"Silkwood"

Hi family and friends,
I hope you are all having a great conference weekend. Before I elaborate on why I chose "Silkwood" as my title this week, I will up date you on my Rockin Rochester Missionary. Laura is doing fantastic !!! This week Laura, Sister Autrey and investigators were able to visit the Church Sites, three of her past companions have been called to serve in those sites. I think she would be fabulous at a site, she's not so sure, but told President Hemingway she would go where he was prompted to send her. I'm hoping she gets to go. This coming Monday Laura will have Zone conference at the Peter Whitmore Farm. I love to see her pictures she sends me on Mondays. Especially the pictures of her snuggling cute little brown faced babies. Laura and babies usually aren't seen together, so as her mother, it warms my heart to see her love and growth as a wonderful missionary and daughter of God. Laura is also teaching a relative of my SLC attorney. Robert Sykes is not only a superb Personal Injury attorney, he is also a convert of the Church from Rochester, New York. Coincidence??? I think not...The Lord works in mysterious ways. I suppose it came to me today. I call it my radioactive, nuclear weekend meltdown. For those of you in the younger generation. In the 80's Meryl Streep and Cher starred in a movie "Silkwood". If you ever have the chance to watch it, think of me. Laura would have seen it coming. Once again as I scrubbed my poor dry and rashed body trying to rid my skin of nuclear waste I thought of the movie "Silkwood" First a slight twitch in the corner of my mouth, then my brave face kicks in... chin up girly , tears soon follow, and this time almost total collapse. My skin is raw and sore from scrubbing every 3 hours. A moment of self pity came upon me fast and unexpectedly. Since Laura has been gone 11 months now, I have been through 4 surgeries, long hospital stays and now radioactive chemicals surging through my veins, and I have done it......alone....I am learning lessons from Heavenly Father that are designed for me. These are my trials and tests while on this earth. Once again, the tears and self-pity leave as quick as they came. I would like to say..oh I am so strong, courageous, a warrior and yes..I do have a back bone. However, I know I am not alone, ever . I feel the Comforter very close to me and I feel protected, never scared or lonely. Heavenly Father has sent his Angels to watch over me during this time. The other night I woke up and and felt a soft presence in the bedroom. I looked in the corner and there sitting on my Grandmother's purple queen's chair was a figure of a elderly woman, much like a grandmother. I squinted first, then focused my eyes on this woman, thought to myself...oh...an angel is watching over me, and I fell back to sleep. The next morning I thought about this experience and knew it was not a dream. The feeling stayed with me all day and is still very strongly in my mind. Thursday night I was privileged to receive a Priesthood blessing before my chemical procedure. The consecrated oil used was blessed 2 months earlier in the Garden of Gethsemane. WOW ! How special I felt to be able to partake in this sacred blessing. While watching the 2 sessions of General Conference today, I once again realized the blessings in our lives if we live obediently and do as we are commanded . To walk by faith and an eye single to the glory of God. The talks so lovingly prepared by these inspired Brethren are to help us learn,grow and prepare ourselves for the blessing to come if we live worthily. We are so blessed to be able to listen to these magnificent men. Tonight I received a call from my dear friend Carma Rose de Jong Anderson, she told me that in hard times with one's health to picture yourself sitting in the palm of heavenly Father's hand. It will comfort you. I thought leave it to Carma to produce a great visual. We must all follow the Church leaders advice and plan for a rainy day , not to have fear, but live with faith. I was so uplifted it was a perfect day. Thank-you for your sacrifices and prayers for Laura and me, We can feel your prayers are with us. Isn't it "Onederful" Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side" and be grateful for all we are blessed to have. Love a Missionary Mommy, Kathy