a Wonderful Weekend

Saturday

Yesterday was the first Saturday in quite a while where Em hasn't had a dance class so Geoff and I didn't have to rush off to Blackburn first thing. In fact we had quite a leisurely start to the day, went into town and did a couple of errands, then had lunch together and then checked out the locations for a job he had in the evening. We got back home about 4pm. It was just so nice to have the free time to spend with each other.

The girls had gone out in the afternoon with friends, including Ruth who is over from France on a short visit, and gone to the cinema. I was a little concerned that Myrra might be cutting it fine for getting back because she'd promised to come with me to Burnley in the early evening to a baptism. So Geoff went to meet them on the way back from the cinema as soon as the film finished and bring them home. Then he took Myrra and I over to Burnley for the baptism.

I felt really so excited about this. The lady being baptised is someone I 'met' on a message forum online and who I had never met in person but having talked to her on the forum and in messages back and forth I feel like I've got to know her and it was just so thrilling that she made the decision to get baptised.

When we got there people asked us if we were members of her family - we smiled and said no. The missionaries knew we weren't members of the Ward and I explained that we were members of Blackburn Ward. So of course they asked how we met her and it seemed really funny to say that we'd never even met - and then to explain about the message forum! Some of the people there used to be from Blackburn Ward and were surprised to see us. We were able to update them on all that has happened since they moved.

But the best part of all beyond any doubt was the baptism itself. Such a beautiful spirit and such a lovely lady. I always enjoy baptisms and this was no exception, unless you consider that it was possibly so exciting because Michele had found her own way back to the Gospel and taken such a big step, as she has a phobia of water. It went without a hitch. Two of the loveliest people in the world gave talks which were obviously sincere and from the heart, about faith, repentance and baptism. David Eastwood performed the baptism and one of the missionary elders played some beautiful hymn music on the violin. I can only imagine how Michele herself must have been feeling because I was on a spiritual high.

Sunday

Today I'd been asked to read something in the Sunday School class. That in itself was not unusual and what I'd been asked to read aloud is something I have read so many times before but as I prayerfully read through it at home it had such an impact on me. The verses are known as the Psalm of Nephi . I felt a great insight into Nephi's personality and character. He regrets his anger towards the brothers who had fought against him, who had tied him up, who had rebelled, who had tried to kill him. Despite all the struggles he had he retained a wonderfully powerful testimony of the Lord and knew he was loved and guided. I felt so moved reading out those words to the class. I would love to be able to be like Nephi.

In Sacrament Meeting we had visiting speakers, a missionary couple who were introducing 3 courses (with manuals) for strengthening home and family. They sound wonderful. They are really an answer to prayer. The sister said the one for parents is really the manual everyone wishes they'd been issued with when the first had a baby. The one for married couples and the one for families sound really exciting and extremely helpful, with lots of good stuff to work on. Geoff was really interested too. It all just looks at things from an LDS perspective instead of from a world's perspective which many times can be contrary to the Gospel.

I'm excited about when the courses will start in our Ward. I definitely want to go even if Geoff can't due to work commitments or whatever.

The third one is about overcoming addictions and on the face of it that may not seem relevant until you look at the bigger picture and see that addictions can be more than tobacco, drugs and alcohol but can include over eating or comfort eating, or even spending far too much time doing things like watching TV or reading. I think I could be a sudoku addict because if I don't do at least a little bit of a challenge each day then it's almost like having withdrawal symptoms.

And how about the internet? Am I addicted to message forums? Do they take up far too much of my time? Even the addiction course will be beneficial I think.

Geoff was talking about the whole thing on the way home in the car, with particular reference to the bit about anger and getting annoyed with people. I'm very good at losing my cool with the kids and saying 'you make me so angry' which is not strictly accurate as it is ME. I make myself angry. This will be good to work on and I'm looking forward to it.

The whole thing tied in with what Wendy was teaching in the Sunday School class about how we react with others and how not reacting angrily actually changed the attitude of a person she was angry with.

It all seems like answers to prayers which I have been praying for a long time - finally the answers have come in the Lord's way when I am ready for it.