Changes

The last few months have been full of pending changes and weird transitions. My emotions have been all over the place! One day I'd be so anxious for it to be done, and the next I'd be dreading it.

As you probably know I've been leading this group of MidSingles, ages 31-45, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for about 2 1/2 years. It has been an amazing period in my life full of great experiences and extremely trying experiences. All of which have made me into who I am today. I've been released from my job there, and I've had mixed feelings about it, but I know that it's time, and there's something new ahead for me. I just don't know what, and that is part of the mixed emotions.

The transition has been going from what I've been working on, to being merged into a new MidSingles ward, which is an answer to many prayers. I was out to dinner with a friend the other night, and we were talking about these transitions. He came from a different ward, and hadn't participated in my stuff before. He kept saying he didn't even know where I was coming from, and doesn't fully understand my emotions. I've been able to be involved with so many midsingles with various situations and backgrounds, that these transitions worry me for the ones that are feeling left out.

I've had a lot of time to reflect on things that have happened over the last few years, and I'm thankful for that. Between two Sundays I saw every guy I've dated in the last three years. Weird! Through that I was able to reflect on the changes that I'd gone through because of them. I found myself being grateful for all the experiences. Even though they didn't all bring positive changes with them, I'm grateful for the experiences.

Anyways, I'm grateful for all I've learned and the many wonderful people I've gotten to know! Looking forward to what's ahead! I'm sure it won't be easy, but it'll be a ride!

Christmas... The Nativity!

For the month of December, I've been studying in the New Testament.  I actually started in Luke and am in John, so I'll need to go back to Matthew and Mark.  As our Christmas devotional was coming and Mom and I were able to go to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert yesterday morning (it was a busy day!), I've been thinking about Christ's birth, and the circumstances and other people at His birth.  I'm really lucky to have the score to "Savior of the World", so I've been able to play and sing through those songs.

1.  Mary.  I can't even begin to imagine how Mary felt with all of that.  When she says, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word."-Luke 1:38  I am so amazed by her faith.  If I had just an 1/8 of that faith I would be a much better a person.  I tend to question everything, like I know I've received this answer, but I still don't see how it's going to play out, and I question it.  I've learned that I want to be more like Mary!

2.  The inn.  There Mary is about to have a baby, and Joseph is doing all he can to get her somewhere safe and clean, but there is no room in the inn or any other inn.  John Rhys-Davies was reading Luke 2 at the Tabernacle Choir concert yesterday, and as he read the part about having no room in the inn, I pondered if I ever have felt like there's no room here.  Have I ever been so sucked in on something, whether it be the busyness of life, whether this or that is going to happen, technology, etc. that I haven't let there be room in my heart for Jesus?  A few things came to mind of things I need to be better at.  How often do we not have room?  Just a thought...

3.  The shepherds. The shepherds were out there watching their flocks, for their whole lives they'd been told of the prophesies of Christ's coming to save the world.  Could you even imagine what they felt when they saw that new star shining so brightly in the sky?  Here was the sign they had been waiting for for forever!  We're so lucky to have the scriptures that we can read the prophecies, read of His life, death and resurrection, and all of the revelations since. 

4.  The star.  The star was the sign of His coming.  It was so bright, welcoming and announcing the birth of this baby that was going to be the "Light of the World".  I often think of the light that we share with each other.  Some people have this bright glow about them, sometimes the light dims, but we are all blessed with this light, and we get to share it with others.

5.  The baby.   Born in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem.  I'm so grateful for that baby!  I'm grateful that because of Him, and his atoning sacrifice that we can all be saved!  Families are forever!  He atoned for our sins, our hardships, our sadness, our happiness, our joy.  I am forever grateful and will always strive to do what He would have me do!

Watch this!

Bountiful Regional Center...

Today I went to the Bountiful Regional Center to un-decorate after last night's devotional (Thanks, Donna for your help!).  For just a few moments I was in the auditorium by myself vacuuming the stage of fake pine needles.  It was literally like three minutes or so, but in that short time my mind was able to go over the last three years of Christmas devotionals. 

The first year, I was so thrilled to be able to be a part of it!  I was anxious to help, to decorate, to sing, to do whatever I could to help someone out.  It was exciting and new!  I remembered volunteering to decorate the stage, and then being so scared I couldn't really pull it off.  Many people donated things for me to use, and I had a great schedule back then, so I was able to hand make all of these ornaments.  I spent hours, and it all ended up being wonderful!  Things were fun and exciting, and I loved it!

The second year I took on a different role in the Christmas devotional.  I still got to decorate, and added a few things to the decorations, and it looked lovely.  That year I was part of the leadership, and there was a lot of tension in the build up, and it was way more tiring!  I enjoyed the actual devotional, but the tension outweighed the beauty of the night. 

This year, I totally was not looking forward to it!  My newer role had me heading this event, there were three of us that had worked on it in the past, and one got married in November, so that left the two of us.  Anyways, there has been some amazing tension, but the evening went wonderfully!

Okay, so here's where I'm going with this.  In these three years, I've let the stress associated with this event and the work up to it, make me not be too thrilled to be putting this production on at this building. I'm sure I would've felt the same about any other building, too.  As I was vacuuming the stage, with just the hum of the vacuum, I was able to feel the Spirit so strongly!  I knew that I was cleaning the stage of a dedicated house of the Lord.  I was cleaning it for Him.  There was this peace that I felt so strongly!  I was able to ponder all of the amazing experiences I've had there, and the amazingly wonderful people that I've been able to get to know through those events. I was able to feel His love for me.  It was a humbling three minutes with many millions of thoughts about how grateful  I am for the opportunities I've been given and for the amazing friends I've been able to work with.  Thanks everyone for your help on these devotionals!