Goodygirl21: Last Lesson in YW & Norman 2nd Ward

Serving in the YW's was a very new & exciting experience for me and I grew to love it quickly and I fell hard in love with all the girls, but with my beehives especially. Man alive, I LOVE those girls. My in-laws are planning to serve a mission and our lease was up in July so we made the decision to leave Oklahoma and come to Utah and will eventually care for their home.

I love Oklahoma, the ward, the friends I've made, the football, even the crazy weather....but I never knew how much I loved these beautiful, amazing girls until it was time to leave. I already miss my interactions with them, their smiles, thoughts on life, playing with them...being silly and sharing and making memories and learning and teaching the gospel together.

I grew a lot and learned loads from the woman I served with and from the girls examples.

These are the ladies I served with:

Meredith Siharath, Eileen Jensen, Lori Steadman, Hilary Sorensen & Missy Verville

Meredith asked me to teach on my last Sunday. I woke up Sunday morning and realized that this was the Sunday our ward and stake was hosting the Utah Valley Children's Choir. Families in our ward house and fed lots of youth and in the end I had my girls (in the picture) and about 30 other girls to teach in a combined YW lesson.

I was very nervous. But once I got going the spirit took over it was an amazing experience for me. Its always irked me the wrong way when I hear youth comparing their lives with those in other states. Utah....yes, there are lots of members of the church in Utah. Are they better? Worse? Is it harder to choose the right in the "mission field" when you are 1 of 2 girls in your Junior high that is Mormon? Is is easier to be righteous youth in Utah? Lots of girls have lots of thoughts on this topic and so do I.

We talked a lot about what challenges we are faced with and how to stay strong. With that many girls in class we had an awesome discussions. Everyone had lots to say, we laughed (at Sister Jensen mostly), I cried...got a little intense and the spirit was thick.

I think that Satan works hard on all of these girls to bring them down, to tempt them and destroy their happiness no matter where they live. YW in Utah have difficult challenges for them and Oklahoma YW don't have it easy either.

These girls are strong, they know there stuff and I see the light of Christ in their eyes and I will miss watching them learn and grow.

We lived just a hop, skip and jump away from the church. It was a blessing because we spent a lot of time in this building. (Corner of Imhoff & Highway 9)