Balloons, Oreos, and an ice cream sandwich

21 May 2013

Dear Josslyn,

Serving in God's Kingdom here on Earth can be so rewarding. It can exhaust you, take away you free time, and ask your family to sacrifice your time with them, but will always be rewarding if you serve.

Tonight you got to see some of that. Your mom is currently serving in the Young Women's auxilary as a music adviser and adult adviser.

I am the Ward Young Men's secretary, so when Tuesday night mutual is a combined activity with the Young Men and Young Women, the Laursen's get to have some family time with the  adolescent youth of the ward.

Tonight they did some minute to win it activities. Like eating an Oreo placed on forehead without using hands, or wrapping people in toilet paper the fastest using just one hand.

Tonight you got to eat an Oreo, play with balloons, and finished off with an ice cream sandwich.

Your reward for going to a church activity.

Being Tuesday we delivered the  newspapers when I got home from  work. We have gotten much better and faster now.

Did the whole route non-stop in under an hour. Got some dinner, at Jack in the Box, which we ate at  the Issaquah Press office while I printed agendas for my meetings tonight.

We made it to the church a little after the activity started.

Moving us to Washington has weighed heavily on me as to whether I made the right decision or not.

It's challenged me and at first I didn't respond well. It wasn't until I started getting more involved in doing my home teaching and serving in my calling that my attitude changed.

Your mother has benefitted  greatly. For a short time she was the Relief Society secretary, and it was difficult for her when she was   released from that calling. I think she really enjoys being with the Young Women though and I think they benefit from her.

I serve with some great men in the Aaronic Priesthood, and having that calling and purpose has saved me from idleness and having a hard heart.

Serving in the church truly is serving in God's Kingdom on Earth. I've always been happier when I do it, and I've always been blessed for doing it.

No matter how busy you feel, always make church service a  priority, and the other aspects of life will be benefitted.

Your relationship with God should always be first priority, then family, then church service/serving others.

The funny thing is however that  often times focusing on church  callings or helping others takes care of progressing your family relationships and your personal progress.

And believe it or not the rewards for magnifying our calling to serve others  is more fun  than a room full of balloons, and sweeter than  an Oreo or ice cream sandwich.

Love,
Dad