The Sunday that Tom was sustained as the new Bishop of the 17th Ward, our two little girls looked up at me and Tom with big eyes and dropped jaws. (We didn't tell them the secret.) Then the Stake President asked the new Bishops to come up and bear their testimony in our Stake Conference. Emma turned to me and said, "Mom this isn't good! Dad isn't going to be able to stay awake during church. I won't be able to sit on his lap and keep him awake!" I just smiled at her and chuckled inside, knowing that this is going to be a difficult thing for him, but he will get through it. I imagine that there will be days when the Bishopric will have to work together to keep each other alert as well. =) After we arrived home from our Stake Conference, Emma spent the next hour crying. She was so sad that her daddy would no longer be her Primary teacher. She just barely got him as her teacher at the beginning of the year and now, she wouldn't have him anymore. Tom tried his hardest to help her feel okay about this new change and it was melting his heart. We even brought in a whole box of kleenexes for her. (She must be related to me.)
After listening to her sob (she was sobbing hard) I went in there and told her, "Emma honey, you are looking at this all wrong! Daddy is still going to be able to visit you in Primary and he will be able to talk to the whole Primary too." Then I talked to her about daddy's new calling. I asked her if she had received a call from the Prophet to go on a mission, would she go? If the Stake President asked her to give a talk, would she do it? If Heavenly Father wanted her to go and do something, would she do it? Of course she would go if Heavenly Father or the Prophet or the Stake President asked her to do something. "Well then," I said. "Heavenly Father called Dad to be the Bishop of our ward and Daddy said yes." This just about put an end to the tears.
Sunday morning, Tom got ready to head off to the church and he gave me a hug and kiss goodbye and headed to the door. I looked at Emma as she was eating breakfast and she had very watery eyes. So I called Tom back and asked him to give the girls a hug before he left. Emma cheered up a little and Gracie smiled and said, "Goodbye Bishop! I'll see you later Bishop!" You see, Gracie is very excited about going to her daddy's office at the church so she can get a piece of candy. She's excited to wave and wink at her dad while he is on the stand during Sacrament Meeting. She loves calling him "Bishop!" She calls him Bishop all the time! Things will get better- they always do.
Last Wednesday, we visited with Dr Hickman- the hip specialist. His advice to Elder Bryce was to "push through the next four weeks and then give me a call." So, we went home more puzzled and filled with more questions about what is going on. He does have what is called- Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) and he does have hyper-mobility in his joints and he does have a torn labrum. Dr Hickman also told Bryce "I don't think that this is what is causing this much pain, but it is something that can keep you home from your mission." Hip Impingement or FAI has to do with the development of the hip joints during the growing stages of childhood. His MRI last Saturday also showed another abnormality or developmental defect in his spine. However, he has had this his whole life- so what is really causing this much pain? The doctors feel that there is something else going on, but their not sure what it is. We are still searching, fasting and praying and waiting.
Monday for Family Home Evening, Bryce gave the lesson. He played a Mormon Message by Elder Wirthlin titled "Come What May and Love It". Here is the link to the short video ; http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101413011001 After the video played, Bryce bore his testimony. He cried and then I cried and Matt teared up and we all felt the Spirit. I watch Bryce every day- push through the pain as he shuffles around the house getting little things done. I watch him smile and laugh with his brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors as if he has no worries. More than anything, he would love to get back up and get to work. He would love to finish serving his mission in El Salvador. He grew to love the people there and those he served with. He knows that Heavenly Father has a plan for him and whatever the plan is, he will "Love It". We are doing everything we can to get him well.
I am grateful for lds.org that is filled with great talks, videos and inspiration. I am grateful for a wonderful family who is strong and able to serve when called to do so. I am also grateful for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost that comfort us. We are grateful for your prayers and thoughts and for your visits. We are so blessed and we love you all!
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