My New Beginnings

A couple of months ago, the church eliminated my calling Church wide. I was the Activities Chairman for the ward. I was responsible for planning and carrying out activities for the ward. I was very excited about some of the things I had planned for next year and a little bummed when I found out I wasn't going to get to do them. They asked me to continue on until after the Christmas party and then they would release me.

I knew a new calling was on the horizon and was at a point where I really didn't care what they called me to do. Now, I would never say no, but how happy one over another would make me is a different story! I really didn't care at this point. Of course my mind wandered here and there about what it would actually be, but I haven't had a whole lot of time to think about it, it's Christmas after all! Once the party was over, my mind started to think a little more about it and one particular calling kept coming to mind.

I pushed it out immediately because it's so far out of my comfort zone, but it kept coming back. I tried to convince myself I was just worrying about it but really knew it wasn't a possibility. The Lord must have known I would need a little advance warning and confirmation that this is what He wants me to be doing right now. Last week I got the phone call "Can we come meet with you?"

While out running the morning I was to meet with him, I couldn't get it out of my head. Sure enough, that night I heard the words "We would like you to be the new Laurel Advisor". This is a calling that puts me with the 16 and 17 year old girls. Yes, that includes my own sweet Whitley. If you don't already know, I barely like teenagers. That's Glade's gift, not mine. I get all weird and insecure and annoyed when I spend much time with them. I guess it's time for me to grow.

Whitley and I had discussed it before the call even came because I wanted to make sure if that's what it was, that she would be ok with it. She said as long as I didn't act like her "mom", she was great! We had a really great heart to heart about some of the struggles she has been having and when I commented that there must be some reason I'm supposed to be in this calling right now, she said "maybe He knew I needed you." I'm gettin all teary again. I love her and am so excited to get to be with her.

I believe He knows us each individually and knows our needs and our weaknesses and has a plan just for me. Without this knowledge, I'm not sure I could do this calling right now. Because I know it, I will do my best to love these girls and be the kind of leader I had as a 17 year old. My heart warms when I think of Carleen, Joy and Sis Parker....the times they let us just hang out at their homes being silly girls. Truly blessings in my life. I hope I can be that to someone as well. So with a very humble heart and butterflies in my tummy I start my new beginnings with the Laurels.