A TIME OF AWAKENING AND RENEWAL

Yesterday Larry and I were blessed to be invited to a baptism of a couple about our age. What a wonderful, Spiritual experience. It was so incredible to watch an older couple go into the waters of Baptizm and see the joy on their faces when they were raised up out of the water. First Joyce was baptized and they had to redo it as she didn't get completely under. Then Calvin, her husband, was baptized. Joyce waited on the stairs by the font to watch her husband. When his baptizm was complete, Joyce went back into the water and they hugged and kissed. The Joy was papable. Our Bishop gave one of the most stirring talks and through tears he expressed the joy and gratitude we all felt as we witnessed this wonderful event. Joyce's parents were there and I was told he has been studying and having the lessons for a long time. He was a very old man. To have Larry there and witness this was so wonderful. I pray that he will one day have the desire to join the Church.

One of the cutest things I have ever seen was when the couple went to change their clothes, to get ready for the baptism; Calvin came out in his white jumpsuit and did a little "twinkle toes" dance for us as he made his way to his chair. It was adorable.

This couple used to belong to the Church and decided 20 years ago that they wanted to go another direction. They have been studying together for several years and as Calvin bore his Testimony, he explained the difficult road they have been on to get back to the Church and the things that led them back. He was a High Priest when he left the Church. It was an incredible story and as Calvin explained the odds of this happening, we all rejoiced with Heaven as they took this important step in their lives.

I am very blessed to live in such a wonderful ward. The Bishop is just the neatest guy. He came to our home and asked Larry and I if we would be willing to go to the Manti Pageant with the youth and with another couple prepare the meals for the group. The Bishop told us not to answer until Sunday. I waited to see if Larry wanted to do it. Not much was said until we got closer to Sunday and Larry said he thought we ought to do it. I was so thrilled and so we, with the Boyce's, have all planned the meals for the youth and the people going to the Pageant in the middle of June. I am excited for Larry to see the production. I do not dare to turn down any opportunites that comes our way with the Church as I do not know what is in God's plans for touching Larry's heart. It is so wonderful to sit next to this wonderful man as he sits in Sacrament meeting and listens so intently to the speakers. He is a very kind and caring Man. I have to pinch myself every day as I wake up next to him. I feel so cared for and protected. He is my knight in shining armor and he did come on his white horse to keep me from the long, lonely, days and nights that were my life after Bill died. We have a wonderful life together and our home is peaceful and full of love for one another and also we daily ask for the Love of God to protect us and share our home. There is not enough Gratitude in this world to Heavenly Father for the path my life has taken. Also to my precious Daughters, Shelley and Jill. They have been more than supportive of me and to hear them express their love for Larry brings instant joy to my soul. I couldn't ask for better daughters. The love they give me keeps me grounded and knowing that I am worthy of it. To know that they are mine through Eternity brings unexpressable joy.

I am also grateful for my beautiful grandchildren. They are the light of my life. Skylar, Crew and Ryde, thank you for not forgetting your Gramma. They love and happiness you give to me is absolutely priceless. I would never give it up for anything else. Thank you Jill for the effort you put forth to remind your children of the importance of a relationship with their Grandmother. Your dedication to that is awesome and so unselfish. You are so close to being perfect that it is sometimes scary. I am proud of the way you stand up to adversity; sometimes even within our own family. I can't tell you Jill, how many times Larry has said, "Have you heard from Jill," or do you think Jill would want to have this," or when is Jill coming to stay with us?" He loves those little ones as much as I do. And to be loved by Larry is to be LOVED. He is such a confident and happy man. He has so much integrity and I have never felt so safe in my life.

Well, I am so thrilled to share my feelings about watching an older couple get baptized. I never want to forget the Pure Joy that filled that room and the Love that was there. It was as if the Lord put his arms around us all and gave us a group hug. All I could think about was what a wonderful day it will be when Larry decides that is what the Lord wants for him too.
I know that everyone in the room felt the same way. Our Home Teachers were there as well as my visiting teachers. Hmmmmm, I think this was well planned by Heavenly Messengers through earthly Angels. All I can say in my simple way is THANK YOU!!!