The Glenn Girls

Like most young adults, I went through a time in my life where I completely focused on myself and no one else. For example, I would regularly go out dancing until the wee hours of the morning. I would travel all over the country (and occasionally out of the country) whenever I felt like it. I even worked three different jobs all at the same time while averaging 5 hours or less of sleep per night. I wasn't the most active church-goer, either. I didn't seem to have a lot of direction in my life at the time. My dad wasn't in great health (he had heart disease) and my whole family seemed to be struggling. I moved to Birmingham, AL and tried to make a fresh start there.

Somehow, a young lady named Becky Glenn became my visiting teacher. In my church, this meant it was her job, or duty even, to visit me once a month to share a spiritual message and to make sure that I had a friend to lean on. I ignored her at first... her calls, her attempts to visit me... but I eventually let her into my home and gradually into my life.

She was outspoken, matter-of-fact, and completely by the book...and I mean THE book. Becky was exactly what I needed in my life. She helped me to get my life in order. She had a strong testimony of her beliefs and I truly looked up to her. After a while, she decided to go on a mission for our church. I was devastated at the thought of her leaving for 18 months but I knew it was the right thing for her to do. After all, she was a missionary to me.

While Becky was gone, I became close to her sister, Kathy. Kathy was much like Becky in her views and beliefs. Kathy was also very strong willed but a lot less outspoken. She was exactly the kind of friend I needed in my life at the time. Actually, this entire family was pretty amazing. There were nine, yes NINE, girls in this family. There were no males except for their father. I hear they all shared one bathroom, too, if you can imagine that!!

I became very close to Becky, Kathy, and their younger sisters Amy, Jill, and Jodi. I think I became a foster adult child of the Glenns. I never met all the girls in the family because some had married and moved away...

Fast forward a few years.... I moved to a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. I felt like my church would be a hard adjustment for me. Moving and meeting new people tended to be a hard thing for me to do. I also came into our new ward very pregnant (8 months) and completely lost in so many ways. My first Sunday there I walked out into the hallway after our first meeting. I was going to take Maya to the nursery but I wasn't sure where it was. I must have had a confused look on my face. A kind stranger and a familiar voice said, "Do you need help finding something?" She proceeded to tell me where I needed to go. I didn't really pay attention to what she was saying. I just felt like I knew her. I interrupted her and said, "What is your maiden name?" She said, "Glenn". Sherry has since proved to be just as wonderful and amazing as the rest of the Glenn girls. The Lord must have known exactly what I needed in this new stage in my life....