Prayer Can Change the Night to Day

 Our Zoom Sacrament Meeting this morning left me with a sense of wonder - a pleased sort of wonder.  In the announcements, the Bishop mentioned feeding our young missionaries - in this case, that means delivering a meal to them.  Then he added to remember them and the Madsens in our prayers.  In the opening prayer, that is exactly what was done.  They prayed for the missionaries and the Madsens!  What a sweet sense of gratitude that left within my heart.  Our Bishop, as well as most others in this ward are so very positive and reinforcing to everyone.  They are always so very kind.

Look at this great article about Dave in the newest UK issue of the Liahona...we were with him at one of the stakes where he did this nearly a year and a half ago

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We had Sacrament Meeting, Relief Society, our Missionary meeting for people new or returning, a Zoom call with our young adult reps and a Zoom call with the other young adult Senior Couples in the mission.  All proved to be excellent.

Sometime in the afternoon the elders came by to drop off a sample of their cookie-making venture.  They were very good.  I called them and told them how proud I was of them.  They laughed.  They are cute.

With our young adult reps, we decided that since Tuesday is Pancake Day, Harry, (one of the young adult reps) said he would demonstrate how to make British pancakes (there is a clear feeling here that American pancakes are substandard).  He is so cute that I am certain we will have a good turnout.  People will either just watch or watch and follow by making their own pancakes right along with Harry.  I think it will be fun.

We passed Chinese New Year on the 12th.  So to celebrate next Monday for Family Home Evening, we will plan an evening centered around China and its history.  We will get 5 pounds (money) somehow delivered to each person who will participate (either by direct deposit or SK and I will deliver 5 pound bills so that each individual can order Chinese takeout from their favorite place, and we will eat together and visit.  I think it sounds like great fun.  And just think of the possibilities coming up?  St. Patrick's Day, Easter, and Cinco de Mayo just for starters.

After our meeting with Harry and the other rep, Kristina, we said good bye, and Harry signed off.  SK hadn't been in on that call, so just Kristina and I were on the call.  She said quickly, "Sister Madsen, I need to talk to you.... I have an announcement."  

I waited expectantly, and she told me that she and Cameron are engaged!  They have been attending everything together for as far back as I can remember here in Oxford.  They are both math majors, and he will be going for his PhD next fall.  He is a handsome young man - very tall and lanky with a shock of dark unruly hair.  She is medium height and slim.  She is pretty, with long dark hair.  I love the way she speaks, with the most lovely and refined British accent.  Together, they make a cute couple who are reserved but so comfortable with each other.  Cameron has a quirky sense of humor that I adore and Kristina does too.  They are both so bright and I am thrilled for them.  She seemed happy that I was so thrilled with the announcement.

We delivered cream puffs to Kristina and Cameron - and a bottle of bubbly apple juice that we have had since last week.  I stood outside in the wind and rain with them and told them we love them and are thrilled.  We next delivered cream puffs to another young woman who attends Oxford Brooks - on the outskirts of Oxford.  It was dark and really raining by then and very chilly.  She came running out to the car in a sweatshirt and stood with me chatting.  She told me about a date she had had this past week, expressed her wish that we can all be together soon, wrapped her arms around me twice and gave me a big bear hug!!!!  She was so cute and so spontaneous that I just hugged her back.  

Our last stop was at the apartment of the two sister missionaries.  Sister Dundon - who has been here ever since we returned to Oxford on September 2 will be leaving very early in the morning to serve in another city where she will train one of the new missionaries who came in two weeks ago.  Sister Tizzard, serving here, will also get a brand new missionary from the States.  I had written Sister Dundon a little card, and gave it to her with a little memento of Oxford and a plate of cream puffs.  We will miss her.

We are both dragging and will be in bed by 10 this evening.  Yesterday was a special Madsen family day.  It is the day Derek was born in Chicago Illinois 49 years ago.  On each of their birthdays, I like to revisit and remember that day, the labor, the delivery, the feelings of utter joy after they were born, and the miracle of a perfect and perfectly beautiful little one just coming into the world.  As the years go by, it fades little by little, but I hope I never really forget.  Those were amazing days.

It is also Erin's daughter Anna's birthday.  She came into this world seventeen years ago.  It is difficult enough to wrap my mind around the fact that Derek is nearing the half-century mark, but when did Anna get to be such a lovely young woman?  She really was only twelve just a few weeks ago.  

We talked to Anna earlier in the day, but couldn't reach Derek until 1 a.m.  We talked for a half hour or more and then finally went to sleep.  Neither of us were quite ready to get out of bed, but somehow managed.  The day has been so beautiful that we have managed to stay awake through it all.  

I am still so enthralled with the idea that people are praying for us.  That explains a lot of sweet miracles and little tender mercies in our lives.  I keep wondering why the Lord is so good to us.  I think I have my answer.