Bear One Another’s Burdens

I had been planning this activity for so long that when I was released from Young Women I told Kristine that I still wanted to follow through with the activity held last night.  As I had been the personal progress coordinator, I tried to plan an activity once a month that related to the theme and the values.  Scheduling messed us up a little so I made last night a twofer.

The devotional/opening was about integrity.  I explained to the girls that we want to develop good atributes and make them integral to who we are.  I put some cloth in a cup of pure bleach while I spoke.  It didn’t fade.  Integrity, I told them, doesn’t bleach out.  It’s who you are no matter what.

Then we talked about Good Works, and how important it is to comfort those who stand in need of comfort and to bear one another’s burdens.  This activity was especially important to me to do this summer, as July 1st was the anniversary of Bishop Nelson’s death, a man with whom the girls had been very close, and August 16th is the anniversary of Jessica’s death.  When I asked them what we can do to reach out to others one suggested “cards.”  Lucky for them, that’s what I had planned!

When seeing a loved one grieve, it’s often hard to reach out.  When my friends’ baby was stillborn I was mute — I knew my pain couldn’t compare to the devastation they were feeling.  It’s the same whenever I see someone going through a particularly tough time.  I hoped that by making cards I was giving the girls a medium through which they can reach out to those who mourn and let them know they are loved and supported.  Does it take the pain away?  No, but at least it’s something.

Also, it’s a difficult time for each of the girls (and us, leaders) as we remember the losses of last summer.  Making cards and reaching out to others is also a vehicle through which we can deal productively with our own grief.

I hope it helped.

Independent Woman

It’s been over a year that I have been carless.  I think I’ve done well for myself, all things considered, but I am so sick and tired of having to beg rides everytime I want to go outside my walking radius!  (like … to playgroup, and even to work when I was still working.)

We’ve been thinking about our second car for a long time, wanting to make just the right decision.  New, used, or lease?  How big?  When?  Yesterday was a fairly stressful day and when Paul came home from work I didn’t take him very seriously when he told me that Morgan (one of the salesmen at one of the dealerships we’d visited) had called saying that his manager was desperate to sell a car today and was willing to make deals he wasn’t willing to make before.  Paul loves talking cars so I ignored it.

When my grande finale YW activity was over Paul and Little Red met us (I had Guy Smiley) in the parking lot with Morgan and the charcoal Edge.  I told them both “when I woke up this morning I had a lot of thoughts.  None of them was, “I’m going to buy a car today.”"  We went back to Ford, loaded our car seats back into our 2-door Focus (yes, they fit!), dropped off Morgan, and went home under promise that Paul would return and discuss things more.  By this point it was after 9 pm (the boys and I were spent) and the dealership was closing but the amanger would stay if Paul promised he’d come back to talk some more.

We had a family prayer and I felt calmer than I had been in about two days.  I sent Paul away not knowing if he’d return with a car, but knowing that I trusted his judgement and we’d be okay.

He returned at 11:30, after getting a really good deal on a really nice car. 

I DON’T HAVE TO BEG FOR RIDES ANYMORE!