Friday, December 28, 2007

Service With A Smile

Now that Christmas is over, It's time to focus whole heartedly on our upcoming move. It's always seemed so distant. I can't believe it's just over a week away. I just can't seem to get excited about it.

Like I've mentioned before, I have never felt at home here in Ohio. I always new this would be a temporary place for us. So beside my small handful of friends, I have not been sad to leave. But as I sat in Relief Society on Sunday and listened to a lesson on service, I recalled the many, many times I've been the recipient of service here in my ward.

I have been blessed my entire four and a half years here with faithful visiting teachers. The women have changed, but I have consistently been visited. Although they may not all have been women I would have chosen as my friends, they have all selflessly served. They have:
  • watched my kids countless number of times
  • driven my family to the airport
  • thrown me a baby shower when I was still new in the ward
  • driven me to the ER with Reid
  • brought treats
  • showed up out of the blue when I was sick on more than one occasion
  • played with my kids
  • taught me lessons
  • brought me meals
  • invited me to lunch
  • remembered my birthday
  • invited me just to hang out when Spencer was busy late into the night at stake meetings
  • showered me with compliments
  • brought gifts
  • shared laughter
  • shared tears
  • called in moments of need
  • vacuumed my floors
  • put my kids down for naps
  • been willing to help at a moments notice
  • arranged for others to help when they were unavailable
And the list could go on and on. I'm terrible at asking for help. I have been blessed with the kind of visiting teachers who see needs and fill them...whether or not I ask. I could not be more grateful.

I have also been blessed in this ward to serve in the Young Women program with some amazing women. Particularly Kelly, Tiffany, Amanda and Autumn. It is these women that I developed my strongest friendships with. And these women that I will miss the most. These women are the ones who make it hard to leave. I could take that last list and multiply it by ten and could still not match the service and friendship that these women have given to me. Thank heaven for the knowledge that friendships can be eternal. And thank Heaven for these women.

I have been blessed also with a ward member and dear friend, Abbey, who lives just a few houses down. She has also selflessly served our family. Abbey is one of the most giving people I know. It has been a real blessing to have a friend so nearby who I can call with any favor at any time and she is there ready and willing to help. Again, I could add Abbey to the list above. And not only that, but she has lent me an egg in the middle of cookie making, given us tickets to a Buckeye game, watched my kids in the middle of the night when I had a gall stone attack, watched our dog on a long weekend, made delicious cookies and hot chocolate, invited our family into her home on numerous occasions, and again shared much laughter and tears. The list could go on. My kids adore her, as do I.

It has been awfully hard for me to see it, but I really have been blessed with a very giving and loving ward family during my time here in Ohio. It always seems to take change to help you recognize your blessings. And I am grateful for those blessings.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I second that... you are very blessed!

Unknown said...

I'm so glad that there are people there to help and take care of you. Just like you, I was NOT excited about leaving my old home to come up here to Utah. In fact, I was very much against it. It's taken me a year and a half to get used to the idea. Now, I have a house and the most WONDERFUL friends and neighbors I could ask for. In fact, a bunch of them came over to my house last night at about 11:00 to have gingerbread waffles after a game of vollyball. How fun is that. I wish you many more friendships in your new town! Where in Texas are you moving to?

Lauri said...

I agree with you and I too am grateful for those who have helped you out on many occasions. Somehow I have felt that if I serve and help those in my arm's reach, someone would help my own children when I am unable to help them as I want to. With you half way across the US, I am so thankful for those helping hands when you have needed them.

Jessica said...

I am glad to hear that so many people have helped you while you have been there. That is what is so great about the church there is always someone willing wherever you are to help and to answer a prayer when needed. I am sure you have touched the lives of many that you have served there as well. I hope things go well with packing a moving. I am still sad you are not coming here.

Traci Elizabeth said...

Did you sell your house already?? Or are you just moving in hopes your house sells behind you?? Good luck either way. Its exciting to start over in a new area...but it does stink to leave friends behind!

Autumn said...

We will miss your family. My regrets? Well, I've mentioned them. We all are the recipients of service, thankfully most wards seem to offer that. :) PS, I want you to know I didn't see this post before my comment today. No motives silly... :)

Autumn said...

Oh, and I love your updates on the side. This is SO funny about Parker and his comments about the decor coming down-and Grayden's chuckle!!

Unknown said...

I am jealous. I have had a few VT that have been good but for the most part not so much!=(. I hope the move goes well, we are planning a move in the spring. If by any chance you are moving to Utah I have a great house for sale (HEE HEE)

Christina

Jenn said...

Sounds like a great ward! Good Luck on the move!

Autumn said...

I absolutely positively love your new look. My goal was to give mine a facelift by January-uh...maybe by the END of January since I'm so behind on simply writing. I LOVE it, but I do miss your cute "real" picture.

Heidi said...

thats great that you have had a good experience there in Ohio. Its been really hard for me here in CO... especially since I know its perminant...

Trying to make friends & ask for help when needed... NOT EASY

Unknown said...

That's so awesome. Although my visiting teachers have always been somewhat missing in my singles ward, everyone I meet has been SO welcoming and I've made so many friends I feel right at home. I love how the church can do that.

jeanine said...

I"m so glad that you've had so many good people around you. Good luck with your move... if you need any help unpacking we will hop on down there!