Milk, Meat and Miracles

I had the list Rachel had given me out on my purse. I always situate things just right when I'm at Costco. Purse in the child seat, phone to Pandora, one earbud in and the list sits on top. Bam, we're ready to make magic happen.
I was looking over the list at what I needed to buy and mapping out the store in my head so I'd know how to stage my attack. The last few times I had started with bread in the back right corner, thinking I'd make a big "U" shape and end at the registers. Genius, I know. This time, however, I remembered that the Milk gets rather sweaty by the time I've carried it from the back to the front of the store, so I thought I'd try and come up with a different approach. On the list, Rachel had added that I buy some beef for the dinners she'd be making that night. Now, Meat is right next to the Dairy, so I decided I wanted to get those things last.
Just as I made that decision, a funny little phrase popped into my mind: "Milk before Meat". I laughed, but then my thoughts kept rolling. I'd say this little phrase all the time as a missionary, because we'd often get asked deep doctrinal questions by non-members right off the bat. Most of those people understood that just like a child, we must drink milk before we eat meat. (As a side-note, I'd also use the example of learning multiplication before trigonometry. Aren't I clever?) Any thoughts about the mission get me excited and the spirit worked on my thoughts as I started shopping. I think it helped that I listened to my Mindy Gledhill Station on Pandora (Shout out! She's my fave!).
I started to think about how both the Milk and the Meat needed to be cooled or else they'd spoil. I again, related this to sweet gospel truths. Even though the Milk is the basics, it is just as fragile and requires just as much care as the Meat. We must know such simple things as "I am a Child of God" before we can know how we will one day become like Him. We must cherish and nurture those fundamentals, if we really want to grasp the deeper and more profound truths. These thoughts left me feeling quite wonderful as I sauntered through Costco. I started looking at people just a bit differently, having a bit more patience, and smiling more. It's amazing how the spirit makes us so much better than we are.
In the midst of this calm, I heard my music stop and my phone rang. It was Travis. I answered it. Everything else after this is a blur.
He asked if I had his keys, told me to leave Costco and meet him at his car. Or was the oil in his car? Consecrated oil? Why did he need it? Then I heard him cry as he said, "Kaleb fell...he's being life-flighted right now...". We hung up and my heart sank. The first thought in my mind was, "not Kaleb, Father."
I ran...hard...I basically shouted at the register attendant and told him what I knew and that I needed to leave my cart there. He asked if I wanted it put in one of the freezers. I had already grabbed the Milk; "Yes!" I still felt like I was shouting, but it was all I could do. I thanked him and took off in another run. At the front of the store, I was hazy as to what was needed of me. Should I drive home to the house and bring Travis the oil? Should I wait? Should I call him? I jumped in the car and started it. If anything, I could meet them halfway or something. I called him, no answer. I called again...he was there at Costco. We found each other in our cars, but when I looked at the keys, there was no oil and so he and Rachel left.
So there I was...in the parking lot...in a running car....at Costco...with a cart nearly full inside the store...and my poor heart breaking (and hurting from the running) with no idea what was going on.
Now, many of you know, I am no stranger to chaos and loss. Many times I've had to react to emergencies and deal with the pain of injury or death, but just like each time before, this time was unique.
My thoughts turned to Kaleb. Just so you all know, Kaleb is a spot of sunshine. I think he is everyone's favorite. He has piercing blue eyes and smile that could just melt anyone, even a hardened criminal, instantly. I have the honor of watching him once a week when his mom teaches a class and we have a blast! I also watched him for a week when Ed and I watched the four youngest kids about a month ago. Kaleb is just an angel. He seriously makes me so happy, no matter what is happening in my life.
Just that very morning before I left for Costco, Kaleb had ran from his dad's office with a huge grin, right into my arms. I had gotten him some crackers from the pantry. All was well. Now, as I sat in Travis' Range Rover in the parking lot, I had no idea if I'd ever see Kaleb again...or if I did see him, if he'd remember me, or be able to run.
Overwhelmed, and having done all that I needed to in the heat of the moment, I broke down. I finally got enough of a hold on myself to call Ed. I asked if he'd pray with me, and he did. He said that I could call as needed, since he knows how much I adore Kaleb. After much prayer, my pleas finally changed from anything miraculous happening, to "Thy will be done", which I must say brought a lot more peace.
Eventually, I made my way back into Costco. I was shaking for quite a while, but I was able to finish and pay and focus on that.
The rest of the day left me in question. I only got one real update in the afternoon from Travis. Kaleb hadn't broken his neck and he was in a CT Scan. I wasn't sure if I should stay or go that night, but I needed to deposit checks for Travis, so I left around 4pm.
That night, at about 8:30, I texted Travis and found out that a miracle HAD in fact, happened. Kaleb had woken up, moved around, ate a popsicle and was even singing! As I texted, Travis said that Kaleb was running right in front of him. We gushed about the goodness of God and I made sure to say a prayer of gratitude.
For me, this was truly a miracle. I found out later that Kaleb had fallen approximately 15 feet from the jungle gym in the backyard. He had landed right on his head and then he didn't move, cry, or anything. It was only after the priesthood blessing he was given, that he began to move. Naysayers might chime in about how kids are more pliable  which I'm sure was a factor. Or how the ground was fairly wet, and helped to break the fall, which is true. But I believe in miracles.
I watched Kaleb the next morning and there is not one scratch on his body, nor a bump on his head. Miracle.
This is not the end of the miracles though...that next day when Kaleb was down for his nap, a bunch of his cousins and kids gathered in the living room. I'd imagine there were boys from 8-14 in there and few girls too. They asked if Kaleb was ok, to which one of his brothers answered yes. Then the stories began of how some kids saw the helicopter from their classrooms and others heard it was a kid from Ivy Gate getting taken to the hospital. When Kaleb's brother admitted to crying, the other boys each said that they also cried when they heard it was Kaleb. There was no shame in this. They shared how they prayed individually and with their families. They also testified, in their own way, that what happened was truly a miracle. To me, a bunch of young people, sitting around, talking about how God hears their prayers and miracles still happen...well, that's miracle enough right there.