Sunday, September 25, 2011

Life in Our World


1.  A couple of days ago I was talking to Ande on the phone.  She was telling me about a party she and Joe are hosting and I kept inserting ideas.  She didn’t need ideas.  Ande is one creative woman and she already had lots of plans pinterested and floating in her head.  Finally after my tenth interrupted suggestion she laughed and said, “Hey Mom!  I’ve got an idea.  How 'bout you host your own party.”  It made me laugh.  I hate it when I get overzealous and push my ideas on others, and am appreciative when the kids and Calvin patiently deal with it and help me correct it.

Every year the women’s organization of our Church, the Relief Society, hold a general satellite broadcast so that every woman in the world can hear messages designed for women today.  I look forward to this broadcast every year.  It is as Marjorie Hinckley said, “It’s a sociological fact:  women need women,”  and every year I feel increased strength, courage, and compassion as women the world over come together to hear these messages of hope, counsel, and correction. 


As a last minute thought, I invited the women that I visit teach over to our home to watch the broadcast.  I was making a 25-pounds-worth-of-tomatoes batch of spaghetti sauce to freeze, and a half-gallon-of-cream batch of caramel for something else.  I thought, “I’ll just boil some pasta and slice some apples and we’ll eat that afterwards.  I will not stress.  I will not over prepare.  I will not make a salad.  I will just do this and not worry about whether or not the furniture is dusted, the yard is company ready, the big world map in the family room is off center, or that our TV is not big or flat-screened like most people are used to.”    

After we’d watched the broadcast, we moved to the kitchen table to eat and visit.  We had just listened to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf remind us as women to be patient with ourselves and that God is fully aware we aren’t perfect.  I asked everyone what their biggest weakness is that they try to hide from others.  It was insightful, and a sweet conversation.  I didn’t say that one of mine is being overzealous as it is hardly hidden, but it is one that bothers me.   However, having just been reminded that God is fully aware I’m not perfect and loves me just the same was very comforting.  In fact, it makes me want to try harder to not be overzealous (now that's a paradox).  It’s doubly comforting that He put us in families to work out our imperfections.  It's an extra bonus when we have a society of women to help us as well.


I'm so glad that these women came and watched the broadcast with me and Barbra (we're visiting teaching partners).  I appreciated their conversation and their laughing.  I appreciated the informal-ness to it all.  It's true.  Women do need women, and I appreciate them and their love and acceptance.

2.  Saturday our Stake (several congregations of our Church) finished a service project for the irrigation district that we’d been working on all week.


Our ward primary president with some of our ward kids.  After the service project Calvin
said, "You weren't kidding.  She really is good with kids, isn't she?"

The project was to beautify the entrance to a lake front park.  Wednesday the youth cleared the rock, Thursday the high priests laid the pipe, Friday the elders filled the trenches, and Saturday the families raked, planted, and laid sod.  It looks great.  It was fun to be a part of the project and help make our community better.

3.  We got some great surprises in the mail.   



Grace sent us a Halloween banner that she had made.  I knew the boo banner was coming, but Grace also put a witch in the box as an extra surprise.  My witch’s name is Hazel and Grace has her sister Matilda.


Joe and Ande sent us the movie 17 Miracles with a note saying "just because . . ." and that they hoped we'd enjoy it.    

4.  Other significant parts of our week were:  Going to see TWO MOVIES -- one for family night, the other for date night (The Help and Contagion). Calvin spoke in church and memorized a 5 page typewritten story for it.  I had a great visit with a new friend who is a journal keeper.  We're wondering what to do with 75 pounds of tomatoes (they might as well be zucchini).  I heard the Winston Churchill quote: "Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" for the first time.  We had some fall weather and some summer weather.  Calvin fixed a bow.  We listened to our local sheriff talk about our county.  We came home from church today and ate grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup instead of a big Sunday meal like normal -- that is significant.   


Want to tell the blog world one imperfection you hope others don't notice?
What was something significant from your week?

9 comments:

Becky said...

I love miscellaneous posts like these!

Is it odd that as soon as I read the line "our local sheriff" I thought of that older movie with James Garner (Support Your Local Sheriff)? Random, I know!

I enjoyed the RS broadcast and am still feeling so uplifted by it.

I'm not sure what my answer would have been though for the discussion you ladies had after the broadcast. I do know that I feel much more motivated (inspired?) to serve others and be more charitable. And I know that Pres. Uchtdorf's words about seeing the majesty of the "why" in the gospel really resonated with me.

Well, I tend to ramble when it gets late...I'd better sign off and head off to bed! :)

Deidra said...

How fun to have your visiting teaching sisters over to watch. It starts at 8:00 here, so I watched it in my pjs!

And the Chick-Fil-A event just happened to coincide perfectly. I didn't think it out or plan it that way, but I might have to write them a letter telling them we appreciated it so they'll time it so well again next year.

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

I missed the broadcast. I had a bad headache and could not focus long enough. :(
I think I will get to it this week while Derek works at night! That is the plan!

My little sister and her family came to visit earlier this week. I did not make a fuss about plans and made dinner on the fly. We did everything that we wanted to and I think they enjoyed a easy going week!

Heather Williams said...

Jane, I will never forget Saturday night. I love laughing with women! You are an inspiration and i thank you for inviting me over to your lovely home. The food was a m a z i n g! you are just a great person to be around and someone I admire a whole lot!

I hope we can get together soon:)

michelle said...

Oh, I find your conversation with Ande so funny! I love that you have the kind of relationship where she can tease you and you can laugh about it.

I do believe that women need women. I am always ever so slightly suspicious of women who say that they don't have women friends. I love that you invited all of your VT women to watch the broadcast together - that is brilliant!

Gosh, I don't know what imperfections I have that aren't apparent to others. They're usually so glaring to me that I assume everyone else sees them as well!

Something significant about my week was that I asked a friend to go to the temple with me and then discovered that she had been feeling very lonely and isolated. I'm such an introvert that I tend to think the impulse to reach outside of myself comes from the Lord.

tina said...

I am not sure that I have any unhidden imperfections - I am thinking everyone already knows.

:-)

Tyler - Danielle - Emree said...

Through your example you have taught your kids to be so thoughtful. i wish I did stuff like that for my family.. sent them a movie or a banner. Love it. Love the casual get together as well :)

Cali said...

Right now I would say my weakness is the same as yours. I came home from every activity this week bothered by my over enthusiasm at it. It made me cry because I hate it when I make the same mistake over and over. I consoled myself with, "well, at least I wasn't unfriendly, that's worse." I just wish I could be balanced at it. My plan is to participate in more social activities so I can get more practice.

Rachel said...

I, for one, love your zeal, and Cali's too for that matter. Sometimes I think I need more of it, and I'm grateful for those who have plenty to make up for it. :)