It was Saturday Aug 18 late afternoon, Chad and I had just
gotten up from an awesome nap, (Heavenly Father knew we would need that rest
after a crazy work trip for Chad and an early early morning Temple trip for the
kids) The phone rang, it was my family in Idaho, I was excited that they would
think to include me in the family gathering that day in Idaho. My excitement
very quickly melted into utter shock and numbness, as my sister Beth told me
what had happened that day. It seemed like forever in-between each name she
said, Ruth, didn't make it, Nick didn't make it, Audrey didn't make it, DJ
(that was what we called her at the time) in in the hospital, and we aren't
sure of her condition. I sank into a chair as my head spun in disbelief. This couldn't happen not to our family, we
had all survived so much, we always just jump up and dust ourselves off and
giggle at how crazy close that call was. Not this time, it was for real, as I
had her repeat it. Ruth Nick and Audrey were gone; DJ was in the hospital hanging
on to life.
I thought, I had to do something but what, I called my
sister Esther who lived in South Carolina, to see what her plans were and how
she was going to get to Utah/Idaho. I then called my friend Beauty Johnson to
see if her boys could feed our dogs while we were gone. Like the angel that she
is she asked if there was anything else she could do, I said no, because quite
honestly I didn’t even know what I needed to do. There I sat in a world of ciaos,
we had been moving the entire house around, with new furniture, and getting our
home ready for foster care. Paint stuff was everywhere, the hall was lined with
dressers, beds and bookshelves. Laundry was piled sky high. I had a new to us
kitchen table sitting in the family room and my sister and her family had just
been in a horrible car accident. I was sitting at the table in the family room
when there was a knock on the door. I went and answered the door, and there
stood my friends Beauty and Misty Jackman. See she really knew what I needed
when I didn’t. Beauty said “You don’t just tell me there is nothing I can do at
a time like this” Her and Misty came in, they asked how we were getting to
Idaho/Utah. Our plan was to leave in the morning. They went down and got the
kids packed, with activities to do on the road. Big hug and they were gone just
like that, the plan was set into action.
I made a call to my friend Debbie Wolfe in Nebraska, and
asked if we could do a surprise drive by and spend the night at their home
(located half way between here and Utah/Idaho) without hesitation Debbie and
her family welcomed us with open arms and a warm meal and comfy beds. We stayed
up talking about things, their words of comfort, and their home was such a
blessing over an empty hotel room without the warmth and comfort of friendship!
Now to back up just a little bit, Beauty had been over
helping me plan out where to put things and how to get ready for foster care,
she knew what I wanted, and had already spent many hours over helping me move
things around. (she refused to help me paint, she said I was too messy) Beauty had the key to my house so that she
could take care of the animals, and bring in the mail. With that key, she had
helpers come in every day while we were gone, and not only put my home back
together, she farmed out the loads of laundry and got it all done and back.
With the help of Maureen they cleaned my entire home, including my bedroom. They cleaned out my fridge and freezer,
organized and cleaned out my cupboards and anything and everything you can
imagine. They were slightly grossed out by the frozen bugs in the freezer but
that didn’t even stop them. As we kept in touch throughout the week she went
shopping just before we got home the fridge was full of fresh fruit, milk and
cheese, and several meals that just needed to be heated up. There additional
fresh fruit on the counter along with some bread and other baked goodies, all
there to greet us when we got home. She also arranged for different people to
bring in meals for a few days after we got home until we got back into the
routine of things again.
We are truly bless to be surrounded by such wonderful
friends, and family who really stepped up reached out and touched our lives through
meals, flowers, cards, and hugs. We are truly blessed. Still people are so
willing and so amazing as our 5th anniversary of random acts of
kindness approaches, I am truly humbled by all the Christ like love, courage
and caring that still carry on.
