Transfers!?

I've been thinking about you and transfers so much today! Today in our 5th hour meeting, the bishop held a combined YM/YW meeting via zoom. It was really well done. We talked about goals among other things. One subject that the bishop really did well on was the topic "what advice would I give to my younger self." He'd touched basis with many of the youth to get their input and then called on them in the meeting. In regards to transfers, I would share McKay's advice that he gave at the meeting "things usually work out for the best." Or would you rather have Henry's advice, which was "go to the gym to get swoll!" :) Luckily he changed that at the last minute to be kind to everyone. Much better, in my opinion! That goofball! Today was fast Sunday for our ward. Next week is Stake Conference, hence fast Sunday. It was a great day. President Jackson visited our ward and bore his testimony. He talked about missionary work. It was a great testimony of how the work is going forth miraculously. On Friday night we went to Jaxson Robert's basketball game. It was so fun to watch him play! I talk with Pam who told me all about Max and Ryan and the little miracles getting them back to their missions. Ryan leaves on Feb 11th for Argentina and Max will return to the mission field on May 4th. I cried at the basketball game. I always cry when people talk missions. On Wednesday Erryn Parr told me that Dallin has his papers submitted. She said it has been nothing short of a miracle watching him make the change and have the desire to go. All of these experiences this week and listening to President Jackson made me realize how thankful I am to have a front row seat to missionary work during the pandemic. Everytime I hear stories and see the miracles, I know that the Lord has you on his radar and is working miracles on your behalf. I'm sure someday we will see the miracles and as we look back in the not too distant future, it will be clear that the Lord's loving hand has been leading you on your path. Today I fasted for a list of things, but at the top of the list was for you! Elder Ames, Denise, Klaus, the people in the Dallas West mission, The people in Ukraine, President and Sister Farley, and President and Sister Stratov. I also fasted for McKay. I've realized the past few weeks that we are in the thick of it with McKay. It's the 2nd half of junior year and 1st half of senior that are extremely difficult. He's questioning things. He's not doing the little things that are the most important - praying, reading scripture. As a parent you feel so little influence over your teenagers at this point and all you can do is pray and have faith that what you've taught will carry them through. The closing song at church was "I am a Child of God". My heart was touched as I heard McKay sing the simple words of this particular song. I was lucky to sit by McKay and I had a clear thought during the closing song "he's doing better than you think." I was so thankful for this moment and for whoever picked this to be our closing song. Whether or not he felt the spirit, I will never know. But those words are powerful and that was a tender part of my day. Keep him in your prayers. He's a stubborn one but he's got a heart of gold. The week flew by! I had a great time on Tuesday getting a pedicure with Cec. It was fun to hear about Will and catch up. Things are good at their house. Maddie is doing a little better. We had the chance to see everyone today - the Horsley clan came for dinner. Maddie looked better than usual...not physically, she's still so small but there was more of a light in her eyes. It was so good to see it. We were gathered for many reasons. Among them was to celebrate our January birthdays - Conner and Brigg. Today Connor passed the sacrament. Wednesday was a blur of young women things...as usual. We had our "New Beginnings" type of night where we introduced the theme and talked about the new youth program again, that we are still trying to get up and running amidst the pandemic that seems to be trying to slow it down. I love this quote that I shared at the meeting: “Against headwinds of pandemic and calamity, bringing about the full promise of the new Children and Youth program is still a work in progress—but there is urgency. Our youth cannot wait for the world to right itself before they come to know the Savior. Some are making decisions even now that they would not make if they understood their true identities—and His. And so the urgent call from God’s battalions in fateful training is for “all hands on deck!” Moms and dads, your sons need you to support them now as passionately as ever you have in the past when they have been about lesser things like badges and pins. Mothers and fathers, priesthood and Young Women leaders, if your youth are struggling, Children and Youth will help bring them to the Savior, and the Savior will bring them peace. Quorum and class presidencies, step up and take your rightful place in the Lord’s work.” Steven J Lund, “Finding Joy in Christ” October 2020 Thursday I am such a dragging, tired lady. I think I work so hard from Sunday to Wednesday that I'm not much good for anything when Thursday rolls around. Friday night was our night out with the Roberts, which was a total highlight. Saturday was the Gilbert twins' birthdays. Those are a couple of the pics that I am sending. We met at City Creek for some shopping. It was so so fun to be together and the Simmons met us there too. Everyone wanted to know how you are doing and they send their love. One of the other pictures that I am sending was one I snapped a screenshot of on Instagram earlier this week. It is of a woman praying with stacks of angels above her in support. That image really rings true to me. I feel that same support when I pray. The Come Follow Me challenge that I gave today was taken from some of my favorite scriptures in D&C 6:36-37 : "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not..." and for all of us to try this for one week...to look unto Christ in everything! I love the doctrine and covenants. Truth be told, I haven't spent much time in this book of scripture. I am so happy to not only read it but to study it each day right now. So many great messages for us for this day. Clearly a message about the spirit of revelation each week. I continue to seek out opportunities to learn what the Lord wants me to do as a mother, Young Women's leader, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, friend, missionary mom and the many other roles I have right now. What an amazing blessing it is to have a direct line to learn. Thank you for everything you do for me right now. I've had such a huge heart full of gratitude for the role you play in my life lately. You build me up and make me so happy each week. Even when it's a hard week, I feel the love of the Lord so close to me right now. Being the mother of a missionary is such a sacred honor - especially right now. My testimony is growing in ways that I never imagined. Your service is blessing our lives and although I miss you like crazy and look forward to your return, I am soaking up this experience and will miss it terribly once it's over. One of the greatest amounts of peace it is giving me right now is that our kids do and will go through rough patches and we as parents just hold on, fight like crazy and pray with faith that everything will work out for the best, as McKay so beautifully put it today. Keep up the great work! I love you tons! Can't wait to talk tomorrow. And I am so excited to hear about transfers! Love you TONS! Mom ❤