YW in Excellence

When last night was over, I breathed a BIG sigh of relief.

I've been planning our YW in Excellence for the past month (yes, I know it's December!) and it's taken no small amount of time. I've been in Young Womens since we moved here, but I was only put in the presidency four months ago. About a month and half ago, I was at a stake leadership meeting when they mentioned YW in Excellence. Come again? I literally recoiled in my seat realizing no date had been set for this event. Since then, I've madly tried to get the girls ready with their Personal Progress, come up with a program, plan the meal, ask girls to give talks/sing etc., delegate assignments for food and help, apologize to the bishopric that this was not planned sooner, make food, and on and on. I've been on the phone so much the past week, I think I used up at least 1/2 our minutes for the month. I felt I literally had to beg people to come.

With many needing rides, I filled my car to the brim with girls and food and precariously made my way to the church building in the pouring rain, only soaking Chelsey part way with the ham juice from the pan she was carrying. Amid kids running around screaming, young men throwing footballs over the decorated tables, and crazy people calling on the hall phone wondering if we were watching Obama (huh?), we were able to get dinner on the tables and the program started.

At 7pm I felt on the verge of tears from shear stress and realizing not 1/2 of the people I thought would come, were actually there. I made myself eat since it had been at least 7 hours since my last meal, but had absolutely no appetite. As we got the program going, and especially once my talk was over, I started feeling much more relaxed. We actually had 5 parents come (believe it or not that's pretty good) and the girls seemed to enjoy the evening and the plaques I made for them to take home. I was so proud of them for having the courage to get up in front of everyone and explain their projects, or lead the music, say the theme, or sing. The parents seemed to listen as I explained the PP program and most importantly, you could feel the Spirit in the room. And for that reason, it was completely worth it. I was home by ten and even though my house was a disaster area and my baby had been neglected that day, I was feeling happier than I had in a while. I'm so grateful for the other leaders helping with the food, invitations, and getting the girls ready with their projects. And it also made me REALLY grateful for my own YW leaders growing up. I totally took them and the program for granted. I never realized what a blessing it was in my life.

Here are the girls that came that night.

This is one of the signs I made for them to take home.

(No, I didn't come up with this on my own. I copied a sign I have hanging in my living room that a friend gave me for Christmas years ago. Remember, me=not crafty)

The quote is the mutual theme for 2009.

Yea for YW in Excellence and an even bigger yea for it being over :)