A Thank You Story

Once upon a time there was a girl who lived far, far away from the place she grew up and the people she grew up with. She was a student at BYU, and loved it there and enjoyed her studies, but really, REALLY missed that place and those people. Sometimes when she was walking home from school on cold dark nights, she'd daydream about getting to her apartment, opening the door, and her house being filled with her family! While she knew it was just a dream, it was a fun one that she liked very much.

The girl finished school, married a handsome boy, and bought a cute little house and filled it with cute little kids. She was still very far away from her home, but she understood that it would always be that way. And so, although she missed the place and especially the people very much, she chose to close the door on the daydreams she'd loved while she was in college, and those of ever moving back, or seeing any of those people from that place more than once or twice a year. It just wasn't a fun daydream anymore. It was more of a sad one. The girl was happy. She was surrounded with people that loved her, and that she loved. And she did get to talk to at least one person from her old home almost every day.

The girl's life got very full and busy. She struggled daily to meet the demands placed upon her with a cheerful heart, but tried hard anyway. Christmas time came. She planned and prepared, but felt a little empty inside. She prayed every day to feel close to her Heavenly Father, and to be able to see his hand and recognize his tender mercies in her daily life. Sometimes she felt like maybe those people from her home long ago didn't remember her anymore. She missed them. She felt a little lost, but trusted in Heavenly Father and had faith that He really was there and that He really had a plan for her.

The first week of December was very busy. Her days were full of running here and there, and also preparing her home for company. A special day was coming up. Her oldest boy was being baptized! She was so excited to have that special day with him, her handsome husband, and her other cute kids. Family and friends were going to gather together and attend and celebrate the special day with them too.

The day before the baptism, she sent a message to all her family far away. It was a picture of an invitation to the boy's baptism. She knew they wouldn't be able to come, but was excited to rejoice together in their special day anyway. They were all excited together. Something strange happened that day. Her old daydream, the one from long ago, came back to her mind unbidden. She called her mom a couple times that morning without an answer, and was suddenly picturing her on a plane flying through the air to come to the special day. Later she went to the grocery store with her two little ones. While browsing in the cheese section, she realized there was someone getting in her personal space right behind her. She couldn't see him, but heard him start to whistle. She whirled around quickly because it sounded just like her dad! She'd thought for just a minute that maybe it was him! Well it was not. And she felt like she must need more sleep or something because she was going a little bit crazy.

That same night, she went with her handsome husband to a party with people from his work. She and him had really had a taxing week, he said while they were out. He thought it would be a good idea to relax and stay up late and watch a movie that night. It would be okay to be a little tired when company came the next day, because they'd be together and could help each other. So they went home, put on their jammies, crawled in bed, and started watching.

Half way through the movie there was a knock at the door. It was very, very late. The girl thought maybe there had been a car accident by their house, or maybe it was a bad guy. So the boy went downstairs to check it out. Surprise! It was the girl's sister and her handsome friend! They'd decided to come to the special day one day early! The girl and her handsome husband welcomed them and waited inside while the visitors went to the car to grab their bags.

And so the girl went into for real shock, she thought. Her teeth were chattering and everything! Her brothers and sisters, the ones from that far away place long ago that she was missing very much, had done this special thing for the girl because they loved her. And she knew it. And she saw that it was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father, because stars aligned left and right the whole weekend.

And so to all those people who moved heaven and earth and were sneaky (and let's face it, everyone knew! Both sides of the family and even people from work!), I say thank you. It was a wildest, wildest dream come true that I will remember forever.