In Spite of it All..

Well, my son is doing much better - thanks everyone for the words of concern. As for me...well, my lungs are on fire, and I feel like they're going to burst out of my chest every time I have a coughing fit which is approximately every 1.4 minutes. I feel like there is a semi truck parked on my chest. I seriously cannot remember when I have felt so crappy.

In spite of this...I'm feeling pretty blessed today. Please bear with me as I tell you a story. The story is about my dear friend Heidi. Actually it's about how the Lord used my dear friend Heidi as an instrument to bless my life.

Heidi is a neighbor and friend whom I have known for years. I was her son's nursery leader, our husbands are friends and we even were assigned as visiting teaching companions. However it was just this past summer that Heidi and I became close. She was realeased from the Young Women's Presidency, and I was called to serve in the YW's Presidency. These girls really steal your heart, so it was a hard thing for Heidi to leave. Therefore she still attended many of our summer activities and she and I discovered a kindred spirit in one another. Truly ...right down to our love for NKOTB! We became fast friends and haven't looked back! (our poor husbands!)

Back to my story. Rewind to yesterday around 5 p.m. I'm on my way to Walmart to get some last minute supplies for my girls' Halloween costumes. I've been so busy making costumes for everyone else that my girls' still weren't ready. I knew I was in for a long night. Add to this the news that I had just received that my son has H1N1, the stress of STILL not having found the right director for our school, and some major stress about our company - well I sorta felt like I was drowning. Alone in my car is where I let the overwhelmed feelings take over for a moment...I have to check them at the door so my family isn't affected. Especially my husband...he has enough to worry about without feeling like he needs to worry about me as well. So sometimes, when it's just too much, I get in my car, play my music a little too loud, drive a little too fast and let my mind sort itself out. But then I receive a text. Here's how the conversation went (don't worry I only replied at stop lights!):

Heidi: Does your family like Chili?
Me: Yup...why?
Heidi: I'm bringing your dinner tomorrow.

That was it. Just that simple. I haven't seen Heidi but briefly these past weeks...she had no idea my boy was sick, or that I was sick, or that I'm stressed about the other things I mentioned, but she just felt the need to do something kind for a friend. Suddenly my load was lifted. I still had costumes to make, still have no director, still have company issues and I'm still sick! In spite of it all, I felt the love of a dear friend, and the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father who knew just how I was feeling and how to lighten my burden. I'm so grateful.

Tonight my family enjoyed a delicious, warm meal, and I didn't have to worry about what I was going to make for dinner! That made all the difference in the world. Our church has a Hymn called "As Sisters in Zion". Part of the song says " The errand of Angels is given to women, and this is a gift that as sisters we claim, to do whatsoever is gentle and human, to cheer and to bless in humanities name." This truly was the case tonight. Thank you Heidi for blessing my life...I love you!