first council, big change

A week or so after I was called to serve as Relief Society President, we were informed that the way that Relief Society has been for decades would be changing.  There were questions and worries and concerns instantly!  Big enough to have this new calling, but to have the whole program change, where there was no one to follow was even more overwhelming!  I have spent the past few months praying and pleading and reading and asking and questioning the Lord, every other Relief Society member, president, presidency member, you name it, a gazillion questions about how they were going to do things, about what they took this or that to mean, about what they thought about this idea or that. (THAT was a long sentence!)

The long awaited and much anticipated day arrived Sunday!  We held our first "Relief Society Council" meeting.  We rearranged the Relief Society Room into a huuuuuuge circle with the table in the center.  We had two microphones... one for myself to use as the facilitator and one for the sisters to pass between themselves as they spoke.

I began the council by sharing the new program format and then went over a few rules of "propriety" for us all to follow.  Four rules... 1.  Have the right attitude and along with the Holy Ghost, we will become awesome at this!  2. Consider the feelings of others and remember that most things are not personal, so don't take things that way.  3.  Remember that the Key to the whole change is ACTION - before, during and after the council!  And 4.  EXPECT MIRACLES!

We then began the discussion with my asking questions about why the change, How would the Savior minister if he were here today?  What challenges to we have reaching out to those around us.  We discussed visiting teaching and meeting the needs of others.  I challenged the sisters to not just "get their visiting teaching done to get counted" but to be prepared to answer this question, "Have you reached out and blessed the lives of those in your stewardship this past month?"  The sisters laughed as I posed the question, but they also captured the importance of the message!

It was a wonderful meeting and when I came home, I sat down and just bawled!  Three months of preparation.  Less than one hour of presentation.  But, such a wonderful feeling to have felt the support and love of each of the sisters.  Throughout the evening and today, I've received texts and emails and a few phone calls expressing thanks and positive comments!  I even learned a new word that I've literally never heard before - "aplomb".  

Seriously, I do love this opportunity to serve these 129 sisters!  They are remarkable and wonderful and just plain awesome!

Monday morning, Julie, Gayle, McKell and I went to breakfast.  Julie struggled through breakfast but was a trooper.  She's my hero!  I hate cancer, have I mentioned that!?  As soon as I dropped Julie off, I headed to town and bought a few last minute items for tonight's YSA Family Home Evening dinner.  I prepared for twenty five.  We had seventeen for dinner.  Chicken Enchilada Soup, Homemade Bread, Chips and Salsa and nummy Peanut Butter Bars!  Dinner was fun with a new group of college kids.  They were a hoot!  Doug asked me to give the message before dinner and after, there was lots of talk of The Greatest Showman. We pulled out the CD and played the music for a bit before they all left agreeing to meet at the theater tomorrow!

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Life is so good.  ur home is quiet and quiet peaceful.  Grace has texted a few times.  She seems to be happy in her new abode.  We are proud of her for taking a step towards independence.  We are still struggling with it but at the same time, are very happy for her!  I love my life and our home and my kids and my rockstar husband and our callings which bring us such joy!  Life really is good!