These Remarkable (Even if a Little Crazy) Women . . .

. . . are my support system. These incredible ladies -- Laura, Ruth, Martha, Rachael, and Deb -- are the women I've been blessed to serve with in the Relief Society presidency for over a year.

Each of these women is a light in my life. They are examples of strength, optimism, charity, good humor, purity, and kindness. They have given me the blessing of sisterhood and nurturing while I've been away from home and family. On a weekly basis I get to meet with them to discuss ways to help the remarkable women of our ward, to provide moral support to each other, to laugh (often so hard I cry), and we even enjoy being a little wacky from time to time, as you might have seen in our rock 'n roll dinner pictures. But I love the wackiness -- in fact, our collective insanity keeps me sane. It is amazing how the Lord's hand put us all together, especially considering how different we all are, and yet we work so well together. I love each of these women dearly and will be forever grateful for their influence at such an important time of my life.

The occasion that prompted these pictures was getting to celebrate Deb's birthday this morning with a very yummy breakfast. It was a treat to get to be all together with Deb, who was recently released from the presidency in December. Being with her again made me realize how much I've missed seeing her on a regular basis. I need a greater dose of her tenderness and hilarious sense of humor than I've gotten since she was released. And for those of you who were beneficiaries of the "Oregonberry" jam I made, Deb's the one who taught me all I know about making jam, so you can thank her.