I have mentioned recently that Tuesdays are my ick day, right? Just way too much going on! And now that we have officially signed Alex up for leadership class, we are even busier.
So I should also tell you that Sundays are my favorite day. The only day that our kids seem to disappear into some corner of the house and play noiselessly is on Sundays. So I grab a blanket and melt into Seth and watch the Packers (13-0... are you kidding me?!). It is really the only non-busy time we have to talk and relax. I love it!
Of course, because life is full of how the heck am I going to manage that changes, it stands to reason that we needed a major shake-up.
We got a new Bishopric on Sunday, and thankfully we dodged the actual Bishopric, but to our great surprise, Seth was called to be the Executive Secretary, which means a few hours before church, and a few hours after, and bye, bye to relaxing Sundays. And they also meet on, of course, Tuesday nights.
I don't want to sound all complainy, because of course every calling turns out to be a huge blessing and Seth is more than happy to help, but I do mourn the loss of time together. I just have to remember that Heavenly Father does not ask us to do anything that will not make us stronger and I have to trust that He will help us find a way to get it all done. Sounds impossible when we have multiple things in one time slot on Tuesdays. How will we get Alex to taekwondo and how can I be at YW and Seth at Bishopric meeting all at the same time? I truly don't know but I have to have faith. I also have to believe that he will make us stronger as a couple and as a family. This year we have not seen each other enough and I have been praying and telling Heavenly Father that something has got to give. We have got to simplify. Apparently this is my answer?
The time commitment worries me, but I also feel like this will be very good for Seth right now. Work took over his life this year and I know his spiritual tank needs some topping off. We have both had busy callings before and I have to admit that those are the times when we have grown the most. So I am a little scared of having even more on our plate, but I do trust that Heavenly Father is very aware of our struggles and I have learned to trust that His answers are always the right ones.
And I must say that I am very grateful for two things. One, Seth still gets to sit with us in Sacrament meeting.
And two...the beard!
When they called us in to meet with the Stake President on Saturday I thought Seth was going back to Young Mens. I was about positive that the YM president was headed for the Bishopric and even more sure when we ran into him and his wife at the church on Saturday. So I thought Seth would go back to YM. When the Stake President (who was our Bishop only a few weeks ago...confused yet?) called us each in separately and then together, I knew something potentially crazy was going on and as superficial as it sounds I was really worried about the beard. So when he finally said Executive Secretary I was actually relieved. It is a very busy calling, but not as emotionally heavy as the Bishopric AND the facial hair is safe. Only guess what else is cool? Our new first counselor also has a beard and didn't shave it. I am so happy to know that in case we ever have to do the whole Bishopric thing.
Anyway...I am going on and on and really shouldn't since this is my only 30 minutes of free time all day. But I will say that I am excited about the new Bishopric. I had 3 super fabulous people at the top of my I wonder who it will be list. Be honest fellow Mormons, you make that list too. The point though is that all three of them comprise the new Bishopric. When they announced them in Sacrament meeting I said YES! out loud and gave a little fist pump. Seth leaned over to reminded me to just raise my hand and not fist pump, but I am so excited for the ward. We have lots of awesome men they could have chosen from, so I mean no disrespect to any of them, but I am more than happy to sustain the men who have been chosen to lead our ward at this time. And no disrespect to my very own husband, but I will say that his is the only new calling that surprised me at all. I thought going to a Packers game on a Sunday would have crossed him off the list. We'll have to be even more disobedient the next time they are re-doing the Bishopric. Kidding!
Second Week of School
3 years ago
10 comments:
I kept thinking Ryan was going to be bishop too so I wasn't at all surprised when he was a counselor. I think every man chosen will be great.
It is too bad that it seems like everything is on Tuesday night but I guess if it wasn't than those that have both people in a family there that night would miss two nights together...
We do end up with a lot of little kids at the church on Tuesday nights though.
Oh and I am so happy for you that he gets to keep his beard!
Wow, what a big change to the Kenosha Ward, but it sounds like a good one. I'm happy that you're happy with the choices; I know that that hasn't always been the case. Seth will do great in his new calling, and I'm sure it will be spiritually lifting. Yes, I know what you mean about being given more work in the church as a way to gain a stronger testimony. I certainly feel that within myself. Good luck to Seth and to your whole family. You will survive! And thank goodness Seth gets to keep the beard. I know how much you love your guy with his facial fuzzies.
So---what about "No Shave November"? Will they let him get away with the mountain man look??
what is leadership class?
Ann, I am fine with killing no shave November. I like the beard trimmed and I hate the ugly Dec 1 shaving creations.
Em, Leadership class is the class Al was invited to at belt promotions...scroll down a couple posts. He goes to an hour of basic training and an hour of leadership 3 times a week. In leadership they practice leadership skills like eye contact, speaking to people and even teaching the class and leadership skills like self esteem, honesty, respect, etc. Then they learn XMA...extreme martial arts..moves like jumps, spins and gymnastics. It is such a fun addition to our taekwondo life.
We weren't surprised by the new callings too much. We had made "the list" of who we suspected, and Eric was almost exactly correct with his predictions (just slightly mixed up on the exact callings of each). I'm really excited too - such great leadership. And seriously, I kept looking around the chapel and thinking about so many other great possibilities sitting there. We really do have a great ward here!
The nice thing is, there is technically no rule against facial hair in a bishopric. Our last bishop before we moved had a big old mustache which looked awesome on him. And it didn't seem weird or anything. Sometimes Stake Presidents might make the request that men serving in bishoprics in their stake have no facial hair, but other than that, there is no doctrine demanding it. So Seth might be safe in the future, depending on future callings. =)
I know what you mean about Tuesdays. Eric has Scouts and now twice a month I have Activity Days. Both of us needing to be at the church means Emma has to be there with us and stay up later than her bed time that night. It's hard, but somehow it works out. It'll work out for you, and you'll probably be surprised how well. God is funny (read: absolutely amazing and generous) that way - he'll pull the proverbial rabbit of blessings out of a hat and in what seemed like an impossible situation will suddenly become very do-able.
I'm sure it doesn't help that this is all happening right before Christmas, when things are busy anyway. But you guys will do fine, and I'm sure Seth will rock his new calling!
For our advent scripture tonight we read Luke 12:22-34 about not stressing over "things," focusing on God, and letting Him take care of us (like you said in your post).
After reading it, I explained to Luke that we should forget about all the things we want because God knows what we really need. True to form, Luke says, "Does God know I need a popsicle then?" Then he further applied the lesson by praying for Christmas presents, haha!
Okay, so maybe this message went over Luke's head, but it was just what I needed to hear.
Can't really say much more than what's already been said ... but I will, anyway. How fast can you promote your oldest to driving?
We attended a meeting in southern Utah on our way home from vacation one year and the bishop had the longest handlebar mustache I have ever seen - along with a cowboy jacket and boots. I was surprised he didn't wear his cowboy hat, too. No, there is nothing anywhere that requires no facial hair. (By the way, that bishop just oozed love for his ward. Not even knowing him, I could tell he was an awesome bishop.)
Great calling for Seth. Great opportunities for the family. But I hear you on the sacrifice part, because without question it is a sacrifice for the entire family when a parent gets called to something as time consuming as that. May God bless all of you in finding answers to how to juggle everything.
Holly, We were also settled on the same 3, but kept mixing up the order. At first I thought Ryan as Bishop and Seth thought Bishop Z. Then we both settled on Bro. Kjar as Bishop but then when he still had his beard we thought 1st counselor and Bishop Z as Bishop. By then we were pretty sure Ryan was 2nd counselor since we saw him coming out of Pres Bruner's office as we were going in. We asked who it was at our interview, but Pres Bruner thought about it but decided to let us wait and find out with the ward. So silly to speculate so much but it is hard to help it. Anyway, they really are a powerhouse team, as Seth called them. As for facial hair, believe me I have studied the handbook and know they are allowed to have it, but most times they are encouraged to shave it. Bro Brooks had a beard before he went in to the last Bishopric, but I am happy to see that Bro Kjar was not asked to shave. Believe me we talked about it with him more than once on Sunday. Such a silly thing, but some people are just meant to have facial hair.
Val, Ha,ha! We try so hard to teach these kiddos and they always get something totally random out of it. But what's good, is that God is very real and approachable to Luke. I mean, the kid even wanted to know what God would be for Halloween, which is one of my fave Luke lines ever. He knows he can ask him anything and I am sure God did know about the popsicle...He may have had a different idea about whether or not he needed it though. We will have to start writing down the funny stuff our kids pray for.
Julie, A handlebar mustache! Hilarious! I know the handbook does say neatly groomed, but honestly, a handlebar mustache wouldn't bother me one bit. I mean, unless it was on Seth's face. Ha,ha! But really, there is nothing that looks irreverent or disrespectful about facial hair.
Congrats to Seth. I agree sometimes the Lord just knows when our tank needs to be refueled!
I love when men wear colored shirts or have facial hair...I think in the long run the Lord is just happy to have us there no matter what we have on or the hair that is growing. Heck, I too have my own beard!
I'm sure a new routine will settle in quick and you'll get a giggle about how worried you were over nothing!
Post a Comment