Dashing through the snow and other stuff

Today was a day for visiting teaching. We were supposed to visit 2 of our 4 sisters, but schools were delayed so we had to reschedule one. So the sister that we did see lives just a few blocks from me. Actually, most people in our ward live "just a few blocks away" from me. This is very different than what i'm used to having grown up mostly in Virginia where ward boundaries stretch for many miles. The vast majority of people in our ward live in our development. Just a few people don't and they are the ones who live on the 5+ acres across the little highway. Anyway, since we were just seeing the one sister, instead of driving, I loaded the boys into the double jogger for the trip over there. It was wonderful to be outside and even though it was only 30 degrees, it seemed HOT! Very sunny, clear blue sky, bright white snow. The jogger is great in the snow and i really enjoyed getting some exercise. We took the long way home and i felt somewhat invigorated. I wish i'd taken a picture of the boys all snug in fleece blankets and hats.

The VT lesson this month is about becoming instruments in God's hands. I really enjoyed the message that was written in the Ensign. Very positive, made me feel like it was a do-able thing, being an instrument and all. I'd like to believe there have been times that i have been there when someone needed me or answered a prompting. Reading the message made me think for a minute about people who have been instruments to me, in my life. Two came to mind immediately. The first is Sue Cooper, my bishop's wife in Columbia. I love this woman. She was there for me when I was at a crossroads in my life where I felt very close to leaving the church. I had just miscarried and felt like i would never have children. I felt lost and hopeless and angry. Lots of fist-shaking toward the heavens, shall we say. Not my best moment. So in the midst of this challenging time, i was still trying to attend my meetings. I was sitting in Relief Society, about to leave because i just did not want to be there. I decided to wait to hear who would be teaching. When they announced that it would be Sue I decided to stay as i really enjoyed her lessons. She opened the lesson by saying that she deviated from the manual a bit and I swear, that lesson was created specifically for me (and Sue didn't know i was struggling). In a nutshell, it was about how the Atonement is not only for helping us sinners but also makes it possible to take our burdens to the Lord. That may be an obvious truth to many but i just hadn't thought of the Atonement in that light and it was what i needed to hear. AND, i really needed a tissue that day, too. It was still a very difficult time and return for little old me, but that lesson and subsequent conversations with Sue began my turning point.

I don't know the name of the second person. We'll call her Spine Lady. I had to wear a back brace in high school and the day I went to be fitted for it was horrible. I wasn't prepared for the look and design of the brace itself. I thought it would be easier to hide under my clothes. This sucker had a metal bar down the front middle and two bars down the back connected to a metal ring around the neck, with two little metal supports on the back of the neck to prevent my head from flexing too far forward or extending to far back. It had a plastic corset of sorts that was tightened by a cloth strap. It was built to force my spine into a straighter position by pulling me/it up and keeping me in line. Lots of run-ons, i know. Anyway, i was horrified and downright pissed off about it. I had to put this monstrosity on and go down to have an xray to make sure it was doing what it should. I remember sitting, sulking, waiting for my xray. A woman sat down next to my mom and asked something to the effect of, "excuse me, but does your daughter have kyphosis?" I remember thinking not so nice thoughts about her nosiness and wanted to D.I.E. She proceeded to talk and said she had recently had surgery to correct her kyphosis and said the surgery was awful and how she wished she had had the chance to wear the brace as a child instead. To which i thought, "are you kidding me lady. You have NO idea what this is like." She took me into a changing room and showed me the enormous scar down her back where they'd opened her up to place a rod. As time went on and i wore the brace and gained a sense of humor about it, i was really grateful that she shared her experience. It gave me some perspective. When all i really wanted to do was take off that brace and run over it with my mom's car, i thought of her and what horrible pain she was in and I was able to carry-on a little better. I really think she was a part of a divine intervention. I was just sitting waiting for an xray at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. People with all sorts of different needs and ailments were there. And she was just who i needed to meet.