A Very Happy New Year

I don't know about you, but this last Christmas and New Years have been the best ever.

A week before Christmas, I went to a fireside in Mesa. Now, normally I avoid firesides, and I don't think I've gone to one in well over a year. But I didn't have anything else to do that Sunday night, and had been used to having been occupied on Sunday nights for the previous couple of months. And the last time I considered going to a Single Adult fireside, I talked myself out of going. But this time was different. I went, fully expecting to not know anyone, or if I was lucky, to know only one person. Turns out I did know one person there, and he introduced me to a couple of other women. Well, I talk to one sister, and we're hanging out by the stage, talking and laughing. At least, I was laughing. Most of you know my laugh, loud and echoing in a half-full gym. So eventually, a guy comes up to us, starts talking.

Apparently he had been there for 30 minutes, trying to decide who to talk to. And since we seemed to be having a real good time, he came up to us. And he and I hit it off so well. We talked for at least 2 hours that night. We talked for 3 hours on the phone Monday, 3-1/2 hours Tuesday, we visited the Temple Lights on Wednesday and talked till 2am, Thursday was another 3 hours, Friday (Christmas Eve) I go over and we sit and talk till midnight, Saturday we go to the home of a woman in his ward, and again, I'm with him for hours.

We have so much in common. The same favorites of so many things, like food, cookies, and music. We have this great spiritual connection, too. We've shared our testimonies, our beliefs, ideas for the future, and plans for implementing scripture study and reading. And he's just so sweet and kind and funny. He gets my sense of humor, I don't have to hold back my sarcasm too much, he's goofy and silly. He loves music, he's singing all the time. Doing little random dances, talks like Kermit the Frog. I have so much fun with him.

Last week was more of the same. I saw him Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. We talk everyday. We've talked so much that I went over my minutes on my phone. Last night we went to Costco and I got a new phone with a plan on Verizon, because nearly everyone I know (including him and my family) are on Verizon.

The only downside (well, not the only one, but a major one) is that he isn't actually a member of the Church yet. And he needs to wait for permission to get baptized. So a major obstacle, but I see such a bright future with him, that I'm going to wait and see what happens next with him.

But just so you know, I am so completely happy when I am with him, or talk to him. It's only a week and a half, but I seriously can't imagine life with out him.

I have news...

Have you ever seen Return to Me? Minnie Driver and David Duchoveny? Heart transplants?

Anyway, early on, these two character meet. She runs over to her best friend's house in the middle of the night to tell best friend that she met someone. She was so excited to have finally met a guy that seemed to have potential and was interested and everything.

So imagine me in an excited whisper: "I met someone. I just wanted you to know."

EDIT: Oh, and he's musical, too! I think I might have finally met someone who could take part in that double quartet.

General Conference

I love General Conference. I love being able to sit and listen to prophets and apostles. I also really like how there sometimes seems to be a theme during conference. I know that the speakers are not assigned topics, they get to choose what they speak on. But it seems as if the Lord has a definite plan for what He wants us to hear.

Things just seem so clear right now. I just need to keep this feeling, implement the changes I need to make, and keep looking to the prophet to guide me. Simple.

A really good weekend. Lots of pondering to do. And I recorded the sessions, so while I'm waiting for the Ensign to come out, I can review some of the speakers, keep this feeling fresh. And I didn't take notes this time, so I think I'll watch a talk or two at a time and take notes then. Or when I get the Ensign, watch and read. Something like that.

Favorites include President Uctdorf and his expected comparison to airplanes, and the powerful message he always brings. The definite emphasis on following the prophet, especially twice quoting the same talk of Pres. Benson. And today's repeated mentions of agency and the importance of obedience.

It was a good weekend.

Miracles

Today's Relief Society lesson was all about miracles. Shelly, our Relief Society president as well as today's teacher, decided that it was going to be a lesson combined with music, to add to the Spirit and the testimony. And the Young Women joined us for the day, so Adria of the YW presidency helped put together the lesson.

I have heard of the musical program Woman at the Well, but had never heard the music. Shelly and Adria picked three songs from the program. Shelly told the story, we read the scriptures, and then the song was sung. The first was the story of the woman who was healed of her illness just by touched the garment of Jesus. The second was about the 12-year-old daughter of a leader of the synagogue who had just died and then Christ raises her. The last was the story of Lazarus, who died, and was raised after four days. It was a very good lesson. After all the singing, Shelly gave examples of modern miracles, and talked about daily miracles. And then the comments of the sisters in the room about the little miracles that are so important to building up your testimony of the Gospel.

I had been asked to sing the third song, a duet voicing the thoughts and feelings of Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. The first time I heard the song, I got a little weepy. When I tried to sing along with the recording I had, I had troubles getting through the song without getting choked up. Eventually I got to the point that I was able to get through without a problem. I didn't even think that I was going to have a problem with the song and my emotions.

Well. Our regular pianist wasn't at church today, so I sat down to play prelude and so got to play the opening and closing songs for the meeting. I started to cry as soon as I started to play the opening song, How Great Thou Art. Which is just one of my most favorite hymns. And one that can always make me cry. It's not a good sign if I start crying that early in a meeting. But I still didn't think that I'd have that big of a problem. Once the lesson started, I moved across the room from my belongings, not even remembering to bring my tissues with me.

Shelly started the first story, the woman with the issue of blood, that only wanted to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. Then came the song. And I start to cry. At this point, it's too late. The only way for me to stop crying is to completely ignore the song, or leave the room. I didn't want to do either, so I'm stuck with being an emotional mess.

But since the feelings I had were so sweet and filled me with peace and gratitude, I don't really mind the tears. (However, it would have been better for me to remember my tissues. Luckily, my duet partner had some extra.)

It really is amazing all the wonderful things my Father has given me. The miracle of living on this earth, at this time, having the Gospel, having my family so close, having the blessings of the Church. Knowing about the temple, and being able to go is a miracle and blessing. Waking every day is a great blessing and miracle. Finding my roommate was a great miracle. Getting our couch was a wonderful little miracle.

When it came time for me to sing, I had been steadily sniffing back tears for 20 minutes. And when I stood up to sing, all the room could tell that I had been crying and was on the verge of tears again. I told them it was a good thing the words had been printed up for them, so that if I was incoherent, or stopped singing altogether, they would know what it was supposed to have been. I manage to get through this song, even getting through the part that had tripped me up in the first place. But the last few lines. "Somehow He knew when to be here. / Son of God, / He is always here." I couldn't actually finish the last note for crying. (I'm even starting to cry as I type this.) My only consolation is that I made some of the other sisters in the room cry.

But the whole experience made me so grateful for so many things. For a family that loves and supports me. For a ward family that loves me and prays for me. For friends that still are my friends, even though I make fun of them, or have a laugh at their expense. I'm grateful that my friends stayed around long enough to know that past the cynical and mean exterior, I'm worth getting to know.

I was giving a sister from church a ride home and she told me that I can't hide the fact that I have a soft heart. Which made me laugh, because sometimes I'd rather be seen as mean and cynical, but sometimes no one else sees me that way. (At least among the sisters of my ward, who only see me on Sunday, and who see just the soft-hearted side.)

Anyways, I guess I just wanted to share that I do have a testimony of the Gospel. And that I do know that I am very blessed and lucky. And that miracles are around us, everywhere and everyday.

A good day and a good lesson.

The first week in my new ward, it was already well-known that I played the piano, and could substitute. (I blame Ryan.) My second Sunday I actually was asked to sub in Relief Society. Then later that week, I got a phone call from one of the counselors in the presidency, asking if I'd be willing to teach the next Sunday. My records aren't even in the ward yet, and somehow she got my phone number. (I found out Sunday that the ward website works faster than the clerk's office.)

So, ok, I'll teach. I've never taught Relief Society before. I like the manuals that tell you just what to say and when to say it. This was an entirely new experience for me. I spent my Friday night planning my lesson and writing out my notes. I had one of those great moments of personal revelation, that confirmed the truth of what I was reading, and just really made a deep impression on me.

It was really nice to have finished preparing my lesson on Friday. Then I could fully enjoy my Saturday, and not have to rush back to it.

My records finally made it to my ward. It's nice that I'm an actual member of the ward that I'm teaching in. When they introduced me before I taught, they did make mention of my newness. It got quite a reaction from the crowd. I guess they were all impressed that I would be willing to teach being so new.

It was a good lesson. I made them laugh once or twice. I made a few of them cry. (Which Ryan tells me is the sign of a good Relief Society lesson, how many tears are shed.) They did seem strangely hesitant about volunteering answers, but they are quite willing to read things.

It's interesting, but not surprising, that most comments from married women revolve around children and family and husbands. One thing I've noticed about being in a singles ward for so long is the fact that I'm used to lessons that are not quite so focused on raising children as much as how to become a better person so that in the future I can be a strength to my family. So when I ask questions, I know that their first thoughts and answers are going to be family and children. Which is not a bad thing, but I take it as a personal challenge to make them look beyond that.

Anyway, it was a good lesson. I got lots of compliments afterwards. The presidency was very happy with me, and very happy with my lesson. They said something about wanting to have me involved in Relief Society. Should I be worried? Well, I'm not really. I really like the ward, and I would be glad to do more.

The Relief Society president did mention that I looked so calm and confident while teaching. I don't know that they really believed me when at the beginning of the lesson I said I was nervous. But years of standing up and performing has made me capable of being terrified but still getting up there to do what needs to be done.