Changes

Change is good, right?

It definitely doesn't feel like that right now.

I have lived in Castlegate for the past 10 years. I grew up with Brother Eldredge as my primary teacher and Brother and Sister Fire as my very first sunday school teachers after primary. I became more social with Brother Miller's "lessons" and I learned how to be myself with Sister Jones' young women lessons. I grew to love the members of the ward as my own family. Bishop Oakes was my first amazing bishop that I remember loving to pieces, and still do. Bishop White helped me through my teenage years. In the past 10 months, I have loved and served my fellow young women and leaders. I have sung multiple duets, quartets, and even a couple solos. The Castlegate ward was the first to hear me sing in front of an audience. They helped me get over my stage-fright and learn how to sing. They watched me grow.

And now it's all new.

New faces, new bishop, new young women, new leaders, new everything. And I miss good ole Castlegate. I went to my new ward, Sierra Vista, for the 1st time today. Sacrament was nice. Sunday School was alright. Young Women's broke my heart. Not because it was horrible, it was actually pretty great. I just missed my ward terribly. I miss feeling comfortable with my comments. I miss chatting with Maelyn and getting in trouble. I miss writing Jalen little notes on her paper. I miss seeing my mom teach her amazing lessons. I miss giving Sister Jones huge hugs whenever I saw her. I miss Brother Haws' beautiful, amazing prelude music.

So as I cry because I don't want things to change, I know I need to look for opportunities to serve new people. But I just want a friend. A friend as good as Ellyse. A friend who will talk to me forever. A friend who isn't turning 18 on Wednesday. A friend who will be there in my new ward to go to Sunday school and Young Women's with me. But making friends isn't one-sided. I know I should be looking for friends. I just want my old CG fam back.

But change is good.

I welcome my new ward with open arms and an open heart. It will take a little bit to get used to it, and all will be well in the end. I just need to stick it out and endure for a little bit.

The Lord works in mysterious ways. I have faith that He will make this new change into something amazing.

I'll keep singing. I'll keep looking for opportunities to serve. I'll also keep looking for my old ward family in the halls. They're right around the corner, they're not gone forever. I have been so blessed with an amazing ward. Now it's time for my family and I to bless this ward.

See ya around, Castlegate ward.

Hello, Sierra Vista ward!

Good things to come, hopefully!

Love,
Emmalee

Serve, Love, Repeat

I heard once in a talk that if you want to love someone, serve them. There is no way you can't not love someone if you're serving them.

I struggle with my friends. All the time. I try so hard to love them and keep the wonderful friendship we have. Sometimes I just want to give up. I even started giving up on some friendships. Not a good idea. One of my friends once said, "I don't believe in throwing away friendships. You fix them, not throw them away." 

I came to the realization that this is NOT something I should be doing, throwing away friendships. I knew that if I wanted to love my friends again, I needed to serve them. So I started thinking of ways to serve. Getting them flowers, little things here and there. As I was preparing little gifts to give them, I grew to love my friends SO MUCH. I can't even explain it. I know that the love I felt came straight from Heavenly Father. He wanted me to feel the love He as for all of us. 

I love my friends. I'm still struggling with letting things go, and it's hard. But I know I can do it through serving. Nothing else matters when you're serving.

"When ye are in the service of your fellow being, ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17

Serve, Love, Repeat.

Love,
Emmalee