SAVING SOULS

So this summer hasn't quite been what I expected. Per my "fool-proof plan," I was supposed to graduate at the end of April, have my license in hand by the end of May, and work full-time all summer, raking in LOADS of kiz-ash (cash), pay off Phil's tuition, rent, and the works, and be on our way to financial independence and freedom from school-loans-debt.
Sigh. It was quite the dream.
Started out strong. Worked part-time until the 4th of July, when, as most of you know, I got fired for not being "perky and bubbly enough." I know. But what's done is done. But the plan was definitely frustrated.
Spent the second half of the summer job-hunting. Not very productive. Did some temping, but nothing sustainable.
Started feeling kinda depressed and useless. Then depressed and useless. Then REALLY depressed and useless. I began to realize that I desperately needed something to take up my time, help me feel useful and productive, but still available to drop off resumes and answer my phone as often as possible. Crafts? Possible, but can be expensive, and not too long-lasting in the "fulfillment" category. Temple? Great idea, great experiences, but not available to answer my phone, which is CRITICAL. Then, during a very enlightening conversation with my cousin Jillian, it hits me.
FAMILY HISTORY.
Hold it right there. Anyone who knows the Packards knows we're HUGE, and pretty much every line has been traced back to at least the 1500s. And I'm an amateur. Like REALLY amateur. So to pick up where other experts left off in the 1500s is pretty discouraging. Ugh...what to do, what to do...
Light bulb.
Oh yeah, I married into another family, and I'm just as responsible for their work as the family I was born into! Done.
So I went to Mom-in-law's house, rummaged through the scarce records she had, and started in-putting names into the computer. Googled Phil's long-lost aunt's name, found someone, ALSO found her on Facebook, and sent her a message. Not Phil's aunt, but still a distant relative. She sent back the name and email address of an even MORE distant relative, who sent a HUGE email list of names. Like 10 generations back, we're talking, and all I had before that was the 5th generation. Needless to say, I was excited. I definitely got hooked to research. Found some more information on some people, and printed out my first family ordinance sheets with 6 names. First in the Leue family too! Phil's great-grandpa and great-grandma, great-grandpa's two brothers, and Phil's great-great grandma and great-great-great grandma.
I took them to the temple, had some youth to the baptisms and confirmations, and Phil and I did the initiatories, and then some other family members got to help us with the endowments while we were all there for Jillian's first time through. Needless to say, it was an amazing and special day in the temple for our family.
Already, the next day, I've got 15 more names to print!
Dental hygiene work is picking up, and volleyball season is just starting as well! I can't wait to resume the "plan" and stick to it a little more closely, but as I'm typing this I'm starting to wonder if one of the reasons Heavenly Father needed me to not be working this summer was so I could realize this need to find our ancestors who have been waiting for their work to be done, and to be the one to get the family started on doing it! It hasn't made our finances any easier to deal with, but I'm sure looking back we'll be grateful for the challenge we were given, and the eternal blessings that we and many others will gain from it!