Who Should My YW Counselor Be?
April 2013
I know I share a lot about
experiences with the Holy Ghost but I had an awesome one today that I
wanted to remember. So, about 3 weeks ago the Mia Maid adviser got
called into the Relief Society Presidency leaving a spot in the YW
organization. As I started praying about who should fill that spot, my
1st counselors name kept coming to mind - which I would immediately
dismiss. However after praying about it for 3 weeks, going to the
Temple about it, fasting about it AND STILL getting the same answer that
she should be the new MM Adviser, I submitted her name which was
promptly accepted and (literally) 15 hours after submitting her name,
she was sustained from the pulpit. So as I sat in the pew today
preparing to take the Sacrament, I said a prayer to Heavenly Father
asking for help on who he would have be my new 1st counselor. The very
distinct thought came into my mind that a Sister would bear her
testimony today (it was Fast and Testimony meeting) and when she did,
Heavenly Father would witness to me that is who I should ask for. Wow!
I was so excited for the testimonies to get started but wasn't sure if I
had just imaged all of that or not! Of course Lexi ended up needing to
go to the bathroom and I told John that he would have to do it because I
was waiting for a witness from Heavenly Father on who my new 1st
counselor should be! LOL.... So as different sisters would get up and
share, I was praying fervently with an open heart that I would receive a
witness. And then it happened... a sister got up (whom I actually
really like and enjoy her company but had never even thought of to pray
about) and as she is talking, I start getting these impressions like
"She would be really great!" and "She'd work well with the YW" etc and
THEN she starts sharing that in her Patriarchal blessing it talks about
how she will be called to work with the youth and that the youth of the
church sorely need her, etc. At this point, my whole insides are
BURNING and there is no doubt in my mind that this is who Heavenly
Father was telling me to submit... so immediately after Sacrament
meeting, I submitted her name! The other funny thing is that both of my
counselors came up to me and said that they felt very moved by that
Sister's testimony and they thought she'd be a great addition to YW.
Anyway, I just felt so very known that Heavenly Father would give such direct guidance and revelation to me in regards to finding a name to submit...
And
here's the rest of the story... This Sister was indeed called and
sustained. When we got together for the first time, I asked if she
wanted to hear the story about how her name came to me. She did, and
listened very intently. Afterward, she was very emotional and told me
how all that week the Spirit had been whispering to her that she needed
to bare her testimony that Sunday and that she needed to share that
specific part of her Patriarchal Blessing. She said that she knew
someone was trying to make a decision about her regarding a calling.
That Sunday, she said that the Spirit was soooo strong prompting her to
get up. She said that she was willing to get up, but she felt foolish
sharing about her Patriarchal Blessing but listened to the Spirit and
the words flowed! We were both so touched that Heavenly Father played
such an integral part of this process for the both of us.
I love that I know Heavenly Father is aware of each of us! Even down to the smallest thing... We had the keys to the Franks' apartment and John and the older boys were heading there to let them in and Heavenly Father impressed upon my mind that they had left without the keys. A quick call to them, confirmed that they didn't have the keys and immediately turned around :) I'm also so incredibly thankful that even though it is sooooo cold here, we are enjoying our time and like being in North Dakota! I'm also grateful that he opened up ways for us to take over the Veazey home! We are all just soooo excited about it!!! And I'm also super grateful that Heavenly Father has kept us safe on the icy roads and the icy paths as we are loading and unloading the trucks :) He is so mindful of us!
FORGOTTEN KEYS
Jan 2014
I love that I know Heavenly Father is aware of each of us! Even down to the smallest thing... We had the keys to the Franks' apartment and John and the older boys were heading there to let them in and Heavenly Father impressed upon my mind that they had left without the keys. A quick call to them, confirmed that they didn't have the keys and immediately turned around :) I'm also so incredibly thankful that even though it is sooooo cold here, we are enjoying our time and like being in North Dakota! I'm also grateful that he opened up ways for us to take over the Veazey home! We are all just soooo excited about it!!! And I'm also super grateful that Heavenly Father has kept us safe on the icy roads and the icy paths as we are loading and unloading the trucks :) He is so mindful of us!
REVELATION FROM MOM'S FAST
August 2014
had a wonderful Fast Sunday today! I was mainly fasting about homeschooling and the direction to take (and what to teach, etc...) and I've just had an amazing day and could feel Heavenly Father's love for me and for my desire to teach the kids! I also read back through older journal entries (of my scripture journal) and there were so many truths that spoke to my heart that I had written down! Some of my thoughts and perceptions during this fasting and studying are:
* Do not be weary because I am laying the foundation of a great work!
* More important that academics, it is Heavenly Fathers will that we homeschool to build our Eternal Family! Academics are certainly important and will not be neglected! But I need to remember that Heavenly Father is the overseer and wants me (and each of the kids) to be successful. He also has faith in my abilities :)
* I can provide a good home and education for the kids by small, consistent things (and when added all together, they become GREAT things!) ie: daily Enrichments, encouraging, providing educational items and avenues that pursue their interests, reading each day (together and independently), playing games (and learning through them!), singing, etc... Heavenly Father will guide me, all that he requires of me is my heart and willingness!
* Read D&C 6:14 and remember that as often as I have inquires of the Lord, I have received instruction!
* From Pres. Uchtdorf's last General Conference talk on Gratitude - I need to remember to CHOOSE (that's been my "word" since last GC) and remember to CHOOSE daily to be happy, to be grateful, to follow Christ, to Homeschool, to be purposeful, to be a missionary, to be present in my children's life.
* I love Sister Reeves GC talk from April 2014 and this quote from her: " It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still in the pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are: Daily Scripture Study, Daily Prayer and Weekly FHE. Concentrate on these important things and everything else WILL fall into place. It doesn't mean that all will be easy, but peace and happiness will come as we do the most essential things first." After I read this portion of her talk, I decided that I should pray and find out what the "essential things" for my family are - however, the thought came IMMEDIATELY that Sister Reeves was inspired to tell the world what those essential things were and that they were the same for everyone!
* I also had some learning games come to my mind that would be beneficial to the younger kids with their math :)
* After spending much time in reading, pondering and praying, I came to the realization that the Academics will come! He will inspire and lead me to programs and curriculum that will be the most beneficial to the kids! We will all succeed! But more important that the academics - this truly is our time to build and become an Eternal Family!
MOVING TO BILLINGS, MT
Jan 2016
We are so grateful for the guidance that the Lord gives us and that we can go to him in prayer with BIG decisions in life! After visiting the city of Billings and getting a feel for the job there and the housing market, we felt we were in a position to make an informed decision on whether or not to take the job. We both had feelings of "home" while driving around the city and it just seemed like a great fit for our family!! After lengthy discussions, we felt that the Lord wanted us there and that our family would find lots of happiness. So... off we went to the Temple to pray about our decision. We both felt peaceful and joyous and that it was the right decision to move. I can't imagine making these big, life-changing decisions without the help of the Lord! We know that if we follow the Lord in all things that we will be blessed. We have made some life-long friends here in Minot - and we will be sad to leave them! However, we know the Lord is watching over us and I'm certain that we will make new (life-long) friends and love our time in Billings! Let the packing begin!!
A NEW CALLING
August 2017
MAKING PEACE
Oct 2017
Written by Ben... So there's been this girl at church who's in my Sunday School class and Seminary class. To say that we haven't gotten along would be an understatement. I have had lots of ill feelings towards her and maybe not been the nicest to her at times (in my defense, she has been 10x's worse to me! but there's no excuse for being mean to someone). Anyway, my family has been urging me to pray for her - kind of like the home teaching lesson I gave about loving our enemies - but I didn't want to. They even tried praying for her in our family prayers, but I didn't like that either. Then on Thursday in Seminary I received a very powerful and strong witness from the Spirit that I was to make peace with her. I was really scared because I thought she wouldn't accept my apology and act all snotty. But after class I asked if I could talk to her and she said "sure" and so we went out into the hall. I told her that I was sorry how I'd been acting lately and I didn't want to be like that anymore. She thanked me for my apology and then went back into the class. My Seminary teacher said that when she came back in, she was smiling from ear to ear! My Seminary teacher was also so very happy and proud of me and it brought tears to her eyes. I also know that my parents are really happy and proud of me, and most of all, I know that Heavenly Father is proud of me. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost and the guidance he gives me in my life. I always want to live worthy of his companionship!
BLESSED TENFOLD
March 2018
So I know I've shared that my heart has recently turned more towards Family History lately, but I don't think I've shared WHY or WHAT brought upon that change... so here's the story. Back in November (2017) when we really made the commitment to get out of debt I kept thinking of what I could do to get us to our financial goals quicker and decided that I needed to get a job! I figured I had a few hours a week that I could devote to an online job so my quest to find the perfect one began! After researching my options, I decided that being a transcriptionist would fit with my talents, would be flexible and I would enjoy the work. So I applied at a company and soon was hired to transcribe interviews and podcasts - so they could have subtitles and such. However, I kept having a really "off" feeling about doing this and decided that I needed to pray about this decision (it was going to be very part time and only bringing in about $250/month - but I figured that would almost make an extra van payment each month and would be beneficial)... Anyway, so I go to pray about working at this job and I immediately get the answer to NOT take it! I then get very direct further inspiration that says if I take those few hours that I was planning on working at that job and apply those same hours to Family History work that we will be greatly blessed and John will be blessed at work and be able to bring in larger bonuses that would be "tenfold" of what I could potentially make. So this started me off on my journey of being better and more diligent about my Genealogy and Family History! I'd been waiting for the last quarter bonuses to be paid out (which was in March). I want to say that I had complete Faith that our Bonus would be the biggest yet but sadly, I still had doubts (wondering if I'd done "enough" or if I had really gotten that answer, etc) but when the Bonus came in, it knocked our socks off and was 3x's what we were *hoping* for (the largest we'd ever seen in the 5 years of working for Rain for Rent!) and definitely well beyond the "tenfold" of what I could have made working at transcribing podcasts! Not only did have we been blessed financially, but we have also been blessed in other ways - most specifically in Spiritual experiences that I've had as I've searched for our ancestors, found them, included them in our family tree and then done their Temple work! That is what really makes it all worth it! That is God's purpose - to bring to pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of Man and by doing Family History I am aligning my purposes with His! And it's another Faith building experience for me! He always delivers on his promises and I need to remember that and not doubt!
PERSONAL REVELATION
May 2018
Personal Revelation. I've been thinking on this for quite some time and also studying about it. In the scriptures, it tells us that as we search for the "mysteries of God" they will be unfolded unto us as (basically in the form of personal revelation) and as we continue to build upon that and keep moving forward with open hearts and open minds then more and more is revealed. However, the opposite is true as well - if we close off our hearts and minds and don't act upon things that have been revealed to us, then we aren't given any further "mysteries of God". I kind of had an "aha" moment in regards to this in relation with personal revelation - if we are given revelation (in the form of a thought, feeling, prompting, etc) and we ACT upon it (even if we don't know the end result but only are given enough insight for the first step), then the next step will be revealed as we move forward in faith - and if we continue acting (in faith) upon each subsequent revelation, we will eventually end up exactly where Heavenly Father wants us!
For example, when this whole job opportunity in Boise came up - we were prompted (as we prayed) that we should meet with Xylem and learn more about the opportunity. We didn't get the answer that "YES! You're moving to Boise!" at this point, but as we acted on that personal revelation and met with them, we felt that we should move on to the next step on interviewing with them (again, still hadn't gotten the answer that we were definitely supposed to move to Boise) and as we completed that step, we prayed for more mysteries to be unfolded to us and eventually we did get the answer that moving to Boise was exactly where the Lord wants us! I think back to that first impression that we were to meet and learn more - what if we didn't act on that revelation? No further revelation or mysteries would have been given because we didn't ACT upon what God had already given us. I know that it is very important to always act upon our promptings and as we do so, the Lord will keep revealing his will to us and know that he can count on us to fulfill his purposes here on earth.
Backstory - here is a write up that I did on the job in Boise...
Mom and dad had a (paid for) work dinner with all of dads employees (and their spouses) to celebrate 3 years without any safety recordables. It was at a nice Mexican Restaurant where dad had the steak and mom had a taco salad. It was on the way home from this work dinner that we received a call that would set us on a roller coaster ride and shake up plans that we thought we had in place! We were asked if we'd be interested in taking a job in Boise and if so, there was a company who was very interested in pursuing dad. It didn't take long to say that we'd be interested in finding out more and seeing where that interest led. This was on a Thursday night and by Friday we had an interview set up for the following Wednesday (where they would travel here to Billings to interview dad). That interview went extremely well and 2 follow up ones were scheduled for the following week. Things were moving FAST and we felt joy and happiness about the prospect of being back in the Boise valley near family and friends.We were told that we'd hear something "within days not weeks" but here is where the story slows down a bit! haha...The HR gal that writes up the offers went on vacation for a week (aaack!) then she got back and got to work on it but then got sick and was out of the office (no!!!) and the last we heard was that yesterday (Friday, March 27th) she was back at work and finished the offer and has submitted it for approval and that we *should* receive it on Monday. While all of this waiting game was going on, the company did call John and tell him that he was being offered the job and told what pay and benefits were being written up in the offer - so at least we know what's coming! Part of the offer was more than we were expecting while another part of it was a little lower than what we were expecting/hoping for. Once the official offer arrives, we will counter and see what happens from there. However this has made for several weeks of an emotional roller coaster!
BULLET JOURNALS FOR HOMESCHOOLING
August 2017
This time of year - moreso than at other times - I am all consumed with homeschooling! Looking up the latest resources, connecting with others and trying to decide what will be the best fit for each of the kids! The biggest thing that comes into play with this is PERSONAL REVELATION!! I'm so very grateful that I can pray and simply ask if something would be best for us or not! I know that as I continue to do this and really follow the promptings of the Spirit we will have a great year! One of the things that I've been feeling strongly about (and am super excited to implement!) are Bullet Journals for each of the kids! I really have been feeling like they should be the ones to record what they do each day and take more charge of their education! I love the bullet journals because we can make Trackers for all sorts of things (Books read, goals completed, documentaries watched, etc) and also keep track of our daily/weekly and monthly tasks all in one place! I've let the kids each pick out their own journals and we'll be decorating them and getting them ready to use on the first day (shortly after Labor Day)... Also through prayer, I've been lead to an incredible new curriculum that I am excited to implement and have also been inspired on exactly what to do for Ben's Math! I love how Heavenly Father is in the very details of our lives and can be such an integral part of our schooling experience!
BEN RECEIVES HIS PATRIARCHAL BLESSING
September 2018
Ben received his Patriarchal Blessing this month! Talk about a Spiritual High! He invited Seth to attend and so the 4 of us (he, Seth, dad and I) were all able to be in attendance for this beautiful occasion! We had encouraged Ben to go to the blessing while Fasting and told him that we would Fast along with him - which I thought was neat thing and bring about the Spirit even more so. The Patriarch had both dad and I bear our testimonies to Ben and then had Ben share his feelings with us. He also had dad, Seth and I share one word that described Ben and those words were: Faithful (dad), Leader (mom) and Cheerful (Seth). He encouraged Ben to write those 3 words at the top of his blessing and see how they would impact him and his interpretation of things throughout his life. The blessing was spiritual and beautiful and showed us exactly who and How Heavenly Father sees Ben! We are all super anxious for the hard copy to arrive sometime in the next week so we can re-read it and really ponder the words and blessing promised to him throughout his life.
WRITING DOWN REVELATION
October 2018
I have made a goal to attend 2 Endowment sessions each week - I'm happy to report that so far, I have succeeded in that goal AND I have taken action upon that inspiration that I needed to keep a journal of thoughts, feelings and revelation that I receive while in the Temple. I have been given an assignment (for November 18th) to speak in the 35th Ward on Family Councils and this has been very much on the forefront of my mind. I think of it while reading my scriptures, listening to talks and as I went to the Temple, I prayed about what direction Heavenly Father wanted me to go with on this topic. Early on, I did receive a few thoughts - but I wanted MORE! I wanted to think of specific examples from my life to be able to share and implement into the talk. As I kept reading, pondering, praying and attending the Temple with this subject on my mind, it seemed like the Heavens were closed and I wasn't able to receive anymore light. It was then that I realized that I hadn't written down any of my former thoughts and feelings and so decided to do so... the super amazing thing is that ONCE I started writing down all that had been given to me (up to that point) then my mind opened up and I was able to recall personal experiences and additional things to study that might be of help to me! This brought me back and reminded me that when I showed Heavenly Father that what he had already given to me was of importance (and I wrote them down!) then, further revelation was able to happen. It's like that little bit of light was given and as I proceeded forth in faith - the next steps were able to be shown to me :)
PERSONAL PASSION LEARNING
November 2018
I've been super concerned about some of Ben's homeschooling program and realizing that there is still SO MUCH for him to learn before he graduates next year! He does great with his one-on-one classes with me AND he does great when learning about things that he's interested in but not so much when he doesn't think something is useful or beneficial to him... so this was a question I was going to take to the Temple (What can I do to make sure Ben is getting everything that he needs in regards to his education). In my morning prayer one morning I mentioned how that was the question I'd be taking to the Temple and hoping to receive revelation on. Then an AMAZING thing happened... The words "You don't have to wait until you're in the Temple - I'll tell you what you need to know right now!"came into my mind! (AMAZING, RIGHT?!) Then I got the revelation that I need to institute a minimum of 1 hour a day of "Personal Passion Learning" for Ben. This is where he will dedicate at least an hour a day researching, learning or delving into ANYTHING he wants to learn about - it could be anything from watching a documentary on Netflix to watching a Ted Talk on YouTube or listening to the (many!) wonderful podcasts to researching on wikipedia or signing up and doing an online course. I spent quite a bit of time compiling many resources and links to help him in this endeavor and to give him safe places and a spring board of ideas. As part of this, he will be keeping a journal and writing down summaries of what he learns each day. When I approached Ben with this and shared with him my experience he said he truly felt this was inspired of the Lord and he is super excited to implement this! We are kicking this off this coming week and so in addition to his Seminary, Enrichment, Math, Chemistry, History, Shakespeare and writing, he will be doing an hour of his "Personal Passion" Learning. We'll report back on how this plays out. This is also another reason why I love homeschooling! I can turn to the Lord (who loves my Benny more than anyone - and wants him to be successful!) and can receive revelation on what exactly he needs! I'm thankful for the opportunity to teach him and to guide him with attaining knowledge.
No comments:
Post a Comment