400th Birthday

 Earlier this year, on April 20th to be exact, I finished listening to the New Testament and I blogged about that experience briefly here on my blog.  Although I did not mention it then, the high point for me in reading the New Testament was that I was reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) during the Easter season.  I really enjoyed hearing again about the life of Jesus Christ and doing that at Easter time.  

Then, in the elation of that accomplishment, I rashly decided I would listen to the Old Testament, and I posted that commitment on the blog at that time, hoping that my public declaration would hold me to that goal.  And it did.  Oh, it did!  I often wanted to give up this Old Testament goal all together.  

For starters, the  King James Version of the Bible has 66 books and 1189 chapters, with the New Testament having only 23 of those books and a mere 260 chapters.  For those of you unwilling to do the math, that means that the Old Testament of the KJV has 43 books and 969--did you catch that????--969 chapters.  

Now I had read the Old Testament cover to cover once before so I thought I knew what I was getting into.  No, I can say I did not really know what I was getting into.  It is all together different to hear 969 chapters of the Old Testament than to read 969 chapters of the Old Testament.  Anyone who knows me knows I am an avid and a fast reader.  Reading 969 chapters is a lot but not overwhelming.  Listening to that many chapters was overwhelming.

At the beginning, I enjoyed parts of the text and would look up reference material when I had questions.  However, about the time when I was reading of the division of the kingdoms into "Israel" and "Judah," it began to seem like I would likely never finish the Old Testament in my natural life time.  So I began to listen in large chunks of chapters--as many as I could hear at any one sitting--eager to put this task behind me.  That was both good and bad. Good because I finished sooner but bad because it was often too much, really.  Once you cram that many chapters into your head, it is all you can do to collect your thoughts and move on with your day once you have finished listening. 

Another reason not readily apparent at the mention of the Old Testament is that, among other things, it chronicles people who are doing all kinds of terrible things.  There where times when my kids would pass through the kitchen while I was listening to the Old Testament and they would say, "Mom!  What are you listening to?! That's creepy! Turn it off!"  Yep, sometimes it was "creepy."  There is a difference between reading a recitation of awful events and listening to a recitation of awful events.  There is a graphic quality to hearing it that is unsettling.

During the time of my New and Old Testament listening, I found out that this year is the 400th birthday of the King James' translation of the Bible.  What a serendipitous thing!   I wish I could say that I knew that before I undertook my Old and New Testament listening goals, but I did not, although I am pleased with that convergence.  

Here's to the first and last time I will ever listen to the Old Testament start to finish--and I have accomplished that goal in a very auspicious year to boot.

Spendin' some time with my nephew

Just when you thought you were going to see another swim picture, I toss in this soccer picture just to keep you guessing, right?!  Saturday morning, I had the treat of going to my nephew's soccer game--just the two of us going and coming.

The man sitting next to me at the game did not know I was W's relative and he kept talking to his wife about what a good player W is and W's good work as goalie.  At one point the man said, "Why didn't they put W------ in during the first half? He's doing great!"

After the game, I said, "W-----, do you want to call and tell your mom anything about the game?"  He seemed mystified as to what he needed to report, so he said, "Ahhh, that we lost?"

He also pointed out that when he was goalie, he was wearing four shirts!  And this is in 100+ degree weather!  Goodness!  The team shirts hadn't come so he slipped the temporary shirt over his other shirts and then when he was goalie, that was another shirt added!  Bless him!

W said this was his favorite picture of the pictures I took of him that day.

I have to say that a soccer game is SSSSSOOOOOOO short compared to a swim meet!  Meine gute!  It seemed we'd just arrived and it was time to pack up my chair and go home!  Thanks for a nice morning!

Busy “doings” lately

Last Wednesday, I registered J for school.  It starts this coming Monday.  The summer has seemed to fly by.  Except for the extra vacation days during the school year, I’d wish for school to start in September.  J, L and I have been doing a bit of school shopping, too.  I think we are just about set to go.


Last Thursday, J got braces on his teeth.  He has really looked forward to the day when he can have straight teeth.  However, with the initial pain of it, I think he must wonder why he wanted braces after all.

Also for last Thursday, at a friend’s request, I set up a lunch so a couple of us could visit with my cousin KGG before she went home to Virginia.  I wish I’d taken pictures but we had a great time. 


On Friday at the crack of dawn, my sister and I drove northward, and I convinced her to come to a sister missionary lunch I had tried to arrange.  We had hoped more “girls” would come but we had a great time catching up.  My sister was an honorary “Schwester” for the lunch!

Right after lunch, my sister and I went to a reunion for my first cousins on my father’s side of the family. 

The primary activity was each cousin taking a turn talking about what was going on in his/her life and the lives of any siblings who were not there.  I really enjoyed catching up.


Then in the evening, on the way back home, my sister and I stopped in to visit one of my mother’s friends and then another of our cousins who couldn’t come to the reunion.  We got home about 2 a.m.  What a full day!


Then Saturday, L had her last city swim meet.  It started at 3 (warm ups) and we did not get home until after 1:30 a.m.  Yawn.

Sunday, of course, I was released from my young women calling.  After church, my sister and I visited our father’s only living sibling and reported on the reunion.


This morning, T got braces on his teeth, too. 

Today, my sis and I helped my niece CF set up a new apartment.  I had a great time with Baby T, CF and CS. 


Lots of things have been packed into the past few days with more “doings” ahead, no doubt. 

 I go back to my school library job when school starts.  Of course, I had to get a back-to-school outfit, too, right?!

It has been a good ride

Today, I was released from my calling as Young Women President in my LDS ward.  Since it was Fast Sunday, I took the opportunity to express certain thoughts that had percolated to the top of my brain since I was told last Sunday that I was being released and I have recorded it here.
 
The primary point I wanted to make was that I wanted to clarify something. When I accepted this calling and at other points during my two years and ten months in YW, I’ve said, “This isn’t a calling I would choose for myself.” While know what I meant by that, I don’t think others have understood.
When I initially got the call, I felt very weighted down under the responsibilities I had with my mother and with her estate in addition to church and family responsibilities. So to add the YW calling at that point was overwhelming to me. So, the first reason I would not have chosen that the YW president call for myself was because I already had so many pre-existing obligations. However, I’d also had a confirmation by God’s Spirit that I was to take the calling so I did and jumped in with my whole heart.


Another reason I wouldn’t have chosen the calling for me was that I was 31 before I got married so I’m a reformed old maid. At that time, I perceived the primary topics taught in YW to be marriage and dating. Who wants an old maid—even one who’s reformed--talking about marriage and dating to young impressionable girls? I’ve somehow avoided teaching about those topics for my whole tenure. In September, I was to give a lesson on Marriage and Dating. I suppose the Lord did not want to undertake the miracle it would have required.


Last of all, I have spent most of my adult life in singles wards (so wards without Primary and without Young Women and Young Men organization)  until I was married and then after that I’ve spent most of my life working in callings with the adults of the church. This Young Women calling seemed to be such a departure from that pattern and a departure from where I felt comfortable.
However, that phrase of “not choosing the calling for myself” should never be interpreted in any way that I disliked the youth or the Young Women program. It shouldn’t be interpreted that I wouldn’t try my best to do the calling once I accepted it or that I wouldn’t jump in whole-heartedly and try to do everything I knew to do to fulfill the calling. And it shouldn’t be interpreted that my initial feeling of intensely not wanting this calling would stay with me for all two years and ten month because it hasn’t been like that at all and I feel these negatives are the impressions my words have conveyed.


Once I got over the total shock of doing a calling I knew nothing about in a program I knew very little about, I have enjoyed the calling. I have especially enjoyed the association with the young women in the ward. I’ve enjoyed the mutual activities, even tubing down the Virgin River, the lessons, the personal progress activities, the girls’ camps, the youth conferences, and the teaching and the learning and the creative process in being a part of Young Women.
I’ve enjoyed the leaders I’ve served with in our ward and I’ve appreciated all their work. I’ve been grateful for the work of the athletics leader and girls’ camp leaders. And I’m grateful for all the people who have helped us with activities over the years. I’ve enjoyed working with good young men leaders.  I’ve been happy to work with the young men of the ward, including my own sons. I’ve enjoyed my associations with other youth and other young women leaders out beyond our ward boundaries.


When I was called, I had decided to set my sights on six years, like the tenure of the previous Young Women President, and just jump in and work. I really came to have my heart set on serving at least until my daughter graduates. Even though I know every calling comes with a future release date, because of that long-term perspective, this release seems premature . In fact, when the Primary presidency was released a few months ago, I rushed to the bishop’s counselor with whom I worked in Young Women and asked whether they were merely starting with the Primary and working through all of the auxiliaries or whether this was just a one-time deal, because I didn’t want to be released and they needed to leave me in YW for at least two more years. He assured me it was just a one-time deal. So much for bishopric assurances.  But then, the Lord moves in mysterious ways.


In 1977, there was an LDS-themed play referencing the plan of salvation called “My Turn on Earth” that depicted Barbara and four friend as they left the pre-earth life, lived in mortality and passed into the life after this.
Near the end of the play, a voice calls to Barbara that it is time for her life to be over:


“Bar--bara, it’s time to go hoommmee.”


She says in reply: “I don’t want to go. I mean I don’t want to go NOW. I’m not ready. My turn can’t be over yet. Have I done everything I’m supposed to do?”


The song that follows is entitled “I’m Not Ready” and has been on my mind this week. I’ve changed a few words:


[I’m Not Ready]
Is it over? Have I finished the [call]?
Have I [done] what I came here to [do]?
Just a few moments more,
I’m not ready to leave it all behind me.
I’m not ready. I don’t want to go
‘Til I know that I know I [am done].
I cannot bear to leave if I leave what I came for undone.
I’m not ready
[I’m not ready right now]
Won’t somebody show me [how things will be?]
I’m not ready
I [can’t believe it is] through
There are things I [would] do
There are still some things left I [would] say.
***


Then the voice calls:  “Barrrrbaraaaa, time to come hooommmeee!”


Barbara replies, “But I’m not rrreadddyyy!”


Then the final words, “Ready or nnnoottt. . . .”


So it is time for this calling to end.


If there is one message I would like to have the girls remember it is:  learn the language of the Spirit and live so the Spirit can be your constant companion to guide you at every step of your life.  The Spirit can be with you when are away from your leaders and parents.


I’m sure the new Young Women Presidency will take good care of the young women!


I’m thankful for the gospel and I’m thankful that God is mindful of each of us. I’m thankful for all the good things about this YW president calling.