Way to go out with a BANG!

Two weeks ago, our ward split for like, the 5th time since I have lived in this house.  (Totally not an exaggeration.)  It was a sad, sad split.  Because of the split, we lost our RS President and YW President to the new ward.  I have known for months that when the ward split I would be released as Primary President.  I was prepared.  It is always bittersweet, but I knew it was coming and it felt time for a change. 

I have been in there for 3 1/2+ years, gone through three totally different presidencies, three music leaders and dozens and dozens of teachers.  Although prepared...my last Sunday in Primary I cried the whole time.  Luckily, I wasn't teaching Sharing Time that day.  That could have been a disaster.  Every time the kids started singing a new song, the tears started up again and just when I got them under control, something else would happen..etc.  I admit, after trying to hide my vast amount of tears from 200+ kids for two hours, I was emotionally exhausted by the time we got to Sacrament meeting. 

During Sacrament meeting they officially split our ward and then we had a normal meeting with my neighbors as speakers.  Later that week I was meeting with the Bishop and he mentioned that he had kept thinking he wanted me to share my testimony at the end of the meeting, but we had run out of time.  I thanked him for not calling me up because I knew I would have sobbed the whole time.  Whew!  Dodged a bullet there!!

Since the whole ward is being reorganized, we only had Sacrament Meeting last Sunday.  The Stake Presidency was in attendance because a new member of the Bishopric was sustained.  We also had a high councilman and our Stake YM President there speaking.  With all the releasings and sustainings that took place, plus speakers and a choir number, by the time the high councilman stood up to speak, we were already at our end time.  I had a sneaking suspicion that if there was time, the Bishop would call me out, but as the meeting went longer and longer, I started to relax.  As the high councilman began his talk, Sydney tells me she needs to go potty.  I check the clock, 12:00 on the dot.  I am safe!  I tell Matt I am taking Syd to the bathroom and I make my way out the door.  In the hall, I run into my friend Kristie and I say hi.  We continue to the bathroom.  Sydney is just finishing up when I hear Kristie call into the bathroom: 
"Laurie?  Are you still in here?"  "Yes."  I call back.  I exit the stall and start washing our hands.  "The Bishop wants you to share your testimony right now!"  "What?!"  I am utterly confused.  Shouldn't the meeting be over by now? 
"They are waiting for you right now, go!"  Still very confused, I exit the bathroom and see Matt coming down the hall.  He grabs Sydney and says, "Go, the Bishop is just waiting til you get there." 

?!?!????!

Now we will quickly backtrack to what happened leading up to me getting pushed into the chapel straight from the bathroom. 

The high councilman gives a brief talk  He sits down.  The Bishop stands up and says, I know we are out of time, but I feel inspired to have Sister Sorensen come share her testimony.  He looks into the audience, expecting to see me stand and walk to the pulpit.  Nothing happens.  He looks down at Matt who says that I stepped out for a minute.  Bishop says, we will just wait then.  And he stays at the pulpit silently waiting for my return.  After a minute he says into the mic:  Sister Sorensen, if you can hear me can you please step into the chapel?   Nothing happens.  There are no speakers in the bathroom!  Next, he calls on a brother in the ward sitting near the door to go see if he can see me in the hall.  He comes back saying he hasn't seen me.  Still standing silently at the pulpit all this time, the Bishop finally decides that we should sing the closing song while we wait and I can come up after the song.  He sits down.  At that precise moment, I enter the chapel.  All eyes went right to me, I could feel them.  I look up at the Bishop who motions me to come up.  I very self-consciously make my way to the stand.  I can feel everyone staring. 

I make it to the stand and as I hit the top step, the organ music starts and the chorister stands up.  They had not seen me enter the chapel and were starting the closing hymn.  Not awkward at all.  I freeze and look over at the Bishop.  I whisper that I am happy to just sit down and he says, No, come now.  He cuts off the music and I make my way to the pulpit.  I mention my intense embarrassment and apologize for keeping them waiting.  I bore a very brief testimony and went to sit down with my face practically purple.  People were chuckling all the up and down the aisle.  It is a good thing I have a sense of humor.  I started laughing about it almost immediately.  (Once I got over being completely flustered.)  In fact, the only plus to the situation was that I was so flustered there was no crying of any kind.  All I could think of was to say something slightly coherent and GET OFF THE STAND ASAP.  My neighbor told me later it was one of his top ten favorite sacrament meeting moments of all time.  So glad I could provide some Sabbath day entertainment for you all!