Inviting All

Chris and I are currently attending a branch. There are about 40 members who come regularly. It seems that half are actually from nearby wards who are called to attend the branch and help out.

We have been called as Young Men's and Young Women's presidents. It is most definitely out of my comfort zone.

Chris isn't as lucky as me and doesn't get to teach every Sunday. (Sometimes there are no young men.) I do get to teach. The church updates the manuals every year with some current conference talks, personal progress goals, and Mormon Messages. (Because these are the same manuals that were used when I was in Young Women.) I love the updates.

The Mormon Messages are my favorite. I have used one almost every week I've taught.

This is a good video that works for the condition our branch is in now. It is amazing that all it has to take is inviting someone to come to church, or meet with the missionaries or read the Book of Mormon. This reminds me that we always have to trust that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can work in everybody's life. We don't need to be afraid to share.

Learning Patience

It has officially been 1 year since Chris and I started trying to have a baby. Obviously, we have no baby yet.

The past year has been hard. After the first month and a negative pregnancy test, I cried a lot. I was hoping we would be one of those couples who would quickly get pregnant. But I knew it was too good to be true. Then the second month came around and another negative. I cried more. Than the third month... you get the picture. I have cried a lot.

The last few months I have been able to distract myself and focus on other things. I haven't cried about this since about June. I am pretty proud of myself for being able to hold it together.

But I don't think I have just been distracted. I have learned a lot in the last year.

There is a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants 98:1-2:

"Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord..."

I have "Not thy will only Lord, but thy timing also" written next to it. It isn't easy accepting Heavenly Father's plan for Chris and I when it isn't what I want. It has been a lot of prayer, fasting and scripture study to finally get to the point I am at today.

I know that one day I will get to be a Mother. I will get to hold a little baby in my arms and love him or her unconditionally from the beginning. I am still not sure when or how. While I would love to know the answers to those questions, I don't need to know them to be happy. I know that Heavenly Father loves Chris and I and is watching out for us.

In the mean time, I am not just someone waiting to be a Mother. There are so many roles that I have and I can work to be the best at what I am doing. I am a wife and a teacher. And I am not perfect in either of those areas.

President Uchtdorf said

"I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.

There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"

Right now I can say that I am enduring well.