And now that I have more free time . . .

something else seems to need my attention.

Bittersweet

Yesterday was a day of change for me. After nearly four years, I am no longer the RSP (as Danny used to call me).

Things I won't miss:

• Reorganizing visiting teaching
• Emails from the stake RS president reminding me about things I all ready know
• Panicing when the RS teacher doesn't show up until after the opening song and prayer
• Feeling ultimately responsible when anything doesn't go well
• Feeling guilty because I haven't been inside every single sister in the ward's house (and even have some I wouldn't recognize if I saw them on the street--YIKES!) and haven't activated every single sister in the ward and haven't convinced all the young singles 18-30 that they really do want to come to our activities.
• Worrying that there isn't enough food at enrichment meetings, socials and funerals.
• Writing the ward newsletter and then waiting to see how it gets edited. (An editor is not supposed to introduce errors in a text!)
• Did I mention reorganizing visiting teaching?!

Things I will miss:

• Having people confide in me when they see me at the grocery store, the school, on the street, and in their homes.
• Being there at some of the most tender, most sacred moments when people are dying and being born or are suffering with serious challenges.
• The privilege of helping people fill their pantries with food and always giving a hug.
• Being aware of needs, and being aware of the incredible goodness of so many people who rise to the challenge and help each other--especially those who do it while carrying heavy burdens of their own.
• Interacting regularly with Priesthood leaders and seeing how very much they care.
• Being able to help plan and implement programs and activities that I feel are important.
• Knowing everyone who walks into the chapel every Sunday--and if I don't know them, know that I can ask them if they're new without being embarrassed!
• Working closely and becoming good friends with the wonderful ladies who served with me.
• And so much more!

Fun Firsts

Okay Christy, here goes nothin':

• First Friend: Without a doubt, it would be Renae. Her mom cleaned house for my mom when I was in 1st grade so Renae walked home from school with me every Friday afternoon and we played. We were best of friends all through our growing up years and I was even a bridesmaid at her wedding! Memories: playing witches in her cellar, playing school in her attic. Sleeping in sleeping bags on her front lawn, and then trying to sneak into the house in our pajamas in the morning, with all the traffic going by. Camping at Fremont Lake. Stalking Terry Brog at the Elkhorn Restaurant.
• First time to disneyland: I've only been once and I was only about six. I have no memory, so what can I say?
• First memorable gift: Tammy dolls (which were less curvacious Barbies). I remember them mostly because I discovered them on the Christmas Eve the lights went out, and my brother, Terry woke me up in the middle of the night and then lit matches so I could see what Santa had brought to me!
• First time wearing make-up: No idea. Probably in 9th grade.
• First pet: SnowFlake, the white kitten I received when I was six, who lived with me until I graduated from high school--except for the summer she spent finding her way home after being banished to a farm in a nearby town.
• First time out of the country: Our trip to Europe to pick up my brother from his mission. I was fourteen and my favorite memory of the trip is polkaing with my brother in the Swiss Alps.
• First car: Dodge Colt--which I never did learn how to drive.
• First Job: Working at my parents gift shop
• First car accident: Hasn't happened, knock on wood.
• First concert: Probably the America concert my sophomore year at BYU. Our seats were on the playing floor in the Marriott Center; my date had slept out all night to get the tickets.
• First college roommate: I lived in Heritage Halls with five wonderful girls, two from my high school, and three from Bountiful. My personal roomie was Cari, and we became very good friends.
• First Airplane Ride Alone: I flew into Salt Lake from Great Falls, Montana, where my sister-in-law had made my wedding dress. My then-fiance picked me up--and I remember I was so nervous and shy! We hadn't seen each other for at least two weeks!
• First time I met my husband: I don't know when we officially met, but my first memory of him is when he bore his testimony in our BYU Singles Ward. When my future husband introduced himself, he mentioned that the young man before him had said that he was from Orange County, CA, and he was from Cranbury, New Jersey, but that didn't mean they were a couple of fruits.
• First kiss with hubby: We'd gone out about half a dozen times when he invited me to go to a dance lab with him. And then he sprained his ankle. (Does anyone else think this sounds suspicious?) So I went over to his apartment to offer comfort. We read D & C 50 together (don't be impressed--it was homework) and discussed it at length. At some point, I was laying on the couch, and he was sitting on the floor. He scooted over and gave me a kiss.
• First home together: A dive in southwest Provo. It was absolutely filthy when we first moved in, and I spent the first week or so just trying to get it clean enough to live in. And the oven never did work, so I learned how to bake cookies at 500 degrees!
• First real job: Being a mom.
• First baby: Jenny Anne, born September 20, 1979 after three hours of labor. She was beautiful and perfect--and still is :)
• First time I realized I wasn't a kid anymore: When I first really saw my parents getting old, and felt our roles reversing. I was becoming the caretaker, after being taken care of for so long.

Thanks for the memories!