Finding a Rachel in a haystack

The crowd at pageant--a sea of bodies

Picture this FULL of people,
Rich at the right where the stage begins
and Rachel straight back, in the middle
 of the field this side of the road.

Saw this article on the Hill Cumorah Pageant and it had some cool photos, which I downloaded to illustrate the miracle that took place almost 28 years ago now. We were at Pageant with our three (at the time) kids and my mom. Three adults + three kids: easy, right? Each of us thought one of the other of us had Rachel, only a toddler at the time, but, you guessed it, no one had her. I ran like a chicken with her head cut off wildly looking and calling. Rich went directly to the front of the crowd, where the stage began, which had a slight elevation, said a prayer, then looked out over the crowd (it was dusk and the people were milling about everywhere). His eyes immediately zoomed in on her tiny figure at the outskirts of the seating area, all alone. He raced back to her, scooped her up in his arms and wiped away the small tear sliding down her cheek. What a blessing to have found her so quickly (or at all!) in that mass of humanity! We will never forget.

I am a child of God

Renee got baptized this morning. Rachel asked me to only do 2 things (well, not including bringing ice, my crockpot, stopping for toothpicks and rice, and coming early enough to take pictures...those are little things): play the closing song (see title) and have a private talk with Renee sometime during the day about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Now when she committed me to playing the piano as accompanist, she told me about it by saying, "I think I did something that is not going to make you happy..." She knows I am a novice player, but that she even thought of me to do it made me happy. So I practiced and practiced all week and never managed to play it once all the way through without mistakes. I have never played in front of an audience or accompanied singers, so I was very nervous, but wanted to do this for Renee. The 2nd request had me skimming through my journals for a good example of feeling the Holy Ghost to share with Renee, but hadn't really come up with anything by the time we were all arrived in the chapel. I sat down in the congregation and immediately was asked to conduct the music for the opening song, (played by a much more proficient musician). Something else I have not had much practice with...but again, anything for Renee...
The conducting part went well enough, and the baptisms (there were 3 children being baptized) and confirmations part was beautiful and moving. Then time for the closing song. I went up and said a quick prayer that I could be calm and get through it without messing up too badly, when the thought came to me that this prayer, and its sure-to-come-answer would be the perfect story to tell Renee about the Holy Ghost.
Well, I said, "amen" to my mental prayer, and started in. I was calm. I didn't mess up too badly to be noticed, and I definitely felt the presence of the Holy Ghost with me helping me. Back at the house, I had a quiet moment with Renee in the backyard, where I told her of my fears and nervousness, and how the Holy Ghost was with me to help me do my best. I gave her a white bead bracelet I made for her and testified of the blessings of having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. A sweet memory of a lovely morning.

I'm on Mormon.org!

2 in one day

This morning while eating my breakfast I was reading my scriptures --2 Corinthians 3--and had gotten to verse 11 when I looked up in frustration and said to Rich, "why can't these gospel writers speak in plain English? Why is their writings so convoluted?" A rhetorical, question, I thought, but then I looked down and continued my reading with verse 12: Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
ah, the irony!
Then I arrived at work and spoke to a co-worker about her weekend. She told about her experience ushering at the theatre and having a conversation with a flirty young man who told her she needed to smile more. I left her to check out my daily emails and read this post called 10 tips for dating. Number seven suggested volunteering as an usher at a theatre event, but "be sure to smile, as it makes you much more attractive."

Happy Birthday to Me!

"Are you doing anything special for your birthday tonight?"

"Well, I have 4 visiting teaching appointments, so....that's special!"

Although I initially said this tongue-in-cheek, it turned out to be quite prophetic. This was a new route with a new ("greenie") companion. During our first visit, we got to hear the sweet story of a new convert who recently lost her spouse and found the gospel. At another home we were able to inform an elderly sister about the upcoming opportunity to hear an apostle (Dallin Oaks whose birthday is also August 12th!) speak and invited her to join us. As we visited and got to know one another at the last home, we realized we were all three converts to the Church, were all formerly Catholics, and all had family members who have chosen to not participate anymore in church activity. The Spirit was strong and I testified that we were the "middle" links in a chain that connected back to our ancestors and forward to our children. It is important that we be strong for them. I know I was led to find the gospel because those who have gone before me were praying for someone in their line to take on the task of finding them and providing saving gospel ordinances for them in the temple. I was the first in my family to join the Church and the only one who really was blessed with the Spirit of Elijah, motivating me to seek after my ancestors. So I truly needed them as much as they needed me. And we have been promised that if we remain strong, our children will also be blessed...

We cried, hugged and enjoyed the newly formed bond between us, making plans to get together so I can help her with her own genealogy research.

On the way home I had the opportunity to relate my conversion story to my new companion. We expressed gratitude for an inspired Relief Society president who put us together! So, yes, I had a very special birthday!