President Bateman and What Do You Say?

Friday is my day to serve in the Provo Temple.  It was the Open House for President Bateman and his wife as they finish their service and President Daines takes over.   During my lunch break, I waited in line to shake their hands and thank the out going Presidency.  I have had some special experiences with the Batemans.  President Bateman was in the temple this past Jan. 7th when we went to do sealings.  He wondered what we were doing at that early hour on a Thursday morning so we told him it was the anniversary of Bryce's death.  After the session, I wrote him a letter to tell him how it went and he has shared our experience of sealing parents to sons from South Africa at many Stake Conferences throughout Utah Valley.  How do I know? I have had people tell me when they hear President Bateman speak.  This past week, Kim had someone at work tell him that President Bateman was at their Stake Conference the past weekend and spoke about a returned missionary from South Africa that was killed in a car accident.   So I told President Bateman about that and his wife asked me if it was alright to continue to tell the story.  I assured her that anything that was about Bryce always made me happy and I loved to know he was telling our story.
That night, McKay had lots of friends over to celebrate his 29th birthday.  We have all the missionary plaques up on our kitchen wall of our children and I look at them often.  Several times his friends would ask about our children and I would tell where they were, who was married, etc.  They would see Bryce's picture and I would talk about his mission, etc.  It was clear to me that none of them knew that Bryce was gone.  It made me reflect on the people that are usually in our home and know our history and we talk about Bryce as much as we do about our other children.  It makes me really happy when there is someone that asks about him or wants to know more.  It makes him real.  It was hard for me to not say anything about the accident and to just pass over where Bryce is or what he is doing.   I am learning though that it is okay and those that need to know will ask.
I am grateful for those that let me talk all I want about him.  They are very patient and kind.  I had no idea that healing would continue to be a part of my life almost two years later and I am grateful for all the mothers that understand and keep pulling me along with them.  I am grateful for my children letting me talk about Bryce and not saying...move on Mom.  I am grateful that Kim listens and understands and feels just like me.  I am grateful for those experiences that come at unexpected times that lets me know God isn't tired of listening to me either.
One last note.   Bryce trained an Elder from Madagascar.  His name was Nambinina RANDRINIRINANIARIVO  .   I still can't say his last name.  He started writing to me every Monday --the same time as I would always get an email from Bryce when he was in South Africa.   He has continued to write now that he is home.   That is pretty tender.