Today, Gabe was sustained and set apart as the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric. The previous counselor (a good friend of ours) was released after getting accepted into the FBI and leaving for Quantico. Everyone's been wondering who would replace him since finding out he was leaving. Well a week and a half ago, on a Wednesday evening, Gabe got a text from a member of the Stake Presidency around 6:30pm asking if he was available to come meet with him at the Stake Center at 7:30...that night, haha. So we pretty much knew what was happening, especially after he asked if I could come, too. (And then he asked if we could actually come at 7:15. Dinner was still cooking, so we ate late that night, haha).
Last weekend was Stake Conference, so they submitted Gabe's name for approval for ordination as a High Priest. His calling still hadn't been announced, but we got multiple knowing looks and texts from friends after that, haha. (One friend actually missed the name, because it was pronounced wrong, and so when Gabe stood up they thought, "Man, that guy looks a lot like Gabe!") Mom, Dad, and Lilly were able to come down that day so that Dad could do the ordination. It was a neat experience, and then we had a wonderful afternoon with them at our apartment. We were so grateful to still live near enough to family for them to be able to be a part of it.
Of course after the calling was announced today and Gabe was sustained, he was invited to join the rest of the Bishopric on the stand, and we were both invited to share our testimonies. It was a beautiful fast and testimony meeting (even though I had to sit alone). ;) Since there was the special broadcast during 2nd hour today, Gabe was set apart after all the meetings were over. That was a neat experience, too. It's always cool to hear the blessings given in conjunction with being set apart in a new calling. This will be something new for us, for sure!
And that was all a wonderful addition to the weekend we had already enjoyed serving in the temple. Just over a month ago we were called as Ordinance Workers in the Oklahoma City Temple. (Man that temple is tiny! The nickname "mini temples" is no exaggeration.) We were afraid we wouldn't be able to continue serving with Gabe being called into the Bishopric, but that policy has changed, so it's not a problem anymore! We go once a month, leave Friday morning so that we can catch an afternoon session before working the Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon shifts. It makes for a very tiring, but amazing 2 days! We get done with our shift Friday around 9:30, then have to be back in the morning by 6:30, and we don't leave until after 3. Thankfully we are able to use one of the temple apartments/duplexes that are just across the parking lot! Then we have our 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive home. We were more than a little beat by the time we got home last night...but it is so worth it. :) We love the temple, and serving as Ordinance Workers, and getting to do it together, is such a treasure.
To add to our travel craziness, Gabe is now going to be working in Little Rock for 2 days at a time every other week. He had multiple patients driving up to Fayetteville to see him, and they had enough referrals that he decided he would go to them. It's definitely a huge blessing, and the people who convinced him to come have been so helpful and so nice. The 3 hour drive each way just makes our life a bit busier than it used to be! With Little Rock every other week, the temple in OKC once a month, and trying to visit family in Springfield once a month, we're going to be doing a lot of driving! But they're all for wonderful things, so I guess there's nothing to do except be grateful for it all! :)
