Becoming

I want to come back to this talk and read it when I have time. I came across it when I was planning my talk for this Sunday. I need to access it again here. The theme for a week at BYU was "The process of becoming." That randomly popped into my head as Kraig was praying. But this theme was given the year I was born, so unless I am having some crazy flash backs for a conversation I heard when I was just learning what sounds are or something else brought this on.. but I'll think of it eventually.

New Beginnings 2016

I was in charge of decorations for New Beginnings. 

"Press Forward for Sweet is the Work"

 You kind find the sight where she found these and the instructions here.

 I filled the boxes with candy necklaces and also had these so they could put the treats from the candy bar when they get a chance to pick away. (More candy was added after I took this picture, and even then we ran out very fast)

 My grandpa had these awesome jars with the colored lids so I covered over the original labels with printed paper.

 The Young Women President had the candyland version that I remember playing growing up. Researching it, apparently there are quite a few versions they have come out with.

 This is me attempting to make large candies from balloons and clear plastic wrap without any specific instructions.

 So our YM Pres was the one that helped me set up. With two adult helpers and two munchkin helpers, we finished in two and a half hours. It looks like it took maybe an hour. :D We used push pins into that crazy wall you find in churches and it stayed up the whole time. We just used the plastic tablecloths for the wall and the cloth tablecloths for the actual tables. The girls dress up accessories worked great for their prop enjoyment. "Grab a Prop and Smile Sweet."  Was the sign.

 The path led to Gumball Lake. If they chose, one person draws a card (the color cards from the actual CandyLand game) , shouts out the color; who ever had the next turn, finds that next color. If their spot has something written, the move forward according to what it says. "You spent your Sunday afternoon working on Personal Progress, move forward two spaces." Etc Etc. The first to Gumball Lake wins!  (Yes I came up with this game all by myself)

 Press Forward For Sweet is The Work. That is how I tied in the decorating theme. When I heard Press Forward, I thought of a path. When I thought of a path, I thought of Candyland because she had said New Beginnings is more of the fun light hearted activity and Evening of Excellence was more of the spiritual serious type meeting. I had to jump on this while I had the chance.

 I did a path for fun from the front door right to the Relief Society Room.

 I found scriptures that had "sweet" in them and broke down this year's scripture by having definitions of the different words found in that scripture.

The girls seemed to have a lot of fun. They liked sitting together in the ball pit to take pictures. The thing that took the least amount of time is the activity they enjoyed the most which was the photo booth. The other dessert was a lemon cake which was great. We also gave them their charm of Christ for this year's charm bracelet. So wonderful! I love my calling. The more I am in it, the more I enjoy it. This and Evening of Excellence decorations I counted towards hours to my Personal Progress project. (Since they told us the leaders can earn their recognition award as well along with the girls.)

Happy Potion

As these words are my diary screaming out loud, here is my release. A place I can write. I've been having a hard time lately, for no reason in particular. It comes and goes and it is extremely hard to explain. As H was trying to pour out his heart in compassion, the kids were being loud. He calmly said, "Girls, you need to hear this too. Mommy feels sad in her head and she needs our cooperation." As K has been into empty polish bottles as princess potions, she rushes to her room to "make me a potion to help me feel happy."Later Shalae insisted on taking the piles of laundry off to each designated room. She said "I help with the laundry. Mommy, I love you so much." How astounding that a 2 and 1/2 year old could be so in tune of what is going on around her. (Yes tantrum city 7 minutes later when sister wouldn't let her open her special drawer but it was still a previous beautiful moment.) She was taking some clothes to mommy and daddy's bed and as she came back out she said, "Mommy, I'm not scared of the dark. The dark helps me sleep." I had taught her that only once last week as she was telling me how scared of the dark she was. I told her the dark was alright and we walked to each room saying hi to the dark. Only once and she let me know she was not afraid. Those moments. Few and far between at times. Those times smack dab in the middle of some glob of despair; it finds you. It seeks you out as if it was so easy to find me. This reassurance that everything is going to be alright. And these are those little moments that helps your day to heal so that healing can carry you to your sleepy early morning. As it finds you, you can sleep knowing you saw a tiny miracle shining just around that corner you thought would be hard to spot. Its a truly beautiful thing.