I realize it has been
quite some time since I actually posted something worthwhile on my blog. I decided I needed to share something personal,
incredibly wonderful, that has lifted me, blessed me, and changed me. I sometimes think we go along in life
wondering if God knows “who we are,” and if we are any type of importance to
Him. I want to impart what little
knowledge I have, but it is a sure knowledge that each of us is important and
each of us has a divine purpose here on this Earth. I also believe that it is up to each of us to
actually turn to Him to find the peace and joy we desperately seek and need in
our lives. And if we are diligent in our
seeking, we shall find.
Back in early
November, I was beginning to feel down, heavy with the feelings of losing Zach,
nearing a three-year mark. Our daughter,
Chelsea, was getting close to her due date on December 8th. I had actually purchased a ticket to go up on
December 6th and stay until the 18th to help her
out. I had some reluctance in purchasing
my ticket early, and I still puzzle over that.
We had a Stake Conference scheduled for December 13-14, and I had the
strongest feeling, impression if you will, that I needed to be there. I currently have a calling in our Stake and
thought that maybe that was part of the reason.
Stake Conference vs. helping daughter and snuggling new grandbaby…should
be an easy decision, right???
I received a call
from Chelsea on November 10th in the afternoon, and what she was
describing were “labor pains.” Off she
went to the hospital and next thing I hear is that she is being prepped for a
c-section. Bailee was born on November
10th. My flight plans just
changed. Chelsea phoned and said she
could “really use” my help now instead of December 6th. I was able to get coverage at the temple and
flew up to help her and her family out.
I had so much fun chauffeuring Brooklynn to school, Chelsea to the
hospital, and then Brielle and I would be off to shop for the MANY necessities
for this new baby they weren’t quite prepared for yet. Everyday, we had to go shop for something,
when Brielle finally said to me, “NO MORE SHOPPING NANA!” Ha!
She still makes me smile to think of her that day.
The good news is that
even though Bailee came early, and because all of our modern medicine, she is
doing well and thriving. She is a sweet
little angel fresh from heaven. Our
family has been blessed.
The other good news
was that I could now attend Stake Conference.
I felt such relief being able to attend.
Even though I felt relief, I still had overwhelming feelings of grief,
to the point that tears came easily almost every day. I would soon find my relief.
I attended the
Saturday evening session of conference and it was wonderful and inspiring. But, where I found the answer to my prayers
came at the Sunday session of conference.
Our Stake President had asked a wonderful sister, Amy, to share her
conversion story. She was engaging and had
me captivated from the moment she began her talk. I am attaching her talk so that you can enjoy
and feel inspired from her words.
I do not want to take
away from her talk, but I do want to give you a brief summary. Amy was raised Catholic and one of 13
children. She has been married for
eighteen years, thirteen of which she has lived here in St. George. She has three beautiful children. She had a brother, Kris, who came to live
with her and her family for what would be the last two years of his life. He was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. After Kris’ death, Amy said she “despised”
church and did not want to have anything to do with church. A wonderful family came into her life that
happen to be of our faith, Latter-Day Saints.
Amy had been taking
the missionary lessons, but had not had that moment of, “ok, I want to be
baptized!” She wanted to do this for
herself and not for anyone else. She
actually told the missionaries that when she was ready she would let them
know.
This is where Zach
comes into the picture. She then related
how, about three years ago, her daughter came home and wanted to go to the
funeral of a little boy that was in her class.
I was thinking, “That’s sad, as Zach died three years ago.” Then she said, “I think his name was
Zachary…Pulsipher.” I literally gasped
and the tears began to stream…tears of joy.
Amy’s initial
reaction was to say "no" to going to the funeral because of the bad experience she had when her brother
passed away. But something inside her
told her she should come. She indicated
where she sat in the chapel and how, for two hours, she cried as she listened
to the mother, father, and each of Zach’s siblings speak about him. But, the tears she was crying were happy
tears. As you can well imagine, I was
crying “happy tears” too. She then went
on to say, “When I was sitting in this building, for that little boy, I knew
that it wasn’t the end. And, I knew that
I wanted to be a part of that. Because,
I was going to see my brother again.”
She said she thanked that little boy for being her missionary on the
other side of the veil.
Remember when I said
I was feeling so much pain from grief?
Remember how I wasn’t even supposed to be at Stake Conference? I am here to share with you that I was
supposed to be at Stake Conference.
Amy’s conversion story was balm to my soul. When she shared how for three years Zach has
been with her and especially the month prior to her giving her talk, I knew
Zach wanted me to know what he is doing now.
Through Amy, we received a mini-mission report from Zach. Thank you Amy for letting the Spirit guide
you and for listening to Zach. And, as a side note, Zach did in fact love being the center of attention~oh, how that warmed my heart when Amy said that.
This truly was the
greatest Christmas gift we could ever hope to receive. I have so much gratitude for the tender
mercies that have been poured out for Mark, my family, and me. Who knew, three years down the road, that we
would receive the sweetest message? The
Lord did, that’s who.
Choose the video of the woman in the red dress :) (AmyCHE)
I Am His Daughter
The Miracle
Mountains to Climb
