Time, Temple, Teaching

(Scroll down and turn off my Christmas music so you can view this video. This is the Newport Beach temple. It is the temple we sacrificed so much to have so close to us. Enjoy.) It's Christmas time. You know what that means. Busy, busy. For me today it ended up being a whole day of visiting teaching and going to the temple. I thought I would feel all stressed out, but I felt a calmness and peace.

 As I drove to one sister's home, she met me frantically on the sidewalk before I even got to her driveway. Her little boy was missing. She climbed in my car and we went on every street in her neighborhood calling and looking for him. A nice man who was working on holiday decorations in his yard went to the fields and horse stables to look for us. We did find him finally. He took his bike and went to the park. He is only 6. I had stayed calm during the whole ordeal because I needed to for his mom to keep it together, but I have to tell you, the adrenaline rush took it out of me. As she was putting him in time-out, I sat in the living room and composed myself.

Next to a sister who lives with chronic pain from a skiing accident 20 years ago. You would never know it because she just keeps going, but it's been difficult lately.

The next whose husband is #2 on the heart transplant list. They are ready to go at any time and I will get the dog and take him to the boarders at a moment's notice.

Enough time to get the carpool and get home to get ready for the temple. We did sealings. A sweet experience. In the last month, we have been able to participate in all the temple experiences. I have found myself thinking about how they all fit together. It really is pretty complete.

Return and Report

This is what I've mostly been doing today. Working on the visiting teaching report for February. I really like connecting with the women in the ward and talking with them. They do many good things for each other.
Here is my binder. We have 9 districts of sisters in the ward. One of those is a complete district of the YW Laurels who visit teach one sister with their mothers as their companion. What a fabulous idea that has been! They are learning to make appointments, give the message, meet needs, and report to their supervisor. I see great things happening with this new program.

There is still plenty to do by hand. But then I go to the church and input it into the church's system. The other great thing about this new program is that no one gets lost through the cracks. Everyone has to be accounted for. Much more efficient this way.

I had an uplifting experience this week. Last week I was running some errands and was in a particular neighborhood in the ward. I saw a sister walking her dog and pulled over to say hello and see how she was doing. We chatted for a bit and I asked if I could come and visit with her this week. We set a day and time. During our conversation, she shared with me of some of her struggles and how she was very discouraged. She had been contemplating leaving the church for several reasons and was determined to make her decision while on her walk that day. And then I saw her and pulled over. She said that made her mind up that she would give things another chance!

Imagine my surprise! I almost drove in another direction and at the last minute changed my mind that day. I don't know why. I wish I could say I had had some big spiritual moment with the Holy Ghost, but it wasn't like that. Just a very small quiet prompt. I'm so glad I followed it! This illustrated to me once again, that the Lord is in the details even when we think we're on top of things.

We hugged and wept together. We prayed together. She talked, I listened and encouraged. I LOVE this lady. She is amazing. "In the quiet heart is hidden, sorrows that the eye can't see."

I am grateful for this experience.