Story time

This story was pretty cool and I wanted to type it out in case I forget it.

I was on the BYC representing our little branch in Ellijay, GA in the Chattanooga Stake. as such I was familiar enough with our Stake President that what happened should not have surprised me. there  I was minding my own business at youth conference opening exercises when Pres. Phill Smart announced that now we would be hearing from Melissa Babcock on why she would not date outside the church. I had honestly not decided any such thing yet, especially since I was not even old enough to date anyone, plus the only "members" my age that were date worthy were my brothers. But, to my surprise, I emphatically explained why I fully believed in what seemed such a limiting practice. and then, at that point realized that such a choice had been publically cemented now.

Fast forward to turning 16. my birthday fell on General Conference. We all remember our 16th birthday, mine was likely for a different reason.

So, now I could date and go to the prom! but, that was just a sacrifice I would be forced to make because it honestly looked like for me that was not an option. then, something magical happened, we moved to Indiana and a boy I really liked and was LDS asked me to the prom. Likely his mother, who was my YW leader, made him do it, but I didn't care!

I actually did not believe it was actually happening. I used to write in a code to my best friend Rachel who did not at all understand my fascination wrote this to me "The single most important thing in any Latter-day Saint's life is to be with the right person in the right place at the right time." It was indelibly imprinted on my mind from that day forward.

Fast forward now to me living in Washington in my late 20's just having my heart broken by a boy who joined the church then promptly left it leaving me all alone, I did have an idea of what I wanted and I had decided that one boy was not for me. Afterall, he was divorced!!! I had actually had to interviews at a place he worked at the time (in Provo, UT). He was curently married and not at all my type. In fact, I made a list and he was several things I had decided firmly against.

But, many miraculous things happened, and we were married and sealed in Nashville, TN.
Then, my beautiful daughters were born and my husband and I had stake callings and so we were needed to arrive early for stake conference, now, who would be attending, but Phill Smart who was on a building committee for our area and was visiting. So, I got to go talk to hm and thank him for his inspired choice too have me speak on dating in my faith at such a crucial time and I was now happily married with children.

ok, so I was blindsided with divorce, but, I choose to think of it as fateful yet, who knows what could sneak up and happen in life. which is a very hopeful thought and one that regardless of professed religion keeps me full of hope. Plus, we need resistance in our lives to build the strength that can be built only through overcoming trials.