Off the Grid

Whoa Nellie! It's been almost 2 months since my last post. That's a pretty sad record. I've been faaaaar from the blogging world, so I have no idea what my friends are up to either unless they've told me personally. So if I ask you what's been going on and it's on your blog, don't get mad!

All I have to say is that it's HARD work being a full-time virgin. (If you're confused at this point, which is totally understandable since I've been happily married almost 12 years now with 4 kids that I personally gave birth to, please refer to my one and only post from the New Year.)

There was a moment at the beginning of January when I wasn't sure I could go through with this Ten Virgins production. And with that said, I was given the opportunity to graciously back out. Though a tiny part of me wished I was given an honorable discharge, in the almost-end, I'm glad I wasn't. I really have grown to appreciate the toughness of this emotional and mental obstacle. Besides, what would I be teaching my children? In the beginning I expressed to them that this was going to be really, REALLY hard for me. I've spent hours and hours on just the song alone since December (poor Coop has about 90% of the song memorized to the point that he's sick of it). So if I decided to quit because it was "too hard", I'd be sending a message to my boys I could never take back. No, I couldn't do that. I had to see it through to the end, if for no other reason than to show my kids that we sometimes we have to do hard, scary things in life.

And boy, in that process, I've learned a lot about myself, and the Lord and the two of us together. And I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. I've decided this is going to be the emotional equivalent of natural childbirth for me. It's been hard working up to it (these last two weeks are going to be the real test), hopefully I'll enjoy the last bit of execution when I actually perform and then, when it's all said and done, I know I'll be proud of myself just for getting through it. However, I'm not so sure I'd do it again :)

A week after the big rehearsals started the beginning of January, Jared and I were both extended new callings. He is now the 1st counselor in the Young Men's presidency and I am now the 2nd counselor (over education) in the Relief Society presidency. I was sad to be released as the Relief Society chorister (that's been so fun and sooo challenging, too.) But I am honored to work alongside with and support Bev McCullough, our president and an amazing woman!

So yeah, between Virgin stuff and figuring out my new calling responsibilities, I managed to blink and the last two months vanished!