About 9 years ago I was serving as Young Women's president in my ward. We had a large youth program with about 40 young women and because we had so many young women, we had 13 young women leaders. In addition to loving and caring about each young women in my ward, it required a constant effort to keep the leaders involved, attending activities, and focused on our goals. To be honest, my biggest complaint at the time was the lack of dedication of a few of the leaders. During the 4 years I was Young Women president I had some incredible women who served with me, however there were always at least two leaders, at any given time, who had trouble seeing that the young women's program was about the YOUNG WOMEN, and not themselves. It was a source of frustration to me, and something to which I didn't give a lot of leeway. I was definitely not a perfect leader, but I loved the girls and worked hard to see that the program ran to their benefit.
One Sunday we were getting things set up for opening exercises. My first counselor came into the room, and I looked at her and said "We have a new MiaMaid, she is right over there. Will you go meet her and get her contact information?" The counselor turned on her heel, walked out the door and down the hall to the bishop's office, where I later learned, she asked to be released.
When the bishop came to talk to me about it after church, he told me she was offended that I didn't care more about her. She said that I didn't ask about her or her family, that I didn't take into consideration what was going on in her life. The bishop reassured me that my first concern was and should be the young women and the YW program. To be frank, I was so self assured that I was in the right, and that it was her problem--not mine!--that I didn't waste too much more thought about her being released.
I began praying for a new counselor over the next week, but wasn't receiving an answer. On the day of my regularly scheduled presidency meeting the newly released counselor showed up on my doorstep. I invited her in. She declined, holding out her young women binder. While I was not really sad she was leaving my presidency (I know that is bad, right?), I didn't want her to feel like she was not wanted.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
How Was Your Day?
"Hey Gavin. Welcome home. How was school today?"
"Good, fun." he says.
"How did you feel?" I inquire because this morning he told me he was sick and shouldn't have to go.
"Good, flexible" he answers nonchalantly.
"Rrrreally? Flexible, huh?" I ask.
"Yeah. I don't know what flexible means. I think it means fast."
"Good, fun." he says.
"How did you feel?" I inquire because this morning he told me he was sick and shouldn't have to go.
"Good, flexible" he answers nonchalantly.
"Rrrreally? Flexible, huh?" I ask.
"Yeah. I don't know what flexible means. I think it means fast."
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
If you wanted to get away and recharge...
Shawn is taking a trip to visit Southern Europe. It is absolutely what he would choose to do if he had time and money and ability--which he obviously does. :) Since he bought his ticket, I have been wondering what I would go do for a month--if I had the opportunity. I am honestly not sure. It made me curious about what others might do as well. (That's where you come in.)
I pose this question to you; If you could leave your responsibilities for a month, and escape somewhere--simply to relax and recharge yourself, where would you go? What would you do? Who would you go with? Would you go for a month? Or a couple weeks? Would you vacation? Do a service thing? Sit on the beach? Go on a cruise? Ride down the Nile? Hike the mountains? Repel in Yellowstone? I am formulating ideas....help me.
I pose this question to you; If you could leave your responsibilities for a month, and escape somewhere--simply to relax and recharge yourself, where would you go? What would you do? Who would you go with? Would you go for a month? Or a couple weeks? Would you vacation? Do a service thing? Sit on the beach? Go on a cruise? Ride down the Nile? Hike the mountains? Repel in Yellowstone? I am formulating ideas....help me.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Gavin's YouTube How to Video
Gavin has been playing Mine Craft with his cousins (Thank you Uncle Kevin). During this past week he has been a little frustrated by his inability to complete some tasks in the game. So I googled "Mine Craft How to catch a Wolf" and hundreds of how-to videos popped up on YouTube. We have watched several of them and he is getting to be a regular student of Mine Craft and YouTube.
This morning he decided he wanted to make his own how-to video. After ruling out several topics, this is the one he chose to make. Watch and learn....no seriously don't do what he does.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
A Little Voice
When I was Relief Society(RS) president, I had a couple very personal spiritual experiences. I hesitate to share them, because they are sacred to me. But I have been thinking about sharing this one for a little bit, and I think perhaps it is time. So here goes.
I had been the RS president for over a year. I had settled into a rhythm where I attended my meetings, delegated and then followed through. For the most part, things went as planned and were completed in a timely manner. But there was the ever present "visiting" that never seemed to get finished. It didn't matter if I had visited three days during the week, it was inevitable that when I attended my Sunday meeting with the bishop, EQ pres, and HP group leader, there would be someone I had not visited that needed my attention. (The missionaries were a constant source of information for us.)
We had more than 50 apartments in our ward and about 115 women total in the Relief Society. There was an unending list of people to meet with every month. Either a member would let us know that someone had moved in, a visiting teacher reported something for us to look into, the missionaries would be tracting and find a part member family, or the bishop would ask us to go meet with someone.
I wouldn't say that I necessarily put off doing the visiting, but would prioritize other things above it. Visiting teaching conference, a retreat, the broadcast dinner, lessons, 15 enrichment groups, food orders, dinners, VT assignments and funerals, they all took up a portion of my time. There was no way to ever get it all done(kinda like the laundry, no matter how much you do there will always be more tomorrow).
I would visit at least 2 sisters each Sunday with one of my counselors, and other sisters in my ward during the week as I heard about things going on in their lives, and felt prompted to do so. Most of my visits were the kind where you just show up on their doorstep, and were pretty informal. "I wanted to see how you were doing, and give you a hug."
After I was asked to visit someone, that person would remain on my "visiting list" until I was able to talk with them. Every Sunday we would try to visit sisters in their homes, and then as time progressed and the list lengthened, we would add a day or two in the week, to also do some visits.
I went to my meeting one particular Sunday and the bishop reminded me that I had not gotten in to meet this new family in the apartments. I promised the bishop I would visit them that week. My counselor and I went after church that day, and as we had experienced a few previous times, no one answered. A day or two later we decided to try again, and went in the evening. Still no luck.
A couple weeks later we tried again mid-week. This time a little girl answered the door when we knocked. I introduced myself as a member of the relief society of the 4th ward and asked for her mom. The little girl said she was home and invited us in. When inside we were made aware that the mom was not pleased that we had been granted access. However, she motioned us further into the apartment and to the kitchen table where we sat down.
I told the mom that I had been given her name as someone who was a member, and we simply wanted to meet them and welcome them to the ward. The woman--let's say her name was Sara-- told us that her and her husband had moved in about 4 months ago. Sara worked at a doctor's office on the weekends, and that her husband worked the day shifts. She told us that they both were members, gave us their birthdays, and phone numbers. Sara went on to explain that their oldest daughter had turned 8 last year and had been asking if the family could go to church. They had intended to bring her but with work, and not knowing the ward schedule they hadn't done it.
I then turned to look at the almost 9 year-old little girl who had been sitting at the table with us. She was a cute girl with bright eyes. I smiled a reassuring smile and then something odd happened.
I had been the RS president for over a year. I had settled into a rhythm where I attended my meetings, delegated and then followed through. For the most part, things went as planned and were completed in a timely manner. But there was the ever present "visiting" that never seemed to get finished. It didn't matter if I had visited three days during the week, it was inevitable that when I attended my Sunday meeting with the bishop, EQ pres, and HP group leader, there would be someone I had not visited that needed my attention. (The missionaries were a constant source of information for us.)
We had more than 50 apartments in our ward and about 115 women total in the Relief Society. There was an unending list of people to meet with every month. Either a member would let us know that someone had moved in, a visiting teacher reported something for us to look into, the missionaries would be tracting and find a part member family, or the bishop would ask us to go meet with someone.
I wouldn't say that I necessarily put off doing the visiting, but would prioritize other things above it. Visiting teaching conference, a retreat, the broadcast dinner, lessons, 15 enrichment groups, food orders, dinners, VT assignments and funerals, they all took up a portion of my time. There was no way to ever get it all done(kinda like the laundry, no matter how much you do there will always be more tomorrow).
I would visit at least 2 sisters each Sunday with one of my counselors, and other sisters in my ward during the week as I heard about things going on in their lives, and felt prompted to do so. Most of my visits were the kind where you just show up on their doorstep, and were pretty informal. "I wanted to see how you were doing, and give you a hug."
After I was asked to visit someone, that person would remain on my "visiting list" until I was able to talk with them. Every Sunday we would try to visit sisters in their homes, and then as time progressed and the list lengthened, we would add a day or two in the week, to also do some visits.
I went to my meeting one particular Sunday and the bishop reminded me that I had not gotten in to meet this new family in the apartments. I promised the bishop I would visit them that week. My counselor and I went after church that day, and as we had experienced a few previous times, no one answered. A day or two later we decided to try again, and went in the evening. Still no luck.
A couple weeks later we tried again mid-week. This time a little girl answered the door when we knocked. I introduced myself as a member of the relief society of the 4th ward and asked for her mom. The little girl said she was home and invited us in. When inside we were made aware that the mom was not pleased that we had been granted access. However, she motioned us further into the apartment and to the kitchen table where we sat down.
I told the mom that I had been given her name as someone who was a member, and we simply wanted to meet them and welcome them to the ward. The woman--let's say her name was Sara-- told us that her and her husband had moved in about 4 months ago. Sara worked at a doctor's office on the weekends, and that her husband worked the day shifts. She told us that they both were members, gave us their birthdays, and phone numbers. Sara went on to explain that their oldest daughter had turned 8 last year and had been asking if the family could go to church. They had intended to bring her but with work, and not knowing the ward schedule they hadn't done it.
I then turned to look at the almost 9 year-old little girl who had been sitting at the table with us. She was a cute girl with bright eyes. I smiled a reassuring smile and then something odd happened.
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