RESCUE
Lord's Hand on Tues. 25th: - a neighbor in Sun River, who I barely know, came immediately to my rescue when my battery was completely dead and my car wouldn't start. Vicki and I were all packed and ready to leave to go to Cedar - and - oh no, one of my worst fears. (I must have drained the battery charging my phone the night before - I wouldn't recommend that if you happen to leave your charger at home) Anyway, he was there in a flash, charged the battery, gave me his cell number in case it wouldn't start when we did a little shopping in town and we were on our way. Luckily car ran just fine from then on.
KATE!
May 22nd ... Kate's 18th birthday - she has been a blessing in my life!
K - KIND
A - AMBITIOUS
T - TALENTED
E - ENERGETIC
Katie - as I call her - often comes to my house for lunch during her school day. I love it when she comes! It's the highlight of my day. Katie asks to borrow my clothes sometimes - (what teen would want to wear her grandmother's clothes?! How flattering is that for me? I wonder - maybe she is just trying to make me feel like I have cool clothes!)
Katie comes to my house to just hang out - sometimes she runs on the treadmill, sometimes we just talk, sometimes she just watches TV, sometimes (well, most of the time) she rummages through my fridge and cupboards for something good to eat - (which doesn't necessarily mean "good for you" food). Katie likes to sit by me in church, sometimes we write notes during church. Katie comes to my house to watch "The Bachelor" or "Bachelorette" every Monday for as long as the show airs. It's an opportunity for some "teaching moments".
The Lord's hand was in my life when He placed Katie in it.
The LAST FEW WEEKS continued
Since I can't figure out how to make this all flow in one post without the pictures getting all screwy I am going to have to do it in bits and pieces - so this post is supposed to be after the one below. I need to get the expert bloggers to teach me how to do this. By the way, many of the pictures I post are taken (stolen) from Lori's blog.
Ok - back to the past few weeks.
May 16th - My mother passed away 2 years ago today. We - Vicki, Dianne and I - had been with her the weekend before for Mother's day. We brought her home and pampered her. Fixed her hair, rubbed her legs and feet, loved and nurtured her. Those were sweet final moments with her. She died the following Friday.
May 20th - the Lord sustaining me through a very long and difficult day!
May 21st - My sister who listened to my woes and stories for 3 hours driving to Cedar - and actually seemed interested!
Cedar Home - my refuge from the storm
THE LAST FEW WEEKS
I need to backtrack the past few weeks and tell how I've seen the Lord's hand in my life, starting with Mother's Day and my birthday/
May 9th: Mother's Day and My Birthday:
Erick surprised me by coming to church - a great mother's day gift! The Lord's Hand?! You bet!
The Lord's Hand: - My 4 amazing children and my 10 amazing grandchildren. How blessed and lucky I am!
My own mother. I think of her almost daily and especially on this mother's day. She was a great influence in my life. Mother's Day, 2007
MY LITTLE GARDNER
And this little gardener rounded out a great day by beautifying the outside, after her mom beautified the inside!
WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN A SPOTLESS HOUSE?!
The best feeling ever - coming home to a spotlessly clean house today! by these two girls - (couldn't quite catch them in the act of cleaning - this is at the end of their day)
KEEP A DAILY RECORD
#1 The Lord was with me as I prepared and taught my gospel doctrine class - the scariest thing ever for me. The lesson: Be strong and of a good courage. The same lesson I taught 4 years ago while I was in the middle of a work-related trial. It gave me such comfort then ("fear not, the Lord will not forsake you") and was a reminder and testament again of the Lord's hand in my life. I also read part of Elder Eyring's experience of keeping a daily record of how he saw the Lord's hand daily in his life - in fact, that is what initially brought me back to this site last night - to get that quote to read to my class today.
#2 Doug and I received the same impression -independent of each other - about a concern - another indication of the Lord's hand.
BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE
Today I am reminded of his talk as I prepare my gospel doctrine lesson - the same lesson I gave 4 years ago: "Be Strong and of Good Courage". In Joshua 1:5 the Lord tells Joshua "I will be with thee; I will not fail thee nor forsake thee". Verses 6-9 the Lord repeats his command to "be strong and of a good courage." These verses reminded me of the trial I was experiencing 4 years ago when I gave this lesson... It was this very lesson and those very verses that were a personal witness to me that the Lord was aware of me and "would not forsake me" and that I needed to be strong and have courage. Looking back, I see clearly His hand during that period of time, and I fortunately had the sense to record it in my journal - which has become my personal bible.
Today there are different trials and concerns and worries. He is still there, blessing me, giving me courage and strength to carry on, never forsaking me as I strive to be obedient to His commandments.
Today I see His hand as I prepare this lesson and study the gospel. Today, the sun is shining. So much to be grateful for.
How neglectful I've been about posting how I've seen the hand of God in my life each day. There have been numerous occasions where I've witnessed His hand - really daily. Tonight I was reminded, by an awesome 1 minute video - how important it is to acknowledge His hand - whether I do it on my blog spot or in my prayers! I recommit - and would love to have you all share on this site. No, Karen and Vicki - you didn't 'break' the momentum! I know, yours was the last blog from about 5 months ago. I just hated to move the darling picture of little Grace. That is the first thing we see - she is so darling. Post again, Please!
I invite you all to watch this short little video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF01BQAcj8E
I had an interesting experience the other night - a simple matter, really. But it deeply impressed me. I was helping a nurse bathe a patient on the ICU - a man that had come in with an acute MI (a massive heart attack). His room was full of tubes and pumps and he was gravely ill. We bathed him, lotioned and gently turned him to change his sheets. Tears welled in the corner of his eyes, and he reached for the nurses hand, feebly. His voice was barely audible when he whispered the words, "Your name is Kathy?" "Yes", she said. He replied, "Thank you, Kathy. Thank you, Kathy. You are God's angel to me." A surge of electricity went through me and I looked up at my nurse, my own eyes tearing. I thought of papa expressing those same words to a nurse just weeks before he died. It occured to me why I am going through the insanity of becoming a nurse and why it has always been a part of me - this human reponse to a need. It all made sense in that brief interlude of time. I'm so grateful that I have had this blessing of school and knowledge in the journey to a profession that is both heart-wrenching and heart-rendering. I've thought of my own mother in her profession as a nurse-aide and how loved she was. She is my mentor.
I see the Lord's hand in many places in my life - in my little grandchildren, in my two married daughters who live the gospel so simply and beautifully in their lives, in my children at home who bless me every day with their laughter and antics and charm. And an amazing husband who is a Godsend and who pulls much more of his weight than he ever should have to, at times. I am grateful for a warm home, and sunshine and warmth through the windows. At times when I am overwhelmed, I feel numb to the Lord's mercies that are everywhere but they are there - right in front of me. Without my family, I am nothing. The Lord continues to be mindful of us everyday of our lives. In simple, beautiful ways... we just need to pull away and look for them.
Vicki Warner
Vicki Warner
Where are My Family's Contributions?
My initial thought and desire when I started this blog spot is that everyone would - hopefully at least once a week - post to it and share a blessing you've received (how you saw the Lord's hand in your life this week). I thought it would be a way to stay connected and share in each other's lives spiritually. I didn't want to be the only one sharing my experiences. The invitation is still open. If you read this let me know your thoughts. I'm sure everyone is so busy that this may be one more thing you would feel compelled to do. That for sure isn't something I'd want you to feel!!
My Miracle
Any one who reads this and knows my trials and challenges of the last 4 1/2 years will be able to understand the elation and gratitude I feel this night. Today I am free from the burden that has hung over my head for what has felt like an eternity. Today I felt without question, the Lord's hand in my life. Not only today but over the past over four years. I have learned so much from this challenge. I have increased faith, learned the meaning of patience, have understood the power of the atonement in a very real way, and know what it means to find answers directly from the scriptures (the scripture I turned to this morning was: "'behold I will go before you and be your rear-ward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded" - amazing! just what I needed to hear!) I've learned the power of fasting and intense prayers. I have come to understand how much the Lord knows each of us and knows of our struggles and trials. I have felt the love and united prayers of my family and friends. Without which, I could not have endured these trials.
This morning I went to the temple with Wendy Watson Nelson (Elder Nelson's wife) What a blessing that was. Her wisdom and insight was so comforting and reassuring. She was the angel from Heaven today that the Lord provided for me to offer peace and comfort and reassurance that all would be well.
If we can't learn from our trials they are for naught. I hope I've learned sufficiently from this and other challenges I've had, to be able to share with others. Tonight my heart is full of gratitude and love.
My work
I did not want to go to work today. I had way too much to do and wanted desperately to stay home and get some personal things accomplished. I looked at my schedule of clients and knew these good people needed some help and direction and I really couldn't call and cancel the day. So I went, albiet a bit grudgingly. As I sat in each session and listened to each of their stories of struggles and pain, I felt, without question, the Lord's hand directing me in their healing process - ... and I knew I was where I needed to be. It's not all about me - and what I want to do.
I thank Him for his guiding light in this work I do.
I saw the Lord's hand in my life today when a good son in law and granddaughter climbed in my attic and got down a very cumbersome Christmas tree - then took the time to put it together in addition to moving furniture so it would fit. And then a daughter who sacrificed some pretty precious time to come and help decorate the outside of the house and clean up after dinner. These stories in some form or another could be told every day of the help we receive from awesome family members.
My Mother
I'm in a reflective and melancholy mood this Thanksgiving morning. It started with watching Tyler Wilkinson's documentary on the BYU channel while I was preparing food our meal this afternoon. The documentary was about his journey in life after his accident when he was a senior at Dixie High which paralzed him; the documentary ended with an interview with him today. A few minutes later I picked up the newspaper and read an article about a stroke survivor who 'fights his way back - one blink at a time'. Of course I can't help but think of my dear mother, who, just one year ago yesterday had a stroke while staying at my home. I remember those anxious moments driving to Cedar with her in the car, unable to speak or even move. She slept all the way down and I worried that she wouldn't make it until we got to Cedar. That was the same day as my mother-in-law's burial service in Cedar so I was anxious about that too.
Today I'm thankful for those 6 extra months I had with my mother. They were sweet tender, unforgetable months. I certainly can see the Lord's hand in her life as well as ours during those months. To prolong her life and then to have her daughters with her at her passing was indeed a sweet tender mercy of the Lord. I am grateful for my mother. Thank you, Mother for the blessing you were in my life. I miss you.
How I've Seen the Hand of the Lord in My Life This Week:
I see the Lord's hand in my life everyday. I need to do better at acknowledging it. Here is just a sampling of how I've seen His hand in my life this week:
- A phone message from my son, ERICK, telling me he loves me. The Lord knows I pray for him every day. This was a tender answer to a prayer
- The opportunity to help LORI in her well managed home and kitchen is a blessing to me. Being amazed at how well she copes and manages with the limitations she deals with on a daily basis - with no murmuring.
- Watching Lori and Kelli interact with one another while at Lori's. The love they demonstrate to one another is very touching.
- KELLI's generous and giving nature
- JODI, weary and worn from working a new CNA job while still in training, managing to be the best mom to her dear Sophie and Caleb. She brought them over tonight (they are spending the night since Jodi has to work at 6:45 in the morning) all bathed and ready for bed, lunches for school made, everything in order and in place. Then kneeling by their beds and praying together. A sweet and tender scene
- DOUG picking up the slack this week around the homewhile I was literally not home all week. He cleaned and did laundry - even folded and put away all my laundry, then took my car in for repairs. The best part: NO COMPLAINTS! The Lord has blessed me with a good husband
- The Love my GRANDCHILDREN show me. I love their hugs and kisses and sweet words. They are all such GOOD kids!
- It is evident that I see the Lord's hand in my FAMILY! I love them so much!
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