Tender mercies

Yesterday, I got a package in the mail. It was literally from all of my children. It was a book – a composite of pictures and letters of appreciation from each of my 11 children, each written with Father's Day in mind. As Mom and I opened and paged through it, reading the tributes and looking at the pictures, we wept – as the years that we dedicated to being parents to them was highlighted by this simple gesture. To each of you, I voice, and we both concur, that we have been rewarded with some of the best children that we could ever have desired, the cream of the crop, the best that our Heavenly Father could ever have sent into our home. They are, indeed, the jewels and gems that are worth more than all else throughout the universe. They are the kind of children that would make any set of parents look terrific. We thank our dear Father for sending them to be with us – and to be our treasures.

I took a vacation from the temple last week for a couple of days, not being able to work because of back pain. With each day that arrives, I never quite know how it will be: some days are good, some not so good. But in general, they are getting better. My back is no longer inflamed. But the muscles do choose to tense up every so often, making certain efforts very painful – even if only for a fraction of a second. The worst, is trying to stand after having been in a sitting position for any length of time. The simple solution to that, is just not sit down. Unfortunately by feet and legs won't stand for that – and, especially while in the temple, it just isn't convenient to just go lie down somewhere. Sunday is tough. After sitting through sacrament meeting, Sunday school and priesthood meeting, my back really wants to complain. But still, it was better today than last week. Things are getting better.

Last Tuesday afternoon, Sister McClellan and I were left alone to coordinate all the activity in the baptistry in the temple. It wasn't suppose to get too busy. No one had made any reservation except for the last time slot, where a half dozen or so were suppose to come. But from the very beginning of our shift, there were several coming wanting to do the Lord's work – and of course we always say “yes” and so the fun began. There were also large groups of endowed members attending upstairs, as well, thus dividing the workers between them and us. But, as always, the day ended with happy faces all around and we, a bit wiser as to how we will cope with similar situations in the future.