After the Savior was resurrected and returned to heaven, his disciples didn't know what to do to move forward, so they went back to fishing.  It was what they knew, what they were comfortable with.  I've been pondering this lately, a lot.  There's a great talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland check it out here! I like how he said that they were probably thinking, "What do we do now?" 

In my occasional moments of stressing about where I'm at, what I'm doing, where I'm going... You know those questions we all wonder about from time to time, I find my self thinking, "I don't want to do this anymore! It was easier when..." or having the desire to have contact with a person that isn't a part of things anymore.  You know, I want to go back to what I know, what I felt comfortable with.  It's interesting to think how far one can come to have a moment of weakness take them back to where they were. 

I'm grateful that we have the memory of things in the past, and that we can really see that we're better off than we were, but that it gives us hope of better things ahead of us!  Here's to moving forward and not dwelling on the past! 

Lessons...

Today has been a pretty crappy day!  I was sick all weekend, and didn't get to do anything (well, besides go to the ReAL game!), and I've been feeling sorry for myself!  Maybe I've been a bit overwhelmed, tired, and wanting things to happen that aren't, so I've been moody. 

Today we had a MidSingles FHE.  We played Minute to Win It with the kids that are staying at the Christmas Box House.  This has been an annual activity, and I always helped with it, I'd never had to be the one in charge.  While being sick, I didn't take the time I should have to be prepared.  So, it was here, and I was a panicky mess!  I nearly bawled at the checkout stand at Walmart after having my package of water bottles rip, and having the bottles go all over the floor.  The lady after making me tear up, said, "hey, look at the bright side, you won't have to work at opening your package."  I smiled, and there was lesson number one, there is always a bright side!

Then I got to the park, realizing that I had half of what I needed for two of the games.  The first one, I had picked up a ton of empty pop cans at a neighbors, and then I left them in the garage.  Dumb!  After I unloaded the car, I had to go buy nylons for one of the games.  There were about 4 people there when I left.  I was so worried we wouldn't have enough people.  I loved coming back, and having lots of people there.  We were ready, and I'd explained all of the games to the MidSingles, and we just had to wait for the Christmas Box kids to be there.  Some people were getting flustered and impatient, we lost some of them.  Lesson number two of the day, I could only be prepared for what my responsibilities were, and if we lost people, that was not my fault.  There was nothing I could do about things that were not in my control!  It was their choice...

The kids got there, and there were ten of them.  Each time we've had activities with them, there's always a different dynamic amongst the kids.  This time there was a younger group.  There were two boys that were older, and looked like they were going to be too tough to play with us, but they ended up having a really good time!  We played six different games.  One of the little girls came up to me and said it was the best party she'd ever been to!  So cute!  Lesson number three...  Find joy in the small stuff!  Each time one of the games ended, she'd be begging to know what the next plan was.  There was a little guy with the same name as my brother, and when I told him that, he decided he was my little buddy.  It was fun to see how creative they were in making the games work for them.  By the end of the evening, both of the tough boys came over and thanked me and shook my hand.  They were such cute little gentlemen!

Lesson number four is one that I have to learn repeatedly...  If there is some activity, event, plan that is meant to happen, it will happen.  The Lord will provide a way to get things working, even when you can't see how. 

 

People are funny!

Once upon a time, maybe like 4 or 5 years ago, I had tickets to the Tim McGraw concert.  I had planned on having my aunt come with me, but she said her husband didn't want her to drive north for a while, so then I asked a friend of mine.  She was driving up from Las Vegas, but she ended up having to buy a couple tires, and wasn't able to make it.  Then something went wrong with option number 3.  So, about 2 days before the concert I asked this guy to go with me.  He said it sounded really fun, he had to check on a couple things, and then would let me know, but he was pretty sure that it would work.  Well, he called me later that night to tell me he couldn't, because of various reasons, much of which, in my opinion, was his over thinking.  The reason I share this awkward situation from the past is what happened after he said no.  He talked to me for about 25 minutes telling me why he was so sad he wasn't going to be able to go, i.e. he'd never been to Usana, he'd like to get to know me better, he hadn't been to a concert in years, etc.  It would've been fine to say no, and then end the conversation there, instead of trying to sale me on reasons why he'd love to have come.  (As a side note, I have tickets to Tim McGraw this year, and am yet to decide who I want to have go with me!)

Fast forward to today, and the same sort of thing happened; however, not a date, the above mentioned experience is one of the many reasons I don't ask guys out!   Anyways, I had contacted this speaker/musician to do a devotional for us.  I gave her a few dates, because I find that generally one of my dates will work out for them, even if I have a specific thing I want them to present at.  Well, on Saturday, I got an email from this person's scheduler, saying how she knows how important this program is, and how one of her friends has benefited from this, and would do what she could to make sure that we'd find a date to work.  It wasn't a straight out yes, but it sounded promising.  Well, today I got an email from her, and she said that this woman would not be able to present on any of my dates, because of how booked her schedule is.  There were dates from now through the beginning of 2014.  Anyways, that would've been enough.  I totally understand how busy these talented people are in high demand, and are probably asked by thousands of people to present for them.  I'm, also, really grateful that she responded, because she could've totally ignored me.  Lots of them do!  She then went on to explain what the current presentation is about, and how it's a message that we all need, but especially these lovely midsinlges I get to serve and serve with.  Now I'm even more sad it won't work!