Jocelyn off to BYU!!

We took Jocelyn to BYU yesterday. Shawn rode up in the car with her and Gdog and I in the heavily loaded "Blue" following behind. (Gdog has named all our cars. The van is named "blue", the Porsche is "Speedy" and Jocelyn's car is "Fireball") It was a bitter sweet moment when we drove into Utah Valley and saw the Y on the mountain. It reminded me of driving into town 20+ years ago with all my fears hopes and dreams wrapped into one young excited girl.
It also reminded me of wonderful days with Jocelyn living at home with us. She was a beautiful, calm baby. She was an inquisitive, patient and caring little girl. She was a preteen with her own sense of self, determination and creativity. She was an amazing teen, studious, organized, inclusive, competitive and dependable. She is becoming an incredible adult, doing fun things, meeting unique people and forming her perspective of the world and finding her own place in it. We are so blessed to be her family.

Jocelyn had our arrival and list of tasks well planned. We first went to get her student ID. Because we were early here...others were checking into the dorms first...there was relatively no line. Then off to the bookstore. (We had prepaid online for her books, from a list generated by the computer from her class registration.) We went to the counter, Jocelyn swiped her ID and they produced a small white box with all but 2 of her class books. (One was missing because there were no more used books and we hadn't checked the "substitute" box, and the other a syllabus that had just arrived that morning.) We went to a bank of 12 computers, Jocelyn typed in her user ID and password and it automatically printed her book list and location in the bookstore. A three minute walk in the bookstore to collect the 2 items, and a 30 second wait in line and we were done here too.
Then off to the dorms. There were resident assistants there to answer questions (that Jocelyn commented you could have read on the website), give information, and keys. We proceeded to the 3rd floor, to check out her room. Her bed previously assigned and her roommate already moved in, the path was clear to begin moving Jocelyn's 20 boxes. Shawn and I spent the next 30 minutes herding Gdog and carrying all the boxes up the 3 flights of stairs and half-way down the hall to her room. Jocelyn unpacked, and unpacked and unpacked. We made the bed, created a shopping list and headed towards the Commons (formerly known as the Cannon Center) for lunch.

BYU gives a free meal to parents this day so we paid the $2 for Gdog and ventured into the brand new retro themed eating area. This was a far cry from the cafeteria that I knew as a freshman. There are 3 themed areas that prepare a rotating--very fresh-- menu. Also a dessert bar, salad bar and burrito/wrap bar. Jocelyn found a veggie wrap, Shawn an international shish-k-bob and rice, and I ate a lettuce wrap and a salad. Gdog ate fresh fruit. (No surprise there!!) Jocelyn commented that she will love eating here. The strangest discovery was that they do not serve breakfast on Sunday morning. First meal is lunch at 12 noon.....I wonder if they expect all the kids to fast every Sunday morning??

After lunch Shawn and Gdog headed to get an ethernet cable and Jocelyn and I went on a timed walk from her dorm room to her Chemistry class in the MARB building....for your information it takes 12 minutes at a good walking pace. :) We learned that the "MARB" is the Thomas Martin building....I guess MARB is short for Martin Building?? (Good to know before the first day of classes.)

Then we dropped Jocelyn off at her first meeting for Freshman Academy and went off to our own meeting. Afterward we picked her up and went out to Training Table for dinner---cheese fries...YUMMY!!! Then to Wal-mart for the last of the room supplies.

On the way back into the dorms we passed Brenna...Jocelyn's really cute roommate and I took a picture. (She's from Colorado so we already like her!!)

Then we fixed the stereo, and said a quick tearful goodbye, and we were off to the cabin. (Gavin had been asking all day to go there and was at his whits end!)

In the morning we dropped a couple things at her door and headed home to Saint George. I am not going to say that I didn't cry then....nor now....but she really is ready for this next adventure, and we are excited to be a small part of it.

And as we have taught Gavin to say when the see's the Y on the mountain......"Go Cougars!" and now "Go Jocelyn"

Relief Society President No More!

After 2 1/2 years and 3 sets of counselors, I was released from being the Green Valley 4th Ward RS President. The action is bitter/sweet. I have truly loved serving in the Relief Society. The sisters in my ward are incredible examples of love, strength, service and perseverance. It has been a busy and somewhat stressful past few years. I have never been so intimately involved in the details of so many people. The responsibility and pressure of this has been a lot to carry. But the incredible blessings, of being a part of these sisters lives, and blessings of service have been innumerable.

I have learned 2 very specific things.
First--Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us.
I had several instances where I had felt frustrated in my ability to help. Then when the things aligned and I saw how Heavenly Father had prepared the people and order of things. So much more was accomplished than I had planned for the sister. He knows us and loves us. And knows when the time is right for action.

Secondly, (and perhaps in conjunction with #1), when we are needed Heavenly Father will let us know. All that he requires from us is that we listen and obey the promptings. We cannot be everywhere doing everything, but we can be there when we are needed. And if by some chance we are not where he needs us, he WILL send someone, so that his purposes will all be fulfilled.

What a wonderful gift serving here has been. I feel as though my service as RS President was for my growth and learning. I hope I have done and learned all that he required of me.

And as Aunt Colleen counseled me, perhaps there is more service to be done, and more people I can help when I am not intimately involved in the administration and organization of all the sisters and just focus on the inspiration for individuals.

With in one minute of being released I was called to serve the Valiant 11 class. I just love these 12 kids with energy, enthusiasm, and intellect just waiting to ask the questions and soak up the knowledge. It seems like exactly the place I want to serve now. Thank Heaven that my Bishop listens to the Holy Ghost and acts upon his promptings. The timing is perfect.