New Calling

So I was released 2 Sundays ago as the RS Secretary and I did get a new calling that day.

Drum roll please....
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I am the Family Indexing Committee Co-chair!
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I'm excited about it! Basically my calling is to do extractions and follow-up on committee members on whether they are doing extractions as well. I did get the software downloaded and running last night and did 10 names while I was there. SO...MUCH...FUN!! Seriously easy too. Not to mention the spiritual blessings too......have I mentioned how excited I am? :)

So everyone needs to go and check it out. SIGN UP! Do some names. You might just like it.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/indexing/frameset_indexing.asp

If you've signed into your ward website before (your LDS Account login and password) then that is the same login you use for this. So click the "Start Indexing" button to download the software. If not, then click the "Volunteer" button to get registered. You'll need your membership number (on temple recommends) and your birthdate.

Try it and let me know what you think.

You just pick yourself up and do it again

You know the theory, if you fall off a bicycle, you just pick yourself up and try again. Well, I am picking myself and trying again.

Last May, I planned this really great trip to Texas to visit family, go to a couple of temples, and attend my friend's wedding. Sadly, that trip was altered when I fell and broke my ankle. While I did get to spend some time with one brother's family, I didn't get back to Houston to visit another brother. I have always REALLY wanted to go to the Houston Temple and that didn't happen either. Now, I did miss my friend's wedding and that isn't something I can try again, but I am going to Houston! Thanks to Southwest having some great deals at the moment, I have made reservations to fly there and get 4 days with my brother and his family.

Can you tell I'm just a little excited! Now, everyone pray that I don't trip coming out of the airport or something. :)

So apparently you really can't choose your own church calling...

...huh, who woulda thought it?

Story:
I serve in a RS presidency. In my ward, there are 2 relief societies, or rather, there were 2. Due to the increase in sisters attending my ward, the decision was made to make a 3rd RS. So they worked over the boundaries and created a 3rd RS from the middle of the other two, which incidentally contained all the members of my presidency, except me. This past Sunday a new presidency was called for the new RS. Last night, we, all 3 presidencies were invited to attend Bishopric meeting to be able to sort out callings. (We can discuss the soundness of the idea to invite 12 girls to a meeting another time.) :)

So the meeting started and we ended up splitting up to take care of our respective areas. Since the RS that we, my presidency, is serving in will get a new presidency soon, we opted for making very few changes and only making callings to make sure it can function. (the rule with student wards is that someone is usually in their calling for a year and most of the presidency hit their year mark in Sept.) So we went through the list and learned that our RS is pretty much staffed for now, except a pianist (we pretty much had most of the callings from the other 2 RS's after the boundary changes. Nice!) We start pouring over the list to see who could be called as a pianist... sadly, we had no idea who played the piano. Except one. The 1st counselor in our presidency plays the piano. I mention this and the other presidency members' eyes get big because we realize how perfect this is. She mentions that although being able to play, she hasn't really ever been given a calling as pianist. We discuss how it would be fine for her to serve in 2 callings for a couple more weeks (we have it on good authority that we will be released 2 weeks from this coming Sunday) and write the calling down for submission to the bishop.

Then we get the brilliant idea about giving ALL of us presidency members a second calling, so that when we are released we will already have a calling that can prevent us from being called to oh-so avoidable callings, such as: Activities Committee Leader & FHE group leader (which in singles wards, is pretty much the same thing).

Now, a pause in my story.... for those that are concerned..... we didn't REALLY think we could get away with this. It was more the fact that we had finished the seriousness side of what we were doing and decided to have a little fun. :)

Back to last night: So we start discussing what callings would be "perfect" for us. For the president, we decide a librarian is needed (actually there isn't a need for one, but since we were having fun....) for me, well see, you need to understand another situation before I tell you what calling we decided would be good for me.

My ward meets at an Institute of Religion building. We share the building with 2 other wards. We are the biggest ward, by a HUGE margin. The parking at the institute isn't sufficient for the amount of people in my ward let alone the other wards. So members park in the streets surrounding the building. Problem: homeowners are SICK of having their streets lined with cars. Understandable. Anyways, that is the problem our ward is faced with at the moment.

1st counselor offers the calling of "parking lot monitor" for me. We laugh. I explain that I actually like attending classes at church and so that wouldn't work for me, but we decide to go with it anyways, AS LONG as I get to wear an orange vest. As a backup plan (AS IF our plan would be rejected by the bishop!) we decided that I could serve as Assistant Librarian. :)

For the 4th member of our presidency (the 2nd counselor - I'm the secretary) who wasn't actually at the meeting last night, we decide on a calling that would allow her to serve with her boyfriend.

So we wrote down the following:

• 1st Couns - RS Pianist (seriously)
• Pres - Ward Librarian
• Secretary (Me) - Parking Lot Monitor OR Assistant Ward Librarian
• 2nd Couns - ..... Committee member

 Done. Oh we were pretty proud of ourselves.

So it comes time to reconvene and submit our names for callings. We allow the other 2 RS's to go first (mostly because we didn't want to disrupt the seriousness of such a meeting....well, until the end). When our turn comes, we explain about not needing very many callings and then say but we do have one for sure need. 1st counselor then says that we need a pianist and then submits her own name. It took a second and then the bishopric/exec sec/clerks all bust up laughing. We laughed too, but said that we really were serious about it. They discussed it and decided it was a good idea. ......Well then, we have a few more callings to submit... :)

The reaction of my calling as parking lot monitor: "Emily, do you carry a concealed weapons permit?" :)

Me: "No, I've never even shot a gun."

Them: "Well then, that one is out!"

LOL.... we laughed through the rest of the callings submitted and they said.... "I don't think so!"

Oh, well, we tried.

Clarification: For those predicting that I get called as RS president....let me tell you that the Bishop said that he has already chosen who will be the next one AND I haven't been called. So there. Also, with all the changes, I am actually in a different RS.....so its no use pretending to be fortune tellers! :)

Long live the Irish!

Tonight I had the joy of being among those I consider my family, my mission family. When you go through hard things with people, it creates a bond. A bond, in my mind, that is as strong as those I experience with the various members of my family.

You see, there are moments in life that significantly alter your course in life. Some moments we control and some we don't, but it is our choice to allow the change to help us grow. Sparing the details that lead me to it,  I will just say this, serving a mission in Ireland has significantly altered my course in life. Or at least, how I deal with it.

I believe that I have been blessed with the gift of faith. I've always known, deep within me, that I was of divine birth. I've always known that my Heavenly Father was real and that he knew me, specifically. I was a a good kid and teenager. I loved gospel study and felt that I had a solid testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. But that was nothing compared to what I learned in Ireland as a missionary. The knowledge I had before was merely the surface and was deepened through the struggles I faced as a missionary. There was a very special moment in the mission when everything became clear. All the struggling, all the questions, all of it, made sense. I saw myself through His eyes. I felt true joy. I was really happy, for I finally felt true happiness.

Others noticed the change in me. One of my favorite moments was sitting down in front of my mission president for an interview and having him tell me of the light he saw in my eyes. The joy that radiated from me. That was my favorite interview with him, because he understood what had happened to me and we celebrated it together.

The problem was, I had to go home. I REALLY didn't want to. When one experiences true happiness, who would want that to change? Honestly though, I was tired... exhausted would be a better word. And I really missed my family... and well, I didn't really have a choice in the matter. No matter how hard I tried, and I did try, there wasn't a way to extend my mission. I had to come home. And I'm glad I did. It was time, time to take what I had experienced and apply it in "the real world." But a part of my heart remained in Ireland. A part that will always be there.

Over the years that have passed since then, many friends, especially mission friends have teased me for hanging on to mission memories or habits from the mission. (especially being criticized for dressing like one, but I worked at the MTC! Hello?! I wasn't about to spend a bunch of money to have different wardrobes for work and church). I've been thanked for keeping in contact with various mission friends and praised for having a great memory for the details of the experiences had there.

The last day in Ireland, my mission president counseled us to not forget the things that we had learned. He asked us to place our name tag some place where we would see it often and remind us the things we had learned and that the mission shouldn't be the spiritual highlight of our lives. (I still have my name tag displayed on my wall). He said we should continue to have spiritual experiences throughout the rest of our lives. I have done this and continue to have experiences that have only deepened the knowledge I gained as a missionary. And yet, my heart, or a part of it, still remains in Ireland. And I wouldn't have it any other way. For it reminds me what life is all about. That experience of feeling true joy, that is what helps me to be patient in the Lord's timing. That is what strengthens my faith when the evidence isn't seen. It's what I long for.

So, I will continue to hang on. Moving forward, yes. Not living in the past, but learning to see it through His eyes to move me forward now. Moments of joy can still be had, and they are, for that is the purpose. To be reminded of who we are and where we came from and then to choose to return back to him, gaining wisdom through the experience.

Thank you, dear Father, for allowing me this wonderful opportunity to struggle and succeed. To experience the bitter moments in life and for helping me to not allow them to make me bitter. (It's a challenge to be sure).To be away, so that the longing to return can be felt. Thank you, for getting me to Ireland. I will never be the same.

~ Emily

"I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" ~ Mosiah 5:12-13

A new niece!

Phoenix Elizabeth Marble

8/11/10

Isn't she adorable?

With her big brother, Griffin... SO CUTE!!

Can I get an "aawww"?

My big, "little" brother and his kids.

Woohoo! Another kid to spoil! :)

This makes #28 on my nieces and nephews combined. #30 if we count the two "in-law" niece and nephew. Did I mention I was a great aunt? Well, besides being cool and all that, both married niece and nephew are expecting and the next generation has begun. WOOHOO!! :)

PS: Girls are ahead 15 to 13. GIRLS RULE.

Well, that's enough immaturity for one day. Over and out.

PPS: Read Mormon 9:27.... its a gem!

You should read this:

Interesting article on marriage on CNN.com

So, its been 2 months since I last posted. It's been busy. Let's see: working, moving, family in town for a few weeks, a family reunion, studying for a CPA exam, took exam, hosted a mission reunion of sorts, attended the company summer party, moved from cast to boot, and then from boot to ankle brace. I'm driving again, walking without the crutches, and wearing both shoes, as opposed to just the left one. I've been on two kinda blind dates that were fun, but nothing came of them. And I've had the blessing of having my older sister, Amy, stay with me and help me with all of that. A tremendous help, I couldn't have done without. That about sums up the past 2 months.

What this month holds for me: more working (starting in on the 2nd busy season, not quite as bad as the 1st), more studying (Audit exam on the 27th), Bear Lake with the ward in 10 days (big smiles on that one), and continuing to improve the walking without a limp process. Then at the end of the month, maybe at the beginning of September, I'll have "Meet the Firms" to attend at BYU. I love that event! Although, standing for 3-4 hours may prove more difficult this year, we'll still make it work. Yep, that's about it.

A scripture I've read in the past month in working towards my goal of reading the OT:

"And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more." 
~ Num. 22: 18

(Post edit: in looking over this today I realized that I wrote, "continuing to improve the walking without a limb process"....LOL... that would definitely be a process of learning to walk without a leg. :) Not to worry, I still have all my limbs.)

Update:

I have a new niece! Brooklyn Mae Marble born on 6/7/10

My cactus is growing yet ANOTHER offshoot.......

See it? The little blip on the right? I seriously don't know what to do with this thing.....

Yesterday I had my 2nd appt at TOSH. The ankle is improving from last week, but we still needed to finish correcting the angle of it. Turns out the medical staff in Texas didn't set it at the correct angle to help the back piece heal. So we've corrected that and my foot is now at a 90 degree angle to my leg (AND yes it was painful to get it to that point) and the staples, all 17 of them (OUCH!) and the couple of stitches on the other side have been removed.

 

So this is it for the next 4 weeks. Then the cast will be removed and I'll get a boot and they will gradually let it become weight-bearing. Probably not gonna be able to drive for about 2 more months. Running, as in long distance running, is pretty much out for the rest of my life. They recommend I become more of a biker, hiker, or walker and not much of a runner. :(

Personally, I like the green better. :)

 

Side note: What happened....

While on vacation in Texas and staying with my brother David, I was fighting getting up at 6am one morning when my niece came to my room and asked if I would go get her mom as she had just thrown up. So I got out of bed, very sleepy eyed, and headed downstairs. All the lights were off, but I could still see fairly well. I thought I was at the bottom of the stairs and stepped out. There were still one or two steps left and I came crashing down. (see? pretty pathetic.)  I knew instantly that something was wrong with my ankle, just by looking at it. It hurt, but not what I would have expected had I known I had broken it in 3 places. I called for my sis-in-law and then one of the kids upstairs heard me and started yelling for her as well. Once she came out, I scooted over to the couch and waited while she called my brother who had gone to early morning seminary with his oldest. She gave me some pain medicine, but I was more in shock to feel much pain. He came back, gave me a blessing and then took me to the ER. I couldn't help but laugh through most of the ER part because of good ole' Brian Regan. Click here to know what I am talking about. SO TRUE!!! (Funny sidenote: the main hospital entrance has valet parking, but not the ER)

 

X-rays and such later found I was going to need surgery but that it wouldn't happen until 7pm or so. So it was a day of waiting and not eating anything. It was fine. I watched TV and even got to watch a channel showing the tornados that were happening at the same time. (Wouldn't be a Texas trip without a few of those going on.) I saw a family that lived near mine as a teenager in Provo on the show Family Feud. Had the surgery and was pretty much out for the rest of the night. The next morning brought with it alot of pain. It was pretty frustrating because my pain was increasing and the staff wasn't doing a very good job of helping take care of it. Finally after 3 hours, a nurse was able to get a hold of my doctor got some pain meds that worked. Turns out morphine doesn't do much for me. Overall, though, I wasn't impressed with the hospital staff, so when the opportunity came to leave we took it! It was great though to have my brother and sister-in-law there who made a few things happen for me as well as take care of me for the days following until I felt strong enough to fly home.

So that sums up most of it. My dislike with the hospital staff has only deepened after coming back to Utah and having to correct a few things as I mentioned previously. But I'm on the mend. It's a huge adjustment and I have been blessed with family members and friends that have been there for me when I've needed things. Most especially, my sister Amy, who has moved in with me to help take care of the things I can't do, like drive. She's AWESOME!

It's interesting to reflect on my life now. Some things have changed for the good and others not so good. It's been up and down, trying to see the positive, but I'm focusing on the good. A scripture I read has been helping me:

"But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction." Jacob 3:1

I like it, be faithful and he will console me and plead my cause. Pretty cool.

But if I tell ya the real story it won't seem as cool.

How about you all come up with some really awesome stories on how I broke my ankle! Huh, huh? Doesn't that sound cooler?

A picture is worth a thousand words....how about these?

30 Years....

....is how long its gonna take to get through this post! :)

April 26, 1980

I was born at home, on my family's dairy farm in Purdy, Missouri.

Pictured: Sonja, Joseph, David, Jonathan

Amy, Mom, me, and Freeman

April 26, 1981

April 1982

1983

Me and David (brother)

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

David home from his mission

(Also pictured: Amy, Jeffrey, and Rachel)

1990

April 26, 1991

Sherida Rogers and Sherry Judd (friends)

Summer 1992

Rocking the side-half-ponytail

Ammon and Jacob (nephews)

1993

Once during this year, I was mistaken for being one of my "dad's sons". Yeah, great confidence boost for a 13-year-old girl! Honestly though, I can totally see it.

June 1994

Taylor's (niece) blessing

Fall 1995

Church youth activity - float in BYU's Homecoming Parade "Mister Ected and his band" with various beauty queens, or I should say "Miss's" We won the Cosmo award

June 1996

August 1997

Young Women activity ~ Alicia Mildenstein (far left) was in a play at Sundance and we went to see it. Pictured: Alicia, AJ Cole, Beth Chun (YW Pres), a girl I don't know, and me)

April 1998

I lived in Virginia for 3 1/2 months with my brother, Joseph and his family. This was about 2 weeks before my 18th birthday.

Austin, Taylor, and Alexx (nephew and nieces)

April 26, 1999

April 26, 2000 

20 years old ~ I started college on my birthday...a major factor in my life today is the  education I decided to get then. VERY glad I made that decision.

April 26, 2001

Another monumental birthday

Pres Hinckley sent me a birthday present ~ a mission call to serve in the Ireland Dublin Mission

Pictured: FHE brothers (I can't remember their names) and roommates: Andrea White, Rhonda Roberts, Brooke Roberts, and Natalie Vance.

April 26, 2002

"Sister Marble" with Sister Fezi Vis (companion from South Africa) and  Sister Constanza Perez (former companion and trainer from Spain)

April 2003

Mission reunion ~ Pictured with Sarah Vause (companion) and Janelle Wilcox

April 26, 2004

A large group of friends and family went to eat at a restaurant. SO much fun!

Important detail of this birthday. Among those invited to this birthday celebration were various members of my BYU ward. One such individual that came started dating my brother and they were married a little over a year later. Cool huh?!?

(The two in the middle)

April 2005

My nephew Jackson's birthday is on April 29th. So we usually get a picture together each year, thanks to the insistence of his mom. Here's us with my dad.

May 2006

Me, Rachel, and Amy (sisters)

April 26, 2007

My parents, sister and I took a trip to Moab. Pictured with my beautiful mother.

April 27, 2008

Me and Jax

April 26, 2009

Jax and me :)

Here's to a great 30 years! Looking forward to the next 30 years....at least :)

Day 27

#4 I LOVE renting cars. Seriously. I enjoy being able to drive a different car every now and again, and a newer one at that. It's like test driving a car, only you get it longer and you don't have to deal with salesmen. Love it! That being said, I don't do it often enough. Mostly for road trips in which I didn't have a good enough vehicle to get  me where I was going.

There were a few occasions where I rented a car just for fun. For my younger sister's wedding, 4 years ago in July, I rented a red Ford Mustang convertible. THAT was fun! (the above picture isn't mine) The car I owned at the time didn't have air conditioning and knowing that I was going to be doing alot of driving that day, I needed something that had A/C. I just decided that spending a little more for the day was worth it.

I think that renting cars will definitely be in my future, especially fancy cars. I quite enjoy a good ride, but think it silly to buy something other than just a sensible vehicle

Oh, and I LOVE red cars. Wouldn't mind driving one of these ^ for a day.