On a Lighter Note

This evening we were all sitting in Shad's room doing our own thing when one of the hospital chaplains came to visit.

He talked for a few minutes and then asked, "Are you Christians?' and turned to the son-in-law for a response.

The son-in-law slowly replied, "Not ... really", and then went on to say something that I wasn't really listening to.

I was too busy thinking, "Wait, my son-in-law doesn't think we are Christians?  Hadn't he read all the articles on this topic?  Didn't he serve a mission?  Doesn't he listen to General Conference?..."

and then in a matter of seconds I understood what the son-in-law had heard and responded too.

Every doctor's visit, and there are A LOT of them, ends with the question,  "Do you have any questions?"

That is what the son-in-law had heard and "not ,,, really."  He didn't have any questions.

While the chaplain stood, with obvious concern, trying to decipher the son-in-law's response and determine where to go from there, I think I might have burst into laughter.

(I blame it on being cooped up in a hospital all day under a great deal of stress. I have no idea how the oldest daughter and the son-in-law do it so well day in and day out. It felt good to chuckle, so good that I was still laughing about it an hour later much to the son-in-law's consternation.)

We quickly cleared up the misunderstanding, declared that, yes indeed we are Christian, and then appreciated the prayer that the chaplain offered in Shad and his family's behalf.

ALL of the prayers that are being offered, by so many people of so many faiths, are felt and appreciated   by us.  They are what make it possible for us to laugh even in these difficult times

and laughing is good.

Today I am grateful for

laughter.

some of the "best possible news" we could hope for.

the opportunity to be here with Shad and his parents, along with the hubby and the youngest son.

conference talks. So glad that my November Ensign arrived as we were pulling out of the driveway to come to California yesterday.

For an update on Shad and the good news we got today go to the daughter's blog post here.

Breakfast Devotional

While I was eating breakfast this morning and trying to be distracted from thinking about the fact that the last time I ate oatmeal and pears in a polka dot bowl I was sharing it with Shad, I decided to read Emily Freeman's entry on her Daily Closer to Christ blog.

I was glad I did, but it is hard to eat, cry and feel overwhelming love from my Savior all at the same time.

I'm pretty sure this post was written specifically for me and I am grateful.

P.S. I am adding Kaitlyn and her family to my prayer list today and hope you will too.

This morning I am grateful for

moments when I know my Heavenly Father is aware of what I am going through and that He loves me personally.

memories.

light traffic on the 8 so we still got to the hospital before Shad went to surgery, even though I took some extra time eating breakfast.

Did I Think to Pray?

Today we had 3 convert baptisms in our ward. A woman and her two grandsons, age 8 and 9, were baptized. I attended as the primary representative. The two boys were baptized first and then the grandma went into the water. She has some physical disabilities and wears a brace on one leg and has little use of that leg and the arm on that side. She walks with a cane. Both of the elders went into the font with her so they could both help her go under the water. She was very fearful that she was going to fall and after the baptismal prayer had been said she asked the elders to wait and try to figure out another way for her to be submersed. She had brought the chair that she uses in the shower and they decided she could sit on it and get dunked so the chair was lowered into the font but there was a back on the chair so she couldn't lean back and she got too scared when they tried to tip the whole chair. She tried bending forward, but the water wasn't deep enough. While they kept trying all sorts of different ideas and positions to accomplish her baptism I started brainstorming an alternative type chair that could go in the font for her to sit on that didn't have a back. I was thinking and thinking and then the bishop and I started discussing possible items that could be used. I was sitting next to a sister in the ward and when the bishop went to get the step stool from the drinking fountain to use she leaned over to me and said "I'm going to say a prayer." She closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to herself and as soon as she opened her eyes the two witnesses announced "she went all the way under" and the baptism was accomplished. She ended up sitting on the font steps and then having the missionaries help her turn sideways so she could go under.
As I sat listening to the special instrumental music while we waited for everyone to get dressed I began thinking about what had just taken place. Not so much the actual baptisms but the experience of trying to find a solution to the problem that presented itself. I was quick to try to solve the problem using my own knowledge and creativity. It didn't even occur to me to pray for help or inspiration. How easy it is for me to forget where to turn in times of need. I want to "lean on my own understanding". How grateful I am to be reminded in small, simple ways that my Heavenly Father is there waiting to help me if I will only ask Him for His help. Hopefully next time I will think to pray first.

Today I am thankful for

brownies with walnuts.
worthy priesthood holders.
special events that help to unite my family.

Pray For Others

Today the oldest daughter and the son-in-law spoke in their ward and we went to listen to them. Their topic was "Pray Always" and they both did a good job sharing their thoughts and insights. The daughter shared a story about a little boy whose mom encourages him to look for opportunities to pray for others during the day. They go to the library and he sees a baby crying so he silently prays for her to be happy. He sees his neighbor, who has been sick, getting out of her wheelchair and into her car and he silently prays that she will get well. The piano tuner comes to his house and he silently prays that he will be able to do his job well and make their piano sound nice. I don't very often take the opportunity to pray for people outside my usual circle. My prayers seem to focus more on myself and my needs. Recently I was reading a book that talked about taking a prayer walk. Apparently in some churches as people walk around their neighborhoods they pray for the individuals who live in the homes that they pass. At the time I thought this was a rather random idea, but the more I have thought about it the more I think that it isn't all that strange. It would probably be good for me to pray for others, even those I don't know, sometimes. I started thinking what a different person I would be if when I got frustrated with someone's driving ability instead of getting upset and yelling I said a prayer for them to arrive safely at their destination. Or when I didn't agree with the way someone was parenting their child I offered a prayer for help for them in raising their kids. Or when the college kids next door are having a wild party AGAIN that I prayed for them to be kept safe. Or when the referree in the church basketball game makes a call I don't like I offered a prayer of gratitude for their willingness to give service in the church. How would that be if every time I was given an opportunity to be unkind or upset or frustrated I chose to offer a silent prayer instead? How long do you think it would take for that to become my natural response?

Today I am thankful for

cooler temperatures.
an opportunity to hear my daughter share her testimony concerning prayer.
The chance that preparing a talk gives us to evaluate our performance in a specific area of our lives at the moment.
people who share their Kleenex.

Road Block

The oldest son's wedding has hit a road block.
The road block is not really a surprise.
We have been aware that it existed for a while now.
There have been warning signs flashing
along the road as we have moved toward our destination.
Every now and then we have even caught a glimpse of it
off in the distance and wondered
if there would come a time when it
might impede our forward progress.
Road workers were consulted
and they predicted that most likely,
with caution and some help
from an experienced road crew,
it could be navigated around.
That's why most of us were a little taken by surprise
when today we got right next to the road block
and discovered it's actual size.


What had appeared to be rather small and manageable
from a few miles away
now appears quite massive and a little scary.
And the hardest part of all
is that while many of us can stand here
and offer support and suggestions
the heavy duty road block removal
has fallen on the tiny shoulders of the fiancee.
It is her road block to conquer.
At the moment she's not sure if she is up to the task.
The road block appears huge
and she is so small.
She has known for a long time that this road block
was going to have to be approached
and dealt with at some point in her journey
but now that she is face to face with it
she doesn't have a clue how to make a dent
in this gigantic mountain before her.
She is feeling overwhelmed and discouraged.
It seems like it would be easier to just give up.
Perhaps turn around and take a different route,
but now that she has acknowledged the road block
it seems to stop her progess
no matter which direction she turns.
She is stuck.
I hope she can realize
that she doesn't really have to remove
this road block all by herself.
Her loving Savior, Jesus Christ,
is an expert at getting rid of
seemingly insurmountable obstacles
and he is waiting right there
ready and willing to help
as soon as she asks.
We, on the other hand,
are just waiting
and praying.

Temple Trip

Today the oldest son and I
went to the temple.
The missing temple pants
and the forgotten tie
made the trip more of a challenge
but the forgotten tie resulted
in the found temple pants
which was an answer to my prayer.

Why does going to the temple
have to be so difficult sometimes?

This video on You Tube
made me realize that I don't have it
nearly as bad as some people do though.



I am so blessed to have a temple
only 10 minutes away from home
or 30 minutes if you have to take 2 trips.
As always the trip was well worth it.
I love the temple.

Today I am thankful for

A temple close to home.
A son that is worthy to go to the temple with me.
Answers to prayers.