New Calling

 

Yep, its official.  I am the new Young Women's president in the Bermuda Dunes Ward.  Shocker, I know!  The bishop told me that he went to the temple with the short list of names for this calling, and my name wasn't on it.  But while he was there, my name came so strongly to him that he knew it was supposed to ME.  Maybe it is just a line he gives to everyone that he saddles with a big calling, but it worked, because although my head was shouting out one good reason after another why I couldn't do this job ("you are TOO busy, woman!"), the only response I could really give to was a quiet "OK". 

 That was last Sunday, so it has been a stressful week for me, (triggering the insomniatic rambling of the "My Document Stack" post last week.)  I spent the week fasting, praying, and attending the temple, trying to come up with names for callings, tying up loose ends for my old calling as second counselor in the RS presidency, getting reoriented with the YW program, and getting filled in with EVERYTHING there is to know about my new calling, all while trying to keep it all a secret and continue with the duties of everyday life and the scheduling whoas of the first week of school. Overwhelming is and understatement.

All week little thoughts have been flitting through my head, pros and cons, about my new calling.  I'm glad I had to keep this a secret all week, because if I would have written this last Sunday, my cons might have outweighed my pros.  But a week's time has given me perspective, and I am confident the pros will win out.  Lets make a list of "+"s and "-"s, shall we?

Leaving Relief Society -

Attending YW +

Not working with Denice, Myra, and Maria anymore - -

Getting to work closely with Dayna, Kathy, Shannon, and other YW leaders ++

Not seeing all the dear relief society sisters each week -

Really getting to know all the great YW leaders better, and building closer friendships with them ++

Getting to know and build friendships with the girls too  ++

Having to compete with two of my dearest friends, Alysa and Denice, for sisters to fill callings -

Having to fill callings -

Getting to know the sisters I will get to fill those callings +

Being the boss - - 

A great, hard-working  and helpful board ++

Girl time +++

Planning, planning, planning  YW activities -

Not having to plan any more enrichment activities +

Getting to attend enrichment activities without having to be in charge of anything +

Not feeling guilty when I have to sneak out of enrichment to go the taekwando class +

Being in charge of everything in YW- -

The bagful of RS counselor stuff I get to hand off to the sister who will replace me +

The carload of YW stuff Staci happily handed off to me - -

The fact that everything Staci gave me was so organized +

Having to keep it organized -

More girl time +++

Less time with my boys -

Less time with my boys +

Bearing the heavy weight of being ultimately responsible for those sweet girls -

Those sweet girls +++

Sisters to help me carry that responsibility ++

More craziness added to my family life -

A loving supportive husband +++

Fewer Tuesday and Thursday nights +

Every Wednesday, Sunday, and lots of Saturdays - -

Chaperoning dances -

Girls camp +++

Being with Alex, and soon Nate, at combined activities ++

Driving -

A big suburban+

More excuses to stamp+

Less time to stamp -

8am ward council meetings -

Not having to get white shirts and ties on six little boys once a month+

Did I mention girl time? +++

Helping the girls to grow +

The girls helping me to grow +++

Wow, I think I counted exactly twice as many pluses  as negatives!  I'm started to get excited about this.  Try not to be jealous of my calling, OK?  Remember, 'Thou shalt not covet."  

Hey, what do you mean by "no danger of that!" ?