Far and wide His love proclaim...

This past Sunday we went to listen to one of the teenagers friends talk in church before he leaves on his mission.

It is customary to have the newly called missionary speak in Sacrament meeting before they leave and then speak again when they return. 

But the talk isn't all about them, which would be so fun but they share a gospel topic, assigned by the bishopric and it's very special to hear them share their testimony.  Elder Parry talked on Gratitude.  His father is the Bishop in his ward and closed the meeting, and was able to share things about his son.  So that made it so personal.  He is a really neat kid and has become a very special friend to "the teenager".  He is such a special kid who has learned to overcome many trials in his life, and came out of them with the biggest heart!!  It was one of the first traits that I remember Jacob sharing with me about him when they first met at Helaman camp one summer.  He has been gifted with a photographic memory, especially for addresses and phone numbers, which will serve him well in missionary service.  And has a great aptitude for the power of forgiveness, and not judging others.  We are so proud of him and he will be a wonderful missionary.

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He leaves this beautiful valley...

 For another valley in the California, Anaheim mission...

They will be so lucky to have him!!

But another one gone.  As one friend after another leaves for the mission field... the teenager is doing well, but I am starting to feel a little anxious (big surprise?), and somehow a call for him to serve in a foreign land doesn't seem so appealing and adventurous as it did when we started this process.  

My Strong Silent Mysterious Man had a dream the other night that he was asked to go and support Elder Parry in Anaheim. 

We will see.

Make new friends and keep the old...

The ward council group and our families from our church got together for a dinner and social.  Making new friends and getting to know new things about each other, being together as families, and laughing with old friends.  We have to do this more often, hopefully it kicks off the desire in all of us to do so.  

I didn't get near enough pictures, lots of people that must be vampires or something, because they were invisible in front of the lens or were ducking and hiding from me.  All the more reason to do it again.  Practice makes perfect they say.

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A good time was had by all!

Healing for the heart and soul...

The oldest class of the young women in our youth group planned a tour of the local hospital for career night research.

One of them had been volunteering there for 4 years and was qualified and had access to give us some insight  into what it involves and some of the things she has learned in the time she has been working there.

 It was fascinating and I learned so much! 

Volunteering is a wonderful way to learn more about what you like and don't like if you are trying to decide what and where you want to go in life.  Plus, it adds a nice line to any resume or college application as a bonus.

But the real joy comes from as Mother Theresa said so beautifully...

"To show great love for God and our neighbor we need not DO great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God."

In the process I learned that they also have a program that they will train volunteers how to train their own dogs to learn to come and do "dog therapy class" for recovery patients.  It was hard to ignore that screaming out to me!! 

Even though, I am not sure the hospital world is ready to meet my sweet rambunctious Taylor... I have so much faith and passion for this concept (pet's are so very healing to the heart and soul), that I am willing to work at it to find a way to make these two worlds collide (maybe once I have my teenager out on his mission... and one day when I am not juggling life as a young women president... one day, maybe.  I picked up an application, you can't put these things off for too long... smile). 

A great time was had by all!

New Friends...

Last week we went with the teenager to get the peep sight fixed on his bow.  We have a pretty new, very nice bow shop in town again. It's nice to have a place to shoot indoors close by again.  I really miss seeing some of our archery friends on a regular basis.

 I always tease my Mom about making friends everywhere she goes... but I guess I do it too.  He was behind the counter minding his own business and guarding the place.

 He was so adorable, I can't remember his name?  I am horrible with names.  It will come to me later.

 But he was so friendly and loving, and had the cutest "airplane ears" (you know... the kind that fly out from his head in all directions).  I love those ears!

And the happiest tail (deadly, but happy)!  I love making new friends!!  But I was totally busted when I got home and got the sniff down.  I had some explaining to do.