I have this most beautiful soft pink, almost blush, silk blouse that I have treasured for more than 20 years, possibly as many as 30 years. Today, in my desperation to find a blouse that wasn't too hot or too cold that would go with my black nylon skirt. In my search, I happened across this pink silk blouse, nicely pressed, and ready to wear.
So off I went to church, wearing my soft pink blouse and stroking the arms of my blouse as I drove. I greeted people I knew at church and got up from my pew located by the chapel exit doors to run down the hallway to make copies of the ward maintenance schedule that I updated so that it would be current on the bulletin boards.
No one was in the library, so I rushed back to the chapel entering through the chapel doors on the opposite side of the room from where I exited. I rushed past to my seat and just as I sat down, my cousin came up and said, "I need to tell you something." She leaned in very close and whispered in my ear, "You have a big hole under your left armpit exposing your undergarments."
I reached across my body with my right hand and felt. "Oh my goodness!" The hole was at least 6 inches long and exposed my entire armpit area and then some. What should I do? I was supposed to say the closing prayer.
I went to the Elder that had asked me to say the closing prayer and told him, "I have a wardrobe malfunction and need to leave. I'm not sure I will be back in time to say the closing prayer." He said he would take care of it. I went to my pew, gathered up my leather folder, and my red Michael Kors purse given to me by my daughter, and headed to the car.
As I drove the 15 minutes home, I began thinking, "I didn't get to sleep until 1 A.M. and I am very tired. Maybe I should just stay home and rest. But I am missing the children's performance as they are performing today. Wait until I get home and if I can't find anything to replace this blouse, I'm staying home."
Once home, I took off the blouse to discover not only was there a large hole almost 8 inches along the underside of the shoulder seam on the left side. To my surprise, I also found a 3" hole near the underside of the right shoulder! Holy cow! So I began looking for something to wear.
A large over-the-door hook hangs on the inside of my bedroom closet door. That hook holds clothes that I either can't wear, didn't wear, or want to wear in the future. Two garments from the door hung an embroidered, cream-colored cotton, V-neck, button down the front sweater. I grabbed it and laid it on the bed.
"Am I going back to church? Or am I going to lie across the bed?" ran through my mind. "Let's see how this sweater fits. I haven't worn it since before Mike (my ex-husband) moved out." It fit. So I went ahead and raced for the front door, hooking Max, the German Shepherd back onto his 40-foot cable (he is an escape artist and the fence doesn't contain him) and ran to the car.
The children's program had already started when I arrived, but my friend, Allegra, had saved me a seat - the same seat I sat in before I left! I sat down and began listening to the program. The music and learning that the children shared gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. I almost missed it. I was so thankful that I didn't stay home. The children shared what they learned about Old Testament prophets and how important it is to keep the commandments and obey our covenants with God. I had listened to the still small voice and returned to church instead of laying down. I felt very blessed.
After Sacrament meeting, I started down the hall and my friend, Joyce, stopped me to chat, and let me know how glad she was that I had returned to church after rushing home to change. She was carrying 2 large bags and I offered to carry one for her. She looked at me and said, "Would you like to learn something about genealogy today?
I would miss Relief Society if I said yes, but my genealogy searches in the past had yielded me nothing on the top line of my tree at my fifth great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother. I had gotten their names from my great-grandfather's marriage license, but that was as far as I could get. Forty-three years of digging in my roots yielded to me nothing. I looked at Joyce and replied, "Yes, I would like to find more than just my great-great-grandfather."
Joyce unlocked the door to the genealogy lab, turned on the lights, walked across the room to the end computer, and sat down. I glanced across the room and noticed how many things had changed since I was last there. The monitors were 24-inch monitors and very new, making it much easier to read the fine print on many documents. The chairs were really cushy and new as well.
For the following 45 minutes, many doors opened. I had password issues for starters and had to reset passwords on both Family Search and Ancestry. Then Joyce directed me toward the little green leaves on my Ancestry account. I clicked on the one for my great-great-grandfather and it revealed there was a marriage license available. I began crying. For 43 years, I had been digging in these roots, finding nothing, not getting anywhere and feeling frustrated about my genealogy searches.
I clicked on the document and was surprised to find a marriage date and the names and locations of yet another generation of grandparents. Each discovery made me cry more. I almost missed finding them by staying home, but my obedience to 'Keep Holy the Lord's Day' and returning to church had blessed me beyond my wildest dreams!
I am a child of God and obeying his laws and commandments blesses me each and every day. I am thankful for the Gospel that teaches me of His word and all that I should do to return home to Him. It isn't easy all the time, but if I listen carefully when I ponder topics such as returning to church, He directs me on what I should do. Today, rich blessings came in the form of more branches on my family tree. I will continue to search and expand my tree. I am truly thankful for the guidance I am given in all things by Him.
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