4th ward in 2 years!

I figured I needed a picture with a post & while this doesn't have anything to do with my post, it is a temple I love for many great reasons & so seemed fitting. It's the Newport Beach Temple for anyone who doesn't know.


I started a new ward today. This will be my 4th ward in the last 2 years. Lots of starting over, new faces, new callings, etc. When I think of the 3 wards I've been in the last 2 years I think of all the different people I met, friends I've made and people who have blessed my life. All 3 wards had very different dynamics and leadership. All great in their own way. I also can see in some of the wards that I needed to be in that ward, at that time in my life. It's interesting that some places you can be for short times can have the greatest impact on our lives. All my moving wards have been mostly not of my choosing, but required by changes in a stake, moving & finally aging :-(. The last two wards I was in were for less than a year and just over a year.

The first I was in for just 9 months and it was so hard to leave. I've never had a harder time leaving or saying goodbye even though I had been there such a short time. That ward & the leaders & members of the ward were such a blessing & just what I needed during that time of my life. I don't know how to put into words my experience there, other than it was an answer to many said and unsaid prayers.

The ward I just left was also a great blessing, but in different ways. It tried my faith a little more, but I've left stronger spiritually and with a closer relationship with my Father in Heaven. What more can you ever ask from a ward?

Now I am back in a family ward for the first time in 12 years. I'm so used to the total silence of a singles ward (which is just amazing) and used to lessons, talks and comments being relevant to where I am in life right now. I'm going to greatly miss those things and am a little sad when I think I won't have them again, at least the silent part. But I know I'm where I should be right now & so with that am excited to move forward and receive new callings & meet new people. I'm sure with time I'll get used to all the noise & constant movement in Sacrament meeting.

I know if we bend our will to follow the Lord's that we'll have experiences and be in the places that we need to be and that'll be some of the greatest blessings we'll ever receive in life.