Emily’s Curio

Bernie is a man I taught when I served in the mission felid. He was baptized and has been a faithful, active member of his branch ever since. Everyone who knows him says he is the greatest asset. He is the only one that I know of who is still acitvely attending church. He has kept in touch with my efforts to keep in touch.
Yesterday Bernies daughter got married in the Salt Lake Temple. He told me about it months ago and I asked if I could come. They both said yes and I looked forward to it everyday, and kept their wedding announcement on my fridge to remember. I highlighted the event on the calander and put their picture in a conspicuous place so I could look at the beautiful girl who had grown up over these years and her bright eyes and the choice of her heart next to her.
Two days before the wedding our children got a runny nose. The next morning our littlest one was having a hard time breathing. They cried and were more easilly put to bed than usual, and they slept a lot. Robin came home and mentioned that the wedding was the next morning. I was stunned that it had come so soon, even with all the reminders, and I weighed the decision. I decided to stay home with the kids. I felt good about the decision to stay, but not the decision to not go. I wrote an apology email. That didn’t make me feel any better so I called the Church offices for the phone number to the temple. I was on hold for forty five minutes. I couldn’t hang up, and I prayed that there might be a chance that I could get a hold of them before the wedding. Suddenly a woman answered and I told her I was trying to reach a wedding party. She asked which one and I told her. She asked how I am associated withthe party and I said, “I taught Melissa’s Dad on my mission.” She hurried and took my message down and then she sorrowfully said, ” They are already up there, I don’t know if I will be able to get this to them.” I told her I understood and we said goodbye. I felt sad for the whole day. Then I checked my email and Bernie had written. I opened the mail and he was very understanding. He then said, “Elder Chrisstopherson, one of the Presidents of one of the quorums of the Seventy came to the wedding. He shook the Brides hand, he shook the Grooms hand, He shook the grooms parents hand, then he got to me and he said, “Emily won’t be able to make it. I am so sorry.” Bernie asked if I knew Elder Christtopherson. I wrote that I didn’t. He must have been right there and decided to deliver the message personally. He was an answer to my hopes.  And an answer to my prayer. And Bernie was elated to have met him.

Christmas always makes me think about my Dad. I remember a lot of weird Christmas’s when my Dad was around. I remember the Christmas when my mom bought my Dad a huge thick  midnight blue coat that was weather proof on the outside and had the softest warmest dark blue fur on the inside. I remember that coat because I could fit my entire body into one of the arms of it. My dad had worn a tan, lined jacket that had stains and rips in it for the longest time. I remember him sewing it up a lot. The look on his face when he got the coat was delightful for all of us to see. He used it for a whole week, and then one day he came home without it on. He took the tan jacket out of the storage closet and wore it to work. We were all young but we knew enough to ask my mom what happened to the coat. She never did answer us. It wasn’t until I overheard her talking to her sister that I found out what happened. she and my dad came across a guy walking down the street in the snow storm and pulled over to offer him a ride. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, and they took him as far as they could and my dad gave him every cent he had on him and the coat he was wearing.
There were many Christmas’s I can remember things like that. My Dad never talked about them, he never bragged or gave himself credit. He just always did it, and I don’t remember him ever looking for anything in return.
I know my dad is up there looking down on me and seeing how I’m trying to continue in his example. I know he is happy with me.