Breaking Down the Wall

  I've mentioned this here a few times here before, but we recently got called to serve in a YSA ward down at BYU.   This has absolutely been a time consuming, but life-changing / life-enhancing calling for us and we feel so deeply blessed to be able to serve in this way.   

This post will be a little glimpse about this new part of our lives: 

If you are a fellow member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then you are probably aware that in recent years, there has been a big initiative to help young people become more independent in their participation with the church, as well as in the development of their testimonies.   Youth teach more lessons, plan their own activities, and, in general, have more opportunities to lead.   It's no different with the YSAs (young single adults).  Us older adults are just there to mentor and train, while they lead and serve in the way they feel inspired to lead! 

My specific calling is to work with the Relief Society presidencies to train them straight from the handbook, to be there as a mentor, and to just love them.  And loving them is easy, because they are some of the most down-to-earth, fantastic people on earth.   

I haven't actually taken a whole lot of pictures with them, but this past week or two, I decided I need to change that.  These pictures are me with the RS presidency (in shifts, since we couldn't all meet at the same time that night)

Susie, Me, Malia, and Zuzu

This night we were out making visits to ward members.  We brought birthday treats to those with birthdays, visited a new member who'd just moved in, and then just visited with some members they felt inspired to visit.   We did some of the visits together and split ways for some of the others.   

Me, Malia, Allison, and Zuzu

I send a lot of postcards in my new calling--for birthdays, after talks and lessons, for encouragement, for good luck, thank yous, etc.   I figure it's a way to serve that's authentically me and it makes me super happy when one of the members of the ward mentions receiving one in the mail.  I even designed my own batch of postcards and had them printed for  this calling!  😁

We spend a lot of time down in Provo now (2-4 times per week), including this recent stake pool party...

This group is mostly members of our ward

This is a group of Emma's friends from the same pool party. (She's in a different ward in the same stake)

The pool party ended up quite stormy, so the actual time in the water was very short, but it was a fun experience anyway! 

Ward members:  Karris, Malia, and I at the pool party

The YSAs take care of most of the details for planning, serving, and leading within the ward and stake, but us older adults definitely help with some logistical things...like buying a bunch water and fruit at Costco for the pool party.  

I love the opportunity to participate in ward temple days with them...

I also love participating in things like a recent ward camp-out (something they don't do in our regular Utah ward)...

Adam is not actually in our same stake or ward, but we've talked him into coming to a few of our ward activities (including the ward camp-out).  We figure that we may as well use our proximity to another big group of YSAs to expand his network  of people as well!   

We are busier than we've ever been before, especially as empty-nesters, but serving in this way has cracked open the wall I keep around myself (that's been even higher here in Utah) and I can feel my heart opening up.  💗

One more thing to add to the tally list for good parts about living in Utah.   The list is slowly growing.  

Stuff

In case you haven't noticed, I have no idea what I'm doing with this blog.  I say I'm not going to blog at all, then I blog once a week, then I'm blogging every day, then I barely remember to take any pictures.    I do really like the challenge of capturing the daily happenings of our family, but, man, I really miss the days of being meaningful or funny. Until I get my mojo back (maybe when the kids are all graduated from  homeschool), I am certain that this blog will continue to evolve.  Into what I have no idea, but let's hope that it's something awesome.   

February 18:  

Here's a random sampling of what we found on the floor of our van today.  

A box of juice boxes, a water bottle, a pair of binoculars, a scripture case, a Hank Smith cd, some sprinkles, and an analytical essay!   It's almost as random as our day which included bot fighting, homework at Panera, and an awesome YW activity.  

February 19:  

What can I say?   I had a lot on my plate today and absolutely nothing turned out quite how I expected.  I ended up pretty grumpy and craving everything I can't eat on my diet.   

Adam, however,  rocked at the food thing and made awesome tinfoil dinners for his scout campout tonight.  

Scouting Adventures

Adam is well in the throes of the scouting program now.   He's finished several merit badges now and has been to scout camp... 

on longish hikes, and campouts in the cold.    

And why do we have so many pictures of him away from home?  

It's because the photographer is Glen.  

He was recently called to work with the deacons in our ward...

and he will now be at all these fun scouting activities with Adam!   

*************************

How am I doing in my quest to create the most boring blog in the universe?   

Word on the street says I have it in the bag!  

**************************

Scout Math

12-young scouts

+

30+ lb. backpacks strapped on their backs

+

sleeping in a tent

+ 

cooking dinner over a campfire 

+

4 miles of hiking

=

a dozen very tired, but happy boys, 

and a  magnificent view at Little Schloss overlook,

and few dozen ticks.   

Ew!

***********************************