Travel and delays :)

Have you ever read this?  I've read it before.  I've seen it on one of my friends Facebook pages.  She is the mother of some special needs children, and reading it, I could totally understand the analogy.  I read it a long time ago!

Today I was out to lunch with a friend, and she related it to singles or mid-singles.  Every little girl grows up planning her wedding and what kind of wife she is going to be, and how many kids she's going to have.  She knows their names, the order of their birth, the things that they're going to do, etc.  Like in the link, the little girl is  planning on being in Italy by the time she is 20, at least in our LDS culture.  She's going to do all she's supposed to growing up, and then things will fall into place the way she's pictured her whole 20 years.

Sometimes you're on a trip, and you have a delayed flight, and your plans vary from the original plan.  My friend's husband is a pilot, and they get to fly all over the world.  They had a layover in New Delhi, and were stuck there for three days.  It messed up their lives for those three days!  They missed work, they had commitments that had to wait, they were just there.  They could've sat around the airport waiting, stressing and getting upset over things that were totally out of their control.  Instead they decided to take the opportunity to go out and see all of the amazing things they would miss out on, if they stayed in the airport.

None of us that are in this state of Mid-Single-ness would have chosen this layover.  Whether it's someone that has never been married or someone whose marriage ended, this is not the way we planned.  I remember attending an Evening of Excellence in our stake, as a leader, and the speaker said, "I graduated from seminary, I earned my young women medallion, and because I did things the right way I was blessed with my wonderful husband.  If you do these things, you'll be blessed in the same way."  I wanted to stand up and protest!  "I did those things! Don't make things sound like this is how it always happens!"  One day one of those young women will not have the fairytale ending at 20, and have to sit and wonder what she did wrong or what's wrong with her.

So, on my trip to Italy, I've had a layover in Spain.  Instead of sitting in the airport waiting for my connecting flight to Italy, I've stepped outside of the airport and been able to meet some amazing people, learn lots of amazing things, and see the beauties that are there. Of course, I am still anxiously awaiting my flight to Italy, but I'm enjoying my time in Spain!

Love this quote I found on Pinterest via TheDatingDivas.com

Today my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and many other people fasted in behalf of a young lady and her family that lives in their neighborhood.

I can't even imagine what this family is going through, as they lost their daughter and sister today.

Watching Ford fasting while all the other kids were eating all of the fun treats my mom brought for them, I was so proud of him. As I kept thinking of the circumstances of this girl, I kept thinking about how her life would've been had she survived, but I knew if it was God's will, she would survive, and that family would've been able to deal with it. At the same time, I knew that if it was His will that she pass away, that although it's going to be so difficult to get through. They'll be watched over and blessed through this difficult time.

So many people go through such difficult things, and wonder how they'll ever get through it. Prayers going out for that family that they will be able to feel the peace and love of the Savior during this and the difficult future ahead.

Still

I'm thankful for the many experiences I've been able to have. I began the week feeling overwhelmed. I had a lot on my plate, and places I'd rather be, and people I'd rather be with. There were moments I had to break down what I was doing, with a "I can make it through this, it'll only last 4 more hours", etc. 

Today I felt this amazing peace and very grateful for what I have been through and who I've met on my way. There was this moment where I just felt this still peace. So grateful!

Every once in a while you have these moments, of peace or joy or stillness, that need to be recognized!
At the last MidSingles conference I did, I had many moments like this. I never really have said much about it this time. I was amazed at how my committee and I were guided into planning things that fit the transition for the MidSingles in the area. Our bishop had so many connections with the presenters, that it was meant to be! Today while at work a song came on the radio that made me think of that week. It was actually a song I danced to, and it brought such great memories. All the events of that week, and the people I got to spend time with, were great! I'm anxious for more opportunities like that, and hope to have more chances to get to know some of those people more.

I'm thankful for the still moments in my life!