These Cookies?

These is Luhhhhve Cookies.

I made them because it's Christmas time, and I love you.

I love you because you are a part of me. We've known each other forever.

I might have honked at you and called you a poop-head if you were the one who cut me off on I-15.
I'm sorry about that. I'm a kid under construction. And my paint is still a little wet.

But I do love you. I promise.

My new church calling (volunteer job, to the layperson) is First Counselor in the Young Women's program (which is the organization for the 12-18 year old girls).

I can't even tell you how big my heart smiled when I was asked to volunteer for this job.

But I can show you why I love it.

I know I don't look much older than these girls.

To tell you the truth, I don't feel much older than them.

But even in the short time I've been working with them, I feel like they are helping me to grow up in ways I was afraid I never would. They help me get outside myself--
to pray for things bigger than my own fears and struggles,
to wiggle my toes a little outside of my comfort zone,
to want to be a better self.

Before we decorated our Christmas cookies last night at Young Women's night we talked a little bit about Repentance.

God gave His Son. His Son gave his life. Repentance is the gift that came from the Gift that we celebrate this time of year. That's what I was a-preachin'.

Alina (the other YW counselor) and I talked about how sincere repentance can lead to an increased love for the Savior, for one's self, and for others.
Then we waited for some kind of response.

It didn't look like we were going to get much.

Then one of the girls--just 12 years old--told us that during this past fast Sunday she prayed all day that she would be able to help someone have a wonderful Christmas this year.

I could have kissed her on the head right then and there.

I wanted to cry big fat tears of happiness as I watched the nods of approval from the other girls and the smile that spread across this 12-year-old's face as we told her what a wonderful thing that was to pray for.

Sometimes Goodness seems a little hard to find these days.

Some days I get really worried and overwhelmed and fearful about someday bringing children into a world where there is so much hate and so much violence and so much Wrong that claims to be Right.

But seriously--I look at these girls and think It's going to be alright.

It is, you know? It really is.

Because God gave His Son. 

Because His Son gave his life. 

Because They love us.

And because Shawn Mullins says so in that one song.

You know the one...

Oh my gosh, couldn't you just go to the zoo, look at all the twinkle lights in the penguin exhibit, and hum the chorus of that song over and over again?

Yeah... neither could I...