Since moving here we have really enjoyed living in the "home base" of a mission. The mission president and his wife have been in our ward, starting with President and Sister Brent Top when we first moved here, and most recently President and Sister Lynn Erickson. It's been an enjoyable experience. Starting July 1, our portion of the Illinois Peoria Mission will be part of the Iowa Des Moines Mission (another portion becomes part of the St. Louis Missouri Mission). President and Sister Erickson came by our house to say goodbye to one of their best buddies from Peoria, Eliza.
Let me tell you how this friendship came to be. One Sunday shortly after Rick was called as Bishop, we (myself and the 5 children)were sitting next to President and Sister Erickson. I assumed this was just coincidence, but have learned since that it was intentional on his part (more later). Eliza was on my right, and Pres. Erickson was on her right. She was being particularly difficult for me to handle, and I was reaching exasperation. Then, a note was thrust in front of her, from Pres. Erickson. He and Eliza began having a conversation via notes during Sacrament meeting. I was relieved, as it completely absorbed Eliza and she no longer felt the need to complain or act up. Eliza still has those notes tucked away in her memory box, and every Sunday since then that the Ericksons have attended our ward (which is not that often, they travel the mission quite a bit), Eliza has requested to sit with them. I have always let her, and the notes have continued. She has all of them saved in her box. He and his wife came to her baptism as well. When they stopped by tonight to say farewell to Eliza, and our family, I asked Pres. Erickson if he remembered how the friendship had begun, and told him how much it had meant to me that he had helped me out. He told me that he has been in leadership positions in the Church for a long time, and he has always said that when he had the chance, he would seek out the wife of a leader with small children and help her out. I was touched by his determination and dedication to follow through with that idea. It truly was a blessing for me that Sunday, and has continued to be a blessing for Eliza. She has felt so special and really cherishes the friendship she has made. Thank you, President Erickson.
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