changes....changes

Sept.19,2014
Nothing is as constant as change. The weather changes, our missionaries faces change,geese fly from north to south again, the people surrounding us in our apartment complex change. The grandma in the corner bottom unit died this week. Her windows are dark. Her caregiver (who took cigarette breaks outside every hour) no longer comes to help her bathe or get ready for bed or do her sitting exercises. We won't miss the cigarette smoke but we will miss grandma. We have several widows who have lived here since these condos were built. As they die, the next generation will rent them to people like us. You may notice I interchange the words condo and apartment frequently. They are one and the same, in my opinion. You own a condo and there are homeowner rules and regulations, but then the owner rents said condo and they may smoke marijuana, have all night parties, cook disgusting smelling food and then you are back to apartment living. The condo just above grandma's had a wild video game marathon from 6 PM to 3 AM one night this week. They were noisy, literally yelling everytime something exciting happened but the nametag kept us from yelling what we wanted to out our bedroom window.

I manned the office alone one day for several hours. Crooks were in for the second round of laser eye surgery, Abbotts got called to the hospital for an Elder who was having complications from appendix surgery, and Elder Taggart took an ailing van to the body shop. I wondered what happened to this companion thing because mine skips out frequently. It was no big deal and manning this office is a piece of cake most days.

I got a panic phone call from an Elder who had lost his wallet that day. He leaves next week for home so wondered how he would get on an airplane with no ID??? Good question. After 2 days of searching everywhere, another Elder came forward and confessed he had taken it because he doesn't want this Elder to go home. If he only knew the panic he caused. The office staff was calling the airline, his parents, canceling cards, etc. Real funny prank---NOT. On the flip side, I watched an Elder help a blind man at church. Rarely do you see such concern and tenderness as I witnessed. These Elders read the Book of Mormon with him daily. He says he feels the Spirit more with Elders than when he listens on CD's.

Our Bishop called my husband with a  procedural question the other night. A child was being baptized 2 days before she turns 9. The missionaries insisted it was their baptism as a convert because her mom is not a member of the church and they taught the child. The dad has been a member 3 years. Sorry Elders, she is a child of record and the baptism, by the father, is before she turns 9 so the missionaries don't get credit. We were afraid the whole thing was going to be called off anyway when the Bishop adamantly insisted "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" would not be the closing song. The mother was going to accompany the daughter.  Isn't it great to watch the workings of a ward?

I turned on my computer this week, typed in all of what I usually type in, and ended up on the BYU University site, waiting for my password. I called Salt Lake. They wondered how on earth I had hacked into that site. I should not have access to that site! DAH!! I know that--that is why I called. So he helped me get out of that site and into the one I always go into. Now I can add another talent to my resume--computer hacker. BYU today, CIA tomorrow,look out!

I failed to tell my spider story last week. There I was, sitting reverently in Stake Conference when someone behind me started touching my hair. I thought it was odd so I turned around. Sister P is in our ward but originally from England. In her best British accent, she whispers, "Excuse me dear, but you have a wee spider in your hair." I calmly turned around so she could hit me in the head and squash the critter. She doesn't do that. "She plays in my hair a bit longer then carries said critter in her cupped hands to release him in the great out-of-doors. For the rest of the meeting I had the creepy crawlies. I washed my hair that morning. Do I have eensy weensies living in my clothes? Did it drop from the ceiling of this very old church? I may never know.

The changing faces of missionaries. We lost two this week. One due to disobedience and the other due to health problems. It feels like a little piece of me leaves with each one of these missionaries. You grow to love them, you serve them, you help them, you send encouraging notes to them and then they are gone, back to their old life of not being a missionary. With transfers coming up again, I start to mourn the ones leaving weeks ahead now. Sister B. called me this week and said, "Sister Taggart, what are we going to do? They are making me leave because my 18 months are up. How are we going to stay in touch. They are sending me back to Texas."  I have loved this sister like a daughter/granddaughter. Now I am forced to let her go and a new batch comes in and I will grow to love them just like I do this Sister. I'm learning to accept change but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

So for a change, you may not get a letter next weekend. For a change, Brian and Billie, Sadie and Finn will be here for a week and we are going to get reacquainted with those two little grandchildren. Finn was a month old when we left. Now, 15 months later, he is a little child who has no idea who we are except a voice on the cell phone.  We have gained over 250 grandchildren so far but reconnecting with these little ones is far more important in the eternal  perspective. So enjoy the changes in your life this week.  The passing from one season to another is a reminder. The change from night to day is a reminder. Life is short. Make the most of each relationship, each contact you have with one of God's other children. Remember to appreciate the changes for without them, life would be too predictable and boring.

Love,
Sister Taggart