Blessings-- Some in Disguise

Lately I can't help but see all of the ways in which we are blessed-- there are so many!

Jacob had his very first playdate this week. Some of you already know the story, but a couple of months ago I was out to dinner with Brigham, and I asked Brigham if he thought that Jacob would ever have a real friend. He said he didn't know. About a week and a half later, a girl I didn't know ran up to me in church asking, "Are you Jacob's mom?" I said I was, and she told me, "My son, Jack, is in Jacob's class, and I just had to tell you that Jack LOVES Jacob! He tells me all the time that Jacob is his best friend, and he wants to know when he can have a playdate with him." Of course I cried.

My second blessing this week came in disguise. Brigham and I finally got to go to the temple on Friday, and I was really looking forward to it. We were almost there when I realized that in the rush to get Ty to the babysitter, I'd forgotten my temple recommend. I was so bitterly disappointed! I dropped Brigham off at the temple and then rushed home to get my recommend, hoping to get back in time to be able to do SOMETHING. I'll admit that I cried again-- this time in sheer frustration. It's not easy to line up a babysitter for 3 hours.

When I got back to the temple, I asked if I could do some initiatory, but the lady said they were full for the next 20 minutes or so (that never happens here, but it was a stake temple day), so I could wait in the lobby. I went and sat in the lobby-- disappointed, but trying to get my feelings under control. You can hardly imagine my surprise when a minute later my mission president came walking into the room! I gave him a hug, and he asked if I could wait for him a minute. A minute later he came back and invited me into his office. I was so confused and asked what he was doing there. It turns out that he is our new temple president! I'd heard that we had a new temple president named Shumway, but I had no idea that it was THE President Shumway! I had a wonderful visit with him and his wife, and the next day when I took Jacob and Benjamin to their temple tour, I was able to introduce them to President and Sister Shumway. We plan on having dinner together sometime soon. So all is well after all!