Every Goodbye is Another Hello

For the past 3 1/2 years I served in my ward as the Mia Maid advisor. I was just released on Sunday and asked to be with CTR 7.

Reflecting on my time in Young Womens:
I had a lot of good times, difficult times, and growth. I will miss the small things that seem insignificant to most people. For example, one of my Mia Maids will be getting her provisional license next month. I won't be there to ask her to see it and make a big deal about it. Those are the moments I'll miss. Or how the girls chatted about "Bobs." A word for super hot guys. I will miss the stories about school and families and what is happening in their lives.

We had some fun experiences. Like the time we turkey attacked the camp leader after she received a stake calling. The Mia Maids had written notes on turkeys, with their names on them, and then taped them on her door. While they were in the process of putting them on someone opened the door! They ran off screaming, laughing, and hiding. We laughed because their names were on the turkeys! The door closed and they continued on. Then they knocked and ran. We had to drive by to make sure their camp director had found them. Loads of fun.

Or the time we went on our backpacking trip. One by one our Mia Maids were unable to go. We ended up with four only to hear that one had broken her wrist (I think) the night before!! She was a trooper and came anyway. Then we heard about the creatures in the forest (thanks to our bishopric member telling a ghost story) but didn't believe him until the next morning when my counselor and I saw an incredible, intricate, hieroglyphic about two persons high on the tree!

Good times. I don't think anyone knew how difficult it was for me and how hard I pushed myself. The first few months of the calling were great. Then I got pregnant with Megan and was told I would have a miscarriage. Yikes, emotional wreck for a week and a half. Then I was sicker than sick until about the 5th or 6th month. Then Megan was sideways and splitting my hips open so walking was terribly painful. After she was born I was up every two hours until she became sick at 8 months. I didn't sleep for months while she coughed and puked each night. Megan still doesn't sleep through the night but she's not sick like that anymore so although I'm tired I'm functional. Mutual nights made me stay awake until 8:30 which was far beyond my ability during that difficult time with Megan. But somehow I managed. And got through.

And now to my new calling. I was deeply sad to hear primary. It felt like a death sentence. Solitary confinement. I had no idea how socially isolated primary would be. So if the bishopric wanted to encourage me to attend enrichment by putting me in this calling...mission accomplished. If they wanted me to look at all other callings and think that any other calling would be better than where I am...mission accomplished.

Although Sunday was hard, and I knew it would be, I have a good co-teacher and good kids (yeah!) I will be however, giving those lessons some ZIP! It's hard for me to be reverent for 3 hours so I can't imagine how hard it is for them. (Yes, I HAVE to be reverent - especially during sharing time...kill me...kill me now!) So at least my lessons will be fun. I am glad I get to be with those kids and I know most of them.

I made deep friendships while in young womens and I'll miss my friends. That was probably the best part about serving in there. I have good friends...and people like me.