All on A Sunday. . . Sabbath Day

This morning I was able to take Michael up to the Salt Lake Airport for his flight to Cincinnati. We left around 8 o'clock. It was a nice time to visit on the way with him and tell him some testimony building experiences and miracles I saw in his life as he was growing up. He appreciated hearing them and remembered some of those times when they occurred.

I missed my sacrament meeting at nine o'clock. I decided to go to Tracie & Jared's ward at 11:00, since I recalled she had invited/told me their choir was singing a special number. There was a little more than a hour away for her ward so I went to visit my friend Donaire, who is at the Orchard Park Rehab Care Center in Orem. She is in the rehab after a stroke. She is doing well.

She was not in her room and I was told she was in the open room where they have meetings and also serves as their cafeteria. 'The Spoken Word' was on, so I sat with her while it finished. The room suddenly changed with people coming and going to get ready for their sacrament meeting. Donaire elected to stay. I enjoyed that time with her. She reminds me of a mother figure and I held her hand, which was almost as cold as ice, during the opening of the meeting.

We sang the opening song, "Redeemer of Israel." She cold not read the hymn book but sat quietly while the rest of the group sang. It was an amazing site to see as I observed throughout the rest of the time I was there in the meeting. The space was filled with each person sitting in a wheel chair side by side. Then, during the sacrament time a priesthood holder and his wife went up and down the rows to give the residents their bread and water. I was touched by the tenderness of those giving and receiving these sacred emblems.

When it was time for me to take mine, for which I was glad to not miss out on taking the sacrament; I turned to my friend to see if she wanted it. She nodded her head, "Yes," I wept. I was pleased to see that she was willing to take it and had me help her with the water, since her arm was unable to reach the tray and take it by herself. I know that she had told me she been baptized years ago, but her activity was another thing, that I was not sure about. She is receptive to priesthood blessings, so I think in her heart she knows she is Jewish but more subdued about being LDS.

I really think she enjoyed the Spirit of the talks and comments made by those who participated. I had to leave after a half hour, to go to Tracie's ward. But I was so touched by the fact the Donaire took the sacrament and how the Lord must work (in mysterious ways) to help those of his flock who may feel forgotten being home bound for so many years. I felt a good feeling about her desire to be there.

It told me that God is aware of her and now the Church has come to her, and she is able to 'mingle' among the Saints as one of them, because SHE IS!!!!


Tracie and Jared's ward was wonderful. It ended up being their Ward Conference. The bishop spoke first, then one of the counselor's from the stake, and then the Stake President concluded. I took notes and was very touched by the song the choir sang, "I Believe in Christ." I mouth the words as the choir sang and wept with tears flowing down my cheeks. I felt so filled with the sweet Spirit that was there and how nurturing it was. I just felt the love of my Savior so strongly and know He hears and answers our prayers.

I came away wanting to be more patient and understanding of others who need that of me right now, and to be a better me.

I came home, took a nap, had dinner with Aaron, Candice and the kids. I then went to a fireside in Orem, and stopped in again to see Donaire at the care center. The speaker, James Hacking--was great and polished off my day. He was a former mission president and had some very uplifting stories to tell of being raised by a single, widowed mother. He was born a month and a day after his father passed away. Sad. He had nothing but praise for his mother, and compassion for the hardships she had in raising three children alone.