What a week!! I could write a book about it but I will spare you that much reading. For starters, June has been the wettest Chicago June in 21 years. So nice of them to break all these records while we are here to enjoy the benefits. We had 4 days of fog so thick last week that you couldn't even tell where the city was. Then we learn Chicago has only had 8 days of fog on record and we were lucky enough to be here for half of them. Apparently it takes cold temps in the middle of Lake Michigan water and warm temps along the shoreline and voila, you get fog.
I have laughed and cried with the missionaries this week. " Sister Taggart, we found our diamond this week. He is on date for baptism in July." This missionary didn't bother with referrals that had no phone number a month ago, now he finds them and finds a diamond. (I guess my diamond story is going to stick for the 209 missionaries who heard me speak.)
One morning we were in the office by 7:30 AM and the phone was already ringing. A blessing was needed at Advocate Good Shepherd Facility in Buffalo Grove. Could I get the missionaries there quickly? A non-member was unhooking her father , a member, from life-support and she wanted a Priesthood blessing for her father and herself. That is rather early but I called our Elders in that area and they said they would be more than happy to go. When I told them the names, they said,' We have given Oscar blessings before. We'd be honored." Two minutes later Elder Taggart's cell phone rang. It was this Elder. "Elder Taggart, what kind of a blessing do we give??" So I hear my husband explain how a blessing of comfort would be in order for both daughter and father. We are reminded often they are only 18 or 19 but what amazing Elders we have.
Oh--referrals. One man requested Spanish missionaries. When they arrived, the man said he really preferred English Elders. So I changed assignments and sent English speaking Elders the following week. They went to see him and he pretended he spoke no English and requested Spanish Elders. So I assigned him the same Spanish Elders. The Elder called me and said, "Do we have to play this game, Sister Taggart?" I then explained he had requested the missionaries but we were going to call his bluff. This Elder is from El Salvador and speaks perfect English. I told him he was to speak Spanish first. If the man requested English, he was to then speak English. If he was interested in hearing the Gospel, here would be the perfect weapon. This Elder said, "I like it, Sister Taggart. I like this plan." .......I will go and do........
This week we had our 46th wedding anniversary. The President gave us the afternoon off and we explored the Chicago Botanical Gardens.......the mission phone rings, "Elder Taggart, our steering wheel is locked and our key won't go in. What do we do?" He calmly explains if they gently jiggle the steering wheel while putting the key in, it will start. "Oh, it worked! Thank, Elder Taggart." We stroll through beautiful Japanese gardens, tropical plants, English walled gardens.....the mission phone rings, "Elder Taggart, our bikes were stolen last night while we were having dinner with a member. What do we do now?"....We enjoy waterfalls with ferns and plant life all around them. We enjoy precision planted vegetable gardens. We learn about plants native to the Midwest......mission phone rings "Elder Taggart, we just tried to fry chicken for the first time and we kind of burned our kitchen wall. Who do we call for that?"(see photo) Forty six years --we are done raising our six children but now we have 209 others!! We laughed as we had our celebration dinner at The Olive Garden. Elder Taggart's cell phone rings. It's our youngest daughter wanting to talk about our next family reunion.....oh, and happy anniversary. Through it all, I do love this man I married so many years ago. He promised to show me a good time and he certainly has fulfilled that promise.
I answer the phone one day and it is Kylee Jones from Renton,Wa, here in Chicago for the day. She knew one of our Sister missionaries but mission rules prohibit any contact with your past life while serving a mission for our young missionaries.
Bruce's youngest brother, Jay and his wife Adrienne and son Seth were here for a convention. We went out to dinner with them. It is always good to connect with family. On the way to meet them, GPS took us on a detour and we ended up in the heart of "The Hood." What an eye opener. At one time these homes were where the elite of Chicago lived. Beautiful three storied mansions once with manicured yards. Now 3-4 families live in each divided up mansion, run down and exuding poverty. We watched a teenaged mother beat her little boy at a crosswalk but didn't dare even roll down a window to tell her to stop. After a few minutes I realized I was holding my breath. I coached myself to breathe in and breathe out.....soon we would be safe. We passed a young woman driving an old car with a huge wad of cash in her hand, the window side with the window rolled down. Was she going to do a quick drive by drug purchase or were these her earnings so far this evening? It breaks my heart.
Dinner at Giordani's was great but the company was better. Good to catch up on that little family and all they are doing. We helped support this little brother on his mission and now here he is, buying us dinner on ours.
On our way home, Elder Taggart decided he didn't need GPS and.....you guessed it....we found ourselves in the middle of Little India. Their dress is exotic. At 9 PM there was still a hustle and bustle. I felt safe here even though it was dark. These people are so grateful for a piece of the American dream, you could tell by their stores. There wasn't the hopelessness of the Hood. We laughed together as we tried to find our way out of the maze. Elder Taggart asked me, "Will California Ave. go all the way through?" I assured him it would and it did. A year ago I would have been clueless but I have looked at maps for a year so now I know a few things.
Is this retirement? Saturday we were up at dawn to drive to Wisconsin for Youth Conference. Oh how my very soul longs to see farm country, old barns, silos, corn growing in fields, and open spaces every so often. I know people love living in Chicago but weather aside, how can a soul be stacked in such living conditions and feel free? Where can a youth in The Hood walk to think and reflect about their future? Where in Little India can a body find solitude and peace? Where in our condo can you breathe fresh air----dirt just moistened by a rain storm?
Youth conference was good---lame by Renton Wash. standards. Short shorts and flip-flops were standard attire, for both youth and leaders. I saw some good things happening too. Two young women had arrived from Guatemala 2 weeks ago speaking not a word of English. But the Church is the same wherever you are. Two sisters from our ward stayed with them and translated everything into Spanish for them to understand. I love the Youth of Zion. As for the lax dress standards and lack of planned activity during the conference....where there is no vision....
Well enough. I received a text from two Sisters this week signed with LeButt. For a minute I didn't know who it was from. Then I laughed and laughed....Sisters Lepule and Buttars, who else? Gotta love 'em. And we love you too. Go see a cornfield this week. It does wonders for your soul.
Sister Taggart
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