I'm a crier....okay?

I am a very emotionally driven person. I am probably equal parts stubborn and cry baby...

So this weekend was HARD for me.

I found out two weeks ago that I was being asked to fulfill a different assignment within the 'local' branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For the last several years, in fact, MOST of my adult, married life...I have worked in the Primary organization. This is the program that teaches the babies from 18 months to children age 12. For the last 3 and a half years I've worked as the Primary President...so we have worked to staff and oversee the kids on Sunday during our worship time, as well as the Cub Scout program and Achievement Day program, both specific to girls and boys age 8-12 on Wednesday nights. It was the best job in the world. I worked with some of the best people...I developed friendships...strengthened attachments... and absolutely fell in love with these little people. Kids are the best. They are sponges, eager to be reminded of the great truth their spirit already knows: They are children of a loving God. He has a plan. He wants them to come home to Him again.  They say the funniest things. They accept. And I was the one who benefited from this chance to serve.

So, needless to say when I found out I was passing this job on to someone else...I was super sad! I will miss the kids so much. The new President is darling. Love her tender spirit...her funny whit. I'm forgotten already.... :)

Yesterday the kids were told that my counselors and I were asked to move on...and so the song leader had them singing some of my favorites as a goodbye...and I was a mess! Of course they belted those songs out with all the gusto they had...and I was touched by the Spirit, reminding me of God's love for these little people. But it wasn't just sadness. There was also some feelings over being overwhelmed by what awaits. My feet are big...but not this big.  As I sat there yesterday, listening to the children testify of God in song....I was also very aware of the nudgings in my heart that God loved me...knew me...and was ready for me to stretch again.

So...here it goes. I'm going to be working with the Stake(the organization that oversees the smaller divisions of our church in separate towns: Our stake covers half of Great Falls, Cut Bank, Shelby, Browning, Choteau, Conrad, Fairfield, and Sun River. I've been asked to be the 2nd counsellor in the Young Women's Organization, which is SORT of a continuation of primary...just the girls, age 12-18.
This is MORE than a stretch for me. Because teenagers are a whole new game. They aren't quite as 'sponge-like'...they have a few more life experiences, some attitude :) and are really searching to figure out just who they are. And this was NOT a favorite phase in my own life. I went to my first stake dance the other night and we giggled at the painful dancing...and it sort of transported me back to those feelings during high school. So here goes. Its my goal to make sure girls figure it out before I did. I want them to be confident, and Christ seeking. I want them to be ready for the temple, and excited for their futures. 
And I want to prove God's trust in me...

Change is not my friend. Its uncomfortable and emotional. But I am grateful for the chance to grow.