I Want to Remember Everything About This Day
We were off early this morning to inspect apartments, the first one an hour and a half away from Oxford. We got to Reading right on time. We visited with Elder Hill (our zone leader) and Elder Hozman, two great young men that we love. They had had a very stressful and busy week, and though we could plainly see that the flat had been cleaned, it was a bit of disaster with things not put away.
I gave them the lemon bars and told them how much we love them, and got their promise to tidy it up to standards by the end of the day.
They played a song for me that they had composed. Someone had given them an old mandolin and they had a guitar. It was a great half hour with them, as we ran through all the safety rules.
Then it was on to Basingstoke and the 11th floor of a highrise building. The two Elders there another two great young men. We delivered the lemon bars, the safety lecture, inspected all that needed to be inspected and got on the road towards home.
We had lunch and then both fell asleep! I am getting old....literally. 71 today. I remember when I was very young....taking naps seemed like such a waste of a good day. Now it just seems like a wonderful way to while away a half hour....or an hour!
When I went out our front door into the hallway of the building, I was surprised to see that we had been heart attacked!!!! Some of the sweetest notes taped onto hearts by our YSAs.
In the evening, SK took me out to dinner. He made reservations at a restaurant a short walk from our apartment. He wore his white shirt and tie, so I dressed up a little. I thought it must be a fancy restaurant. He also gave me three beautiful little necklaces with one of my very favorite icons, the Tree of Life.
As it turned out, it was a place SK and I have been to before and I like it very much...Lebanese food. We walked in, the host greeted us and I said two....he asked something else and I didn't quite understand him, but SK did. He invited us to follow him around a partition and back to a table where 12 people were seated....Dave and Deb, Elder and Sister Hartvigsen, Elders Hill, Hozman, Tshendabo and Hathaway, and Sisters Marinello, Olsen, Gaillard, and Sister Hunter. They all shouted Happy Birthday and each hugged me.
I was blown away. We visited and laughed and talked and ate, and ate and ate. The food was so delicious. Dave and Deb had brought a decadent chocolate cake from a Swedish bakery in London, which was served with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Dave and Deb gave me a beautiful warm Oxford-colored scarf, the Hartvigsens gave me a great little book I will keep in the car, with every page a different story from British history, and the missionaries had gone out looking for a print of a painting of Jesus Christ. They found one of my favorites, William Holman Hunt's "Jesus Christ, the Light of the World."
They were adorable and so excited to present it to me. I was blown away, because I have been praying for prints to put up in this apartment that would reflect the Savior's love for us. This apartment has been dedicated for YSAs, and I want them to feel the spirit when they are here. I think having good art is a step in that direction. I can hardly wait to put it in a frame and hang it up. That was a tender little miracle.
They had all written notes, which just meant the world to me. I heard from two of SK's dear sisters earlier in the week...which warms my whole soul.
I spent some time on the phone with Melissa and her family, and some time with Derek Madsen as he drove from Las Vegas down through Arizona. It was wonderful to visit with them. I also got messages from several grandchildren, and friends on Facebook.
I can only say at the end of this day that it was glorious. I feel loved.
I gave them the lemon bars and told them how much we love them, and got their promise to tidy it up to standards by the end of the day.
They played a song for me that they had composed. Someone had given them an old mandolin and they had a guitar. It was a great half hour with them, as we ran through all the safety rules.
Then it was on to Basingstoke and the 11th floor of a highrise building. The two Elders there another two great young men. We delivered the lemon bars, the safety lecture, inspected all that needed to be inspected and got on the road towards home.
We had lunch and then both fell asleep! I am getting old....literally. 71 today. I remember when I was very young....taking naps seemed like such a waste of a good day. Now it just seems like a wonderful way to while away a half hour....or an hour!
When I went out our front door into the hallway of the building, I was surprised to see that we had been heart attacked!!!! Some of the sweetest notes taped onto hearts by our YSAs.
In the evening, SK took me out to dinner. He made reservations at a restaurant a short walk from our apartment. He wore his white shirt and tie, so I dressed up a little. I thought it must be a fancy restaurant. He also gave me three beautiful little necklaces with one of my very favorite icons, the Tree of Life.
As it turned out, it was a place SK and I have been to before and I like it very much...Lebanese food. We walked in, the host greeted us and I said two....he asked something else and I didn't quite understand him, but SK did. He invited us to follow him around a partition and back to a table where 12 people were seated....Dave and Deb, Elder and Sister Hartvigsen, Elders Hill, Hozman, Tshendabo and Hathaway, and Sisters Marinello, Olsen, Gaillard, and Sister Hunter. They all shouted Happy Birthday and each hugged me.
I was blown away. We visited and laughed and talked and ate, and ate and ate. The food was so delicious. Dave and Deb had brought a decadent chocolate cake from a Swedish bakery in London, which was served with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Dave and Deb gave me a beautiful warm Oxford-colored scarf, the Hartvigsens gave me a great little book I will keep in the car, with every page a different story from British history, and the missionaries had gone out looking for a print of a painting of Jesus Christ. They found one of my favorites, William Holman Hunt's "Jesus Christ, the Light of the World."
They were adorable and so excited to present it to me. I was blown away, because I have been praying for prints to put up in this apartment that would reflect the Savior's love for us. This apartment has been dedicated for YSAs, and I want them to feel the spirit when they are here. I think having good art is a step in that direction. I can hardly wait to put it in a frame and hang it up. That was a tender little miracle.
They had all written notes, which just meant the world to me. I heard from two of SK's dear sisters earlier in the week...which warms my whole soul.
I spent some time on the phone with Melissa and her family, and some time with Derek Madsen as he drove from Las Vegas down through Arizona. It was wonderful to visit with them. I also got messages from several grandchildren, and friends on Facebook.
I can only say at the end of this day that it was glorious. I feel loved.
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