First, good news/bad news: Lea, our wonderful energetic sweet beautiful young co-chairman of the YSAs, has received her mission call....to Scotland/Ireland! The only place better than that is Denmark! We are excited for her....she is leaving on our Lia's birthday, January 15.
We have several others who will be leaving within the next couple of months, and a few who have submitted papers and are waiting for their calls. It is exciting just to watch as they begin the process and then wait expectantly for their very important day to arrive....the day they open that call.
It has now been around 2 years since we began that process ourselves. We were surprised that it took so long to fill everything out and have all the necessary exams and appointments. After the stake president pushed the button it was another 3 or 4 weeks before the call came in the mail, then it was another few weeks before we were scheduled to go to Sacramento to apply for visas. After that little trip, it was nearly 5 months before we entered the MTC. In some ways, it seems like we have already been on this mission 2 years!
I enjoyed the day yesterday, and I enjoy fixing the meals, and I enjoy being with the YSAs, but Fridays are always hard for me. I feel like I am moving around in quicksand. I am tired! So that always makes serving in the temple a little more difficult than it would be normally.
After getting up this morning, I worked on things that required the least amount of energy. We took the bus to the temple at 1, stayed until nearly 9 and then took the bus home. It is getting a little more chilly each day it seems. It may be nearly time to break out the winter coats, but since I almost always have a sweater and scarf on, the layering has been working out great.
Our time in the temple was beautiful. There is one stake on Zealand or Sjaelland - as the Danes say...the island upon which we live. The wards/branches are spread all over the island, yet everyone seems to know everyone. We are beginning to know more and more people from other wards and branches, and as a result, when we serve in the temple, we see a LOT of people we know. It is a sweet experience to greet so many friends.
I did the work for a woman named Gertrude Caroline Van Drimmelen, born in 1900 in Dallas, Iowa. I came home and looked on Family Search to see if she was related to my dear Aunt Adell Van Drimmelen's husband, but could find no immediate connection. It is a rare name, especially in the States, and filled my heart with sweet memories of my aunt. I guess there is no better place to remember someone you are close to.....since so much of the work that goes on there is for those who have moved beyond our mortal lives here.
Thornton Wilder said something about "The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude." The older I get the more gratitude I feel for those dear people who have meant so much to me and who are gone from this life.
Yes...the temple was a good place to be today.
I went last night for the first time in ages and was soooo happy to be there! It's nice to be somewhere where your only job is to listen and be peaceful.
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought about it quite that way, but you are right.....a very good assignment indeed,
DeleteSo nice that you were able to have such a good day in the temple - especially after wearing yourself out on Thursday. Hope you can catch up on some rest this week-end! Yea! Fat chance of that happening. Do it anyway! You are such a support to those great young people - and all others you run into. Keep up the good work. L&P
ReplyDeleteTemple days are always good days....as you know, just about better than anyone I know. L&P
DeleteWhat a sweet experience!! I love looking at the names and thinking about the history during their lifetime, or thinking about any connections I might have. What a neat thing to run across a Van Drimmelen. Crazy coincidence! Surely there is a connection somewhere. I think of Aunt Adell often--everything time we talk about Bethany's full name. And I DO feel grateful for her example, love, and stories. I still miss her, though.
ReplyDeleteI still miss her too. She was a dear dear lady, and it is so lovely that little Bethany is living proof that she is remembered.
DeleteThat is a sweet experience to have! I went through the other day and out of the 5 names, 4 of them were Anna (technically one was Johanna but the "anna" was still there)! And I had been thinking about my Anna the whole morning before I went into the temple. Like Dad says, there are no coincidences in the temple. Love you!
ReplyDeleteI can't even tell you how many Annas I have done the work for. It always makes me think about her. I truly do believe that there are no coincidences there. Help is much nearer inside the temple. Love you too!
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