Beginnings and Endings

It seems that life is a compilation of beginnings and endings. Some in our family so far this year:

At the beginning of the year Darvin's family experienced some temporary endings with the death of his mom and some of his dad's siblings. We know that we will someday be reunited with them. Very soon we will experience the joy of some new beginnings as we welcome two new little granddaughters (Brooklyn Giles and Vona Rush) into our family within the next month. The time that the Pascual family lived with us came to an end and then we began a journey with a new chocolate lab puppy 'Bear'. My 4 1/2 years of service as a Seminary teacher is fast coming to a close and who knows what new journey will begin with a new calling?

I'm grateful for the life experiences that we are given that help teach and guide and strengthen us as we travel through this mortal experience. Sometimes it's so hard for us to see who we really are, sons and daughters of our loving Heavenly Father with the potential to become divine beings like He is. It's pretty amazing how much our Heavenly Father loves us and that he knows us better sometimes than we know ourselves.

I remember when Darvin and I received our patriarchal blessings (it's a special personal blessing from God given by a man called as the Stake Patriarch). When the patriarch had finished giving the blessings he asked, "You don't really realize what great things God has in store for you do you?" I really didn't! I have a little better understanding now, but I'm sure I have a long way to go until I fully understand how I can best become an instrument in God's hands, and learn to totally subject myself to His will.

One of the things in my patriarchal blessing that had always perplexed me was that it spoke of me impacting the lives of the children and the youth of the church. I thought I had the children part 'down pat' from Primary teacher, Primary President, Nursery Leader, Cubmaster and Primary Chorister callings. I was confused about how I would ever see the fulfillment of the promise to work with the youth. When, after many years, I was called as a counselor in the Young Women's organization and then as Young Women's president I thought "ah hah" THIS is the answer!! Well that may have been part of the answer, but it certainly wasn't the 'fullness' of the answer! lol

Years later when I was called to teach Seminary and got to teach both young women AND young men I realized THAT was a big part of the answer. What a very special 4 1/2 years it has been. It has not been without trials and hardships. Teaching a class 5 days a week to sleepy teenagers for 50 minutes beginning about 6:30 a.m. every morning is not a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination, but it IS one of the most fulfilling opportunities I've been blessed with in my life. It has forced me to take studying the scriptures seriously. It has given me the opportunity daily to ask for my Heavenly Father's help and guidance in preparing and delivering the right gospel messages to my class.

My poor husband has sacrificed his sleep right along with mine. He has had sleep problems for many years. He has trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep! So he consented to sacrifice so that I could have the opportunity to teach the whole 4 year cycle of Seminary-Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Church History. I appreciate his willingness and his patience as I have stayed up many a late night either finishing preparation of a lesson or making some crazy treat to take to my class the next morning! He has endured days of crankiness on my part due to lack of sleep and sometimes days where I feel disheartened because of my concern for the decisions some of 'my' Seminary kids are making or because of a particularly hard day in class.

Interestingly, part way into my Seminary 'teaching career' the structure of the Seminary program changed and our service was placed under the stewardship of the various Stakes rather than under the Church Educational System (where it was previously). At the time of this change we were 'set apart' as Seminary teachers.

As a word of explanation for those not of our faith, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints all of the responsibilities of the church are filled by volunteers. When we receive a 'calling' we are 'set apart' (given a blessing). During this blessing we are given the 'keys' to be able to fulfill our calling. Many times this blessing involves counsel and comfort or reassurance that our Heavenly Father will be with us to 'make up the difference' for any personal shortcomings that we may feel that we have in our new calling.

Anyway, back to Seminary. When I was finally set apart as a Seminary teacher, the one thing that I will never forget about that blessing was the promise that my service as a Seminary teacher would be a great preparation for me as I served a mission with my husband in the future. That was another moment in my life where I knew that my Heavenly Father knows me and loves me! I had never expressed verbally that I yearned to someday go on a mission with my husband.

That man of God who laid his hands on my head did not have any idea that this was a desire of my heart, but he received inspiration from our Heavenly Father to share that personal message from my Father. It helped confirm to me that Heavenly Father was pleased with my decision to serve in this calling and wanted to give me encouragement that my service would bless me down the road to help fulfill the righteous desires of my heart.

One more beginning on a lighter note! This year in October I celebrate my 50th birthday. I decided it was high time that I start taking better care of myself. To begin this process I gave myself a challenge: to run a half marathon before I reach my 50th birthday. I'm not sure what came over me since I've NEVER been a distance runner...never had the desire to BECOME a distance runner! I'm calling it some type of late mid-life crisis! So 7 weeks ago I started the 'Couch to 5k' program. Theoretically by week 9 I'll be able to completely run a 5k race! Unfortunately the 5k that I signed up for in Boise on June 9th was cancelled due to lack of participants. It's OK, I'll just have my own personal 5k on that day and then the stake will be hosting a 5k on June 30th. After the 5k I'll continue to work on increasing my distance so that I can run a half marathon in tri-cities in September. The runners that I know keep telling me that running is addicting and some day I'll be addicted to it to...at this point, I'm not buying it!!! But I'm remaining open-minded! The following is how I currently feel: ;^)

I'm also beginning a 'Getting Healthy' challenge. There are about 30 women that will be participating. We'll be broken up into small teams and will receive points for completing healthy habits each day like: exercising, not eating late, not eating sweets (except for once a week), drinking 64 oz of water, eating fruits and veggies, maintaining and losing weight, studying scriptures, journaling and saying prayers. I'm thankful that this opportunity has presented itself as it will work hand in hand with my overall goal of taking better care of myself!

Life is good!