Mirror Mirror on the Wall

"Discretion is the better part of valor," is a quote I have long used in a variety of situations.  I like the idea of it. Today, SK tossed it back to me in defense of what I would call an appalling lack of helpful husbandly observation.
We were leaving for the center, and it was dark.  I have been putting lipstick on for several decades and frankly, I can put it on in the dark just fine...usually.  Tonight we were in a hurry, but I pulled the lipstick out of my purse and quickly put some on, then grabbed the lipliner on and gave a good application of that.
I went to the coat rack by the front door where he was patiently waiting with his coat on.  I put my scarf on, then my coat and pulled out my gloves.  We talked a little bit while I was donning the winter gear.  We were just about to walk out the door and I glanced in a little mirror there by the front door (that is a great idea by the way...a mirror by the front door...there is one at the church and in a country where the wind blows all the time, people love it!).

The lip liner I had so generously applied was eyeliner...black eyeliner.  I let out a little shriek and asked, "Didn't you notice that?"

To which he replied, "Yes, but I thought you were just trying something new and I didn't want to make you feel bad."  Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.

A mirror in the entryway is a good idea.

This was the night we had sacrament meeting at the center followed by a YSA Council meeting.  As every other one we have been to, tonight's sacrament meeting was excellent.  Joakim has been my translator at those meetings and he does a great job.  I always feel much inspired by the messages. Two of our YSas spoke about how to be more Christlike.

Both talks were excellent.  One of them has served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake.  She shared some experiences that had been meaningful to her.  She showed us a picture of about 15 young men in white shirts and ties in front of the Christus.  She said one great experience was when a bishop asked them to share their testimonies with the young men in the picture.

Her senior companion started out by asking the boys what they do to get closer to the Savior....they got some great answers.  Then the sister bore her testimony that just like they approached the Christus physically, we need to order our lives in a way to be closer to Him.

We had a speaker from the Stake.  He has 3 children in the YSA program and I love them.  He told about thinking about giving this talk and introducing himself.  He would say, "I am Emma's, Christian's and Kaspar's father, Jutte's husband....and went on to list the very important people in his life and his relationship to them.  He tied his talk together by speaking about the importance of being close to the Savior and of identifying ourselves by that key relationship.

I am sure that it loses something in the translation, but I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting.

Afterwards at the council meeting, with nearly 20 there, we had a lively discussion about upcoming activities and there are many.  That meeting was not translated for me, but I sat listening... inferring meaning to comments.  I was startled and pleased to realize that I can hear distinct words and even know what some of them are.  One of the disheartening things for several weeks has been how all of the sounds blend together and I have thought I would never pick this up.  I am much encouraged!

I think everyone felt the enthusiasm and excitement at the council meeting.  The YSas are planning to go on splits with the missionaries in on ongoing effort to get more of the YSAs active who have fallen away.  There is much work to do there.  We also have a special temple session this coming Saturday.  The temple president told us that we could have a special session on Saturday afternoons if we get enough people.  It will be the new English one!  SK has been the driving force behind it.  He has also been encouraging our returned missionaries to work in the temple, for which the president has been very grateful.

I am looking forward to being there with many of the wonderful young people. It will be awesome.

I'm thinking of getting a full-length mirror for the entryway.  :-)