A few weeks ago on the last Sunday of the year, our Bishop got up at church and said to us, "This is the last Sunday of 2009, the year is over and good riddance!" We all laughed. Then one of the speakers got up and talked about how this past year has been particulary difficult for many people. He went on to say how this past decade has been one of the worst decades - pointing out wars, hurricanes, tsunamis, economic crises, and so on. When put in that light it really does seem like we are living in the last days, a time that is going to be the worst to live in.
I thought about our lives this past year and all the changes we've experienced. We moved right before the beginning of the year into a home that we owned, all fixed up for us to live in for quite some time we thought. Dan spent a good part of the year away from us travelling for work, and while it was difficult and we missed him greatly, I know it made me stronger. I started teaching ballet. Nathan was on his first t-ball team. Tyler started walking. And Natalie started Kindergarten. And then in the Fall Dan was offered a job that would move us across the country, away from our families and everything we had ever known. Dan left 2 weeks later to start a new job, leaving me with 3 kids to care for and a house to sell.
People frequently say to me, How did you ever manage??? And I tell them every time that it was a miracle. I was not doing it alone. I knew the Lord was watching over us and taking care of us. Part of that miracle was my sister-in-law, Karin, coming to stay with us while she waited for visas for herself and her son. She helped me in so many ways - cooking, watching the kids, running errands, and most importantly, helping me keep my sanity! We had a lot of fun together, moments I will always treasure during that difficult and stressful time.
And before I knew it the house had a buyer and Dan had found us a place to live. It was time to move! Now even though we have moved more times that I care to mention, I found this move so much harder than the others. I don't know how I ever got everything packed but somehow it was all done before Dan flew in to move us. That night our moving truck was dropped off and the loading began - we had two days to get everything in that truck. I remember feeling so stressed the day we were to leave for Utah - Natalie woke up so sick, the beds and half the garage still needed to be loaded, and the entire house had to be cleaned. I also remember how everyone helped us that day. My mom watched the kids all day. My friends showed up to clean my house while the men finished loading. That afternoon Dan took our car to get serviced before the long drive, leaving one piece of unfinished business - the boy's bunkbeds still needed to be taken apart and loaded. He ran behind and the moving van guy showed up to take the truck. I was nearly in tears because we hadn't loaded the bed. This old man was so kind - he came in and took apart the bed and loaded it up for me. I will never forget his kindness and how much it meant to me at that particular moment.
And the rest is history, as they say. We left that night for Utah and arrived here safely and without incident. We unpacked into our new home in our new neighborhood in our new city and state. We met all our neighbors immediately and felt so welcomed. We thought we had moved to a strange new place, but so far we have felt like it's the perfect fit for us (or does that make us strange?).
We attended our new ward and again felt welcomed by so many. We were told not to expect easy callings just because we moved to Utah - like the kind where they have to make them up. I was called in pretty quickly to get a calling: Relief Society Chorister. I don't know about Utah, but in Texas that is considered an "easy calling!" In fact I almost felt like I should ask for another calling because it required so little of my time. The Sunday before Christmas we were called in again, and yes, it was about a calling. And I thought to myself, "Oh good, it's about time they give Dan a calling." And I thought it must be a big calling if they're wanting to meet with both of us! A small part of me thought that perhaps they were releasing me because the Bishop had mentioned they were still looking for a pianist for R.S. and possibly they needed me to do that instead. So I wasn't surprised when the Bishop told me they were releasing me. In fact, I thought, "I knew it! R.S. pianist it is!!" and I was already accepting that. But then I had to stop and actually listen to what the Bishop was saying, "We'd like to extend the call to you to be the Young Women's President."
What did he just say??
And in that moment, I knew it what the Lord wanted for me. And what he wanted for the Young Women in our ward. This calling was not coming from our Bishop, but from the Lord. And then like in a movie, all these scenes from my life started going through my head showing me how the Lord had prepared me for this moment. Molding and shaping my life, giving me opportunities to grow and strengthen my testimony so that I could serve these young women. I felt the Spirit of the Lord fill me and tell me this was right. I gladly accepted the call to serve.
Now as this new year starts I feel like our family is in the right place. We are living where our needs can be met and where we can meet the needs of those around us. This opportunity has turned out to be so much bigger than just a new job for Dan. We are making new friends and ties to loved ones, our children are so happy here, and our lives are already being so blessed. As we begin this new year I have so much hope in my heart. Hope for Dan to grow in his new job and company. Hope for our children to grow in their friendships and in the Gospel. Hope for the young women in our ward to grow closer to their Savior. And hope for my own life to grow in those areas where I am weak. This is not a time to despair, but a time for hope. And it is through the gospel that I have that hope.
I hope each of you can find hope in this coming year, and ways to grow in your own lives. Remember, this is what the Savior taught us - not to have fear, but hope.
