Joining in Song

Yesterday was the annual Relief Society General Meeting. I have always loved this meeting. It falls within a week of my birthday, and I have come to consider it as one of my birthday presents--getting to hear from our General Relief Society presidency and one of the members of the First Presidency. What a great gift!

In 2003, I had the most wonderful opportunity to sing in a choir for that meeting. The women of BYU Women's Chorus (that included me) joined with the sisters of the Temple Square mission to sing. The main song we sang was specially commissioned for that meeting and the message the RS presidency wanted to give. It was a beautiful song and I still sing what I can of it. I was disappointed to learn this week that there is no video archive of it on lds.org. I would love to hear that song again. It had such an amazing message about Choosing the Good Part.

I cherished that experience. Moving back east, I assumed it would be a once in a lifetime experience. Even when I moved back to Utah, I didn't think such an opportunity would easily come for me. But this year, it did. Three YSA stakes asked women to be part of a choir. Even though I'm in a family ward, the YSA bishop of the ward boundary I am in asked that I take part. And it was so wonderful to have another opportunity like this. Even more special because it is a new RS Presidency--their 1st annual meeting. And President Linda Burton? She is "my" YSA Stake President's wife. She spoke to us in March, right before she was called and sustained as the new president. She is wonderful. And the messages and counsel she and her counselors gave tonight--both in the meeting and specifically to the choir before it--were so great.

The Lord blesses me with so much, and I am so grateful to have this amazing blessing again!

Down, but not really

I am not having an easy time of things right now. It's my own fault. I allowed things to happen, knowing they would most likely lead to emotional upset. But the last week+, I felt happiness I don't believe I've ever experienced before. It was the most soaring, uplifting feeling. I guess I knew it would be worth the pain that would follow afterwards. And though today is certainly rough, and while I'm sure there will be difficult moments for a bit, I will cherish the feelings and memories of last week for a very long time.

I still took sick leave today to help myself recover emotionally and mentally. To feel the Lord's love and understanding and know I will be all right. And what else am I doing to take my mind off some things and remind me how much my life is blessed and how much I love it? Why, by cleaning the house, watching a Period Drama, and reading an action-survival-adventure-escape-the-bad-guys-trying-to-kill-you book. Of course!

Some of the greatest and most important things I have learned from my trials are that
1) My Heavenly Father and my Savior love me.
2) My life is wonderful and I love every part, including the difficult times.
3) Because of the Atonement, and applying it in my life, I will always pull through.

And from this trial in particular?
I am not dead inside.