Sister Missionaries - January 27, 2009

Today was a pretty amazing day. I think I need to give a little background - though. A few months ago, a sign up sheet was passed around in relief society asking us to sign up to give the sister missionaries occasional rides. I signed up because I know in a couple of years I'll have a missionary out serving who will need rides too. Anyways, I drove sister Depew (No. Cal.) and her companion a missionary from New York a couple of times before she was transferred. Sister Depew was then given a "greeney" from (No. Cal too.) her name is Sis. Stacey. My first experience with her was when they needed a ride to Provo for a doctor's appointment. Sis. Stacey had had surgery on her hand while in the MTC and then re injured it with Sis. Depew. It was in the fall because we stopped at a fruit stand in Provo and bought apples. Sis. Stacey saw the PA and gave her some exercises to strengthen her hand. The three of us enjoyed each others company and I felt like we could all be fast friends except that they had an important work to do. I knew I'd see them around when they needed rides.

If you know much about me, you know I am pretty busy. Work on Wednesdays, Tend Al's kids on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Friday are treatments. Well the cool thing is that every time the sister missionaries call for a ride, I am free. Really, like nothing going on. It is amazing. So, Ashton and I drive them to zone meetings during snow storms, or investigator appointments, and have picked them up from dinner appointments. Yesterday, Sis. Stacey called and needed a ride downtown for a doctor's appointment. The sisters recently moved outside of our stake boundaries and can't drive out of their area. Again, today I had nothing going on in the morning and just needed to be back in time to tend Al's kids in the afternoon. Ashton and I picked Sis. Depew and Sis. Stacey up and headed downtown. We caught up and heard about their move, heard about their holidays, and learned about Sis. Stacey's upcoming hand surgery. I dropped them off and then went DI shopping for a scout shirt. I hit two DI's and had no success. Ash and I met Travis for lunch and then we picked up the sisters from their appointment and took them to lunch at Albertos. This is where it got really interesting.

I'm driving home with the sisters and Ash in my car and I started to have a hot flash. I start unbuttoning my coat with one hand and steering with the other. I then am dialing all the controls on the dash and basically turning the air conditioner on to cool me off. This is so annoying! I then decided I better explain myself to these sisters. I told them I was having a hot flash and they said "really? aren't you kind of young for that ?" I then told them my whole story, the "readers digest" version. They asked about my recent surgery and how was I able to still take them places. I said that I always felt well enough to go. I also told them that I liked that they didn't know anything about me or my health. I was just a "normal" mom, trying to balance everything. I told them about how great it was to look normal while "battling" a scary disease. I kept glancing back while I was talking and both of them said at the same time, my mom has breast cancer too. What? How bizarre is that? Sis. Stacey told me about her mom first. Her mother had breast cancer a few years ago. Her doctor's recently have discovered something during a physical that wasn't right and have sent her in for a PET scan later this week. Her mom suffered a stroke a few years ago and has been in poor health ever since. Sis. Stacey explained her worries and I think it seemed good for her to see me look okay. Sis. Depew then explained her mom's breast cancer next. She has had several lumpectomies and radiation. She is doing well now. The feeling in my car was hope and love. I love those sisters. I dropped the sisters off at their new home and told them I loved them and can't wait for them to need a ride again.

I couldn't help but be reminded how we are all part of His Great Plan. We are all connected and we all have important roles to play in each others lives. There is nothing left to chance. I have been one of their many drivers for months, but never felt like I wanted to share this part of my life with them until today, and it was the day that sister Stacey needed me to share that you can still be a "survivor" and have a full life with breast cancer. Sis. Stacey text'd me tonight to tell me she loved me and that she was so glad to see that you can have a great life with cancer. Yes you can!