A Dreary Winter Day

Are You Keeping Well?

December 17, 2017

     We have been here long enough that I am becoming familiar and bonding with some of the patrons who come in the temple to do their work. I have especially admired Sister O'Callaghan-Evans. She has beautiful white hair and a gentle manner about her. Each act performed for her is always met with a gracious "Thank-You" and tears in her eyes.
I met up again with her and we had a minute. She said in her beautiful lilting voice, "Sister, are you keeping well?" This tender question had a thousand meanings in my head. Are you adjusting to being away from Home? Are you loving your time in the temple? Are you keeping well? Such a simple question asked so gently.
   As we finished the work for a deceased sister born in 1683, Sister O'Callaghan-Evans thanked me and then said, "Don't you wonder what her life would have been like? It must have been hard. And now, today, we are opening doors for her. Isn't the gospel wonderful? It goes forward and backward and we can all be blessed by it." I tell you this little incident because I want to be like this dear English sister.
   I met Sister Dregg from the Limerick Ireland branch this week. She was just  baptized in August. She flew in with her son to do three baptisms. Her son was just there to watch. He did not want to do baptisms. As we had a little time before the session began, I showed her around the font and the nursery, which is close by the baptistery. She opened up and told me she has a huge fear of water. The only other time she has been under water was when she was baptized. I don't think I understood this until she went into the font with her son, who ended up doing the baptizing for her. She stood a long while in the water, then nodded to her son. The  baptism for her mother took place. She rose out of the water visibly shaking and gasping. She stood another long while collecting herself to do it again for her grandmother. The process was completed again for her great grandmother. I believe there was a sigh of relief from all us as she got to walk up out of the font. After it was all over and she was dressed I asked her how she felt. She said she came to do what she had to do and she was proud of herself. She felt like it was a huge accomplishment. I was so happy for her.
     These are just two highlights of my week. Aren't they simple? They may seem that we are leading a small life. We are, in some ways. Our biggest worry is to keep our load of white clothes washed. Isn't that something? Riding home from church today, Sister Walters, stated, "It's a dreary winter day." I couldn't agree more but, really, was surprised that a true blue English woman felt it too. I am so thankful the weather has not been an issue with me. I expected dreary. And my expectations are being met. Our job is to get up and walk a few yards to the temple - rain or shine. And to keep our selves well.
     My final thoughts are of our Mauriah. Our oldest daughter will be 42 tomorrow. She was born wise. Sometimes I wondered who was the mother, her or I. I miss her this week. I pray she is keeping well.

My Love,
Sister Seaman.....aka Grams and Mom

Proper English Words:
*torch - flashlight
*We had a good Crack........I got to work in the cafeteria this week. Oh, I love those ladies. Rosa, the boss, told me to come back again soon because we had a good crack. (Irish for laugh. Yes, I know, its not English)
*nip in - sneak in is what I do when I am late for prayer meeting
*half past - 1:30, 2:30. 3:30, etc.....(The meeting, talk, etc....will begin at half past.)

  Our Neighbor, Bobo

     Today, Kim and I have had a good laugh about the signature on a Christmas Card that we received under our door this morning.  It was in a plain white envelope, addressed to Brother and Sister Seaman, Flat # 14.  As Kim opened it, the contents were revealed.  There was a plain white piece of paper with the big words "Merry Christmas" printed on it by a laser printer in red ink.  The other content was a crocheted white snowflake.  It was very sweet.  I ask Kim who it was from, and she looked at the card, she couldn't read it properly as she didn't have her glasses on, and said Bobo Peggy.  It actually said Bob and Peggy.  But the thought of this old temple worker being called Bobo was just too much.  I think we really needed a good laugh.  Just for the record, this couple have been just great, especially to us.
     It was one of those experiences that makes you giggle in bed and wake your wife up.  Anyway, it was a good time.  I pray that neither of us ever slip up though and call him Bobo to his face.
     We both spoke in our ward today, the Heathers Heath Ward, in Wivelsfield.  Kim did a great job as always and I thought I did OK, even if I have to say so myself.  We both spoke on "gifts," our assigned topic.  As part of my talk, I told the story of the "The Stone Cutter."  It is the story of John Moyle, a stone cutter, that emigrated to Utah after joining the church in 1851.  He lived in Plymouth, England, a place not too far from here.  If you have not seen the video or read the story, please do it and show it to your families for FHE.  It is on LDS.org.  You will never feel the same about making a commitment or a covenant. What an inspiration.
     Well that's all for now.  Got to go to bed.  Good night Bobo.

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman