Like I said, we get to our hotel room Thursday around dinner time. We were so exhausted, and as I mentioned in the last post, the altitude had done mean things to my feet, so I HAD to lay down. We decided we'd just nap for a couple of hours and then go to dinner. Who were we kidding? Neither of us had the strength. We found ourselves setting goals like, "We'll get up for the last half hour of dinner in the concierge lounge." That didn't happen. Then, "We'll just go down and eat in the restaurant about 8." Neither of us moved. Then, "They serve dessert in the concierge lounge until 10...we'll go up at 9:30." Nothing.
So, we slept until about 3:30...and we were both wide awake and starving. Finally, at 4:30, we got up, showered, and were waiting at the lounge when they opened for breakfast. Because of our escorting responsibilities this year (which I'll go into later) we didn't have as much free time as usual...and that's usually very little, anyway. Sine we wouldn't be able to do our usual Sunday dinner at my dad's (we wouldn't really get to spend any time with them until the following weekend) we decided to see if he and Garrie were available for lunch. Lucky for us, they were. They aligned their lunch breaks so they could both meet us at Applebee's, and we had a very nice time. It was so great to see them and laugh with them.
All too soon, we had to head back to SLC to get ready for the opening banquet of the Chaplain Seminar. Let me tell you, though...it is the most awesome night. We all gush about how it's our favorite, because we know we will be seeing so many people we love, for the only time of the year we get to be with them. My heart just skips a beat when I see lovely faces like these:
Let me tell you, these women are incredible. I love them so much.
There's never enough time to say all we want to. They always end up shooing us off the 26th floor at the end of the evening.
Some of our dearest friends. Oh how I love these people. We will be friends forever. We've been in this together from the beginning. We are raising our kids together, even though across the miles.
It was a very special reunion this night, though, because before this, we didn't know if we'd be seeing Brandon here again. He suffered a brain hemorrhage several months ago, and his chances of survival were so slim. We had braced ourselves for the reality of this, while spending many hours pleading with our Father in Heaven to spare him...trying to have the courage to accept whatever His will, but at the same pleading that it please, please, please be His will that Brandon live. (I know, that's weenie, double-talk...but there you go. A little glimpse into the depth of my faith sometimes.)
While he was in ICU, I woke up every morning and the first thing I did was check Facebook for an update (which Amy was SO wonderful to provide to us almost every day, even while she was in the throws of dealing with all of this and their five children). Some days I was jubilant and hopeful, some days I pleaded, "No! You CAN'T take him...please!" But I knew that sometimes it is His plan that people die. Even when they have a loving spouse who will be devastated, even when they have little kids who need them. I've seen it in my own family. I've given up trying to understand why...but even in my lack of understanding, I know that Heavenly Father loves every one of us and uses all circumstances for our good. Still. I just couldn't believe this was what was supposed to happen. We are so grateful that Brandon has made a miraculous recovery. Grateful beyond words.
So, I'm sure you can understand why, when I saw them, all I could do was hug them and weep. I can scarcely think of them without getting emotional. We are blessed with some fantastic friendships, that is for sure...and it is through the trials which we share...even if only from a distance...that those bonds have grown stronger.
Like I said, they had to chase us out of the banquet room...we could have gone on for hours...
Here we are, ears popping with our rapid 26 floor decent. Felila is telling us to get ready to jump at the bottom (which was a sight to see...a bunch of grownups in uniforms and dresses). I tried to take a pic, but we were just a big blur, darn it.
Tomorrow, General Conference will begin, and in a blink, four days will have passed and we'll be saying our goodbyes once again. It's so unfair. Every year I try to soak in every moment, to see if somehow I can make it last longer by being more conscious . It doesn't work, dang it!
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