Feb 17th 2012 The GALA

The Gala 

It was Feb 17th and I had been very nervous and excited about this event. 

Mostly because a few of my "crew" were going to attend and any time we get together

no matter how many it is like a piece of heaven. 

I had submitted my portfolio back in January during which my husband Mike, was having open heart surgery and as he lay connected to this and that wire and tubing, I typed on my laptop thinking to myself, "what in the world are you doing?"  But still I kept going, mostly because all 13 of my children had written essays about me!  Jager's don't quit so this was not an option now.

I don't think I even remember much about the dinner.  I kept looking around the room at the amazing women that were also nominated for this calling.  I knew I was not in the running but so excited to spend a little time seeing them with their families and enjoying mine.

The time came and we were escorted up to the front by "our men".  One of the ladies was escorted by her son all decked out in his Marine uniform.  He looked amazing!  We were to say something profound and I listened as the other women spoke and I thought, "Oh, I need a pencil to write that down, that was so great!"  My turn came and again I can't tell you what I said, but gladly sat down next to a woman, Julie Hess, that I had come to admire just through quick facebook chats.  I was pretty sure it was her, she had done everything.  She teased me and I teased her about the "runway" as she called it.  When they read my name I thought I would pass out!  My family, of course my cheerleaders and team were instantly on their feet shouting and clapping.  WOW! What a team to belong to.  I was then suppose to stand, accept my flowers, and make a speech! LOL  That was not what I had even thought about.  I somehow managed to stand up, take the flowers in my "very shaking" arms and ask Jackie ( MOY 2011) "are you sure?"  She hugged me and told me yes!  I remember speaking to the group and only thinking about what brought me to this spot in my life.  My "birth" mother, My "real" mother, my belief in who I was sent her to be by a very loving Heavenly Father and my family.