an unfamiliar phone number

About 4:00pm today, my phone rings.  It's an unfamiliar phone number, but nonetheless, it has a Virginia area code so I answer it.  It's an unfamiliar voice and he's staggering a little bit as if he is nervous and doesn't know exactly what to say.  He manages to get out, "Is there a KennaDee?  I s..l..o..w..l..y, said, "yes." He replied, "oh ok. She has a friend that wants to talk to her."  As I'm talking on the phone with this boy, KennaDee comes running down the stairs, "mom, who is it? Is it for me? Is it Noor?" Noor is a friend in class that she's become quite good friends with.  She told me a couple days ago that they exchanged phone numbers and they are going to hang out after school one day.  I didn't think much of it at the time.  I assumed I would be the one to call Noor's mom or Noor's mom would be the one to call me.  NOT NOOR HERSELF!
Previously to this phone call, I was deep in thought as I was catching up on some organizing.  After KennaDee took the phone and ran upstairs to her room....I could not get back into my zone.  I kept replaying what just happened in my head.  To some of you readers out there, you may be thinking what's the big idea.  Here it is.

SHE'S ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!!! I do not remember getting phone calls from friends in second grade.  Does it really happen that soon? My little girl is growing up and I am not ready for it.  The phone calls behind closed doors. My heart was pounding quickly. I debated on running upstairs myself to eavesdrop,  but is that the kind of mother I want to be?  What are they planning? What are they talking about? Sigh.  I had to come write my thoughts out or I would never be able to get back to my organizing.

I guess the positive part of this, is that the boy who was on the phone, was Noor's brother.  At least the phone call was a female friend and not a classmate of the opposite sex.  Right??

Tear.. Tear..

I just keep repeating to myself.... I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always..as long as I'm living, my baby she'll be.

Entrepreneurship

KennaDee has become our little entrepeneur.  She always wants to take our kid table and chairs outstide and have something for sale for the community.  It's been lemonade twice and this last week she decided to sell her "art." She made these beautiful art pieces.  As soon as she finished all them, she said, "mom - I think people will want to buy my drawings."  I said, "I bet they would!" So away she went with her procedure.  As she came back in, she reported that she had sold 2 paintings for a quarter.  (Before she went out, she was gonna sell them for $1 a piece.) I guess she negotiated.  She then changed her prices: one for a nickel, two for a quarter and three for a dime.  Brian and I started laughing and she immediately said, "wait wait wait. No - one for a nickel, two for a dime, three for a quarter." LOVE that girl! Here's a sample:

Now - keep in mind - she sold her best ones already.

Looking back

So last weekend, an old friend from Highschool came into town and I was able to spend a little time with her.  On my way over to visit her at the house she was staying in, I started thinking.... What would have happened to our friendship had I not joined the church?  She was not a member and I had joined the church a year after highschool.  After I had joined, unforunately, I had to break away from the group because the lifestyle I once led, was too tempting to follow.  So I started thinking, I wonder if we would have been closer had I not broke away.  Had I not decided to move out of the apartment, would I have been invited to their bachlorette parties and their weddings?  Would I have received their baby announcements?  Would we still be good friends to this day? I started feeling sad that I was the only one in our group of friends that was not invited to those things.  As I shared this with Brian, he said, "you can't look at it that way though, Shara. Think of all the good friends and blessings you have now because you DID move out.  I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "I guess."  Having friends is important to me and knowing that I'm not close with them anymore...hurts.
I ended up having a great time with them and am glad we were able to talk. However, I still left that night wondering.

Then Sunday came - Thanks goodness for Sundays!! Two of my friends sang this BEAUTIFUL song.  They are my 2 favorite female voices (other than my moms) that I LOVE to hear sing together. The spirit is always so strong when they sing and....I don't even know how to describe it. It's just beautiful.  Anyhow - the song they sang was, Power of Heaven.

These are the lyrics they sang:
Heaven's light flows through the windows
Warming even walls of stone
In the refuge of the temple
I find strength beyond my own

I can feel the power of heaven
As I stand on holy ground
And the spirit whispers what I long to learn
Eyes are touched with understanding
I can see beyond this world
Its the place I reach for heaven
And it reaches in return

Filled with purpose, filled with power
Granted gifts to lift the world
In Gods house and in His presence
I am filled with strength to serve

It's the place I reach for heaven
And it reaches in return


This was a testimony and an answer to me.  This is why I broke away.  Although I still hurt at times because of lost friendships, the blessings of the temple strongly outweigh anything and everything. I am grateful for the membership I have in my church and the many blessings it brings me.  Yes - there are things that I sacrifice but....sacrifice brings greater blessings.