You've Got A Friend

So I haven't posted for awhile because I've been waiting until I download some pictures, which I still have yet to do! Something happened this morning which I wanted to post about before it gets lost in the whirling dervish of caring for three small children on a daily basis.

I got a phone call from a Alysia, a woman I really admire and love dearly, this morning. The problem is, I never talk to her! She was one of my Young Women's (church for you non-Mormon folk out there...and Josh cause you probably forgot) leaders when I was a dumb teenager. Yes, I was very dumb. Now that I am adult, I have a ton of respect for good youth leaders. It's hard to tolerate and love the youth through their drama and silliness! I felt like she always loved and genuinely cared about me... that I mattered to her. I last saw her about three years ago at Kelly Raddon's (another lifelongfriendInevertalktobutlovetodeath's) wedding reception. Had a great time visiting at the reception, Alysia promised to come visit, like we all do when we see people we love and want to spend time with but life gets in the way.

So fast forward to today and the phone call. She tells me that she had a dream about me last night and wasn't even awake yet, but needed to call me before everything got too busy with the day. She asked me if I needed her to come and watch my kids. She was dead serious. Huh? Now I thought I might be dreaming! She went on to say that she dreamt that I needed her to come watch my kids so I could fly out to Utah and see the Raddon family(See reference to Kelly above.)

Gary Raddon, Kelly's dad, has just been diagnosed with Prions, a rare neurological disease which has a very bad prognosis. He has thousands of prayers behind him and we are all hoping for a miracle. (See http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/garyraddon) Anyone that knows the Raddon family loves them, and I am no different. They aren't like family to me, they are family to me. Again, at this stage in my life, not people that I speak to often, but that connection is still there.

Back to Alysia. At first I laughed and said, "Oh-thanks but we're going out there in July so we'll see them then." We managed to talk for another few seconds before two of my three lovely children started crying and I couldn't hear a thing. I hung up and then I started to tear up. What a tremendous gesture on her part. I have no doubt in my mind that if I had told her, yes, please come- she would have come. After all this time, after all these years, I still matter to her. These connections we have, invisible as they may be to us sometimes, are there. They are real. I needed that reminder today. Thanks, Alysia for being a great leader of my youth. Thanks for loving me still.

And Kellygirl, love and prayers to you and your family, as always.