Two Sweet Sisters
Jun 2nd, 2008 by Bethany
Two of my sisters, Abby and Phoebe, came to help me last week, and I just dropped the second one off at the airport. I cannot believe how much they got done in just a few days! Most of my house is boxed up and cleaned already! My mind is still spinning with relief, since much of the week I was unable to be helpful to them at all. Everything is organized, labeled, and easy to find, in addition to sealed in boxes. They helped me decide which things to toss, which to store, which to ship in the truck but take to the house, and which things to take in the car with us.
In the process of sorting and packing we found an old bottle of my anti-nausea drug from my last pregnancy, and I found that if I take a quarter dose I can function without being too miserable most of the time. I’m petitioning my doctor here (via phone) to prescribe me some more for the trip, but haven’t heard back from his nurse yet this morning. What I have handy enabled me to enjoy a long, giggly, chatty night out with both sisters on Friday night (thanks for dinner, girls, and thanks for watching the kids Colin!). On Saturday, Phoebe took me to get my hair cut, and I really feel like a new person. What I thought would be an awful drudgery has really been relatively painless so far. I am so, so, so blessed to have sisters who took the time and the expense to fly out here and take care of me and my family while I’m having trouble. They even went through my cupboards and figured out a menu of meals I could make without gagging (hopefully) with ingredients we already have.
There’s something about having my sisters around that just lets me calm down and get things done at whatever pace I can without being self-conscious. I didn’t have to worry about them rolling their eyes at my dirty floors, since they already know how I am that way and like me anyway. I didn’t have to worry about whether they would pack things in a way that was intelligible for me, or about whether they would understand my packing system, because we all learned to pack from our mom and have similar packing styles. I knew they’d enjoy playing with the kids when I took a nap, and it wouldn’t annoy them. Anything weird I do they already know about, and often do themselves. Yay sisters!
Another thing that is helping me to be optimistic about our move this week is our wonderful church family here. The sisters of the Relief Society in our ward have volunteered to come over the day before the move and help with dinner, babysitting, last-minute packing, and final cleaning. I cannot believe how totally supportive they are–it’s truly inspirational. And the Priesthood of our ward, including members of the bishopric, will be coming over on Saturday to load the truck. I guess Bishop decided he’s over his silent-treatment phase of trying to get us to stay. 
This may actually happen, and I’m so grateful for the help everyone is giving us in the process.
My mother-in-law is already helping me find a doctor in California and had diapers for Maggie and Degen ready to go when we get there. They’ve already done so much to prepare for our arrival–even down to improving the safety of the deck for the little ones so they can play outside. I’m excited to see the family there and settle in. It will be so nice for the kids to get to know the family better, too. And the glorious weather of Marin County! No more tornadoes, anyway.
Yesterday Colin shared his testimony during Fast & Testimony meeting at church–I love hearing him share his feelings and thoughts about the gospel. He talked about how we all need to have an “addiction” to feeling the Spirit, and to getting personal revelation, and that’s the only way we’ll be able to know how to do what will bring us happiness in the long run. I went to my last Ward Council in this ward and everyone said very kind things to me about my time in Primary. I gave my last Sharing Time in Primary and waved goodbye to the kids quickly as I bolted out the door to chase a couple of runaway little ones down the hallway. I handed over my keys to the new Primary president. The Primary staff gave me a card they’d all signed and that I haven’t read yet for fear of crying, but I’m sure I’ll love once I have the emotional fortitude to believe I’m actually leaving.
I’m still not sure why the Lord sent us to Arkansas, but I think it partly had something to do with my Primary calling here. I discovered weaknesses I didn’t know I had and parts of my heart and mind were opened that weren’t there before. I usually felt capable and happy in my calling, which has rarely happened to me in past callings, but when I felt inadequate I felt TOTALLY inadequate and had to rely entirely on the Lord. My calling helped me to be happy when nothing else could. I’m grateful to the Lord for trusting me with this calling and to the ward for sustaining me in it. I will miss it and I will miss them. I wonder what I’ll be called to do in my next ward…
I can’t remember if I told you or not, but congrats! I am so happy for your pregnancy–you are a great mom and this will be one more lucky baby!
Aren’t sisters wonderful?! It is so nice that they were able to come!
Good luck with the move…I think you will know in time what your purpose was there…it all starts to unfold as we move to the next chapter of life.
Bethany, I can definitely tell you that at least PART of your reason for moving to Arkansas was to teach some of us with your amazing patience! You were a wonderful Primary president and I will miss your sincere kindness and hard work. I hope you guys love being in Cali and that all goes well. Keep in touch!