An Open Invitation

It's Sunday here and I have been thinking a lot about when I joined the LDS church. And this led me to think about my other mom, Audrey. I always just called her mom though. Anyway, I just wanted to share my favorite memory of her.

I used to be at the Rossiter's house ALL THE TIME. Ami(bff) and I became friends in the Seventh grade and were hanging out together constantly shortly after that. This was amazing. I was quite morose at the time. I confess that I had a potty mouth then. I had no restrictions, that I know of, as to what I watched on TV or listened to on the radio. And even though it was the seventh grade, I already had some questionable friends and influences in my life. So, for the Rossiter's to put up with me was truly a generous thing. And all I can think of today, was the day Audrey-mom told me that I had an open invitation to their house. She meant I was welcome anytime. I didn't have to ask, just come over. I was often fed, chauffeured, taught the gospel, given driving lessons and generally just loved. I was taken on family trips, like the Portland Oregon temple Open house and a trip to Wyoming. I was helped through many heartaches and crushes. And I was often at their house really late because my mom worked 3-11. Closely tied to the first memory is waiting for my mom to pick me up from the Rossiter house. I had to watch for her, so she wouldn't honk the horn or have to come up knock on the door. And I had to peer out the blinds to see. Audrey-Mom didn't like it very much when I disturbed her dust and left finger prints on the blinds. I always thought I could look out without touching the blinds, but I don't think I did.

Anyway, my next thought is how in our church the youth are often taught not to date non-members, don't have your bf a non-member, etc. I understand WHY this is taught. I could have just as easily influenced Ami as she and her family influenced me. Still, I hate hearing those talks/lessons. Because I don't know where I would be without Ami and her family. I love having the gospel in my life. I can't express what a truly dark and dismal view of the world I had when I met Ami, but the gospel has made all the difference in my life. This past year and a half have been so hard. Ami has told me that she has often worried that I would return to that dark place I was in when we met. But she also has told me that I haven't ever gone back. And we both know that that is due to the gospel and my testimony of the plan of Happiness, and my family, the Rossiters.