A Good End

It was a good end to the day today.  We went to see Patriarch Brownell for Morgan to get his Patriarchal Blessing. 
Tonight I learned that I love the Brownells.
Tonight I learned that there are spots that are sanctified and that those spots can even be found in a 1960's era home in Enumclaw, WA.
Tonight I learned to love my boy even more than I thought was possible.
Tonight I caught a glimpse of what Heavenly Father sees in him and learned that I am a lucky, lucky woman to be his mother.
Tonight I learned a little bit about my part in the work and glory of God. 
I love couples that set themselves apart from the world.  One of my Dad's friends was made a patriarch and he stopped watching TV, because he felt like it was keeping him from having the Spirit he needed as conduit for giving blessings.  The Brownells perfectly compliment each other.  They are a couple to emulate.
When we walked in to the office where the blessings are given, it was like walking in to the temple.  The Spirit radiated and I felt it immediately.  I don't know if the room had been set apart by the priesthood (I kind of imagine it has been), but it has been set apart from their house and it has most certainly been sanctified by the Spirit. 
I have had a running prayer throughout my term as a mother, "Please help me love them." I want to have charity for my children.  I want to get to the point where I have the power to love them as they need to be loved.  Unconditionally.
We hear the analogies about a pilot flying above a highway where he sees an oncoming collision.  Tonight I heard something better than impending doom.  I heard about the hope that Heavenly Father has in my son.  Morgan is a good boy and always has been.  It will be interesting to watch him grow and develop into the man Heavenly Father sees in him.
I've gone in and out of my understandings of my own patriarchal blessing.  One thing that came clearly to my mind tonight is that bringing my family back to Heavenly Father is my work and my glory and in doing those things, I glorify Him.  For the tiniest of seconds I understood what that meant. 
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When Dan and I got married, I had the feeling that someday we would be mission presidents (or however that works).  I've never known how that was going to happen or if it is going to happen.  Recently, I realized a couple of things.  Number one, no matter whether it's a mission or in a mission presidency, it has to be sooner rather than later-- I don't know how my health will keep up.  Number two, these callings just don't come to anyone-- there is preparation involved.  I've been thinking that we need to be in better financial shape for whatever is asked of us no matter what it is.  Since we don't gamble and don't have rich relatives, there isn't going to be a mysterious and lovely monetary windfall to jettison us out of debt.  We are going to have to manage it ourselves.
Today, as I listened to our Stake Presidency speak about missionary work, thoughts that had been floating around in my head solidified.  A bigger issue than money is my/our ability to engage in missionary work. I'm not shy about the gospel-- I'll tell anyone just about anything they want to know.  I am nervous about asking direct questions.  I have a couple of neighbors who I know need the gospel.  I'm good at being a good example and being there for them and asking them to church things, but I'm not so good at asking them to meet the missionaries.  As a missionary, it was easier to talk to people because I wasn't invested in those people's lives like I am with my sweet neighbors. 
While I still think we need to do some financial planning for a future that involves serving the Lord, we need to work all the more on our ability to share the gospel with the Spirit and being in tune enough to know when and where that needs to happen.
So that was my wonderful, glorious Sabbath Day.