A Unexpectedly Sweet Sabbath Day

Not that I don't expect Sundays to be good.  I am actually quite a fan of Sundays. I like going to Church, I like the change of pace of the day, and the other things connected with it (I haven't always been a fan of Sundays--Sundays with kids and Gary traveling were not that great some times.  I have grown into it.)

But some unexpected things happened today that made it great.

President and Sister Collins were speaking in the Alma Ward this morning so we decided to head up there to hear them speak.  They gave wonderful talks--that was expected and what we went to hear!

The Unexpected---

#1-  A high counselor in the stake had reached out to us to set up a phone meeting tonight.  We agreed but then I mentioned to him in a text.."unless you are in the Alma Ward, we will  be there this morning and could talk then."  Turned out that he was in Alma this morning, so we were able to meet after Sacrament Meeting and have a good conversation about Institute.  He is assigned to the Alma Ward although he lives in Ft. Smith like we do.  The "two birds with one stone" effect.....

#2-  As we entered into the very small foyer of the Alma Church, someone called out to us by name.  I assumed it was someone from the Alma Ward since we spoke there a month ago and met some of the members.....but no, it was Sister Checketts--she was in our mission in Salt Lake.  She served as an attorney for the Church in her assignment.  She lives in South Carolina, but was in the Alma ward that day because their family was having a family reunion in Arkansas and they had lived in Alma years ago so they choose that ward to attend.  Her mom and dad were actually heading home from their mission in Idaho so they were still wearing their missionary tags (until their stake president releases them tonight over Zoom.)

Gary, Jena and I with
Elder and Sister Checketts (Senior) and Sister Checketts

 

#3 in our list of unexpected things today.....

When we attended the YSA branch today, we had two new members--one just for the summer who just completed her mission to Phoenix, AZ and Alex (below).  He is from Mesa, AZ.  I mentioned that my sister lived in Mesa...but Mesa is So big that I didn't really expect him to know them.  Turns out that he knows Kylie and Jordan.  He was in the YSA ward there with Kylie before she got married.  He is here to attend medical school.  We are excited to have both of them.

So a day of unexpected fun things and connections--a sweet Sabbath day!