Firsts

Life is full of firsts...first smile, first step, first tooth, first haircut, first birthday, first kiss, first love, first child, etc.  I had a couple of new firsts lately.  A few weeks ago I was asked by Sister Huff, the L.A. Temple Matron, to be the First Floor Coordinator on our shift.  We got a new Coordinator (Sister Matweyew) and a new Trainer (Sister Cannon) on our shift as well.  The morning when our new assignments were announced during our shift's Preparation Meeting, we were each asked to bear our testimony.  This was a first for me -- being able to testify of Christ while in His holy temple.  This was an amazing experience.  I am so happy that I have been able to be an ordinance worker for the past 3.5 years.  It has been one of the highlights of my life.  I have been able to get to know so many other faithful ordinance workers from Southern California and I enjoy working with them.  As First Floor Coordinator, I am responsible to make sure that things run smoothly on the first floor...meaning the locker room, Initiatory areas, and Name Issue Booth.  I also close each session - not in the session room, but indicate to the brother Coordinator that no more Sisters will be joining the session so they can close it.  I have other responsibilities as well such as conducting Preparation Meetings and keeping things supplied in the locker room area.  At this time, I don't get to do many of the things other ordinance workers get to do, but my work can still be rewarding.  I get to step in to help with initiatories once in a while and that makes me happy.  I anticipate that I will be the First Floor Coordinator for up to two years.

I had another first yesterday.  I made raspberry freezer jam for the first time.  I don't know what took me so long because I LOVE raspberries!  My mother used to can raspberries every year and it was my favorite of her canned fruit.  I have made strawberry jam for many years but I had never made raspberry jam before.  I was at Costco yesterday, saw the raspberries, and bought some.  I brought them home and made this:

This jam is delicious!  It was a little more work to make than strawberry jam, but when all is said and done, it was worth it.  Now, on to another first.  Hummm.....I wonder what it will be!