Sunday was a wonderful day!  We were asked to speak at Sammamish Valley YSA Sacrament meeting by Brother Hodgson.  So we got up early to study our talks again and pray for the Spirit! Then we readied and left our apartment about 10:15am for church at Bellevue YSA. Church starts at 11:30 am but we like to get there early to shake hands and greet everyone.   It was a wonderful meeting and they had the combined YSA wards choir sing!  Oh....how beautiful are their voices!  They sang two songs:  Master the Tempest is raging and ______.  Wow what a spirit entered into that Sacrament!  We had to slip out early because the SVward started at 1:00pm and we have to drive about 20-25 minutes to their chapel.

I prayed so hard for the Spirit to attend and help me give the message the Lord wanted me to deliver.  My problem was that all week when thinking or planning the talk, I felt the material was inspired but did not have a distinct feeling that the message was from the Lord but maybe from me!

I finally left all my prepared talk home.  I wrote down a few highlights and took the story of Amanda Smith with me.  Determined to allow the Spirit to direct my words!  Shani talked first and testified of the Book of Mormon.  I have a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and wondered if that should be my testimony also.  The combined YSA choir sang just before my talk...setting the stage for the spirit! Why, oh WHY, does the spirit wait til the last minute to guide me?  I stood up and started my testimony.  Then I felt the Spirit!  I felt the direction and the story I should tell.  I am grateful for the Holy Ghost!  I am grateful for the Gospel and the blessing of having the Holy Ghost as my best friend.  But since I did not have the talk written out....you don't get to share in it.

The personal story and example I shared with them was of a time when I was a bit overwhelmed with the responsibilities of motherhood and so many little ones!  I always wanted to be the "perfect" mother and raise the "perfect" family...so maybe I put myself under great stress.
One day in particular, I had a rough day with my kidos.  There was haggling and crying and endless contention!  I just wanted to run away!  But I loved my family.  I loved my Husband and I loved the Lord.  I just did not love myself.  I fed the children lunch and put them to bed for naps.  I asked them to stay in their rooms and not come out.  Then I went into the living room, shut the french doors and knelt at the couch.  Praying to Heavenly Father I told him of my inadequacies.  I told him I wasn't doing a very good job!  I could not do what I knew He wanted me to do.  My tears bathed the couch where I knelt.  I finished my prayer...as I raised my head, I saw the picture of Jesus in the red robe hanging on the wall.  Through my tears I saw HIS face, and heard clearly the words: "Dawnie, I am so pleased!"  Buckets of tears flooded my eyes, rolling down my cheeks!  But I will never forget the witness of the Spirit that my efforts were accepted of the Lord!  I did not have to be perfect!  He loved me just like I was and He appreciated every thing I was doing to teach our children the gospel and how to be kind, even at home.  He just wanted me to keep trying!

The message I wanted to give was how the Holy Ghost can help us through all times, all trials and all tragedies that life will throw at us.

Dean gave a great talk on how the Lord knows each of us.  He knows where we are and what we are doing!  He related the experience Elder Echo Hawk told us of the young missionary finding his lost brother.  He always does such a great job presenting his inspired talks.  Most of all we are both thankful for the opportunity to read, ponder and pray about the messages the Lord wants us to present.  We are better people today because we are taught as we prepare talks and lessons.  It is a blessing to serve in the Lord's work.

After Church the SVYSA held a mix 'n mingle pot luck dinner after church.  They have lots of food and many young adults who stayed to visit.  That is a good time to visit over good food.  Our Bellevue YSA Choir stayed for the dinner too!  We love them all!

Then to finish off the Sabbath we were privileged to attend a new member/missionary fireside held in Bothell.  This one was quite unique because most of the converts who spoke were Russian!  Some spoke broken english the others had missionary translators.  What beautiful spirits they have!  They are so glad the Lord brought them to the United States to find America and the Gospel!  There is quite a large group of Russian members up here and they have created a Russian speaking ward.

You know what...IT'S EASY TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY on days like today!