Changes

It is officially Fall. I love this time of the year. I love the way the air smells (like football games and jackets), I love the colors (as you can tell from my new paint choices down below), and I love the CHANGES (school, wardrobe, temperature).

President Monson said in General Conference last week that nothing is as constant as change. Ain't that the truth. With the economy trying to find it's balance, politicians making a$$es of themselves to get my vote, and with some friends losing jobs and others unable to get them in the first place, it isn't hard to forget that some change is unwelcome and difficult. It is times like these where I cling desperately to my faith that everything is going to be "okay." I heard or read a quote somewhere that said, "Everything is going to be alright in the end. If it isn't alright, it isn't the end." I know that things will work out. We have known that times are going to get rough before they get better. The leaders of the church have been counselling us to get out of debt, keep emergency food and supplies on hand, and strengthen our families against the evils of the world. It's go time, for sure.


Some change makes us stretch ourselves a little and ultimately (hopefully) makes us better people. I was called today to be the secretary in the stake Young Women's Presidency. The only YW calling I have ever had was the Stake YW Camp Music Specialist. All of my other callings have either been in music or in Primary. I am looking forward to working with the new presidency and seeing what new challenges will be in store for me. I am assuming that I now get to go to Girls Camp, Dances, and Firesides. If nothing else, I am proof to these girls that a big clueless teen can become a big clueless adult who at least functions in society and has friends. I will miss being in primary and being reminded week after week of how simple the gospel is and seeing the simple faith of these little kids who have not yet been jaded by life and temptation and failure. But I hope to be able to do some good with the girls who are struggling to find a testimony of their own.

Some change is painful. Jaren's face was changed today when he was bit in nursery. Ouch. I guess this is karma coming back to get me. I remember biting a girl when I was older than nursery age. I also remember getting to come home and bite a piece of soap. A Christmas Story has very personal meaning to me. (It was soap poisoning...) The poor mom of the boy was just in tears. My heart went out to her. I would feel the same way if Jaren had laid into someone. I don't blame anyone. It's hard to see the bright red spot on his cheek, but it happens. It didn't break the skin, so it should go away after a few days. He snuggled with me in the kitchen for a few minutes while I put ice on it, then he went back to nursery. What a trooper.




Some change is welcome. Like the change from my regular routine. Yesterday Brian and I went to the temple for our ward temple day. It was so nice to be there with all faces that I love and recognize. It was neat to see everyone and know that through our callings we are all serving each other, and that if one person wasn't there or doing their part that things wouldn't run as smoothly as they could. It was great to be reminded of why we are here on this earth and what our goals should be. It puts all the other changes of the world into perspective and helps us to "carry on" through the ups and downs of life. I was reminded that fear is the absence of faith. If my focus is on things of eternal nature I will be able to rise above the temporal challenges and everything will be okay because I will doing what is important. I need to serve more, pray more, and have faith.

Change is good. :)