My Ladies

If you ever talk to me person to person or ear to ear, then you will hear me say "my ladies". That's the group I belong to on the Internet . . . It's not really called "my ladies" but that's what I call it. I don't really want to give out the name of the group, because I can go there and it's MY special place . . . . I can say what I want to, and they all smile and pat me on the head like the sweet wonderful handicapped child, that (I'm sure) many of them think I am!

Though I haven't met many face to face, I talk to many on the phone, and the internet for me and my ladies is an everyday thing. I ask them about everything . . . from what toilet paper they use, to how to find a church. They answer me with love, patience and compassion.

And those poor ladies had to put up with me when Thomas died . . . (We haven't had a Thomas picture in a few days) I can't tell you how many cards and letters, emails and phone calls I got. They are amazing! It was like I was the poster child for hysteria, and they were the "Cognac" that calmed me down.

Lately, I have been thinking about "Church" about finding a church and trying to figure out how to go about doing it. Of course I go to "my ladies" for this.

Many posted to the main board what they thought~ pray about it, go to churches in the neighborhood and try to find one that meets my needs, they had a lot of suggestions (But its early and I've already been crying so my brain isn't working like it should~ So I can't really come up with the other things they have said.)

This morning I opened up my account where "my ladies" hang out, and I had a private message. Here it is ~

Cheri,

I hope you don't mind my sending you a private message.

I firmly believe that if you pray for the Lord to help you find where He wants you to be, He will.

You know that Thomas joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the Mormon church. You also know that my son and Thomas became very good friends through church. I am so glad they were friends. I believe they still are.

One of the things that our church believes is that relationships are eternal, both family and friends. The spirit lives on, and so do the relationships that we build here on earth. Thomas found a great deal of comfort and happiness and friends in the Mormon church.

In general, members of our church are a happy people. We believe that God wants His children to be happy. One of the ways we find happiness is in service. We serve each other, and we serve our community.

We also are usually among the first to give help when disaster strikes, whether here on American soil, or in foreign lands.

When my husband and I moved out here to Virginia, we had no family here. We knew no one. However, our church quickly became our family. During the 30 years we've lived here in Virginia, we've been in four different congregations, which we call wards. They have all been like family to us. We attend church based on the area where we live, not who gives the best sermons. We also don’t have a paid clergy.

If you attend one of our church services, you will probably find it very different from other churches. There are usually three or four uplifting talks given during the service rather than one sermon, given by individuals from the congregation. Both men and women speak during the service, and both men and women can give the prayers. We teach from the Bible, but we also teach from the Book of Mormon and the words of our modern prophets and apostles.

Music is a part of our worship, too. Our meetings center around the Lord Jesus Christ, what He taught, and how we can follow His example.

Individuals are very important, as well as families. Each family and single person is assigned a “home teacher” who is supposed to check on them each month to make sure everything is all right. If someone is out of work, the church has employment specialists to help them find a job. Food and other commodities are provided to those who are in need. In addition, each of the women have a “visiting teacher” to make sure that our special needs are met. We have our own women’s organization, called Relief Society, to give relief and comfort whenever and wherever it’s needed. Our efforts are not limited to members of our faith.

My husband and I are hoping to eventually move closer to our married children. When we do finally leave here, I will find it hard to leave behind my many dear friends from church who are truly like my own family. However, I also know that wherever we go, we won’t have to go searching for a church we like. The personality of each ward is different, but as long as we’re trying to follow our Savior Jesus Christ, it will feel like coming home to me.

If any of this sounds like what you’re searching for, there are missionaries in your area who can teach you more. You can also go to www.mormon.org which is especially for people who want to find out more about our church but aren’t ready to actually have missionaries come teach them.

If you aren’t interested, though, I won’t be upset. My faith has brought me a great deal of happiness, peace, and comfort. And I thought you might like to know a little more of the church that Thomas joined. This is simply an invitation to learn more to see if it’s what you are looking for, but please don’t feel pressured if you aren’t interested.

Whatever you decide, whichever church you feel is right for you, no matter what it is, I hope that you find the peace, joy, and fulfillment that you desire.

Sincerely,Louise

(Her letter made me cry. Pretty much any time someone brings up Thomas I cry (Therefore, the morning tears. ) Sweet Louise is the poor lady who had to tell me Thomas died too.

I try not to cry whenever someone brings up Thomas . . . but I miss him so.

Just to tell you what a goober I am, I listened to my phone messages the other day just to hear Thomas' voice. He said "I'll be at Walter Reed on Tuesday." Well Damnit Thomas Don't be at Walter Reed on Tuesday, be here!!! I'm waiting. But that's beside the point. (Tim says he thinks I'm trying to hard to be with Thomas, that's why he isn't here. I think that with as hard as this has been on me, I did EVERYTHING I needed for Thomas, but his bio family didn't, and he is having to be there with them right now, because they are struggling (Even more than I am, because they were horrible to him) . . . That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

The Mormon people I know, are beautiful and wonderful, loving and caring . . . I will call one of them today and ask for a book. (Just to make Thomas and Louise happy) Do you remember all the cookies we had at Thomas' memorial service? That was due to the Mormon Church ladies. I think if I had told them I wanted a meal at the service they would have rallied for that too. The Mormon church also provided the programs and the chairs. I was so blessed with them helping! I can't thank them enough!

I don't know that the "theology" works for me, but I love how sweet and loving every one is! So we will see . . . we will see what pops into my head and my heart . . . I hope some where in my quest for a "church" that I find a spiritual family . . .

this is the song playing in my head today. Its called Time, by Hootie and the Blow fish. (As I haven't figured out how to put a play list on my blog (Gennae can you help me- I mean- Do this for me! ) Here are the words to the song . . . I took out some of the ones I didn't need . . . So here is part of the song. (Again, it's my Blog, and I get to do what I want! I love that!)

Time

Time, why you punish me?

Like a wave bashing into the shore

You wash away my dreams.

Time, why you walk away?

Like a friend with somewhere to go

You left me crying

Can you teach me about tommorrow

And all the pain and sorrow

Running free?

Cause tomorrow's just another day

And I don't believe in time Time,

Can you teach me about tomorrow

All the pain and sorrow Running free?

But tomorrow's just another day

And I don't believe in...

[chorus:]

Time is wasting

Time is walking

You ain't no friend of mine

I don't know where i'm goin'

I think I'm out of my mind

Thinking about time

And if I die tomorrow, yeah

Just lay me down in sleep

[chorus]

Time, you left me standing there

Like a tree growing all alone

The wind just stripped me bare,

stripped me bare

Time, the past has come and gone

The future's far away

Now only lasts for one second, one second

Can you teach me about tomorrow

And all the pain and sorrow

Running free?

'Cause tomorrow's just another day

And I don't believe in time

[chorus]

Time, why you punish me?

It's a great song, so if you get an opportunity to listen to it, I think you will enjoy it.