3.22.15

What a great week!

Its kind of funny, but I love St. Patrick’s Day. Its just fun. It’s fun to get dressed up in green. And teaching preschool on St. Patrick's day.. soo fun! We make a leprechaun trap to see if we can catch them.. and then the kids go around whispering because they don’t want to scare them off. It is the funniest thing! And then the leprechaun brings them something.. gold coins, chocolate. So the kid picture is my preschoolers dressed in their green on my couch.

The highlight of my week was Time out for Women. For those of you who may not know what this is.. Deseret Book sponsors it. They bring in performers and people to give inspirational talks. There was a Friday and Saturday session. It was at Benaroyal Hall in Seattle. I got to go with my very good friend, Jennie Klumker. It was so great and wonderful! The only bad thing was that I stayed up way too late)I think 2 a.m and then had to get up by 6:15) talking and so I’m a little tired.. but it was my own fault. (And I’d do it all again..)

So many things I could tell you about this conference! It was pretty amazing. Jenny Oaks Baker was there and played her violin. She is fabulous! It was one of those events where you were laughing and then crying and then laughing again and feeling the spirit so strong.

I think the one that touched me the most was talking about seeing the fingerprints of God everywhere. This is something I strongly believe in. Miracles or Tender Mercies, whatever you call them. She told this fun story of she was presenting for the first time. She wasn’t feeling well. She had been praying to feel better to present. She was nervous enough with out being sick. When she was getting ready to present, she had this bow/belt on her dress in the front and she couldn’t get it to stay. She was in the bathroom and another one of her friends was in there (in the stall) and she asked her, do you happen to have a safety pin? Her friend started laughing. She couldn’t figure out why she was laughing over this. She even said, was it not bathroom etiquette to talk to someone while they were in the stall? So, she asked again,and her friend started laughing hysterically and said to her, hand me your phone, I want to take a picture and show you something. So, she said, it was kind of weird, she handed her phone over the stall and then it was handed back to her and what she saw was a safety pin that was on the back of the door through the handle. She couldn’t believe it! Her friend got it to her and she safety pinned her bow/belt to her dress. She then related how Heavenly Father knew she would need that and put it where she could get it. And he cares about the littlest things in our lives. I’m not sure how he does it, but he knows and loves us all so individually that these little things matter to him, too. I love stories like that! I see this happening in my life all the time. I know Heavenly Father loves me individually and cares about me and knows my needs! I try to look for these tender mercies in my life and when I do, I see them often!

Another great thing at time out for women (tofw) was that I ran into one of my friends from my home ward up in Marysville. (picture of me and the lady in the glasses-Tonya) We were in Yw together! She told me that one of the ym from our home ward who was a year younger than me just got made stake president!!! That shocked me a little! He had been bishop for a few years. Its so funny when you’re not around them. I picture him still as a youth.. He was a nice boy.. but still a typical stinker of a boy, too. haha  He is a twin and him and his brother have always reminded me of Jesse and Josh! He reminds me of Josh! So, there you go, Josh.. Elder Williamson!! Future stake president!

I had another ward conference today in Lacey 4th ward. The theme for the year is temples. It is always so great to hear the bishops talk. Ward conferences sacrament mtg in our stake consist of the bishop talking, a musical #, and Pres. Coppin talking. Today Pres. Coppin was sick, so we heard from Pres. Warning. I love hearing Pres. Warning speak! Pres. Warning told us, too that Pres. Coppin has asked the stake presidency to rely on the spirit when they talk. They can make note of some scriptures they want to share, but he doesn’t want them to prepare a talk, but rely on the spirit. You can often see Pres. Coppin jotting things down during Sacrament mtg. Today Bishop Hakes made an interesting comparison that I hadn’t really thought of before. He was talking about how we make excuses to go to the temple:  I’m not feeling up to it, there’s too much traffic, I’m busy, I’m too tired, etc. You know all the excuses. He said now,  Would you go to work and call in and say, there’s too much traffic, I’m not coming in. I’m just not feeling up to it, so I’m not coming to work today. I’m too busy, so I can’t come to work today. No, you wouldn’t and that is how it should be with the temple. It should be important enough for us that we don’t use those excuses.

I’m getting excited for General Conference for a couple of reasons. I do love conference, but also we are going to Utah to see Melissa!!! I miss her! We are also going to see several of our returned missionaries. I’m pretty excited about that, too. Love those boys! (men.. but it just sounds weird to say that...)

Love you all! And you’re constantly in my prayers!

Love,

Sis. Shoop

And on my computer, I’m not sure why the font looks different on the top..I tried to fix it..

Oh, the other pictures

Amy Nelson being goofy as always at Tofw

Seeing Elder Oliphant and his companion again

And the bishop loves basketball! The March madness for college basketball is going on right now ( I don’t really follow basketball, so I don’t really know what I’m talking about...) But bishop came over after work one night to watch it with us.. or I was in the room with them watching it... and had dinner with us. I love our bishop! He is such a great man!