to talk to me. We walked away from the group that we were with and she said that she had been fasting that day to find someone to live in her house after she left. She told me she knew the moment I was called, that I was to live in her house. I was like ok, let me think about it. That was March 1st and by March 11th, I was completely moved into my new home. It has a beautiful back yard, and a wonderful area for entertaining the ward and my friends.