sigh…just random thoughts…

A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a youth conference. It was an incredible experience. Oh, I love serving amongst the youth. They have power within themselves that is so amazing and strong. Anyway, when I arrived, before I even got out of my car, I was approached by a young woman that was attending the youth conference. She said, “Sister Gren, I am glad that you are FINALLY here. We woke up this morning to hear, (a young woman’s name that I will call Maylee) telling us how many hours until you arrived. Every hour, Maylee has been announcing to everyone when you would arrive and you are FINALLY here.” Of course, I giggled and was filled with those amazing warm fuzzies. But, that is not what I want to focus on right this minute. But, I do love those warm fuzzies.

The events of the night went as planned (well, you know with youth and events there is a lot of flexibility). There was lots of talking, laughter and fun. Then, it was time for the fireside where I and, a Bishop from one of the wards that was in attendance spoke. Following his talk, a testimony meeting was held. It was incredible. The Spirit was amazingly strong throughout the entire evening. The testimonies that were shared were icredible. It was awesome!

Anyway, when I was getting ready to leave, I said my goodbyes and I noticed that Maylee was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere. I was puzzled. I felt strongly that I needed to say goodbye to her.  Why?  I am not sure.  I just knew that I needed too. I asked her friends where she went and they have any ideas. I asked her young women leaders if they knew where she went. They did not. We thought that she might have gone to the bathroom. I had a feeling to go put my things away in my car. Let me add…by this time it is extremely dark. As I approached my car, sitting on the cement divider thingy behind my car was Maylee. I placed my things in my car and went and sat down next to her. I told her that I had been looking for her to say goodbye. I told her that I wasn’t leaving until I found her. She said to me, “I knew that you would come looking for me.” How did she know that I would come looking for her? I gave her a hug and we just sat there in there on the cement parking divider in the dark in silence. She wouldn’t talk. I had a feeling that something was up. So, I quickly prayed and asked for guidance. Then, I just talked and talked…hoping to say the right things…something to comfort her. I still have no idea what was wrong. I hope that I said the right things.

But, this morning when I was getting ready for work, my thoughts turned to that evening a few weeks ago.  Why did she say to me, “I knew that you would come looking for me”?  How did she know that I would go looking for her?  I am grateful that I heeded to the prompting to seek her out.  But, I am just still so curious.  How come she had so much faith in me knowing that I would go looking for her?  Was it really important for her to have me find her and talk to her.   Hmmm…just random thoughts this morning. SIGH…

Michelle

A ray of sunshine in my life!

I have said this many times before…one of my most favorite people in the whole world is my adorable niece, Brylie. She brightens my day ever time I see her. It doesn’t matter where I am, who she is with, what event is going on around her or what the time of day it is…she is ALWAYS excited to see me. When she sees me, she runs to me and gives me the HUGEST hug. Wouldn’t that brighten your day…to have someone excited to see you EVERYTIME they noticed that you were near? I hope that it would. It surely brightens my day!

On Sunday, I went to dinner at my mom and dad’s home. DELICIOUSNESS!! Brylie was already there and was playing in the backyard with Grandpa. As I walked out onto the patio, she noticed that I was there. She stopped what she was doing, ran to me and gave me the hugest hug. Aw…she just melts my heart. After playing with her for awhile, I went into the kitchen to cut strawberries. Of course, she followed me. She climbed up onto one of the stools at the island and was waiting for me while I washed the strawberries…at least I thought she was waiting for me to finish. I turned around to see this:

Of course, I had to grab the camera. Isn’t this the greatest pictures? HA HA She just is the most adorable little girl that I know!! AW...to be a little girl again. Brylie, you are a huge ray of sunshine.

Have a great day full of fun and sunshine!!

Michelle

Just a glimpse…

Let me share just a glimpse in what has taken up most of my time for the past 6 months.  Young Women’s Camp!  It was probably the most difficult week that I have had but the most rewarding week.  Every time I think of all that took place, tears start to form and I get this amazing feeling of peacefulness and warmth…that amazing feeling that I never want to go away.  Couldn’t we just have this feeling all the time…minus the tears. HA HA Oh my, it was the one of the greatest experiences that I have ever experienced.  I am grateful for the constant guidance from the Spirit.  There were so many times that I would pray and need an immediate answer to a situation or problem…the answers would come exactly when I needed them.  I learned a lot about myself.  I learned that I really can do hard things.  I know that I can because I believe in myself and I have the faith that my Heavenly Father is right there with me. I felt His presence with me all of the time.  I know that there were angels right there with us…every step of the way.  How else would I have been able to sleep only 7 hours in a 5 day span?  I know where my energy came from?  I really do!!

We had 244 young women and leaders that were part of this amazing experience.  I watched so many amazing leaders creating the best experience for these young women.  I witnessed young women has they were growing in the gospel helping, comforting, laughing, and helping each other.  I was able to witness the testimonies of our young women grow in such a way that has prepared them for an incredible year.  Our young women are amazing and strong.  They are powerful and genuine.  I love each one of them.  I loved their constant smiles, their hugs, their laughter and just everything about them.  I love the friendships that I made with them.  I am grateful for each one of them because they are all so different. 

They are my box of crayons…everyone different but great in their own way!!

So…here is just a glimpse:

Camp Mia Shalom….home sweet home for 5 days.

I had Ashley unpack my car with all personal things.  I wish I would have asked her to put them away for me.  I never did unpack…Note to self…unpack before all the young women arrive.  

I will forever love this area …a place where I had an incredible spiritual experience. 

We had amazing ycl’s…full of laughter, giggles, and plenty of hugs! 

What happens when you leave your camera out for others to play with it….

….painted hands to match the Pringle cans…

hmmm…now, I know what happened to my Pringles.

Delicious food

Amazing leaders & young women…

Craft time…

Night time adventures….

Oh….what a fantastic week!! 

Michelle

I started my day OVER at 4:15 pm today!

  You know those types of days that you seem to try with all your might and strength to be the best person that you can be…BUT …the minute your feet hit the floor…it doesn’t happen that way.  That was my day today.

I went to grab a towel prior to getting into the shower…um…no towels. (I forgot to throw my towels into the washer last night---yes, all 14 of them are in the dirty clothes!) Hand towels aren’t the greatest way to dry off!!!

I went to grab the products to straighten my hair…um…no products. (I did not want to wear my hair curly again today…natural curly hair can be such a pain sometimes.)

I decided that a cold glass of milk sounded mighty delicious this morning. So, I poured me a glass, went back upstairs, set it on my bathroom counter, turned around and knocked it off the counter into my basket of clean clothes (um…should have put them away when I folded them last night).

As I am running down my stairs…I miss a step and yes, I fall down the rest!  Such a great way to jump start your morning!! HA

Finally…after sitting a traffic jam…I arrived at work. Oh, I do not like construction!!  It took me almost 20 minutes to get to work…it is only 1 1/2 miles away.

I start working on my HUGE project that is due on Friday.  I am 4 hours into it…when my computer decides to have a mind of its own and turn off.  I am left staring at a blue screen.  I gather my research and start all over!! (After I screamed and said some unkind words!  UGH!!)

I send a text message to someone and after I hit the “send” message, I realize that I should not have sent it.  (It wasn’t anything bad…just should have kept a thought to myself.  Life is easier that way!)

By this time…I am thinking that I should NOT have gotten out of bed!!!

I grab my headphones…turn on loud music and have a pity party for a minute!!

Then… at 4:15 PM…I decide to start my day over.  (Did you know that you have the capability to start your day over at any given time?  Well, you can!) 

I left work, went to a movie and ate dinner with an awesome friend of mine. 

Life is fantastic!!!

Hope you had an awesome day!!  I did AFTER I started mine over!!

Michelle

 

Will there still be snow?

Awaiting in my email inbox, I found this picture....

and this picture…. and this picture… and this picture!! Yesterday, one of the Bishops in our Stake took a ride to Camp Mia Shalom.  Camp Mia Shalom is where the young women in our stake will be going in 35 days to spend one glorious week away from the world.

Guess what?  There is still lots of snow covering our camp and...we have another storm coming this week.  UGH!!!  We still have a little over  4 weeks before we drive that forever long road to spend 5 awesome days with the greatest young women in the world. Will there still be snow?  Oh, I hope not! 

Several years ago, I was serving as the ward young women’s president.  It was cold and rainy.  I was really cold and quite a few of my young women had expressed that they were cold too.  I sent a message home with a leader to call my parents and have them round up as many quilts and blankets as they could and send them up the next day with a leader.   I remembering praying so diligently that night that each one of my girls would be protected from the cold.  I was scared.  It was my first year as a young women’s president and I felt like I was not prepared for the weather.  I remember feeling the comfort that all would be well.

It was around midnight, when I heard  a knock on our cabin door.  Then, I heard a whisper,  ”Michelle...Sister Gren...” It was the brethren that were presiding over our stake.  Immediately, I thought that something had happened to one of my young women.  I jumped over cots and sleeping girls to get to the door.  I am sure it was quite the sight to see.   As I reached the porch, there stood my parents with enough blankets to keep my girls warm.  My mom and I went and covered each one of my sweet girls.  It was the most amazing experience...an experience that I will never forget.   As I placed a quilt on one of my sweet girls, she quietly responded, “I knew that you would come.  I was so cold.”  Of course, tears welled up in my eyes.  I am grateful for two sweet parents who felt the prompting to rescue their daughter and her sweet young women.  I am grateful that they made the 2 hour drive up a dark mountain in a rainstorm to be an answer to their daughter’s prayer and to the prayers of her sweet girls.  I can not even express the gratitude and love that I felt that night.  I knew that each of my sweet girls would be warm throughout the night...because my parents were so compassionate and close to the Spirit.  Thanks Mom and Dad for being such great examples to me.

As this year’s camp is growing closer...I have many worries.  Being a Stake Young Women’s President for the first time...I don’t have 26 sweet young women to worry about...I have over 200 of them to worry about.  I worry so much about each one of them.  I hope that my prayers will be heard and answered.  In fact, I know that they will.  I do have that much faith.

Have a great night!

Michelle

aw…I love my slippers!!!

 

I woke up early...extremely early...this morning to the most undesirable feeling.  I strongly dislike (hate) this type of feeling.  The feeling that you know you will be staying close to your home and not leaving for any reason. I am not sure what was in the few items that I ate yesterday to cause such a horrible feeling today…BUT...something was in the food and it did not like me at all.  Along with the questionable feeling, I was cold one minute and then hot the next.  UGH!!  I stayed in my jammies, pulled on a sweatshirt, grabbed my quilt and slipped on my slippers.  Aw...my slippers...they bring me comfort.  I love them so much.  They cuddle my feet perfectly and keep them all snuggly and warm. If I have to have one of these types of days...I am grateful that I have my slippers to bring me comfort.  Aw…I love my slippers!!!

Hope your day was great & something brought you comfort!!

Michelle

Hope…

"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. ... It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance."In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. The prophets of old speak of a 'firm hope' (Alma 34:41) and a 'lively hope' (1 Peter 1:3). It is a hope glorifying God through good works. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can 'have patience, and bear . . . [our] afflictions' (Alma 34:41)."
~ Dieter F. Uchtdor