A Special Temple Visit

This week we visited the Provo temple in the morning before school started for Camille. She and Scott did baptisms while I did initiatories. When I walked into the temple, the woman at the desk had a nametag that said "Helen Hull." I suddenly remembered that I had a seminary teacher with that last name back when I was in 10th grade. I had a thought to ask her if her husband taught seminary and she said, Yes! I told her that he was my seminary teacher about 40 years ago! (I guess that makes me pretty old!) I asked her if he was still alive--because when he was my teacher he seemed kind of old but that's how it is when you're 15--everyone seems old. She said he was working in the temple that morning! She asked my name and I told her to tell him hello. That was a fun way to start my visit. But it got even better!

After I was done, I met Camille out in the waiting room where Scott had left her when they finished nd he went to work. She told me that after they did baptisms, they went into the confirmation room and saw Dr. Stoddard! Dr. Stoddard was one of Camille's doctors when she was in the Utah Valley NICU for so many months. He retired from working at the NICU about 9 years ago. Scott and I have seen him several times at the Provo temple because he works as a sealer there. He is one of the nicest men in the world and always greets us very warmly like he's so happy to see us. But he hasn't seen Camille since she was very small.

Here is a picture of him with his wife when he was called to be a mission president to Germany in 2014:

So Scott introduced Dr. Stoddard to Camille and told her how Dr. Stoddard gave her a blessing when she was a very tiny baby, critically ill and close to dying. She was 11 days old and her bowel had perforated and her whole body was going toxic--one of the nurses later told me she didn't expect Camille to survive. They had to send her to Primary's to get the surgery she needed and Dr. Stoddard gave her a blessing to survive the transport and get the care she needed. I'm sure he gave many blessings to babies in the NICU.

So back to the present time, Scott told Dr. Stoddard he could do the confirming for Camille instead of Scott so he did. Scott asked him if he often worked in the baptistry and Dr. Stoddard said, no, he rarely worked there. He also said, there are no coincidences, just tender mercies. It was a special moment for Camille to be there with Dr. Stoddard in the temple and to feel a little bit of God's love for her.

I wish I could have gotten a picture of Camille with Dr. Stoddard but you'll just have to imagine it.

Camille then:

Camille now:

Comments

Our Cousin Drew

This last week, my brother and his wife lost a very precious son, just 13 years old. He collapsed while running with a cross-country team and passed away before he could be revived. Everyone that knew Drew is broken-hearted at this loss. He was the happiest, most agreeable kid we knew. I remember him being at my house without anyone close to his age to hang out with, so he found our Duplo blocks and started building even though it is a toy that boys his age don't usually enjoy. He was so content. He didn't complain that I ever remember. His mother always called him the perfect child. He will leave a big hole in not only his immediate family but our extended family as well. Here is a poem my aunt shared that seems fitting: Leave Taking How I would have liked to wave goodbye and watch until you turned and smiled and disappeared on the horizon. You who taught me to dance and let me teach you, who laughed at my stories and winked at me when I was sad. I can just see you trav

Remembering Drew

This weekend we celebrated Drew's life. On Thursday night, we gathered as an extended family and had a dinner then sat in a big circle and talked about our memories of him. I took some notes and here is what people said. Grandpa (Gary Hansen): The last time we saw Drew was last week on the 4th. I remember all the cousins on the trampoline, bouncing up and down and playing basketball. Grandma (Susan Hansen): I asked Drew to come over last winter to teach my Activity Day boys how to make origami stars. He was very patient in working with them even though they were pretty clueless. Eventually they all went home happily with their stars. Paula: This last winter we invited Bruce and Michelle over for dinner and we didn't have anyone his age for him to hang out with. I remember that Drew found the Duplo blocks on his own and played with them all by himself, quite cheerfully entertaining himself. I asked him if he wanted to play with a different toy--maybe something more sophistica

Drew's Funeral

Yesterday was the viewing for Drew and then today was the funeral. There were a LOT of people at the viewing. Bruce and Michelle greeted people for almost four hours yesterday and then again this morning before the funeral. Bruce said that if weren't for Drew's death, it would be the best week of his life with so much love being shown to them. Friday actually began with a family run in Drew's honor. We started at a church by the new Lindon temple and ran to Bruce and Michelle's house with breakfast following. Friday night was the viewing. There was a very nice display of all things Drew. This was one of the pictures displayed and I recognized someone I know: We stood in line and the paramedics who worked on Drew stood in line behind us so we got to talk to them. Here's a fun fact: They cover both Orem and Vineyard but Vineyard gets a lot more 911 calls than Orem per capita. It's a younger population and they are quicker to call. They said it's hard when the

Search This Blog