Yesterday and today at Stake Conference we had the privilege of hearing from Elder Ballard. I think it is a tender mercy that Mom and Dad got to attend this special conference on their second Sunday here, as Elder Ballard and Dad are friends.
After the adult session last night, I wheeled Dad to the front as quickly as I could, but saw in the distance that Elder Ballard was whisked out the door at the front of the chapel. We went outside to see if we could catch a glimpse, but to no avail.
Truly, we should have gotten there earlier and found a suitable place near the front. Since we are new to the whole wheel-chair thing, it didn't occur to me that there would really be no where to sit! We narrowly made it down the outside aisle in the gym, removed a few chairs to make a space for the wheelchair and were pretty far back. Despite our best laid plans (ex: "Mom, how about you lay out Dad's clothes and Lars can help him get dressed? Then I'll run around with my head cut off because I keep forgetting that I need to get ready, too."), we seem to keep making a grand entrance after the meeting starts.
Dad was already shaved, as reported by Mom, but apparently the shave wasn't close enough for Lars who was shaving him again. He really did look great after the closer shave. So, even though we literally live in the church parking lot, we are continually and hurriedly running over to the church several minutes later than planned.
Fast forward to this morning for the main session of conference. I thought I was on top of my game as I completed whole wheat pancakes and spinach omelets and put not one, but TWO roasts in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots. All the while I imagined Lars upstairs finishing his morning preparations and soon helping Mom and Dad down the stair lift and across the street. Perfect, I thought. I was running late, but surely everyone else could head out and save a seat for me, I thought. Crock pot turned on, I skipped up the steps to check on Mom and Dad. Mom was just getting dressed and Dad was...not quite ready. Then I went to my room and learned that Lars hadn't even had his shower yet. Yikes! We were all going to be late again!
After a short melt down and regrouping, everyone was showered and heading out. We missed the prelude music that was done by the youth choir that three of our children were singing in, but we were in time to sit in the Relief Society room, and thankfully, the center aisle was super wide, making it easy to just park Dad next to an aisle seat and have Mom sit next to him. Lars and I sat right behind.
I felt a little weepy as the stress of just getting there was replaced with a sweet spirit of our beautiful chapel, augmented by the spirit accompanying an apostle of the Lord in the next room. It was a wonderful conference.
As the youth sang the closing song, Lars encouraged me to wheel Dad over by the chapel so that he could really hear the choir instead of listening through the sound system as it was broadcasted. I'm glad I did. The sound was much better and it was an amazing thing to see my kids sitting so close to Elder Ballard. After the meeting ended, they each got to shake his hand as they passed by him to get off the stand. Being in the doorway, also put me in a better position to get Dad to Elder Ballard. This time, he was not making a quick exit, but was staying to shake hands. I wheeled Dad around the outside to the front door of the chapel, with Mom right behind. Finally, I knew that I was in Elder Ballard's path should he make a quick exit.
Finally, there was a lull, and I pushed Dad toward President Oldroyd, who shook Dad's hand and stepped back so that Elder Ballard could see him. "Elder Ballard," said President Oldroyd, "this is Howard Ruff." A wave of recognition passed over the apostle's face and he said, "Well, I know Howard! We go way back. Hello old friend." I couldn't hear everything that Dad said to him, but the next thing Elder Ballard said that I heard was, "Howard, you and I are old warriors." I was then able to shake his hand and thanked him for helping my dad when he needed help. Elder Ballard was so gracious and it was a wonderful experience. On the way home I asked Dad what he thought. His lip quivered and he didn't speak for a moment. Then he said, "He remembered me." What a blessing that all 8 of us got to shake Elder Ballard's hand. What a precious memory.
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