Sacrament Meeting Notes

I was cleaning out a stack of papers in my room.  You know, the perpetual paper pile.  I often hold onto papers for too long, thinking I will cherish them / do something with them later.  And then I read the papers once every 6 months or so until it feels right to let them go.  To the trash it is.

This one warrants being typed up before hitting the bottom of the waste basket.  It's a letter I wrote to Rob during sacrament meeting when he was in the Bishopric.  It's dated just a few months after he was called.  Things were hectic, it seemed like Rob was always gone, the kids were little, and I was drowning a little bit every single Sunday.  A few months after this letter was written, a veteran member of the ward mentioned something about how uplifting church was and I almost got angry.  "UpLIFTING?!  You want to talk about upLIFTING?  While you sit on the stand listening to talks and I sit alone with my children?!"  Say the word 'uplifting' one more time, friend!  Just see what happens!  :)

We learned a lot while Rob was in the Bishopric, though.  Our marriage was strengthened.  Our family was strengthened.  And I improved so much as a person.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again:  I would say yes to a Bishopric calling for Rob in a heartbeat.  It was amazing how blessed we were during those 2 years.

4/20/08

Rob-

You write notes for me [our deal was that Rob would listen to the talks and write notes on them, so I could get something out of sacrament meeting, too].  I write my notes today.  My experience for sacrament mtg.  Aaah!  ...  If I start crying, I probably will TOTALLY emotionally lose it.  ...  If I get up & leave my kids here, all of them, and go just sit on the couch & put my head in my hands.  No, probably should just breathe and close my eyes for a minute.  ...  Garrett Burnett is funny.  The Burnetts had pretzels before Tank ate them all.  Funny how he's best friends w/anyone w/food.  ...  Got up w/Teancom.  He saw Jeana had fruit snacks.  I asked if he wanted to sit w/me or w/Jeana.  And now no Tank on our row.  ...  Elijah saw the Burnetts now have fishy crackers and he's sitting with Garrett & chatting his ear off between bites.  Garrett occasionally will give me that serious-for-kids look:  the nod & serious face:  "This is vitally important."

You're cute up there.  ...  Colter & Kelly give me occasional "I'm so sorry" looks.  Colter also gave me a "You'll survive & laugh about it later" look.  I gave him a thumbs up.

Occasionally I hear a blurb from a talk.  Something about sister missionaries or an imaginary guide?  ...  Go to the temple to become one w/the father.  Reminds me of a good point from The Holy Temple.  I should tell you about that later.

It's nice for people to instantly recognize I can't do sac. mtg. by myself & help out.  Even if I do get those looks - the you'll survive smile mixed w/a little pity & I'm glad it's not me or that used to be me look:  "I remember those days."  I'd rather a serious what can I do to help approach.  Or a you're doing good nod.  Those smiles make me want to giggle & hand them my kids.  They'd all take them & at least that's a beautiful thing.

Aw, your voice is nice.  Bummer, Jones didn't speak.  Sadness.

I love you.

Tamra