pressure cooker

I guess it's about time for an update. The whole month of October has been a pressure cooker. We started out with the demise of Emma, my newest granddaughter, and her birth a couple days later on 2 October 2008. She was perfect on the outside, tiny, and a beautiful child of God. Her heart was imperfect and didnt allow her time to exist on earth. She is ours and we love her and miss her. We are looking forward to the future and all it holds in promise. I personally have felt her presence once or twice in the very beginning, but I think now she is on to more important matters than watching us fumble around in the dark. The autopsy took a while, so the funeral and memorial services were held on Tuesday, 14 October. I was very surprised at the outcome, and very pleased. The family were all assembled, those who could, and many friends attended. Even Sharon came to the graveside service. It mattered a lot to all of us who know who she is. With Wednesday to "rest" we readied and finalized for Lorna's wedding to Ryan W. Christensen on Friday the 17th. Thursday we decorated the cultural hall at our church for the reception. I have to brag that my daughters are SO SO TALENTED!!!!!!!!!! (caps on purpose 'cause I AM shouting) Since J.C. Penney messed up and sent my dress to Smithfield, VIRGINIA, I had nothing to wear to the wedding. On Friday I went to every store on the highway looking for anything I could find in the right colors and right size. I ended up at the most expensive store in the Mall, Dillard's, where I found a lady who loves a challenge. She fixed me up with a very nice outfit. I paid a lot for it, but who cares?!?!?! I got home just in time to take a shower and rush to the temple (I remembered, I think I'm supposed to be there early so Lorna can get into her dress). Lori had an emergency, so I forwent the shower, took care of her the best I could, then I just had to leave. I was worried about her, though. Upon arriving, breathless, at the check-in desk at the temple I produced my recommend and said something about being the mother of the bride. The brother took a look at it and said, "We have a problem here. Your recommend is expired." I just about fainted. I got really dizzy. I said, "What?" I didnt know what to do. I thought, "I cant miss this wedding! I've been here for all my children's weddings. I'm doing the right things. I cant not be there! I cant miss my baby's wedding! What can I do? What shall I do?" Bro. Jensen of the temple presidency came out from his office and asked me to come with him. I am in a state of panic. The wedding is about to start. Am I going to miss my daughter's wedding? NO!!! I CANT!!!!!!!!! I am dying inside. I cant even think straight. Bro. Jensen is so calm, but he isnt hurrying. Doesnt he know he needs to hurry so I can get there????? He looks up the phone numbers of my Bishop, then picks up the receiver. No answer. He's still calm and not hurrying. Cant he dial any faster? I try to remain calm and polite. I feel like I'm not quite there. Finally he finds the Bishop (who happened to come home a day early from hunting in Wyoming) who then gives me an interview over the phone. He is so new to the position he hasnt even memorized the questions yet. He asked what he could remember, I suggested a few, and he called me worthy, had to tell Bro. Jensen this. I know I have to go through another interview with the Stake president. Please hurry. No, it isnt proper to hurry in the temple, so just calm down and have faith that things will work out. I know I'm worthy. I just had a reassurance of such Sunday during the Sacrament. Bro. J. has nine telephone numbers for the three Stake presidency members: home, work, and cell. He places call after call, receiving only recordings telling him that they are not available. As he started dialing the ninth number, I was praying really hard. Emma was there, sympathetic, and saying it would be okay. I'm thinking,"What will I do if this call doesnt pick up live?" "I think I might fall on the floor under that desk over there, curl up in a little ball and scream and scream and cry." I think, "Now I understand weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth!" On the third ring, I hear, "Hello?" I am now looking at the ceiling saying thank you, thank you, thank you over and over again. I have my phone interview, pass, and am escorted immediately to the third floor sealing room where everyone is waiting and wondering why it's taking so long. I didnt even take my shoes off till a sister handed me a pair of socks in the elevator. We waited a few more minutes, Lori and Bennett arrived, then the bride and groom arrived. They were just simply glowing. Lorna looked as though she were three feet off the floor. It was good. After that emotional angst, the reception was a cinch. All we had to do was to stand next to Lorna and be happy. The food was all taken care of, the hall look beautiful. The children all had sitters in the nursery. The slideshow was adorable. So many, many friends came. Many of Lorna's students came to see her as a princess. As the reception drew to a close, we discovered a special honeymoon treat that had been forgotten. Jay and I volunteered to drive it up to Sherwood Hills Hotel. I said I wasnt going to take it to the room. If the desk person would do the deed I would be fine with that. If she werent willing, then she could eat it himself. I WASNT going to the door!!!!!!! (They got it.) We "rested" for a day, went to church Sunday where Jay got a blessing for his scheduled knee replacement surgery on the 23rd. He got another one from Randon later that night, too. Both blessings were very different, yet similar, each touching concerns that Jay and I separately had. During all of this family time, I am still going to work every day, and helping to prepare the three choirs for their concert scheduled for the first of Novemeber. Just two days before the wedding, the teacher handed me a brand new piece we are going to do with the high school choir, saying," It's a little tricky." Yes, it is, and I still dont have it learned. I'm a good faker, though. Jay's surgery was successful, he's healing well. He has quite a story to tell about how his IV and his pain medicine were interrupted by clumsy people, how he swore at the Dr., and being moved from room to room. On the home front, some of the family had planned on sorting out Jay's bedroom so he would have all the things he needs for recovery. That was set aside for their own recoveries from illness. Since Jay's surgery, Roger has pneumonia, Lynette's family, Lorna, Roger, and I have all had a particularly bad flu that flattened us for about a week. The Dr. wont let Jay come home till we're better! I've looked and looked overhead for that black cloud and havent seen it, so I think that this must just be blessings. I am looking forward to November. The stress of Thanksgiving and Christmas has to be an easy thing after we come out the other end of October.