Tender Mercies
Elder Bednar gave an address in General Conference a few years ago that has become one of the hallmark talks in the Church. You can probably guess the one I'm describing. Yes, that's right, the one on "tender mercies." The light certainly went on in my brain that day, and I realized that I have been blessed with so many tender mercies. I've found great joy since then in identifying the many ways my Heavenly Father is watching over me and granting me the sweetest, most unexpected blessings. Here are a few examples:
Elder Young Meets His Companion-to-Be
Just prior to dropping Matt off at the MTC, we went across the street to take some last-minute pictures. We walked by a family, and when the mother asked Mike to take a picture of their family, Mike struck up a conversation with them. "Hey, Elder, where are you headed?"
The young man replied, "Honduras."
Matt's head whipped around. "Which mission?"
"San Pedro Sula," the young elder replied.
"No way. We'll probably be companions," says Matt.
On a whim, we decided to take their picture together:
We learned his name was Elder Permann, and he was from Rockland, Idaho. He was the oldest child in his family and thus the first to head out on a mission. He seemed like such a nice young man, and his family seemed super solid. Amazingly enough, we learned a week later that Elder Young and Elder Permann had, indeed, been assigned as companions in the MTC. How cool is that?
It's Gonna Cost How Much?
On my way to Brigham City, I noticed that the air conditioning in the car wasn't working so great. Since we've had a lot of expenses getting missionaries launched and such, I told Mike that I simply wanted to have the A/C fixed for Mother's Day. So, he left me with the van and headed back to Boise on one of his three trips that week. Somehow, he managed to get an estimate on how much it would cost to repair the thing. The tally? $1500! Fifteen hundred big ones, one thousand five hundred smackeroos--are you kidding me?! This would be the nicest Mother's Day gift I had ever gotten!
However, something didn't sit right with me, and I had the thought that we should take it in to my friend's husband's car repair shop to get it checked. Lo and behold, their estimate was for $120. They fixed it quickly and easily, and so far, it seems to be working great. Now I don't think they gave us some screaming deal because we know one of the owners; I believe it was a tender mercy from above.
How Can I Be Two Places at Once?
When Matt opened his mission call and read off his departure date, I immediately panicked. He was to report to the MTC on Karen's due date. He looked up at that moment and said, "Don't worry, Mom! Karen takes precedence." I laughed and said that I thought everything would work out, but secretly, I worried.
Then Karen gave birth to Emily on May 4th, and I thought I was home free. I would still be able to go with Matt to the MTC and give him that final hug. I was excited!!
I forgot about him getting set apart, however. I made the very tough decision to let Mike take the boys back to Boise on Sunday without me. (They had come down that Saturday night to meet Emily.) I had never felt so completely torn before. How I wanted to be there for his setting apart, but I had the strong feeling that I needed to stay and help Karen with this new baby.
I wished there were some way I could be there, and then I realized that it wouldn't hurt to ask. . . . Mike called and talked with the stake president's counselor who would be setting Matt apart and broached the subject of my being present via cellphone. It was unconventional, but President Edwards said this was a unique circumstance and granted that I could be at the meeting via cellphone. (It may have helped that he had both Karen and Rachel as seminary students years ago. Thanks, girls!)
President Edwards put me on speakerphone, and he even asked me to bear my testimony. The setting apart was sweet, and in that blessing, President Edwards addressed some subjects that were weighing heavily on my mind. I felt like it was a gift that I was even able to participate, and then to have some of my concerns taken care of so directly was very powerful. Is there any doubt that Heavenly Father is aware of me. . . and of all of His children?
Emily Rachel Arrives on Rachel's Birthday
I alluded to this in the last post, but it was such a blessing that Emily arrived on Rachel's birthday. The very hardest part of Rachel going on a mission was her knowing that she was going to miss the birth of her first niece. It was tearing her apart. I fervently hoped that Heavenly Father would give Rachel peace. Well, little Emily made her appearance on her Aunt Rachel's birthday, and I hope that Rachel always feels a special connection with her. She may not have been present for her birth, but she was out serving the Lord. That example may mean more to Emily over the coming years than having her Aunt Rachel visit her as a newborn. Truly, another tender mercy!
Several thousand miles away, Rachel was blowing out her candles on a cake that the elders made. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, all of us whispered in sweet Emily's ear how much her Aunt Rachel loved her. Granddad Mike was nearly as smitten with this little angel as he was with his own daughter 22 years ago.
Life is so very good right now, and I'm grateful for the many, many tender mercies that Heavenly Father gives to His children. Have you recognized yours today?
Elder Bednar gave an address in General Conference a few years ago that has become one of the hallmark talks in the Church. You can probably guess the one I'm describing. Yes, that's right, the one on "tender mercies." The light certainly went on in my brain that day, and I realized that I have been blessed with so many tender mercies. I've found great joy since then in identifying the many ways my Heavenly Father is watching over me and granting me the sweetest, most unexpected blessings. Here are a few examples:
Elder Young Meets His Companion-to-Be
Just prior to dropping Matt off at the MTC, we went across the street to take some last-minute pictures. We walked by a family, and when the mother asked Mike to take a picture of their family, Mike struck up a conversation with them. "Hey, Elder, where are you headed?"
The young man replied, "Honduras."
Matt's head whipped around. "Which mission?"
"San Pedro Sula," the young elder replied.
"No way. We'll probably be companions," says Matt.
On a whim, we decided to take their picture together:
We learned his name was Elder Permann, and he was from Rockland, Idaho. He was the oldest child in his family and thus the first to head out on a mission. He seemed like such a nice young man, and his family seemed super solid. Amazingly enough, we learned a week later that Elder Young and Elder Permann had, indeed, been assigned as companions in the MTC. How cool is that?
It's Gonna Cost How Much?
On my way to Brigham City, I noticed that the air conditioning in the car wasn't working so great. Since we've had a lot of expenses getting missionaries launched and such, I told Mike that I simply wanted to have the A/C fixed for Mother's Day. So, he left me with the van and headed back to Boise on one of his three trips that week. Somehow, he managed to get an estimate on how much it would cost to repair the thing. The tally? $1500! Fifteen hundred big ones, one thousand five hundred smackeroos--are you kidding me?! This would be the nicest Mother's Day gift I had ever gotten!
However, something didn't sit right with me, and I had the thought that we should take it in to my friend's husband's car repair shop to get it checked. Lo and behold, their estimate was for $120. They fixed it quickly and easily, and so far, it seems to be working great. Now I don't think they gave us some screaming deal because we know one of the owners; I believe it was a tender mercy from above.
How Can I Be Two Places at Once?
When Matt opened his mission call and read off his departure date, I immediately panicked. He was to report to the MTC on Karen's due date. He looked up at that moment and said, "Don't worry, Mom! Karen takes precedence." I laughed and said that I thought everything would work out, but secretly, I worried.
Then Karen gave birth to Emily on May 4th, and I thought I was home free. I would still be able to go with Matt to the MTC and give him that final hug. I was excited!!
I wished there were some way I could be there, and then I realized that it wouldn't hurt to ask. . . . Mike called and talked with the stake president's counselor who would be setting Matt apart and broached the subject of my being present via cellphone. It was unconventional, but President Edwards said this was a unique circumstance and granted that I could be at the meeting via cellphone. (It may have helped that he had both Karen and Rachel as seminary students years ago. Thanks, girls!)
President Edwards put me on speakerphone, and he even asked me to bear my testimony. The setting apart was sweet, and in that blessing, President Edwards addressed some subjects that were weighing heavily on my mind. I felt like it was a gift that I was even able to participate, and then to have some of my concerns taken care of so directly was very powerful. Is there any doubt that Heavenly Father is aware of me. . . and of all of His children?
Emily Rachel Arrives on Rachel's Birthday
I alluded to this in the last post, but it was such a blessing that Emily arrived on Rachel's birthday. The very hardest part of Rachel going on a mission was her knowing that she was going to miss the birth of her first niece. It was tearing her apart. I fervently hoped that Heavenly Father would give Rachel peace. Well, little Emily made her appearance on her Aunt Rachel's birthday, and I hope that Rachel always feels a special connection with her. She may not have been present for her birth, but she was out serving the Lord. That example may mean more to Emily over the coming years than having her Aunt Rachel visit her as a newborn. Truly, another tender mercy!
Several thousand miles away, Rachel was blowing out her candles on a cake that the elders made. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, all of us whispered in sweet Emily's ear how much her Aunt Rachel loved her. Granddad Mike was nearly as smitten with this little angel as he was with his own daughter 22 years ago.
Life is so very good right now, and I'm grateful for the many, many tender mercies that Heavenly Father gives to His children. Have you recognized yours today?
