A Huge Sigh of Relief

You may or may not know about how I’ve been the Relief Society President at church for the last two and a half years. If you’re Mormon no further explanation is needed. If you’re not Mormon, take my word for it when I say that it’s pretty much a part-time job. It means that I’ve been in charge of ministering to all the women (and, hence, their families) in the congregation. I help with their temporal needs if they need extra food or help making ends meet, or if they need meals brought in after surgery or having a baby, or help packing to move–you get the idea. I have to be friendly and welcoming to all (which I can do but as an introvert is extremely draining); I have to be a shoulder to cry on or a giver of advice; and I have to coordinate activities, get-togethers and parties for the women (and the entire ward Christmas Party because we all know that men can not pull off something like that). And then there is coordinating and supervising Visiting Teaching which is a beast unto itself.  All in all being President is a lot of work. It’s very fulfilling and I love the women like crazy, though. It’s been draining but rewarding all at the same time.

But my time has come to step aside. When the bishop told me right before Christmas, I cried. Happy tears as well as sad tears. My replacement is one of my counselors and also one of my best friends. We have had a jillion talks about what she needs to be doing and how and with whom and for whom. Fortunately she’s a ton more organized than I am and she already has lots of experience in Relief Society, so she’ll do a great job. I handed over the keys (literal, not figurative) last week and did a happy dance.

Now I have a lovely large hole in my life. All this free time! OK, so by the time I get the kids out the door and do all the little things around the house that need to be done there isn’t all that much free time. But mentally and emotionally I feel so free. Wheeee! Only my family’s problems to worry about!

In order to celebrate being released as Relief Society President I have spent as much time in bed as possible. I have taken a shower rarely. I have gone to see a couple of movies. But I have not done much else because I have seriously needed time to decompress.

Here’s the most excellent part of it all, though: I can blog again! No more worrying about being a respectable figurehead! I can be just as ridiculous as I please. And I will have time to do it! Yippee!

I have so many great plans for my poor little blog that has languished in forgottenland. Stay tuned!

| Filed under Blogging, Church, Good Things

4 thoughts on “A Huge Sigh of Relief

  1. Congrats! (I’ve always wondered about ‘congrats’ and callings. Do you? don’t you?) Anyway, I have felt that feeling of heartbreak and joy when released… and I say, “no showers for a week!!” Or something like that. Excited to read more on your blog when it comes time. 🙂

  2. Congratulations! That is one huge job. It will be nice to be able to focus just on your family for a change. And the blog, of course – that’s important, too. I’m looking forward to getting off the executive board of our townhouse community one of these years – just so, when the garbage doesn’t get picked up, it is NOT my problem anymore.

  3. Awesome!!! To bad for your ward.. good for us readers!! Glad your back!!! Happy New Year to you and your family also!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *