"I have a weakness for Eminem" I announced to my van load of fellow Relief Society sisters.
Some blank looks came my way.
"You know, the rapper?" I tried to clarify
"Oh, I thought you meant M&M's" many responded. We then proceeded to talk about M&M's and what our favorite ones were, and why pretzel M&M's were a big flop, but Pretzels and chocolate go so well together. Any marketing people wondering, a van full of women decided you got your chocolate to pretzel ratio way wrong- HELLO MORE CHOCOLATE PLEASE!!
It was rather a strange time for me to bring up that I liked Eminem, and an audience that I don't think shares my Achilles heal for profanity laden white boy rap. You see, we were just returning from a whole Saturday spent in what I would like to call "spiritual bliss" , well apart from the metal chairs any way, it was pretty close to Heaven on Earth.
From 9 am this morning, until probably about 2, 2:30 we were spiritually enriched in a multi-stake Relief Society activity where Sheri Dew was our guest speaker, and she very much enriched our souls. I have pages of notes I took, and at least five years worth of scripture study topics and ideas. Sheri Dew is amazing, because, well she is her. But really, What makes her so amazing? I think its because she is so real, and she speaks to everyone. I especially loved her dating advice, which consisted of, when you feel sorry for yourself because you are not married and dating is hard, think of Sister Dew, she's had to go through this nonsense much longer. (that is my summary, not her words)
Most of her talks, which were incredible, were about realizing our great potential and influence in the world, and our strength in our testimonies and faith. I'm not going to recap the whole conference, or much of what she said, apart from that she wants a "Sisters of the Peninsula" Tee shirt, and I intend to design it- today.
No, if you weren't there, I really can't help to recapture what she said, or much of what I felt. But I think I can sum it up with one experience.
Between sessions, she did a brief meet and greet. I felt strongly that I should just go shake her hand. So I did. I got in line, and she shook my hand. She talked a bit with the bunch of us there, and then she shook my hand again, gave me a hug, and told me to go change the world. I am sure she told a lot of sisters that today, it was kind of the theme, but I felt like this was a special charge that I was meant to hear. I know I have changed the world to some degree already, I am well on the path to doing that, but sometimes I feel discouraged and overwhelmed and I don't think I can go on. Sister Dew told us she has that problem too. But she told us how to overcome that, and since she speaks from many more years of experience than me, and because she too is single and understands what that is like, and yet is still a champion for marriage, families, motherhood, and the importance of raising children, well, her testimony and experience helped me today to see the strength one can posses when one relies on the lord and is anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
She didn't hid from us that life is hard. She didn't hide from us that life is joyful and happy. Its both. Its sad sometimes, its heartbreaking at times, but Jesus Christ has power to heal us, and to comfort any storm. God loves us, and often its through simple things we do for each other that we can feel that love and healing.
As I rode in that van home, full of sisters that have been apart of that strength and healing for me, I thought about that meeting, before it, after it, during it. I thought about all the people that love me, and that I dearly love. And I had to agree, the sisters of the Peninsula are amazing people, amazing friends, with strong spirits and deep testimonies. I am so glad I moved her to meet them, and I am so glad we could influence each others lives.
As Sister Dew started her talk, she talked about how each of us has a direct influence on a MINIMUM of 1,000 people. I don't know how many people I have influenced, but I was surrounded by a lot of people that have changed my life so much just by their love and their examples. And that is how the world is changed, people who love each other, serve each other, and reach out to perfect strangers.
I made a new friend today. I can't remember her name, and I couldn't write it if I did, but there was a sister sitting with us from the Seabeck ward, her smile and her warmth added to the brightness of my day. I don't know much about her. But she has a calling teaching Sunday school to the youth, and she is a stay at home mom with five kids. Yeah, She's changing the world. I don't have kids, but I have Primary. Sometimes I don't feel like I do much to help the world, but you know what, I think there are a few kids I have taught in primary that I may have influenced in some small way. I rode to the meeting with one of the kids moms. He cried the day he found out I wasn't going to be his teacher any more.
Bottom line, Living the gospel makes me happy, It enriches my life, and fills it with loads of love. I live alone. I have no family close by me, and yet I know I have as much family as anyone else, I know I am loved, and I know I am taken care of, where ever I go. I am about to go see my Lithuanian family, I haven't seen them for seven years, but I don't love them any less today than I did seven years ago when I got on that plane and flew home. What a wonderful thing that is. This is charity, the pure love of Christ in action in my life. Well, time to go design a tee shirt.
Some blank looks came my way.
"You know, the rapper?" I tried to clarify
"Oh, I thought you meant M&M's" many responded. We then proceeded to talk about M&M's and what our favorite ones were, and why pretzel M&M's were a big flop, but Pretzels and chocolate go so well together. Any marketing people wondering, a van full of women decided you got your chocolate to pretzel ratio way wrong- HELLO MORE CHOCOLATE PLEASE!!
It was rather a strange time for me to bring up that I liked Eminem, and an audience that I don't think shares my Achilles heal for profanity laden white boy rap. You see, we were just returning from a whole Saturday spent in what I would like to call "spiritual bliss" , well apart from the metal chairs any way, it was pretty close to Heaven on Earth.
From 9 am this morning, until probably about 2, 2:30 we were spiritually enriched in a multi-stake Relief Society activity where Sheri Dew was our guest speaker, and she very much enriched our souls. I have pages of notes I took, and at least five years worth of scripture study topics and ideas. Sheri Dew is amazing, because, well she is her. But really, What makes her so amazing? I think its because she is so real, and she speaks to everyone. I especially loved her dating advice, which consisted of, when you feel sorry for yourself because you are not married and dating is hard, think of Sister Dew, she's had to go through this nonsense much longer. (that is my summary, not her words)
Most of her talks, which were incredible, were about realizing our great potential and influence in the world, and our strength in our testimonies and faith. I'm not going to recap the whole conference, or much of what she said, apart from that she wants a "Sisters of the Peninsula" Tee shirt, and I intend to design it- today.
No, if you weren't there, I really can't help to recapture what she said, or much of what I felt. But I think I can sum it up with one experience.
Between sessions, she did a brief meet and greet. I felt strongly that I should just go shake her hand. So I did. I got in line, and she shook my hand. She talked a bit with the bunch of us there, and then she shook my hand again, gave me a hug, and told me to go change the world. I am sure she told a lot of sisters that today, it was kind of the theme, but I felt like this was a special charge that I was meant to hear. I know I have changed the world to some degree already, I am well on the path to doing that, but sometimes I feel discouraged and overwhelmed and I don't think I can go on. Sister Dew told us she has that problem too. But she told us how to overcome that, and since she speaks from many more years of experience than me, and because she too is single and understands what that is like, and yet is still a champion for marriage, families, motherhood, and the importance of raising children, well, her testimony and experience helped me today to see the strength one can posses when one relies on the lord and is anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
She didn't hid from us that life is hard. She didn't hide from us that life is joyful and happy. Its both. Its sad sometimes, its heartbreaking at times, but Jesus Christ has power to heal us, and to comfort any storm. God loves us, and often its through simple things we do for each other that we can feel that love and healing.
As I rode in that van home, full of sisters that have been apart of that strength and healing for me, I thought about that meeting, before it, after it, during it. I thought about all the people that love me, and that I dearly love. And I had to agree, the sisters of the Peninsula are amazing people, amazing friends, with strong spirits and deep testimonies. I am so glad I moved her to meet them, and I am so glad we could influence each others lives.
As Sister Dew started her talk, she talked about how each of us has a direct influence on a MINIMUM of 1,000 people. I don't know how many people I have influenced, but I was surrounded by a lot of people that have changed my life so much just by their love and their examples. And that is how the world is changed, people who love each other, serve each other, and reach out to perfect strangers.
I made a new friend today. I can't remember her name, and I couldn't write it if I did, but there was a sister sitting with us from the Seabeck ward, her smile and her warmth added to the brightness of my day. I don't know much about her. But she has a calling teaching Sunday school to the youth, and she is a stay at home mom with five kids. Yeah, She's changing the world. I don't have kids, but I have Primary. Sometimes I don't feel like I do much to help the world, but you know what, I think there are a few kids I have taught in primary that I may have influenced in some small way. I rode to the meeting with one of the kids moms. He cried the day he found out I wasn't going to be his teacher any more.
Bottom line, Living the gospel makes me happy, It enriches my life, and fills it with loads of love. I live alone. I have no family close by me, and yet I know I have as much family as anyone else, I know I am loved, and I know I am taken care of, where ever I go. I am about to go see my Lithuanian family, I haven't seen them for seven years, but I don't love them any less today than I did seven years ago when I got on that plane and flew home. What a wonderful thing that is. This is charity, the pure love of Christ in action in my life. Well, time to go design a tee shirt.
So incredible, Mandi! I'm glad you're in my life. :)
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