Day 53

So really, no service done that I can think of. I seem to be going through a real dry patch in my commitment. Life gets busy...and then we come crashing down. I know that if I make service a priority it will keep my life from "needing" to crash and will assist me in remaining humble. Gotta work on that. And quick.

Day 52

I was able to go and do initiatories at the Salt Lake Temple today. One of the ordinance workers was the same one as last week when I went. She has a sweet sweet spirit and a strong Spanish accent, that I love. It was busy at The Temple today. It was nice to have the time to read my scriptures while I was there and to feel The Spirit so strongly. I could hardly contain my tears of joy and appreciation for the promises of that ordinance and the excitement I had for those that I was doing the work for.

My visiting teachers came over tonight to serve me. They spent far more time than is called for and I enjoyed every minute. I love my visiting teachers!

Day 51

Not much accomplished again today...I am not planning well.

Day 50

Today was my scheduled service, I taught Primary. It was really fulfilling. I was thinking about the kids and what they were learning the whole time. My mind was completely off of me and off of my concerns and sadness. Somehow I would love to be able to be in 24 hour service mode. I can see how keeping my mind on others makes such a massive difference in being happy myself. It is the key. Now, doing this 24 hrs a day may not be the answer. A good night's sleep is important but if I could be of service for others in every waking moment I know I would be feel far less sadness in my life.

Day 49

My Mom called this morning and things seemed to be going at least slightly better. I didn't ever hear from Jim, which was disappointing but I don't know if he may have just ended up going over to the house to see what my Mom needed. I guess I'll find that out when I talk to her next.

I went and got a card to send to Craig's niece. She will be returning from her mission on the 7th and be giving her talk in sacrament the next Sunday. I wish to send her words of encouragement and thanks.

I also got my Primary Lesson ready to go tonight and a bib part of why that went so well is because I talked with my friend from work and she gave me this great resource website. It helped out a lot and I look forward to using it more in the future.

Day 48

I took the treats I made last night into work today. Wow, I'm out of control...

I was planning to go dancing tonight but decided to stay home and get some things done instead. I'm glad I did because my Mom called really distressed about her trip up to my grandmother's house to finish cleaning it out and how her husband was so ill and things were not going as planned. I decided to call her neighbor to go in and check on her. I also ended up calling the Oakland Temple and putting in a message to have someone call me. It so happened the lady from the Temple called me back and said she would have Jim call me (another one of my Grandmother's long time neighbor who I knew growing up). Crazy, it certainly is a small world.

Day 47

Tonight I made rice crispie treats, to give away. They didn't get given away tonight...

Day 46

There is clearly, to me, a correlation between the very sad state I am in (quite possibly even self absorbed state) and the lack of service that was done on my part today. I started studying my Primary lesson (because I was supposed to). I took the kids to the park (so I could have some quiet time in the car to study). There was no real service that I can see that I did today, that was without motive of some sort. So here I sit quite melancholy. Is this directly related? I would say at least partially.

Day 45

We gave out the Valentine's and treats to the residents at work today. It was so fun. They loved it. We had one lady who has been generally depressed, just keep laughing during her whole treatment so that was awesome. It's so fun to see people happy! I think it really meant a lot to most of them that they got a little something special that they may have been hoping for but certainly weren't expecting. One of the patients came back around and gave her own little Valentine's to everyone.

After work I went and did Initiatories at the Temple. It was nice.

Day 44

Today I came home and made lasagna from scratch for my kids. If that's not service, I don't know what is. LOL. I also set some aside to take to my co-worker for lunch tomorrow. After all, it's not too frequently you get homemade gluten free lasagna. And it came out really good. :)

Day 43

I gave a talk at Stake Conference today. I realize that is indeed service. It is a bit nerve racking and takes much preparation. But what I receive in return is so worth it. The preparation it took to write the talk, the review of my experience brought me closer to the Lord and renewed my testimony. I am so grateful for that.

I spent some time with a friend this afternoon and talked with her. She continues to go through a rough time in her life but she is growing and I think she is beginning to pull through. I hope that my friendship can assist in giving her strength.

Day 42

I worked at length on my talk that I am giving tomorrow in Stake Conference. I was able to speak to a friend and get council on making it just a bit clearer and by the end I was feeling much better about it. For his service, I am very grateful.

I was also called by my ex-husband (from is girlfriend's phone) to see if I could drop of the extra key I have to his van (since he had locked his keys inside). I could have been mean and not done it, I could have gotten upset and nasty but instead, I delivered the key to his house and left it all alone. I really didn't even have the desire to be nasty about it, even though it did hurt. Heavenly Father is working in me.

Day 41

Today, we talked at work and decided to hand out Valentine's cards to our patients next Tuesday. Tonight I went and bought those cards, along with the cards my kids will be taking to school. I am really looking forward to doing that. I think it will lift the spirits of those feeling home sick or love sick, being away from their homes in a situation that is less than desirable.

Day 40

I bombed today. That's it.

Day 39

This morning I went back to the Salt Lake Temple after 3 weeks of being at other Temples because of their maintenance closure. I went and saw the old crew and did baptisms today. It was lovely. I also put some names on the prayer roll as I always do. It took a little longer at the Temple than usual, there were a lot of youth there doing baptisms. I enjoyed the peacefulness of being there and just sitting.

Day 38

Today the main thing I did that was of service was really working on my talk for Sunday at Stake Conference. Again, it doesn't feel like service. But there isn't anything else to report. I enjoy doing it because it has me see what brought me to the gospel although it is quite time consuming. I pray it will be a contribution to many people on Sunday and will really show up as service that day.

Day 37

Today we had to unexpectedly pack up our room a day early, for demolition. So that we can move to a larger therapy room later in the week. Really, the only service I did was being as helpful as I could (which really wasn't all that helpful) in getting a few critical things we needed for treatment down to the room we will be using this week.

That's about all I can come up with for today...

Day 36

Today was somewhat uneventful. I was in Primary but didn't teach. I went over to my boss' house to watch the SuperBowl with him and his family, I took chips, dip and root beer. That was my service for the day...I also called a friend to see how she was doing. I recognize thinking of others and calling them is a form of service. It's something I do at least weekly but it isn't often thought of as service. I think of it more as something I "should" do as a good friend. When I think of it though, and when my friends call to check on me, it makes a real difference for me. I feel loved and thought of and like I matter. I also don't expect people to call and check on me, so when they do, it really does serve me. It's a form of service that may take a little time but certainly isn't hard to do.

Today after church, a woman from my ward came and dropped off a couple of books for me to read. One to borrow and one to have. She is so thoughtful and she knows some of my pain, she has been through a divorce but now on the other end, has found a wonderful husband and had more children and created a family with him. She was so blessed.

Day 35

I woke up to the doorbell and fresh sticky buns, that was really great!

Today I threw a pizza/kinnect party for my last year's primary class celebrating their scripture memorization. I also made root beer floats for them. They had a great time and even though it was only supposed to last until 2pm, some of them stuck around until almost 4pm. We started before noon. It was fun!

Day 34

Today I knew I had plans for the day and all evening so I just brought some rice crispie treats to work to share with my co-workers as a surprise. This was my very simple act of service for today.

I received a call from that patient's daughter I took treats to last night, she asked if she could bring me some breakfast rolls she is practicing making tomorrow, for work next week. So I'll have some fresh rolls delivered in the morning between 8-9. How great is that?!

What's that saying??? Turn about is fair play...It's looking like service shows up like this quite a bit.

Day 33

Today I just made some rice crispie treats and swung by my patient's daughter's house to give her the treats and a card, say hello, and offer a helping hand and friendship if she needed anything. Hopefully I will make a new friend and she will feel welcome here in Salt Lake. :)

Day 32

Today I was supposed to stop by one of my patient's, daughter's homes and say hello....it didn't happen. I did text a couple of my friends to give them some moral support. Both of which are going through some pretty big trials right now.

I got a strong sense that one of the women I was texting with, needed a Priesthood Blessing, so I arranged it. I made the calls I needed to make, I had her come over...insisted she come over, and had her receive a blessing from my Home Teacher (who was just assigned to me and I got to meet for the first time). It was a good thing. :) I could see a peacefulness come over her. No, she wasn't pain free but there was a peace that had not been with her before.