Unexpected trip to Idaho

     Last week was crunch time on schoolwork, exams, and finishing projects and papers. I didn't see much daylight. One teacher opened her exam early. So on Friday, I could see an opening ahead to freedom! I had a plan to finish the exam on Saturday and write my biography report on Sunday afternoon as I felt it was not disrespectful of the Sabbath at all.
      I got an interesting call from Rachel. Evidently, her plans fell through and she wanted her mom to come to pick her up from school.  Because I had planned ahead wanted to be done early I was able to do that.

The long trip across Nevada

     I prayed myself across Nevada and got to Idaho without falling asleep at the wheel. This time I used books on tape and listened to "A Wrinkle in Time". I sure like the fact that you can get audiobooks on the phone which can be broadcast throughout the car sound system!

     When I arrived in Rexburg at around 5:30 ish in the evening, I noted people taking pictures in their graduation robes. It dawned on me that if I had walked with my graduating class I would have been one of those taking pictures. Interesting, I wasn't even supposed to be in Idaho. Don't you love irony?

     But actually, the grades aren't even out until the 31 of July and when the diplomas will be sent out, I will be getting my diploma the same time as all these people walking around in gowns and I didn't have to sit watching hundreds of people walking across a stage.

Kat and Rachel scrubbing their apartment

Kat (Katherine Reese) and Rachel were the last ones left in their apartment and got to finish up the cleaning.
     On Thursday we headed back to California. Rachel drove from Wells, Nevada all the way to Lovelock! Life is different when all the children are adults. Kat is a lot of fun to be with!

Arriving in Lovelock, Nevada

On the way to church this morning

Interesting Coincidence

Michael called when I was up at camp to wish me a Happy Birthday. I happen to be in cell range at the time. When I told him about his dad's new calling to be branch president, he reminded me that Jeffrey had planned to be in Kentucky that particular weekend and later canceled and said he didn't know why. Interestingly President March had sent a text on that Saturday morning asking, "Are you in town?"

It is great to be sixty!!!

During a really great week up in the Sierra Nevada mountains at girls camp, I turned sixty years old.  I am so happy to be out of my 50's where children keep leaving home, going through the change of life physically, and wondering what's next. Now I know. Life is going to change every few years and it all about who I can serve and what I can do.
Girls camp is unique and a place to let your hair go wild and embrace the glitz. We were celebrating the fourth of July, so our leader Melissa gave us all matching leggings (which didn't match anything we brought), and Janelle gave us headbands with stars and tinsel along with blinking star necklace. Then added on top of all that glitz I got a tiara for my birthday, glasses with cupcakes and candles, and a banner that says, "birthday girl".  I can hardly do the justice of the all the tacky glam so I'll show you a picture.

Note the pants, banner, necklace, glasses, tiara, and stars with tinsel - hard to have more!

The quilt ladies of 2019 - I, Janelle Meine, Michelle Johnston, and Melissa Kidd

Two types of Unity

I gave a small devotional thought at girls camp on Tuesday night. We were to discuss unity. I have been pondering on it for a bit and got some ideas from Jeffrey. There are two types of unity and we usually talk about the first type more than the second.

The first type of unity is that a prophet or leader gets a revelation or idea and then everyone follows and decides to agree with him. Lots of good things can happen when we rally and follow someone with great ideas.

The second type of unity is like Nephi's. His father gets a revelation and Nephi wants to have his own confirmation from the Lord. So he asks God if he can have a confirmation of what his father is saying and he gets his own answer. All the Lehi's sons are then told they need to go back to Jerusalem and get the brass plates from their uncle Laban. They all follow the prophet. They go back to Jerusalem and try to get the plates. First, they ask and get rejected mightly, then second they use their creativity and take up all the gold and silver they had left behind to buy the plates - and get mightly rejected again that they have to run for their lives. At this point, there is a strong difference in following the prophet.

I have often asked myself why Nephi was so strong and straight and knew what had to be done and had a fixed purpose. His brothers had given their best efforts but were ready to go back and tell their father, sorry it can't be done. Nephi KNEW individually and for himself the why of his father's revelation.

Blind obedience is not seeing eye to eye, it is not going to be of aid and help in navigating life's perils and tribulations. Each of us will need to talk with God ourselves and teach our children to have a one on one communication to God and not through us as their parents and not just as leaders of a church. If we are communicating directly with God we will be getting the same messages that the prophets and hopefully parents are telling us.

I am a missionary again!!

Yesterday afternoon I got back from an amazing week at girls camp - which I'll post more later - so it was a week ago Sunday that I and Jeffrey were sustained in our new callings. On Saturday I had been running around helping Laura with the Merrill wedding preparation, going to a baby shower for Sara Penovich (sorry I can't remember her married name) expected little girl Eloise, finishing up my homework post for school, and packing up for girls camp week. During the baby shower, I got a call from Jeffrey. I thought it odd because he knew what my plans were and what I was doing that day. So for him to call and then leave a small text asking when I'd be home was noteworthy. I left the shower early and found that he had had a surprise visit from the Stake president.

President March had come to our home and asked Jeffrey to be the Branch president of the Cambodian branch and asked that I serve as a Stake missionary in that branch too. Jeffrey explained to me that we would be formally called at the Merrill wedding after we talked and thought it over. We both texted our agreement and later that night officially called to serve in a small office in the Hunt's side yard. President March told us we would be giving our testimonies in Sacrament meeting. I had just a few hours to finish up my preparations for the week, so I asked my Heavenly Father what I should say. The thought was that I had a testimony to give and that all the branch members had a testimony to give me, so in a very short testimony that is basically what I said. After asking Heavenly Father why I was called, he answered that I have a testimony to give to you and you have a testimony to give to me, so I am looking forward to hearing your testimony. Amen

During the meal afterward for the departing full-time missionaries and I think someone going to school or a mission, I realized I knew a lot of the women because I have met them previously at girls camp! What a warm and friendly people. I look forward to being with them and hearing their stories.