A Little Sacrament Meeting Gaffe

Once upon a time there was a girl named Tammy. One Sunday it happened to be fasting testimony meeting. Tammy had just borne her testimony at her parents' home ward a few weeks before and didn't feel like she wanted to do it today, so she was content to just sit and listen to other people's testimonies.

Well, the Spirit had other ideas.

It wasn't too long before Tammy had the heart pounding feeling that she knew meant, "You need to bear your testimony." She naively (and let's be honest--unrealistically) thought if she ignored her pounding heart it would simply go away. For a few minutes it seemed that it had, but then it returned full force, and Tammy knew she had to make her way up to the podium (luckily it wasn't too far away) so she could just do it already.

She sat and waited as the person before her finished speaking, still battling with the idea that she didn't want to bear her testimony but felt she needed to. Of course, she was trying to map out in her head a little bit what she wanted to say, but it still wasn't firmed up by the time she started speaking.

A sign on the podium asks the speaker to state his/her name. Tammy, still in the mindset of "I don't want to" meant to say "For those of you who don't know me. . ." and instead said, "For those of you who don't want me."

Yeah, that just about brought the room down. But it turned out to be a good opening for a solid testimony so it's all good. People always appreciate humor during testimony meeting anyway, right?! :)

Tender Mercies

This entry is probably going to be brief but it is rather late, and I took a little something to help me sleep tonight so I'm almost falling asleep as I type. However, I found out some neat things this week that have touched my heart so I wanted to share them.

I just want to tell you that I know our Father in Heaven watches out for us. He knows what we're going through and never gives us more than we can handle. He does give us things that test us to our very core, but he also opens a way for us to make it through whatever we are called to pass through.

My family has been a wonderful support to me through everything I've been through in the last six months. It's comforting to know that we are all dealing with the same trial even though we deal with it in different ways. But, my family can't be there for me every day, so I have a network of wonderful friends who have also reached out to me and offered support, even when I'm sure it's difficult.

I'm not going to give specifics, but I found out this week that two of my dear friends have been blessed with experiences that helped them gain an appreciation for what I'm going through and helped them know I am being taken care of. It was funny to me that I heard about them within only a couple days of each other, but it has helped me know for sure that I'm not alone. I already knew this of course, but this confirmed it. I also recognized it for what is is: a tender mercy from the Lord. He knew this latest trial was going to be one of the most difficult for me to date, but He is also providing me the support I need to make it through this, including a high level of understanding and assurance from friends helping me through it.

I know this entry is cheesy, but bear with me and just know that it comes from the heart. I don't think I'm doing a good enough job of conveying what I want to say, but just know that my heart has been touched once again.

Still the cool aunt :)

Okay, so I think it's more than time for me to finally post in my blog again. Plus, every time I read that last entry (or the one two entries before that) it makes me sad, so I wanted to write something more positive. And since I'm me, that positive comes complete with pictures.

I'm happy to report that while I still have many sad days or see things that remind me of our beautiful angel which also make me sad, that I am dealing as best I can. I was delighted to realize this weekend that despite everything going on, I can still be the cool aunt. This may not seem like such an important accomplishment or something to be celebrated, but it's significant for me.

This past weekend I went to my sister's house because my parents were going to be in town. Of course it turned into a big party with all of us there. Okay, really it didn't, but we did have a fabulous time. On Friday night my mom and sister were very busy cooking and discovered a few key supplies missing. I was also beyond grossed out watching my nephew eat his breadsticks with ketchup because there was no pizza sauce, so I decided I had to help him out.

With so many "critters (as my sister calls her children)" running around (we were watching a few of my sister's best friend's children as well), it seemed senseless to go by myself. So I rounded up some girls to go with me. I felt so special that not only were they really excited to go with me but we jammed all the way to and from the store, which was pretty darn cool. :)

In any case, here are a few photographs to also document my cool auntness. :)

Cool aunts are never afraid to take cute pictures like this

or this

Cool aunts are willing to play with the children, which may include jumping on the trampoline.



They also might get to play beauty parlor at the girls' request and come up with darling hairstyles like this.

Goodness knows this cool aunt is athletically challenged but she'll still do her best to play a game of volleyball (with a huge ball no less) with the children.

I was thinking I put one more picture but I guess not. Oh well! I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Tammy's journeys, through pictures of course.