I've been around the same geographical area for most my life. I have had friends long enough now to have watched them marry, have children, and now have grandchildren. It astounds me as I think "I was there before this child was even a 'twinkle in the eye' ~ in all the time that has passed what have I done? Whom have I met? Have I settled into a boring rut?" Possibly. Yet, I'm finding that my connections are circling outward from my one, single, stagnate spot here in the NW.

Last week, my young friend, Heather, was flying back from a trip to LA. She was chatting with her seat partner about life, her expected baby, and moving to a different apartment in Beaverton. She mentioned that a friend, who had never married and didn’t have kids, was letting her store extra things in her garage. The seat partner asked, "Would that be Sherry Chew?" Heather was astounded. (So was I when she told me.) They hadn’t talked of being members of the Church. As it turned out, the lady was from my last ward 16 years ago.

A month or two ago, I was helping another pregnant and very sick friend get caught up on her house work. We chatted while I sorted laundry. I was telling her about my upcoming trip to Oman. I’m going to visit the spot where it is believed that Nephi built his boat with his brothers. As I was telling her that I knew the Australian man who was leading the tour, she stopped me and said, “I was college roommates with his daughter. “No!” True. She remembered that her roommate's parents were just discovering this region while she was in school. I met Mr. Down-Under after his divorce. We’ve dated some and have stayed in touch for the last 8 years or so.

One of my Toastmaster buddies has accompanied me to the prison a few times. He’s Jewish and told me that he is married to a Mormon girl. After we chat, I always tell him to say “Hi” to the wife for me as we part. One day he emails me and says that his wife pulled one of my letters from her purse. I’ve been sending her these letters since I’ve begun writing them. She goes by a married name now of course so I had no idea there would have been any possible connection.

I live in one spot, but the connections reach in all directions. Sometimes I think that maybe someday, one of those circles will bring me to meet someone who will fit with me. My little prayers about finding a husband of course, are still circling the cosmos but these recent events help me realize just how many people I know and how my circles over lap. Maybe having an unusual name (and personality??) have helped people remember me too.

Sooooo..... Why all this? I guess it all comes down to: Heavenly Father knows who we (you) are and how you (we) are. I'm not sure how it all works out but we (people in general) are connected for whatever reasons. (On both sides of the heavenly/earthly curtain, if you want to take it that far).

As I've done temple work for people, I have realized that there are many who have never had a chance to marry. They died single for whatever reason. (2 of my brothers, and a Downs Syndrome uncle, for example). Where they are now, they can't communicate to us if they have found companions on the 'other side' to marry. They must wait for the Resurrection simply because there's no other way to get it done.

Can you imagine that? While I am waiting to find someone to marry, others might be waiting to get married after finding each other. This whole earth/eternity life thing seems to take a lot of "waiting on the Lord". It all takes patience.

The Israelites wandering around in a wilderness for 40 years took some patience too. Many of us are doing a lot of wandering until we reach our own personal Promised Land. I try to see it as a time of refinement and improvement AND as an opportunity to do that which I probably wouldn't be able to do if I was married.

I hope I'm a better person than I was 30 years ago. Maybe I’ve gotten selfish in some ways simply because I didn't have the marriage/children sacrifices to make. However, I've hopefully learned other good things instead. Maybe within the next 2 years (That would make 40 years of wandering in the dating desert), something will happen. That would figure. Right after putting big money into a house remodel, I'd face a decision of what to do with it 'cuz the man of my dreams would live in Morocco or somewhere else other than here. (I certainly hope he doesn't live in Utah!) :D

Just some thoughts.
Sherry, not an administering angel just yet.