My R.S. Sisters

For the past 2 1/2 years, I have had the privilege and blessing of serving as Secretary in the Franklin Stake Relief Society Presidency with Fran Cliff (President), Jen Wadsworth (1st Counselor) and Shari Oman (2nd Counselor).


Me, Jen, Shari & Fran - July 2010

Prior to Jen Wadsworth, who has only been in the presidency for about 6 months, was Kris Allen, who I also love dearly!

Me, Fran, Shari & Kris - Fall 2008

In early December, Fran was released, after serving almost 7 years as Stake Relief Society President! Shari was also released as her counselor. And Jen was called as the new President! I remain as secretary, and Jen's new counselors are: 1st, Marlene Williamson and 2nd, Vickie Belden.



Me, Vickie, Marlene & Jen - Tonight

Tonight we had our first meeting as a presidency, and we met with the old group AND the new group to "pass the reins." I love Fran and Shari very much and have SO enjoyed working with them in the Relief Society. I will miss seeing them regularly, and laughing, and talking, eating, planning, serving, sharing each other's joys and sorrows, and... our l-o-n-g drives out in the country to outlying area units for their conferences.

Boy, do we have some stories to tell about those road trips! Like getting lost, arriving late and one of us being asked to come up and bear our testimony, President Soderquist cutting us off in traffic at the exit (didn't know it was us), getting the giggles during a meeting, and our whole row of shoulders would be shaking, arriving at a far-away meeting and Shari realizing she had on bright blue pantyhose with a black skirt (HA!), laughing and talking and missing our exits completely, a certain speeding ticket on a certain stretch of highway, the FABULOUS food the outlying units would make for us when we would travel to see them -- like fried pies and chocolate peanut butter parfait to die for!

And how about the time a huge framed window came flying out of the back of a truck in front of us, and came STRAIGHT for our windshield! We only had time to GASP(!), and were so blessed when it caught a gust of wind, hit the front bumper of Fran's car, and bounced off. We pulled over, checked out the car, and were all so relieved that in addition to US not being hurt, her car was amazingly not even scratched! Our heart rates were a little faster that day, but other than that, just filled with gratitude!

I have learned so much from these sweet sisters, and will miss serving with them.

I look forward to working more closely with Jen, getting to know Vickie and working again with Marlene. I've known Marlene since we moved here; and she was my Homemaking Counselor (back in the day) when I was Relief Society President of the Carnton Ward!

I LOVE Relief Society, and serving in the stake.

And so the work goes on...