Jubilee

We all went to the dentist last week. We love Dr. Hawkins and had put in our files to see only her, but somehow Frankie and I got one dentist and Delaney and Adi got a different one, and none of them was Dr. Hawkins.

Matt went that week too and saw the same one Frankie and I did. And the three of us that saw the same dentist each had one small cavity. 🙄 I’m not saying it’s not true, just that I want my regular dentist. *update to today - I had my little cavity filled yesterday by Dr. Hawkins. I was hoping she’d see it and be like - no, that’s nothing, but no such luck. 

Also this week Frankie had her 2 hour driving instructor time. She’s got about 30 hours now, so we’re halfway there and she’s pretty okay.  

On Friday I was able to spend some time with a friend fighting a battle with cancer. I’ve heard people say you shouldn’t call it a battle, but I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s awful. It was a difficult, but also sacred few hours. 

That night we went to Abby’s graduation party where I took zero pictures. They had delicious Hawaiian food (Matt and I felt right at home) and cute pictures of Abby though the years. It was fun to hang out, and then Adi and Delaney asked to stay longer to play games. 

Around 10 they asked me to come pick them up, but when I got in the car Adi texted and said, actually can we stay later. I went anyway and chatted with Sarah and Tony till midnight. Delaney is so antisocial lately that when she wants to be around people, I want to let her. 

On Saturday Matt and I took grandpa to the airport. I had made a big brekkie and then we had a few errandy stops first. It was a good visit with grandpa!

After we dropped him off we had some time to kill before the jubilee, so we went to Karlee’s where I had gone with my Women of Light friends. It’s such a  cute place and was delicious again. 

Then it was on to the Visitors’ Center for our event. Listen, this communications calling is not my favorite but I’ve made a commitment to not complain about it. I’ll just say I was not excited about our event. It was also stake conference that I had to miss and they had a cool leadership session first that I loved to go to and I would have rather been there. 

But the jubilee was good too. I learned a ton and got to meet half of our coordinating council members along with many other communication specialist from other stakes and coordinating councils. I ran into some old stake relief society President friends and got to try some of the yummy fancy food. 

The evening was to celebrate 50 years of the Visitors’ Center. And then in the week leading up to it our DC North and Baltimore directors were deep in talks with Governor Moore’s office about Maryland becoming the second JustServe state in the nation (behind Idaho). That involved the governors office talking to county commissioners and mayors and they were able to get 5 city/counties on board to become JustServe city/counties and so they were recognized on Saturday and also Governor Moore was awarded the JustServe Hero Award. He didn’t come, but sent a special advisor from his office and she was so sweet. 

When Matt and I did the Invited Guests tours at the temple open house they really wined and dined the government people and diplomats. I think I’ve been nervous about somehow disrespecting someone like that, or not knowing how to be formal. I don’t know - it’s weird because I’m not really nervous to meet people like that, but I also feel my inner critic telling me I’m not smart enough and what business do I have representing the church in this way. Anyways, my feelings are all over the place. But this advisor from the governors office was amazing. I talked to her after her speech and told her how much I appreciated her coming and sharing her experience and she gave me a big hug (two actually) and was so personable and anyway, I got this. 

My task for the event was photo releases, which, the expectation changed several times throughout the evening, and then writing up the press release for after the event. Two big jobs that I completed with mild success. 

Matt is more excited about my calling than I am and he was excited to be there and lightly hob knobbed. I also lightly hob knobbed because I was mostly at the welcome table and then learning from the Baltimore peeps about photo releases as they got group pictures of all the JustServe city groups. 

Overall it was a good event and I can see that as relationships are made and strengthened, this will be a fulfilling and interesting calling and I’m sure I’ll come to love it. I do think it’s pretty cool that I’m getting to know members and interfaith/government leaders all over the DMV. 

We had lots to talk about the evening and brought home a tray of cupcakes and cookies for our girls. That’s a pretty good day.