Released

Yesterday Jeff was released as the second counselor in the bishopric. It was a bitter-sweet day for us. We have loved the opportunity he has had to serve in such a calling and it truly has brought so many blessings into our lives. We have found that the Lord really wanted Jeff to have this calling and it has been a growing experience for all of us. Of course that is what the gospel is about...growing and becoming more like Christ each day.

I guess I'll give a little background history to you. Sorry if this post gets long. So back in August 2006 I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting in our old ward. During the meeting I got the strongest impression that we needed to move. We'd lived in the same place for 2 years and I was very comfortable with where we were. Nevertheless, I had a very distinct thought come to my mind, "You need to move, and you need to go to the Village." It was the most direct personal revelation I'd ever had. The thought kept nagging me throughout the day and after church I told Jeff. He was excited because he had been ready to move for sometime but we hadn't because I hadn't wanted to. I guess the Lord needed to give me a little encouragement that it would be okay to move. So the next day I went over to the Village and toured some apartments and got the paperwork to fill out. We moved in by the end of that November. In February 2007, Jeff was called to the bishopric and it finally all made sense to me why we had been directed to move to the Village. The Lord really does guide you to where you need to be.

I can still remember the Sunday he was called. When they asked him to take his place on the stand he handed Carson to me and kissed me goodbye. After Sacrament Meeting they set Jeff apart and I remember the Stake President telling me to get used to sitting alone because Jeff would have more callings like this. The first few Sundays were really hard as Carson didn't understand why Daddy wasn't sitting with us. I spent a lot of time out in the hallway with him crying that he wanted his Daddy. But the Lord provides for you and makes your burdens light. We were able to make friends with Tiffany and Chandler as Marshall was serving as first counselor at the time. They became good playmates and often during Sacrament Meeting we would find an empty room and just let the boys play together.

We are so thankful for the wonderful friendships we've been able to make through this calling and for the lasting effect it will have on our lives. We are also thankful for the opportunity we've had to get to know Bishop Fillmore and to know of his love and concern for those in the ward. He is one of the "gentle giants" of the church. I asked Jeff the other day what was one thing he had really learned from this calling and he told me that it was compassion. He really gained a lot of compassion for the people he served.

So even though we finally got Jeff back, it was really hard to say goodbye to the calling and move on. As he came back down from the stand yesterday, Marshall and Tiffany were sitting right behind us. I heard Marshall welcome Jeff back to the crowd and it made me want to cry. Yes, of course I am full term pregnant and VERY emotional, but it made me think of the wonderful camaraderie that you get when you serve together and of the wonderful reunion we will all have one day with all whom we've served with.