FHE & Joy

It's so true: when we make more time for God, He makes more time for us!

Although the previous couple of Mondays I've been looking forward to the reprieve clearing my Monday night schedule for FHE has been, this week I clearly saw how the "sacrifice" really brings forth the blessings.

Since moving to Omaha, coming into this work week has probably been the most overwhelming and stressful. My packed weekend led into a week filled with tight deadlines, timely projects at work, grading research papers, completing pre-coursework for next week's conference, etc., all while trying to find time to catch up on what I couldn't get to last weekend and preparing for my drive up to MSP tomorrow morning. (Plus impending mai.)

This is the thing though: I knew that I wanted FHE. In the couple of weeks I've started this, I have felt the relief it has provided from the cares of the world. And so although my "efficiency" brain considered a time or two how I could shove more grading in when I got home, I left it be. I went home and enjoyed the time away from work, thoroughly enjoying my Come Follow Me study.

Like the loaves and fishes, the Lord multiplied my efforts tenfold. I can't tell you how well this week has gone. And not only did everything get done, but it was so much better than if I didn't make time to follow the prophet's counsel of having weekly FHE to try and get more work done. And I was able to throw in a few extra things!

For example, one of the other things I was responsible for this week was our mutual activity. I knew it was going to require extra effort because 1. We didn't meet Sunday since it was stake conference 2. My only other faithful beehive wasn't responding to my communications (I later found out her phone was broken) and 3. The YW president with the building key was out of town and we forgot to get it from her before she left. I knew I wouldn't be able to leave work early because I was too busy. And yet I still had to pick up the pizza, go home to rinse, get a gift together (it was a surprise birthday party for one of our young woman), get a hold of my beehive to confirm that she has the cake and that she's available for our early meet up time so we could run to the dollar store and get decorations, possibly have to go pick up another set of building keys, and get to the church in time to set up and decorate before the birthday girl arrived.

It worked out flawlessly--even better than I could have imagined if I was left to my own devices!

I eventually made it to the pizza place. It had drive thru so I didn't have to get out in the rain. Church had a microwave to warm up the by-then cold pizza.
The YM also needed to set up early so the building was open at 6:30p.
I thought to invite another beehive we're trying to friendship. She accepted!
I had time to get home, rinse, gather left over birthday decorations from Cam's party (helped cut decoration costs), bring the pork rinds I've been trying to get rid of, and lettuce I wanted to be sure to use before I went on my trip slash I wanted to be sure there were veggies, and some saved wrapping paper and unused beauty gifts I put together for a gift, with just enough time to jump into my course to respond to a student's inquiry.
We stayed within budget for our decorations.
We ended up having extra time so we went to the grocery store next door so I could get a yogurt and I just got to spend some quality one on one time with my sweet beehive.
Despite our modest budget and no helium at the dollar store, decorations came together real nicely.
Simple, yet satisfying spread of food.
All girls made it.
Efforts were seen to help our friendshipping young woman.
Since there were no games planned, we spent (more meaningful in my opinion) time one by one sharing what we admire and what we hope for the birthday girl. (It was a sweet and simple spirit.)
AND (best of all) we were done before 8:30p and I was home by 8:30p.

Besides getting everything done that I needed to get done, I was also able to "get done" things I wasn't necessarily planning to tackle this week. Like my trip to visit the bestie and baby. Round trip. For less than a hundred fifty bucks!

I've been thinking about how I started this year trying to understand the role "joy" played in the Father's plan. And I'm starting to understand... It's a steadying, hopeful peace, that as I put God first, and apply what He has taught me (like diligent scripture study, focusing on the most needful, the beauty in simplifying, etc.) everything truly will work. I will be ok. Others will be ok. We'll be ok. It's knowing that Someone has your back--always. And that Someone just happens to be the most capable, loving, understanding, patient, encouraging Someone one could hope to have. It's feeling a sense of confidence in the direction you are going because you know you have been well prepared and there's a merciful God who has already taken into account all the learning and growing you have yet to experience. It's what I've been feeling these past couple of weeks. And I'm so grateful for that.