June 2022, Week 1

*Today at church we had Fast and Testimony Meeting.  I go to church with some amazing people, who are passing through this life and their trials with grace and hope.  I'm blessed to know them.

It was a delight!

May 2022, Week 5

*Today at church we had some pretty great talks.  A missionary shared a story of being able to teach the right thing at the right time, and the investigator sharing what he (the missionary) needed to hear.  A sister shared about how fasting blessed her family when their son was born with a heart condition and needed surgery and further healing.  A brother shared how he and his wife struggled financially at the start of their marriage, and wondered when they'd finally "get there," but learned that self reliance is an ongoing process, not a destination.  I realized as they were talking (not for the first time) that when they shared their experiences, their messages became real--and memorable!  It is a good reminder for me to focus on (WRITE DOWN) experiences that I have had and to be willing to share them to uplift others.

*Today at church I substituted on the organ, and as I was looking over the congregation, I thought how the area we live in has grown so much.  I tried to identify who had been in the ward as long or longer than our family, and there was probably only about 10 percent of the people in that group.  We've been here for 13 years now, which is the longest I've lived anywhere, and we've seen a lot of changes.  I miss a lot of the people I knew that are now in other wards from border realignments, but I'm grateful for the growth, and I'm grateful for opportunities for my own growth, even though sometimes I don't appreciate it because it is hard.  But what good has ever come from things being easy?

*Today at church the choir sang for the first time since Christmas, and I am the "assignment" pianist (meaning I'm not called, but just asked to help out).  It was a super pretty, easy song--and I messed up on the intro by starting my right hand an octave too high!  But through the grace of God because of all the prayers I asked to be able to keep the Spirit of the song and not detract from it, I plodded forward and fixed it.  It seems not many people knew there was a problem, so my prayers were answered.  Our choir director is moving and was released today, so no more choir for a while again, I guess.

*I also, with Ben, substituted in Benson's Primary class.  We talked about the book of Joshua, and told the stories of crossing the Jordan River, Rahab saving the spies, and capturing Jericho.  (We even brought some blocks for the kids to build a wall, march around, and knock down!)  Be strong and of a good courage!  That needs to be on a pillow, I think. ☺

It was a delight!

May 2022, Week 4

*Today at church I was able to substitute in Primary as the pianist.  Primary will always have my heart!  The songs especially are what bring the Spirit to me.  For example, the closing song was "Keep the Commandments."  It is such a simple song, but I think the lines reminding me that "in this there is safety and peace" have been with me since I was a tiny Primary girl, and has given me the motivation to keep those commandments, even when the world made it seem foolish or unwise or even wrong.  Once again, the Spirit testified to me that this is the way to find true safety and peace.  (There is a conference talk by Elder Bednar from the April 2022 General Conference about the song "Let Us All Press On" where he emphasizes that "we will heed not what the wicked may say, but the Lord alone we will obey."  It's really good, and kind of a grown-up explanation of this Primary song.  Read it. :) )

It was a delight!

May 2022, Week 3

*Today at church we sang "How Firm a Foundation," and it made me think of the Old Testament readings we've been doing for Come, Follow Me this year.  This week we read in Numbers, and a weekly YouTube channel I watch about it (called "Don't Miss This") pointed some good things out.  Chapter 11--the Israelites lusted after different food (4-6), and were given enough meat until they loathed it (18-20), BUT the Lord reminded them that He will keep his promises (23).  Chapter 12--Miriam and Aaron resented Moses being the prophet (1-2), and the cloud departed, and Miriam became leprous (10), BUT she was healed and allowed back after seven days.  Chapters 13-14--The people doubted the Lord's plan and promises (13:28-33), even though Caleb and Joshua stilled them and said they could overcome, but the adults didn't believe and therefore wouldn't be allowed to enter the promised land after wandering for 40 years (14:23-24, 30-33), BUT the Lord promised to be long-suffering and merciful with them in their journey (14:18-20).  Chapter 21--the people now loathed the gift of manna (5), so the Lord sent fiery serpents that were killing the people (6), BUT he provided a way to be saved, if the people would look and trust in the Lord (7-9).  Chapters 22-23--Balaam was blinded to the things he needed to see, and saw only what he wanted to, which were the riches promised to him (22:17-18), so the donkey spoke and told him about what he needed to see (22:19-35), BUT the people were blessed, not cursed, and everyone was numbered (23:8-10) and the promise that Christ will come was made (24:17).  This is the story (again!) about how the Lord will not give up on us.  He is the Firm Foundation that we need to use every day.  He will be there, without fail, even when we mess up again and again.  He'll strengthen me, and bless me, and cause me to stand, upheld by His righteous, omnipotent hand.  Honestly, that is thrilling.

It was a delight!

May 2022, Week 2

*Today at church we celebrated Mother's Day!  We had some sweet talks and musical numbers, including Benson with the Primary.  I just need to pause and soak up my family as they are at this moment in time-- Scott off at BYU, Emma at the YSA ward in Dallas, Gracie, Caytie, and Tessa in Young Womens, and my baby boy in his next-to-last year in Primary.  They made the sweetest little notes and taped them in a circle on the bathroom mirror this morning.  I am tremendously blessed to be loved by these people.  I was thinking about a Mother's Day several years ago when a few kids were sick, so Ben stayed home with them and I went to church alone, as I had some responsibilities to take care of.  I was actually really happy to be able to concentrate on the talks without disciplining anyone or being distracted.  Those hard church days with my kids are now (mostly) over, and I find myself wanting to gather everyone all closer just as they're ready to let go and move on.  That's the mother dilemma,  I guess.  I just need to appreciate what "is" when it is.

*Before church, my girls were given slips of paper and asked to write the top three people they would like to share a tent with for Girls Camp this summer.  I glanced at one of my daughter's paper, and she had written: "1) One of my sisters 2) Someone who might be lonely or need a friend.  I don't really have a preference."  Then I saw the top of one of my other daughter's list, and it listed her other sisters.  My heart was so touched.

*For Relief Society, the Elder's Quorum (mostly arranged by Ben) brought us fruit and cake slices, which was delicious, and we were able to mingle with each other.  Sometimes this is actually a really hard thing for me to do (mingling, that is), but the sister I do Primary Activities with sat with me and we had a good time talking together.  (She's the other Holly in the ward. 😁)  

*Now I'm going to have a lovely dinner prepared by Ben and Gracie, followed by some games.

It was (and will be) a delight!

May 2022, Week 1

*Today at church we had Fast and Testimony meeting, and the youth were invited to share their thoughts about the mini missions they had participated in the day before.  They had spent half of Saturday at the church doing workshops about missionary work, and they went with their "companion" to eat dinner in their "mission" (at a member's home) and then shared a message they had prepared with the family.  (We had hosted a companionship as the South Africa/Belgium mission. 🙂  Unfortunately, one of the boys had a migraine and threw up shortly after arriving and had to go home, but his companion shared a sweet message with us and invited us to pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon again, and I realize now that I forgot to take advantage of that opportunity, and will do it tonight!)  Back to church!  The youth were so excited to share the things they learned.  Their testimonies are sweet and pure, and I look forward to seeing great things come in their futures.  My heart was touched.

It was a delight!

April 2022, Week 4

*Today at church I helped with Peimary as the teachers were in a training meeting.  I saw a lot of my former preschool students who are now reading scriptures, sharing sacred experiences they've had, and learning to be enthusiastic participants in gospel living.  I'm blessed to have been a part of the beginnings of the lives of these awesome people.

*Today after church we had a girls camp meeting (three of our girls and Ben are going to this first ward-only camp!), followed by a pot luck dinner (we get out of church at 3:30--I brought apple pie bars which were pretty darn good), followed by ward choir practice (which I subbed for on the piano), followed by a Stake Relief Society choir practice for a conference on Saturday, followed by my family book club virtual meeting.  Busy day, but...

It was a delight!