Something new is always around the corner, but for now it is bittersweet to say goodbye~
Rick
and I have served in the Tri Valley Young Single Adult (YSA) ward since August
2011 almost five years. The first three years and nine months, Rick was a
counselor in the bishopric with Bishop Farley and Brother Ranieri. This past
year he has served as the ward executive secretary with Bishop Hahn, Brother Hemming,
and Brother Erickson. While Rick had the callings, I hosted, taught marriage
& family relations and temple prep classes, talked, listened, and gave and
received hugs. I am not sure what
we will do without our kind hugs from everyone, especially Andy Black, nor how
we will do without seeing all of the friendly faces we have grown to love so
much!
Five
years has come and gone so, so fast.
Besides attending church on Sundays with the fun adult leaders and YSA,
everyone has pitched in to host CES firesides, group dinners, RS nights, book
clubs, pool parties and BBQs. We participated in regional activities,
especially the first year where one event included several adults in the ward
purchasing a total of 220 Costco pizzas to bring to the Oakland Stake Center to
feed 1400 YSAs. We helped decorate and cook many times over for Charity Ball
and New Year's Eve dances. In addition to attending the Oakland Temple regularly
with the YSA, we traveled to the Sacramento Temple when Oakland was closed to
do endowments and baptisms.
For FHE and Saturday activities we carved pumpkins;
ran relay races; had Nerf gun battles; did speed dating; guys brought dinner for the girls and the girls brought desserts for the guys; and participated in
talent shows, especially when we dressed up with glow sticks and did the “Evolution
of Dance” thanks to Sister Ranieri. We helped with wedding showers and
receptions; attended first temple endowments and marriage sealings; and fed
missionaries. We rafted the
American River twice, which included one brave Morgan Reedy breaking her leg
falling from a rope swing and her incredible YSA lifeguards, Whitney Brownlow being one
of them, who saved the day. We witnessed Nick Green give his first healing
blessing while standing in the river next to the raft, finally finished the
river raft and then, carefully drove Morgan to meet her parents in our car all the
way back to Dublin. We have cleaned chapels, creeks, and beaches, danced
and sang, and had a blast in this ward.
Leaving
to go back to our home ward, where I am sure it will be more sedate, is bittersweet
for we truly love all who make up the YSA ward past and present. They have taught us much, loved us
back, and kept us young at heart for which we will always be grateful.
One
of the many things I have loved about serving in the YSA ward was being able to
share with each other our faith and testimonies. Their examples of faith,
courage, strength and testimony have made mine greater. I feel so blessed to
have found the gospel of Jesus Christ restored by Joseph Smith and to know
there is a plan of happiness. Knowing we have a prophet and apostles today to
give us counsel from our Heavenly Father, along with the Book of Mormon and the
Bible, provides instruction, wisdom, and comfort, especially when life's
challenges are upon us. I love a quote I once heard that reads "Joy
is not the absence of pain, but the presence of God." We have the plan of
happiness, but it does not mean along the way we won't have hard times.
As
President Uchtdorf explained we need to “focus on being thankful in our
circumstances—whatever they may be”. I use to tell my children I want
them to be happy, but I have since learned there is so much more. Ralph Waldo
Emerson says: “The purpose of life
is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be
compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived
well”. I believe that if we strive to develop the characteristics of the
Savior, we will learn “to be useful, honorable, compassionate, and live a life
well lived” with our family and dear friends in homes, wards, neighborhoods and communities, which by my definition
is lasting happiness and true joy!
How
do we develop Christlike characteristics? Line upon line; precept upon
precept. One step forward at a
time moves us closer to God. My license plate on my car shortened to fit
the space is PRESS FORWARD (PRS4WRD). Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World whom
we need to align our lives with, for no matter what the world looks like now
and in the future, those on His side will win. We need be steadfast and
have a perfect brightness of hope. And when the going gets tough--and it
will--President Holland says for that moment "to just stand. Just plant your feet and stand immovable
for a while if that's all [we] can do". Stand firm and then when we can,
press forward again. DON’T GIVE UP!
Heavenly
Father and the Savior love each of us wherever we are on our individual path. The
Savior through His Atonement provides a way back for all of us and I know this
to be true. My prayer for each of us in whatever circumstance is that our faith in the Savior and gratitude for His Atonement will lead us to do all we can for those God asks us to serve. As we do this, we will move forward on our path toward our Heavenly Father.
I
am so thankful for my family—four of our five children have attended the Tri
Valley YSA ward while Rick and I have been here. I admit it is not always easy having your parents serve in
the young adult ward you attend. Once
my son Ryan smiling while we were driving home from the Tri Valley ward said,
“Mom, you inhibit me.” I replied
with a smile: “Ryan, you inhibit
me.” We both laughed and agreed
that we should not feel self-conscious in each other’s presence in the
ward. Sometimes, we all may feel
inhibited and hold back our true personalities and talents. A ward family may be alike in faith and
worship, but we need to celebrate and embrace the differences of each other,
invite and welcome those friendships, for that is what makes a ward family beautiful
where everyone will feel they belong. We need to be missionaries to each other as well as
inviting others new to join us.
I
am so grateful for the husband I married, which was the best decision I have
ever made. I admire that he
continually strives to be steadfast and hopeful from the time we were 15 when
we met at Northgate high school in Walnut Creek, to the time we married in the
Oakland Temple at 21, and now as he continues to be after 35 years of marriage.
I am very thankful for all those we have met and served with in this ward, especially
the two bishoprics and their wives along with the stake and ward
representatives. All of them love the YSA. We love the YSA and we are so grateful for them for they have truly blessed our lives and filled them with joy; we will continue to pray for them each day.
Nerf gun battles with Tri Valley and
Walnut Creek YSA wards
March 10, 2012
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