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(I realize I've used my daughter's given name - But I just didn't have it in me to try and spell her Von trapp name correctly today)
Wasn't this just yesterday?
And now, look what's happened:
(maybe I should have bought the portraits)
Tomorrow is the big day. She graduates from Rio Rancho High School. Years ago I remember thinking, 2010! That's forever from now. And now it's here. And I can't stop weeping. I can handle her graduating... It's the moving away I'm struggling with. I'm not crying for her. I'm crying for me.
I don't want my life to change. I liked it the way it was. All my little chicks were under the same roof. Now it seems that my prayers are more earnest than ever as I ask Heavenly Father to watch over them and to help them choose the right.
Last week we had a Spring Fling for Relief Society and invited all the Young Women to come. It was such a wonderful evening. We celebrated the girls that were graduating from Young Women's into Relief Society. We talked about both the Young Women's Theme and the Relief Society Declaration.
Noel stood with the Young Women and repeated their theme:
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works and
Integrity
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to
strengthen home and family,
make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple,
and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
Then Noel walked to the other side of the room where the women in the Relief Society were and they all stood and repeated the Relief Society declaration:
We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:
Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.
Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.
Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.
Delight in service and good works.
Love life and learning.
Stand for truth and righteousness.
Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.
Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.
Earlier I was asked to spotlight Noel - and the waterworks began. She has been such a joy to our family, it is very hard to see her leave. But I am very happy for the fun and exciting things her future holds. She is such a talented, responsible, valiant young woman. It's not fair for me to keep her all to myself.
Her plans are to attend Utah Valley University for the next year and then possibly attend Utah State University. She wants to go into nursing or physical therapy. Whatever she choses to do, she will do a great job. I love her!
The remainder of the evening was spent socializing with group games and snacks. I am so thankful for the Relief Society program. I realized that no matter where she is in this world, she'll have the women in the Relief Society to take her under their wing and to help her.
Wish me luck tomorrow. Better yet, wish me luck on Wednesday when she (and my oldest daughter who came down for the graduation) leave for their bright, new futures!
