THE ROCK

THE ROCK
April 2018

     I collect rocks. Isn't that silly? I figure they are cheap souveniers of places we have been. It is easy to write on the back of the rock where I found it. Then, I can look at it later and have the memories flow. When we took our first walk on the London Temple grounds on September 16, 2017, I told Mikie that there would be no Rock Picking on this spot. The grounds were perfectly manicured with greenery in every available corner. Nevertheless, for the next seven months, I kept my eyes peeled to the ground. Looking, always looking - just in case.
     On our final full day in England I snuck over to the temple to drop off a Thank You card and little offering to the members of our shift, I went when I knew they would be in prayer meeting. Our last days were hard for us to see people we loved. There were too many tears and repeating of the same old story over and over. As I was leaving the dressing room, I received a phone call from Sister Docherty, a sister we had come to love who worked on our shift. Knowing she had been experiencing quite challenging health issues, I really wanted to talk to her. I returned her call when I got out of the temple. She seemed surprised to hear from me. She didn't think she called me. After a tearful conversation explaining our situation to her and a tender farewell, we hung up.
     A short while later, as we were continuing our packing process at home, the doorbell rang. There was Sister Docherty standing at our door with a small heart-shaped white rock.  She sheepishly explained that she had found this rock on her way to the temple. She thought we may want it as a memento of our time in the London Temple.
    Now, Sister Docherty had no idea I collected rocks. She had no idea that I had been praying for tender mercies from the Lord the last four days when we knew we were being sent home to fight My Mikie's cancer. She had no idea that I had been keeping an eye out for A Rock for seven months. Call it what you want - a sweet story, a coincidence. I call it a tender message from the Lord that He loved Mike and Kim Seaman. He was aware of our sadness, our longings, our feelings of leaving our mission too soon. I give Thanks to Sister Docherty for acting on her prompting to pick that little rock up and make the walk over to Flat #14 in The Lodge. I give Thanks to a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves us. Some day, all will be made known to us. I will hold that little heartshaped rock and remember a sweet time serving in the London England Temple with my companion and dearest friend.

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