'thank you' and 'well done'

the first weekend of february we spoke in our stake conference. when gordon and i were asked to speak we felt a little strange.  they wanted us to speak about service.  the two people that moan and groan about serving have been asked to speak about why we serve.  and to make this more difficult on us one of the twelve apostles, richard g scott, was going to be in attendance.

well i was candid and honest.  i spoke about how i don't always want to serve, but how service is a necessary part of this life.  we serve because we love god and he needs us to serve his children.  my patriarchal blessing also advises me to accept every calling that i am asked to serve.

gordon gave lots of example of how he serves and how people around him serve.  he told a story of someone he looked up to that was known for his service.  he admires this person and the reason he serves is to be like them.  he did an amazing job.  made jokes that weren't even planned.  i could have listened to him talk all night.

elder scott sat directly in front of us on the stand. he looked at me when i was done and told me 'thank you.' gordon got a 'well done'. pretty amazing. i will never forget it. especially since i had lost my voice a few days previous and barely had a voice that night.

i didn't get to shake elder scott's hand.  but i figure the look at me straight in the eyes with a direct thank you was better than a hand shake.  and there was a flood of people to the stand that made it impossible for us to reach him.  and we were an arms length away!

gordon and i couldn't eat beforehand (nerves!) so afterwards we went for a treat.  malts at pop's.  my mom, sister, and step-dad joined us.  did i mention we had the best family support that night.  gordon's parents, and both my parents and sister were there to hear us.  we're extremely blessed to have the families we do.