tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119715397563454172024-03-19T02:49:28.529-07:00Hope an Anchor to My Soul...A widows journey...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-78610975945607371562016-07-01T14:09:00.003-07:002016-07-01T16:05:40.981-07:00Just Keep Moving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Two months ago I was riding my bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to take a short cut to get back to
the main road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This short cut involved
some dirt…and my bike got stuck…I went to pedal forward and my bike wouldn’t
move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">As I tried to pedal but couldn’t move I found myself starting to tip
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that I was going to fall
over if I didn’t put my foot down to prevent it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I placed my foot on the ground my ankle
immediately twisted and I heard and felt a snap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain was intense!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately I could feel it start to swell. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">As I lay there on the ground with a wounded bleeding hand and a
painful massively swollen ankle, I realized that I was going to be unable to
ride home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was only about two miles
from home…but there was no way I could do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">My first feeling was panic and this intense feeling of being
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no one around me on the
path…I was by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband was
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He couldn’t come and help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now what? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly though I felt prompted to call a dear
friend for help. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cell phones can be such
a blessing! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was about 20 minutes
away but willingly agreed to come and pick me up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so relieved to see her beautiful face
arrive!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">As my friend got me home and helped me in to my house, she
immediately began to address my wounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She propped my ankle up and put ice on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got hydrogen peroxide and started to work
on my hand to get the gravel out of it…not sure which hurt worse my ankle or
the digging at my hand to get out the debris! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Because of the immense swelling in my ankle, my friend felt that she
needed to have our neighbor look at it—he happens to be a P.A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was concerned and had me go for
x-rays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The x-rays revealed a fractured
fibula in my ankle…and I had severely sprained tendons on both sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sent to an orthopedic surgeon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, my injury did not require
surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was placed in a boot and had
to limit usage of the ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gratefully,
I am no longer wearing the boot and am finally able to start using it more…it is
just going to take some time for it to be completely healed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">I would like to share a couple of the things I have learned from
this experience. First, we are not alone even if it at times it feels that way
and there is no one visibly around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I mentioned, I felt so alone after I was first injured, then I felt a
calm come over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was prompted as to
how to get help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was guided from the
other side of the veil…we are being watched over by a loving God and His
ministering angels—both heavenly and earthly angels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Even if you don’t feel the calm or recognize the help you are
receiving from God…it is there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
this statement by Jeffery R. Holland because I believe it is true, “</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: OpenSans-Light; mso-bidi-font-family: OpenSans-Light;">On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced
from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often
enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us
all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and
go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: OpenSans-Light; mso-bidi-font-family: OpenSans-Light;">The second thought I would
like to share is that we must keep moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I learned, in order for a bike to remain
upright you must keep pedaling and moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you become stuck and/or stop pedaling, you
will fall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Albert Einstein said, “</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #343434; mso-bidi-font-family: OpenSans-Italic; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep
moving.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: OpenSans-Light; mso-bidi-font-family: OpenSans-Light;">There will be those moments that you simply feel you can’t move
forward and you may find yourself falling into deep sadness, regret,
loneliness, despair, or any other myriad of emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t just lay there if you do fall down. Get back up! You don’t have to nurse your wounds alone. Turn to God, and
allow others to help you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are never
alone! </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><o:p>And remember there are always angels among us!</o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "bitstream charter" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px;">And don't forget to Move (Keep Walkin')! This song will inspire you to get up and move!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "bitstream charter" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-54201934415066961052016-05-31T12:09:00.002-07:002016-05-31T12:21:19.296-07:00Embrace Your Potential<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOKCI7ouL_SRCRriD7-6CF0cx7jqo7KVHN6NLgCAtllz_5keO1dYCGbdkz_OkH0ndtnwd4B7WbJLVzWNIlOLGjUR0VzDByOsc-JDiwhkZTvDT0uyjcIPqpa7Am5kuCN5e97-mk0iYdNjn/s1600/embrace+potential.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOKCI7ouL_SRCRriD7-6CF0cx7jqo7KVHN6NLgCAtllz_5keO1dYCGbdkz_OkH0ndtnwd4B7WbJLVzWNIlOLGjUR0VzDByOsc-JDiwhkZTvDT0uyjcIPqpa7Am5kuCN5e97-mk0iYdNjn/s400/embrace+potential.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Recently, a friend sent me this quote, “</span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #191919; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">Chinese philosophers
would say: don’t discover who you are, let alone embrace what you find. Instead
of choosing self-acceptance, choose self-cultivation. Instead of embracing
yourself, overcome yourself. This is not just how you become a flourishing
adult. It is the best way to create a flourishing world.”</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #191919; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">–Michael Puett and
Christine Gross-Loh</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">As I
pondered this quote, I reflected not only on the past five years, but more
specifically on the past six months of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In November 2015, I decided I wanted to find joy in my life again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to truly live instead of merely
exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what needed to change so I
could experience this? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">During
Paul’s illness, I was a caregiver for both him and my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was exhausted most of the time and barely
took any time for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, I
neglected some of my basic needs like eating healthy and exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">Obviously,
if you eat crappy and don’t exercise you gain weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Paul’s death, I was experiencing the
many ups and downs of the grieving process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I spent hours praying to God, reading the scriptures, serving other
people and expressing my gratitude, but something was missing. I needed to lose
weight and I didn’t feel healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT… I
had decided to accept myself for who I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, acceptance of ones self does not equate to self-love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">My
life changed for the better when I realized that eating unhealthy and lack of
exercise was a crutch for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not
something to embrace, but something to overcome. So, I started to eat healthy
and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">Here
I am 6 months later, 30 pounds lighter and a whole lot healthier and happier! In
this journey, I have discovered I can do more than I ever thought
possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yes, I have even learned
to love vegetables!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">A few
weeks ago I had an accident on my bike that left me with a broken ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was devastated, not because of the pain,
but because of the inconvenience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Exercise is for my mental therapy as much as it is for the physical
aspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to cry when the doctor
told me no exercise on that ankle for at least a month. Fortunately, the
fracture is not in a weight-bearing bone, so I was given a lovely boot to wear for
the next month or two. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Right after I had my accident I felt such frustration! I had worked
so hard to achieve success…I was feeling a joy and happiness that I had not
felt in a long time...now it felt as if it was being ripped from me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">After having a few pity-party moments, I realized just because I
have a broken ankle, it didn’t mean I can’t exercise. I just have to do it
differently. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I had
experienced worse things, like the death of my husband! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I already knew it was possible to learn
how to do things differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I
decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and look for new exercise routines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">What is the purpose of a trial?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t push you to do more of what you love or are already good
at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It pushes you to do things you don’t
think you can or want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God only
wanted us to do the things we love and are comfortable with, we wouldn’t need
trials.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">So with this new trial, I have discovered that I am learning to
focus on the areas of my body that were not as strong--my upper body and
abs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am unable to do the exercise I was
already good at and loved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, oh I
how miss it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see people out riding
bikes or running down the sidewalk and I ache to participate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">When my husband died, all the dreams and plans we’d made were
shattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I started to pick up the
pieces, I realized that I can do more and be more than I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have decided not to embrace widowhood, but
to overcome it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have to embrace
my broken ankle either, I can overcome it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we embrace something that means we just accept it, but when we
overcome something it means we have achieved success!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">So, what is helping me to overcome widowhood?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned to</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #191919; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;"> intentionally seek
out things that are new to me—things that may even scare me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long after Paul died, I bought a UTV and
a trailer to tow it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time I
towed it I was scared out of my mind—mostly because I am not good at backing it
up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely love riding the UTV and
am happy to say I’m getting more comfortable with the trailer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">There
are many things I have been able to try and successfully do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some of those things were out of
necessity, such as fixing broken toilets, edging my lawn, and fixing broken
sprinkler heads, and the list goes on…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">I believe life is not about discovering who you are but about
discovering who you can become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #191919; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">It is when you learn
to embrace your potential, rather than embrace your situation that you become your
best self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to do the things you
love and are good at, but more satisfying and growth promoting to discover that
you can do things you didn’t know you could. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">As
mentioned in my previous post <a href="http://www.hopeanchorsyoursoul.com/2016/04/overcomer.html">OVERCOMER</a>, the first step to overcoming is turning to God
through prayer and scripture study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
next step is to trust that He will help you find the different ways you can
achieve and grow from your experiences—in essence helping you to achieve your
highest potential!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-46775644084405106372016-04-29T13:55:00.002-07:002016-04-29T16:11:48.357-07:00OVERCOMER<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrI2tKY_-azEK8G_uU4CuCjQa1Lpoq18bC_d71kXeex4hnPHPx9EMm19emyKQ3XgjPhZ0zWafGM9sJ_Kj_J56Ko4JGItV42rdwt6HLpPUkUXZMWyiFXtM-PvNiNWj0g_-QLIIO8BIX0LM/s1600/famlogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrI2tKY_-azEK8G_uU4CuCjQa1Lpoq18bC_d71kXeex4hnPHPx9EMm19emyKQ3XgjPhZ0zWafGM9sJ_Kj_J56Ko4JGItV42rdwt6HLpPUkUXZMWyiFXtM-PvNiNWj0g_-QLIIO8BIX0LM/s640/famlogo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was October 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life was
good—no it was amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">And then...e</span>verything in our life started to change. I remember when it happened. It was the day
after we had these family pictures taken...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ended up at the hospital with severe pain and a diagnosis
of diverticulitis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few days in
the hospital and 10 days of IV antibiotics I was finally on the mend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time I was really surprised that I had
this situation arise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been eating
really healthy and exercising—I was in the best shape I had been in since
before I had my children. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn’t it funny how, often as we look back on life’s
experiences, we see those painful trials really prepare us for the next
situation that is headed our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
stronger because of what I experienced and had a new understanding of pain and
overcoming.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a couple months after I had my hospital stay, my
husband reinjured his back while helping someone move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d already had two previous surgeries from
a broken back and this just proved to be more than his back could handle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With surgery finally scheduled in May 2010, we were hopeful
that we might start to get our life back as we knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no such luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was that “less-than-1% chance” something
would go wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While moving his iliac
artery over, a vein ripped and he bled out on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, he coded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No pulse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No blood pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miraculously, by the grace of God, and with the help of two vascular surgeons and 15 units of blood, he lived
and had no brain or any other apparent damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just one problem…a big problem…his back still was not fixed.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, two months later we went back for another surgery.
Obviously, since the attempt to perform the surgery the first time going
through the front of his abdomen didn’t work, they opted to perform a spinal
fusion through his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
successful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a very painful and stressful six months, my husband
was finally able to return to work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little
did I know at the time--those surgeries were just more stepping-stones in preparation
for the next obstacle about to hit us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On November 28, 2011, we received a phone call that forever
changed our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband, was told
the horrific news that he had stomach cancer. It was a moment of sheer terror
and disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within two weeks of
receiving that phone call, he had surgery to completely remove his stomach.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The surgery was only the beginning of our 14-month
battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were issues with eating
without a stomach, strictures forming in the esophagus, chemotherapy, scans,
pain, vomiting, and severe weight loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
list goes on and on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In July 2012, my dad had a massive heart attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About three weeks after surviving a quintuple
bypass surgery, he was finally allowed to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four days after his return home my mom was
rushed to the hospital with breathing issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was discovered that she had pneumonia. Two days later she died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom had been suffering beforehand from a
weakened lung condition--the doctors figured she caught the pneumonia while
visiting my dad in the hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On February 25, 2013, just six months after my mom died, my husband
lost his battle with stomach cancer—leaving me a widow to raise our two young daughters.
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>In September 2015, after feeling like I
was getting my feet back on the ground, my father died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been pondering my life’s story. I am discovering life is about overcoming the
pain…the fear…the sorrow…the disappointments…the loss. But how does one overcome these things?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a grieving person you have probably been provided with to-do lists
to help with the grieving process through books, social media, family
members, etc...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, how often do you
actually DO what is written and/or prescribed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grieving requires more than a mere written to-do list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It requires ACTION.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in the action that we heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone who is grieving tends to feel overwhelmed easily and
often times forget the simplest of words or tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, for someone to give you a long to-do list
it can become daunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is one word that best describes what has helped me the most in my grieving process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For today I am offering you this challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throw away your current to-do list and write
a two-do list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, turn to God in prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Two</span>, read His word through scripture
study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Voila, now you have your two-do list!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have tried grieving both ways—with God’s help and
without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is much easier to do
this with His help! With God's help you can overcome your trials.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
You are an OVERCOMER!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-59569059395203042822015-11-27T12:01:00.002-08:002015-11-27T12:09:54.441-08:00Finding Your Purpose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wCst9dnQs2PFYA5dpNTw2c3EfMmSIZ7qH-p5Vs8usBkpwhBDZX_gUgF0eWF-lbpKGyxP_A8kI3HTMtBMw0eAWQjCxnQXYm39EBcQOzHJANkqT17M0VGk0yTAuhtTtRMmXExZA3NU7mkQ/s1600/Purpose4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wCst9dnQs2PFYA5dpNTw2c3EfMmSIZ7qH-p5Vs8usBkpwhBDZX_gUgF0eWF-lbpKGyxP_A8kI3HTMtBMw0eAWQjCxnQXYm39EBcQOzHJANkqT17M0VGk0yTAuhtTtRMmXExZA3NU7mkQ/s400/Purpose4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since my husband, Paul, died I have had moments of wondering why on earth Heavenly Father kept me here and took him. In all honesty, I always saw him as the better parent. He was better at so many things. Maybe that is why he was called home and I get to stay here—or maybe I am still here because that was just a part of our plan—my plan.</div>
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It has taken me some time, but I have come to realize I am still here for a purpose. I have things to do and people to help. I can be an instrument in God’s hands.</div>
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I can remember the times that I have wanted so desperately to be back with my Paul. Yes, I have prayed for death…that I would go to sleep and not wake up. Or maybe I would just happen to wander off the road and hit something hard enough that my girls and I would be reunited with my love. They were fleeting thoughts, but they did enter into my mind because the loss I was feeling hurt so deeply.</div>
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The other day, I was reading in Philippians 1 and these verses stood out to me:</div>
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<strong>21 </strong>For to me to live <em>is</em> Christ, and to die <em>is</em> gain.</div>
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<strong>22 </strong>But if I live in the flesh, this <em>is</em> the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.</div>
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<strong>23 </strong>For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:</div>
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<strong>24 </strong>Nevertheless to abide in the flesh <em>is</em> more needful for you.</div>
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As I read these verses, I was thinking about how the Apostle Paul wrote this while he was imprisoned. He had a desire for death so he could be with the Savior, yet he knew that he had a purpose here. It was more needful for him to be here and serve Christ because his ministry was not finished. There were others here who still needed his help.</div>
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As a widow, like the Apostle Paul, I have experienced competing desires. It would be amazing to return to live with my Savior and my husband, yet I know that I have a purpose here. My work is not finished. I have beautiful children to raise and an amazing opportunity to serve Christ.</div>
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The Apostle Paul was literally being held captive. As a widow, I have felt captive figuratively. It has been hard and so excruciatingly painful. At times, it really has felt like a prison sentence with little to no relief.</div>
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The Apostle Paul recognized positive consequences that occurred as a result of his imprisonment. In Philippians 1:12 we read, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things <em>which happened</em> unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” And as we read in verse 14, “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear,” he also recognized because of his example, other church members were able to be more bold and speak with confidence.</div>
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Just as what transpired with the Apostle Paul, I have come to the realization that it is during those moments where we are imprisoned, we are also able to have the most impact and help others. God is able to utilize us to a greater capacity. Others are strengthened by our example. Others are lifted because we can show them compassion and empathy—they feel of our understanding because of what we have endured. No matter what your trial is, you have the ability to help others. You have a purpose.</div>
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It is hard to find purpose when you are struggling to make it through the day and your heart is full of sorrow. Oh how well I understand. But it can be done--and needs to be done. When you find your purpose you find your peace.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="line-height: 1.5;" style="line-height: 1.5;">Finding our purpose requires action. It takes more than just thinking and pondering. It is in the doing that we discover our purpose.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="line-height: 1.5;" style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
I discovered my purpose when I quit asking God questions such as, “Why did this happen to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this—was I not good enough?” and started asking, “What am I supposed to learn from all this and what is my purpose”? In essence, it was when I developed a greater relationship with God that I started to heal and find purpose in my life again. God helped me to remember what I was passionate about and then start to DO those things...I have even discovered new things with His help.</div>
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Purpose is something that is plural in meaning. Most likely you have many things you can do. You don't have to just look for that "one thing" to give you purpose. Or maybe you only find "one thing" that gives you purpose and that is great too. </div>
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So often we think that if we aren't able to impact a lot of people's lives for the better, we have no purpose. In our minds, little impact means big failure. Wrong! Having purpose doesn't mean it is your job to change the world--it simply means that you are living and not just existing. Having purpose can be something simple. You don't have to go looking for the grand when the small will suffice.</div>
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Purpose is also something that is not stagnant--it can change and most likely will. We should always be seeking our purpose! I ask God daily to help me find my purpose for that day.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
When I REMEMBER my purpose I find my peace. Yep, occasionally I forget my purpose…lose my peace...and then God reminds me again. I pray that you will find your purpose and find your peace. While seeking for your individual purpose, remember we all have a universal purpose. That purpose is to just BE.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
BE aware of God’s love for you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
BE full of love for yourself and others. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
BE in the present moment. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
BE you! YOU have specific gifts that only YOU can share!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://howdoigoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/purposeisgreater.jpg" href="http://howdoigoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/purposeisgreater.jpg"><img alt="purposeisgreater" class="aligncenter wp-image-8217 size-large" data-mce-src="http://howdoigoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/purposeisgreater-1024x683.jpg" src="http://howdoigoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/purposeisgreater-1024x683.jpg" data-wp-pid="8217" height="266" style="clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
Questions to ponder:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 18px 1.5em;">
<li>What is your individual purpose for today?</li>
<li>If you don't know your individual purpose, what are you going to do to discover it?</li>
<li>How has recognizing your purpose brought much needed peace into your life?</li>
</ol>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-8228841925912928122015-11-18T16:36:00.002-08:002015-11-18T16:37:26.413-08:00How come I didn't see it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKRy1INeZ0OCSgH_MyQpNGenUMcl6wKOkAKDHk9YHeySR7RKTqaDqjrDMI8yfsJRLUQxN09Ksdxi8rV78ivWEzpb5aW9olayg8K5movvfN68ccs4kiQWrGj14dDls97-FzkSOWA2_WmD6/s1600/bigstock-gift-vintage-retro-present-on--30234938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKRy1INeZ0OCSgH_MyQpNGenUMcl6wKOkAKDHk9YHeySR7RKTqaDqjrDMI8yfsJRLUQxN09Ksdxi8rV78ivWEzpb5aW9olayg8K5movvfN68ccs4kiQWrGj14dDls97-FzkSOWA2_WmD6/s400/bigstock-gift-vintage-retro-present-on--30234938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In the past three years I lost my
mom, then my husband, and just recently my dad to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a very painful process to say the
least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have felt my heart shatter and
have, at times, wondered if I could do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Yes, I miss my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a different kind of missing and longing
than my husband. At one time in my life my parents were the ones who helped me
and provided the things I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
then, I got married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband became
my North Star—the one constant who guided my path and kept me on course. He
fulfilled all my needs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am currently
working on developing a deeper relationship with God so that He is my North
Star…but that is for a different discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I have missed the companionship
of my husband so deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss him
holding my hand; playing with my hair; the conversations; the reassuring love;
the compliments; my best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I have been on my knees praying
more times than I can count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
cried out to God letting Him know that I hurt and I don’t want to feel this emotional
pain anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have asked Him for
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have let God know that I am
angry because I feel like He is not listening to me… <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">And then the other day, after a
conversation with a friend I had an “aha” moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized that God has been answering me. He
has answered my prayers through a sweet little 5-year-old child in the Sunday
School class I teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Sunday she
sat by me and played with my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
felt so amazing to have someone just play with my hair like my husband used to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">God has answered my prayers
through my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each night she
comes and lays by me on my bed and asks to hold my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love holding her sweet little hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brings me comfort and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has also answered my prayers through
friends that encourage me, listen to me and offer support. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Yes, God has been answering me
and trying to share beautiful gifts with me, only I did not see it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Do you ever tell your kids to get
something only to have them tell you they can't find it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you go and look for it and it was
sitting right in front of their face the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why didn't they see it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sometimes in life God is trying
to give us something beautiful...only we don't see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are too busy looking everywhere, but right
in front of our face. Maybe we are looking back at what we once had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we are looking over at each side of us
to see what is happening around us—wondering if there is something better that
might come along. Maybe we are looking down at the things we did wrong. Maybe
we are too busy holding on to grief or regrets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Or maybe he is trying to give us
a beautiful gift…only we don’t get past the wrapping to see what is
inside…because it doesn’t look like we thought it should or would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we take time to unwrap it…we will find the
gift He is trying to share with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In my case, I think I didn’t open
the gifts He was trying to give me because…let’s be honest here… subconsciously
I wanted my husband back. (Yeah, I know an unrealistic expectation!) And in my
mind, anything less was not an answer to my prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Whatever the case may be, I imagine God is often
shaking his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, He patiently
waits and continues to guide us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
knows what He has to offer us and He is trying to lead us to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Do I feel the completeness I felt with my husband
because of the gifts I now recognize?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Honestly, no. I still hurt and I still miss him. But I do feel an added
strength. I feel better. Stronger. I see that God’s gifts help us and it is
those gifts He gives us along the way that help us to survive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I do believe the more we recognize the gifts God is
sharing with us, the more we receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first step is recognizing the gifts and then showing gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is power in gratitude. I have seen it
improve my life and the lives of my children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I also believe a time will come when all will be made
right and I will feel the completeness I once felt. And the same goes for you.
We have to believe that God will make it right—because He will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes patience, trust, and a whole lot of
faith and hope!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve got this!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 19px;">Questions to ponder:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Is God trying to give you something beautiful and you
just don’t see it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">How do you learn to recognize the gifts God is giving
you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">What gifts are you grateful for?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-76336249485804903772015-09-18T19:40:00.002-07:002015-09-18T19:40:49.536-07:00Trying to Be Strong and Have Courage...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn8GTw6KVpp1DWDOkQ9RjiPhpxCp4cz3aefhuiucMPsVcHATDPP_Hjnl7PQ5-ysrQ03_ucf9dvRaZt5ee8PUQDHDd4RP-qnUB56-EKe_8Y2eK5_PQQbupru2M2TKM2IejXhchXW1egSBJ/s1600/0052efe5e85ab1ddf28cf274b3e114eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn8GTw6KVpp1DWDOkQ9RjiPhpxCp4cz3aefhuiucMPsVcHATDPP_Hjnl7PQ5-ysrQ03_ucf9dvRaZt5ee8PUQDHDd4RP-qnUB56-EKe_8Y2eK5_PQQbupru2M2TKM2IejXhchXW1egSBJ/s320/0052efe5e85ab1ddf28cf274b3e114eb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9mv3-0-0" data-reactid=".t9.1.0.1.0.0.$editor1.0.0.$9mv3" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="9mv3-0-0" data-reactid=".t9.1.0.1.0.0.$editor1.0.0.$9mv3.0:$9mv3-0-0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, I was really missing the sound of Paul's voice. I was just missing him. As I watched a video of him today, it felt strange. The longer time passes the less I remember his voice--even his presence in general. That scares me. I don't ever want to forget him...sometimes it all just seems like a dream that turned into a bad nightmare...at times my heart literally aches to see him, to touch him, to hear his voice. I crave him.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="3929u-0-0" data-reactid=".t9.1.0.1.0.0.$editor1.0.0.$3929u" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="3929u-0-0" data-reactid=".t9.1.0.1.0.0.$editor1.0.0.$3929u.0:$3929u-0-0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still wait to hear him drive up from work. It is still hard to know that he is not coming home. Ever. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sick today. I feel like I am coughing up a lung. I am one of those lucky ones who always gets bronchitis or pneumonia from a common cold. Such is life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hard to not have someone to care for you when you are sick or at the very least take care of the kids. When I am sick it triggers longing. I long to have him here to stroke my hair and just let me know he cares. As the kids scream at me asking me what's for dinner...I realize how hard this is...I just don't have the energy...he could help me with the girls. He could go with the kids to the soccer game tomorrow morning. He could bring me soup in bed and just sit by my side and talk to me. Heck, I don't even need the soup...I just need him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes you just don't know how you can do it all...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then you pray with all you have that God will help you to endure this burden. You simply pray for strength and courage</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to make it through another day. And you do. Somehow. Someway. God helps you through it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKKpz9PZiyyjqMdlHhoDV2xbQHVqOE2pTrpKiuCxoPnykwIr-ppeUIZHjenC9vaQYESPifm8flVO0agsGgPX22yPDNWk3Sz0dXYhjadYTewRwGBACdFKwLNY4YcNXULBtB-44siDbmSpw/s1600/6a00d83451ee9f69e20168e6511393970c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKKpz9PZiyyjqMdlHhoDV2xbQHVqOE2pTrpKiuCxoPnykwIr-ppeUIZHjenC9vaQYESPifm8flVO0agsGgPX22yPDNWk3Sz0dXYhjadYTewRwGBACdFKwLNY4YcNXULBtB-44siDbmSpw/s320/6a00d83451ee9f69e20168e6511393970c.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were blessed to get video footage of Paul before he passed away on Feb. 25, 2013 from stomach cancer. This video helps us to remember him and that it was as hard on him to leave us as it was for us to have him leave. Oh how I miss this amazing man!</span></span></div>
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<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="102fg-0-0" data-reactid=".t9.1.0.1.0.0.$editor1.0.0.$102fg" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="102fg-0-0" data-reactid=".t9.1.0.1.0.0.$editor1.0.0.$102fg.0:$102fg-0-0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have posted this video on a previous blog post, but figured I'd post it here since I referenced it in this post. These are video clips of Paul taken in Dec. 2009....then taken Feb. 13, 2013 & Feb. 21, 2013.</span></span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c49kdWRHCpc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c49kdWRHCpc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-43708861328028045922015-06-13T16:06:00.001-07:002015-08-13T13:36:14.486-07:00Faith to Weather the Storm<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GdekCxojOorPMXPH7odfnlAwgyxkEniTcsKSbDmH1uh7RtHqUItNCqvtQW96bYpq3Eng0cBk2O7XoT0oNI1FUivk_Oi9e7YqffcJwsGmK5RhtDdgq86K3sEAu1zbCrUbh61NClWxEpPC/s1600/bigstock-Fishing-boat-in-a-stormy-sea-70697056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GdekCxojOorPMXPH7odfnlAwgyxkEniTcsKSbDmH1uh7RtHqUItNCqvtQW96bYpq3Eng0cBk2O7XoT0oNI1FUivk_Oi9e7YqffcJwsGmK5RhtDdgq86K3sEAu1zbCrUbh61NClWxEpPC/s320/bigstock-Fishing-boat-in-a-stormy-sea-70697056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Have you ever experienced things in your life you just don’t
understand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure it is safe to say
most, if not all of us, have experienced those moments. Those moments where you
want to ask God “why” and “how come”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those moments where there is very little peace and understanding in your
soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those moments where you are in the
middle of a dark and looming storm! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I wish I could say that I am the one who does not ever feel
these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that would be a
lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been having many
heart-to-hearts with God lately…trying to understand some trials that have been
plaguing me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday, my friend sent me a text telling me to listen to
a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland, “<a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland_lessons-liberty-jail/">Lessons from Liberty Jail</a>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew that I have read and listened to
this talk several times before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
it is one of my favorite speeches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
she also knows that we can read something numerous times and learn something
new each time. And this time was no different.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While reading this speech, I noticed a couple of things I
had not pondered before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those
things is from this statement, “And they will remind you that God often ‘moves in a mysterious
way His wonders to perform.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I looked
at the footnote it referenced a hymn called, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This morning as I was looking over Facebook, I discovered an
inspiring short new video about a woman who survived the Oklahoma tornado in
May, 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is called,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“After the Storms”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this video there was also a reference to
this same song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never even
noticed or sung this song before that I can recall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I decided I had better look the song
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the lyrics:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">God moves in a mysterious way</span></div>
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His wonders to perform;<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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He plants His footsteps in the sea<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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And rides upon the storm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Deep in unfathomable mines<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Of never failing skill<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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He treasures up His bright designs<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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And works His sovereign will.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The clouds ye so much dread<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Are big with mercy and shall break<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In blessings on your head.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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But trust Him for His grace;<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Behind a frowning providence<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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He hides a smiling face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His purposes will ripen fast,<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Unfolding every hour;<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The bud may have a bitter taste,<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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But sweet will be the flower.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Blind unbelief is sure to err<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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And scan His work in vain;<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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God is His own interpreter,<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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And He will make it plain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As
I read the lyrics to this song, I started to think about a post I did called
<a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/10/trusting-god.html">Trusting God</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times, it is so hard to
trust Him when everything is so bleak…especially in the middle of our storms. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that post I shared the following story:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“The great prophet Moses was visited by
angels and invited to come to heaven. While there he noticed God giving
orders to some of his angels. Curious, Moses asked if he could accompany
an angel on his mission. The Lord was reluctant at first to send Moses,
claiming that he would not be able to understand what the angels had been sent
to do, but with further pleading he finally consented, with a condition.
Moses must promise not to question the things he would see. To this Moses
agreed and soon found himself flying with the angel down to earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">They first flew over the water until they
came to a small fishing boat upon which seven poor fishermen were trying to
catch their daily sustenance. As they flew nearer, the angel looked upon
them and waved his arm. Immediately the ship broke in half and all seven
of the humble fishermen drowned. Moses was stunned at this and began
questioning the angel. The angel reprimanded Moses, reminding him of his promise,
and they flew on in silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The second circumstance found them flying
over the desert near a small village. Walking down a dusty path was a
young boy of about ten. As they flew by, the angel once again waved his
arm and the young boy dropped dead on the path. Moses was again
astonished at the irrational behavior of the angel and began to protest loudly
until the angel again silenced him by reminding him of his promise to the
Lord. A quiet but angry Moses continued on the journey with the angel,
confused that the Lord would send an angel to work such destruction and sorrow
upon innocent people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The third episode involved a small family
living on the outskirts of a large city. Along the caravan road entering
the city lived a poor widow and her only son. They were desperately poor
and lived solely upon the meager harvest of a small garden scratched into the
dust of their backyard. The garden was alongside an old stone wall
erected to separate the home from the caravan route into the city. As Moses
and the angel flew by, he once again waved his arm, and the stone fence fell
into the widows garden, destroying all the produce. At this unexpected
turn of events, Moses could no longer be silent in his protesting and the angel
took him back to heaven and to the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Moses asked the Lord why he would do such
things, and the Lord reminded him of the warning that he would not be able to
understand the workings of God. After further protests, the Lord decided
the only way to teach Moses would be to send his again with the angel, this
time to see things he had not seen before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Once again Moses and the angel flew over
the water where the fishermen had perished. Debris and wreckage still
floated on the surface of the water. As Moses watched, he saw something
that he could not see the first time. Far over the horizon, just barely
in view he noticed another boat. The angel allowed Moses to see what
would have been had he not been sent of God. The other boat was full of
pirates, and Moses knew that the fishermen would have been captured, tortured,
and sold into slavery had the Lord not in his mercy chose to bring them home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">They then passed the young Arab, still
lifeless along the desert path. Moses was allowed to see that later that
same afternoon this young boy would have accidentally killed his brother.
According to the custom of the village, he would have been disowned by his
family and made an outcast in the town, being forced to make his living begging
in the streets until death from disease freed him from his misery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Finally, they flew over the widow’s
garden, where the woman and her son were struggling to salvage something from
the chaos that was once their garden. As the young boy dug away the earth
under a large rock, he noticed a small cache. Investigating further he
found a small chest. He called to his mother, and they looked inside and
found a treasure trove of jewels and riches enough to provide a comfortable
living for them for the remainder of their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">With a smile Moses flew back to heaven
with the angel. He finally understood what the Lord had been trying to
tell him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">As we consider the legend, the words of
Isaiah come to mind: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts.’ (Isaiah 55:8-9). “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
As I thought of that story, it made me realize that we do not, nor can we fully,
understand why things happen the way they do, but God always knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows us individually and He knows our
plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We MUST trust Him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0vUNhbreCXTjEz9D9rTyc1n0ZNacjW18j9PAd2VZ5teyeqXO_Kitggr5Gj8ZlGiKW1wDPb8p4UC3X1vSxcNAu8-RJfynjnl3VsM0g3khyphenhyphenHParA-uXj6-3xmPo1KUn3Ui_FVBn7_09nuu/s1600/bigstock-Team-Leadership-39407926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0vUNhbreCXTjEz9D9rTyc1n0ZNacjW18j9PAd2VZ5teyeqXO_Kitggr5Gj8ZlGiKW1wDPb8p4UC3X1vSxcNAu8-RJfynjnl3VsM0g3khyphenhyphenHParA-uXj6-3xmPo1KUn3Ui_FVBn7_09nuu/s320/bigstock-Team-Leadership-39407926.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;">The way to weather the storms is to trust God. We have to trust Him and remember we are a team. Let Him be by our side at the helm while we are navigating the sea of life. Yes, He has the ability to calm the storm, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;">but if that is not the plan, He has the ability to calm us during the storm. We just have to remember to ask and then believe we will survive the storm with God's help!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><i><b>“When we
experience those things in life that we just don’t understand, we have to
choose whether or not we’re going to trust God.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><i><b>It’s not
being optimistically foolish to trust God no matter what; it’s what we call
faith. It’s in that in between when we don’t have all the answers, and we don’t
know if everything will turn out okay that we come to know what real faith is.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><i><b>Real faith
isn’t a hopeful wish. Real faith is making the decision that no matter the
outcome, we’ll choose to see it as God’s perfect answer.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><i><b>Through the
good, through the not so good, and even through the down right awful we will
trust God. Now this doesn’t mean we won’t cry and express hurt. It does mean
we’ve decided it’s better to have lived trying to take leaps of faith with God,
than to walk away from Him.”</b></i>- Lysa TerKeurst, Proverbs 31 Ministry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-39299135506253459162015-05-25T07:54:00.000-07:002015-08-11T19:56:56.006-07:00Easier to Appreciate the Sacrifice When You Understand the Loss<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvD9sav9LhYm2Fz6k0zKZb20WgDxxn4a6Gc9Xvx-rSvGKlBM68S5AzJaFY-FJMve44XLsrLvbNSGzD34URlh2ePy8EW09IQ9hb3ArcL45WPPec5fJaKZ6KpCJ3BL8Qu7wAJXdS9Z491K7/s1600/bigstock-Dog-Tags-On-Flag-_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvD9sav9LhYm2Fz6k0zKZb20WgDxxn4a6Gc9Xvx-rSvGKlBM68S5AzJaFY-FJMve44XLsrLvbNSGzD34URlh2ePy8EW09IQ9hb3ArcL45WPPec5fJaKZ6KpCJ3BL8Qu7wAJXdS9Z491K7/s320/bigstock-Dog-Tags-On-Flag-_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I remember in my youth how much I loved to have Memorial Day
because it meant that I was getting a three-day weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have family BBQ’s and go to the
cemeteries to decorate our relatives graves with flowers-mostly relatives I had
never met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not remember feeling any
sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I don’t even remember
really thinking about the significance of the day or why we even celebrated
this holiday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In my adult years, we continued to do the same
things-traditions carried forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
always happy that my husband had a three-day weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I felt little to no sadness as we went to
decorate the graves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did, however,
have a greater appreciation for the purpose and significance of the holiday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I will never forget the first Memorial Day after my husband’s
passing-he had been gone for three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was no longer a three-day weekend to look forward too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not about BBQ’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not a “party” weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually a dreaded weekend because I
knew that I would be going to the cemetery and placing flowers on graves-the
graves of my two best friends, my husband and my mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom passed away just six months before my
husband. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Let’s face it, although Memorial Day was established to
remember those who died while in the service of our country, those who have
lost someone very close to their heart will also feel those pains more
significantly on this day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, this
day used to be a day of family gatherings and some remembering, but not an understanding
of the loss of loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there is
understanding…a deep and painful understanding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easier to appreciate the sacrifice when
you understand the loss.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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So, now as I remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day, I
have a greater appreciation for not only the service they rendered, but for
their families-the sacrifices that the mothers and children made. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so grateful for the men and women who lost
their lives fighting to protect us and our freedoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am grateful for their families. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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I am also grateful for a husband who was a valiant
warrior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He battled cancer. His mortal
body lost, but his spirit won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did
not let the cancer eat away at his soul like it was doing to his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always valiant, courageous and
remained strong. He was and is my greatest hero. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The painful, abiding sorrow that accompanies the death of a
loved one is universal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether your
loved one died while serving in our country’s armed forces, in a car accident,
or some other way the end result is the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are no longer here with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And you miss them more than words can say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I think about and remember my beloved husband everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember his goodness and kindness, his
sense of humor and laughter, his wisdom and love, and his never-ending support.
Our children remember the singing, the laughter, the love, the stories, the
humor, and the endless unconditional love from their daddy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my third Memorial Day without my mom and
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain is still there, but
not as deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss them both, but
fortunately the tears are less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now
have moments of happy and moments of remembering without the sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are good days and there are bad
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there are in-between
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IQ289jpYZ-zGX8jxJE4YzMz-p6ymcdkl5TfoBX1SyDKmQjONZpRXRU7cH1wYNoLQx7a-67g-MI49czMMmtubh2aBOc53b3n8kJpkFck7kI0Im6ZqO-eHazsD0-QZMn8YYYa6SUqo2T-x/s1600/bigstock-Gratitude-Word-Cloud-90757892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IQ289jpYZ-zGX8jxJE4YzMz-p6ymcdkl5TfoBX1SyDKmQjONZpRXRU7cH1wYNoLQx7a-67g-MI49czMMmtubh2aBOc53b3n8kJpkFck7kI0Im6ZqO-eHazsD0-QZMn8YYYa6SUqo2T-x/s320/bigstock-Gratitude-Word-Cloud-90757892.jpg" width="320" /></a>I have a choice today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can sit and wallow or I can be grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grateful for the men and women who sacrificed
their lives so I can enjoy my many freedoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grateful for the privilege and honor of being married to an amazing
man…I had 14 years of amazing…some do not even get one day of what I
experienced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grateful I know that he
still lives and one day we will be reunited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What are you grateful for today?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-74474525952117410222015-05-20T20:02:00.001-07:002015-08-11T20:04:42.476-07:00Stuck in a Pile of Mud!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1ouCcQFnCpgkn_IW1wFyovHIZbH7ciNWiR9zGJm6cCsfVU5YiymN1k3youkno2rO48LhuTlZ5sZXtaoSWazLde5xGssRi1sO9c1LNx5PB1MggVSy7qbvD69sf9g1ianTanK18FtrJtI9/s1600/bigstock-Muddy-Feet-In-The-Tideland-24009269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1ouCcQFnCpgkn_IW1wFyovHIZbH7ciNWiR9zGJm6cCsfVU5YiymN1k3youkno2rO48LhuTlZ5sZXtaoSWazLde5xGssRi1sO9c1LNx5PB1MggVSy7qbvD69sf9g1ianTanK18FtrJtI9/s320/bigstock-Muddy-Feet-In-The-Tideland-24009269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=411971539756345417" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Have you ever been stuck in the mud with shoes
on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several years ago we had a water line break and
we had a huge flood in our back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The water was running down into the window wells and seeping through
into our basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">As the neighbors came rushing to help us with buckets in hand, we all
ended up standing in deep mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most were
able to get out of the mud with shoes in tact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I, however, was not so fortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My flip flops were not allowing me to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was stuck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I kept tugging and moving I managed to get free, but one of my flip
flops could not endure the constant tugging and it broke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other was too stuck to get free and I had
to leave it in the mud in order to get out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was so sad because they were my favorite pair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were so cute!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Maybe you too have had a time where your shoes were stuck in the mud
and no matter how hard you pulled you couldn’t get loose!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You realized the only way to get free from
the mud was to release yourself from the shoes, leaving them behind in order to
move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">I have discovered, the death of a spouse can become a messy pile of mud
in this thing called life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also
discovered it can become easy to get stuck in that mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grief, which includes fear, sadness and
loneliness, is something that can cause someone to get stuck. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">We all have situations arise in our life that can become a pile of
mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you are afraid to let go of
someone, even though it is not the best situation for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you have a dead-end job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you are involved in an abusive
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you are addicted to
pornography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you are battling
cancer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Our trials, hardships, or just even the simple things of day-to-day
living can become different piles of mud in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can become stuck in the thick of it all
and not quite sure how to get out and move forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may free ourselves from one pile only to
discover that we have stepped right into another. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Whatever your situation, it can become scary to free ourselves from
the mud in our lives. What if there is no one better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I can’t pay my bills?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if no one else wants me? What if I
fail?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I can’t overcome this
addiction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I die? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">It can be incredibly difficult to let go of the “what if’s” in our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those “what if’s” are often
the cause for us becoming stuck in the mud. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to become free from the mud, we need
to remove those things that are preventing us from moving forward. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Recently, I realized that there was a situation in my life where I had
become stuck in the mud. Upon that realization, I knew that things needed to
change in order for me to become free to move forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it meant for me was letting go of
someone who I cared about. I have learned that “It’s not holding on that makes
one strong, sometimes it’s the letting go”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes you have to let go of people not because they are
bad or because you are, but simply because you are unable to progress any
further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are “stuck” in a situation where
things just simply cannot be. For me, that is the hardest kind of relationship to
sever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is about progression and moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes that means cutting off all ties-as
painful as that may be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have to remove those temptations in our lives that
prevent us from letting go. Facebook, like other modern technology, is a
definite temptation…it is human nature to want to know about others, especially
someone you care about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just be
honest here, when trying to "move on", if you can continue to see and know what someone is doing, how do
you let go? Sometimes the knowing what is going on creates more pain and doubt
within your soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, yep, it may even
mean you have to “de-friend” someone on Facebook...just make sure whatever you do, you do it with kindness. </div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII_Xvblg8WKDLQeZYL0Q2F5T7Mlku5A3NiU0AmLUnD2mz6PAWkn7ghLpUwLEaB8F0iekeh9vVcv6K8CSq6LS2VSJFaOSOKGNpPyZTFrDq5u16j9rGkMbNVgl7DHzL3tQ9XipJCtuHy_vl/s1600/bigstock-Hardest-and-Right-Thing-81720206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII_Xvblg8WKDLQeZYL0Q2F5T7Mlku5A3NiU0AmLUnD2mz6PAWkn7ghLpUwLEaB8F0iekeh9vVcv6K8CSq6LS2VSJFaOSOKGNpPyZTFrDq5u16j9rGkMbNVgl7DHzL3tQ9XipJCtuHy_vl/s320/bigstock-Hardest-and-Right-Thing-81720206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Letting go is not always easy, in fact, it can be incredibly
difficult and painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My recent
experience was very hard for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
shedding many tears, I have also learned that “sometimes the hardest thing, and
the right thing are the same”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My life was forever changed after the death of my husband. I have
had to let go of the dreams we created together for our future…or I get stuck
in a pile of mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to live in the
present and not dwell on the past or worry too much about the future…or I get
stuck in a pile of mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to be
willing to let others help me…or I get stuck in a pile of mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot focus inward on self, but I must
focus outward on others…or I get stuck in a pile of mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">I have also learned it is not just about eliminating things in my
life, but also there are specific things I must do on a daily basis in order to
prevent me from getting stuck in a pile of mud. I must pray regularly, read the
scriptures, show gratitude, and focus on serving others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">After I released myself from the mud and left behind my beloved flip
flops, I purchased a new pair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took
some time to get used to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
looked and felt different, but everything worked out fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">In time, I actually became fond of the new pair of shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I have replaced the original pair
several times and have found something unique and different about each
pair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some were definitely cuter or more
comfortable than others, but I have survived each new change!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Putting on a new pair of shoes can be both exhilarating and a bit
uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you begin to wear new
shoes, you realize that they feel different than what you are used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they feel a bit snug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe they even hurt your feet for
awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with time they become less
snug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They become more comfortable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">As you adjust to wearing your new shoes, you may discover that you
really like them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, they may
become the most favorite pair you have ever owned. In time they will get worn
out and you will need a new pair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
that is ok because your new pair can also become your favorite pair. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">You may buy a new pair of shoes and discover they are never
comfortable. You are dealing with the blisters and constant aching feet for
awhile and then realize maybe you better get some new ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even though it is a pain to go look for
new ones, you realize that you must or your feet are always going to be
hurting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">That is how it is with life, sometimes we are forced to make changes
and leave things behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those things
may be loved and cherished beyond measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or they may be things that are not so good for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or a combination of both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the case may be, we will find that
it is possible to adjust to new circumstances that surround our lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those new and different circumstances may be
very uncomfortable at first or may not be the exact way we want it, but in time
we may even become fond of and even cherish them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Let’s face it, life is hard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It becomes even harder when we are stuck in a pile of mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to free yourself of that horrible,
thick mud! Remember it is not always about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>eliminating things, it also requires doing
certain things. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Are you stuck in a pile of mud?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">What are the things in your life causing you to become stuck and
preventing you from moving forward? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">What and how are you going to change to free yourself from the mud?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">What things do you need to be doing to help you stay free from the
mud?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-4149820868655308112015-05-01T08:18:00.000-07:002015-05-01T08:34:55.641-07:00My Friends Tragedy is Healing the Hearts of Many <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFf-s9wNTIpFZ1HEaBBifzGOHr_nsIl7ZRfYhBQyruUgnn9oH4lF7-5bMfEyVwmViawfdsvuD-6NLkygKOlYGj_Zt2l9Laqh1EMsijFUKNg9QtxlHb5mETJwTn6LyAJ0Z8X6g3WeizIAp/s1600/IMG_4824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFf-s9wNTIpFZ1HEaBBifzGOHr_nsIl7ZRfYhBQyruUgnn9oH4lF7-5bMfEyVwmViawfdsvuD-6NLkygKOlYGj_Zt2l9Laqh1EMsijFUKNg9QtxlHb5mETJwTn6LyAJ0Z8X6g3WeizIAp/s1600/IMG_4824.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #10131a; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #666666;">Ashlee Birk has been one of my many tender mercies the
past couple of weeks.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.themomentswestand.com/p/meet-ashlee.html">See her story here.</a> </span></span><span style="color: #666666;">I am grateful for her
friendship...she has sent me text messages of hope, love and encouragement. She gets it!
She understands the importance of directing your attention outward
instead of inward. Life is not about
self…it is about others.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">What makes Ashlee so amazing and why do people love to hear her
story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it because her husband was
murdered and she discovered at the same time that he was being unfaithful, or
is it because of the way she has chosen to handle her situation? Or maybe it is
not an either or situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the
tragedy draws people in and simultaneously they want to know how is she doing
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As a friend of Ashlee’s, I can say that she does not share her
story because she wants pity or glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
shares her story because of a desire for you to know and act on the principles
she has discovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is more than her
belief in God and His teachings, but it is the action from that knowledge that
is helping her successfully navigate through her trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has chosen not to let her story end
there…at the tragedy. She has chosen to turn her tragedy into a success
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #10131a; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #666666;">Here’s the thing, Ashlee, like me and everyone else, has her hard
moments…her less than happy moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
still has moments of sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still
has to battle forgiveness every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
still has her doubts about herself and feeling like maybe she is not
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she also knows that those
times will pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She understands that
God will help her through this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
understands that </span></span><span style="color: #666666;">knowing, understanding and discussing the gospel of
Jesus Christ with others is a beautiful thing.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="color: #666666;">But the beauty does not lie in the knowledge, it is in the action and
doing that we receive the greatest blessings and joy.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;">It is when we focus our attention outward,
rather than inward that we are able to act on what we know.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;">It is through the action that we receive the
healing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon thinking about Ashlee’s tragic story, and after recent
conversations with several friends who have and are experiencing some pretty
tragic and hurtful situations, I have started to wonder. ... Why do good people
make poor choices?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has led me to do
some serious pondering and praying for answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my pondering and searching, I have discovered something
that is common in every one of the cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have discovered that it all leads back to selfishness. With this
realization, I started to think about selfishness and how it relates to
grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In thinking about the whole grieving process, I have come to
realize that grief can be a selfish process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is during the healing process that we focus on self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grief is about why me; how could this have
happened; what is going to happen to me; will I ever feel better; what and who
can help me feel better; etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously, grief is a necessary part of God’s plan or it
wouldn’t happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="verse"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
need to remember “</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To every <span class="clarityword">thing
there is</span> a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance.” (</span>Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4)<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Life is about learning and there are
things we are able to learn through the process…so, yes, we need to grieve. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>So…maybe it’s not so much about eliminating the selfishness
of grief, but minimizing it. It is about
learning to become more selfless. God is
not looking for us to just “get over it,” He just wants to help us get through
it. We cannot just go around or over our trials, we must go through them. God understands this and is willing to help
us. It’s about knowing God and doing the
things He KNOWS will work to help us get through the process of grief. And one of those things is service to others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of us have experienced great losses, whether it be
through death, divorce, or any other tragic situation, and because of that loss
or hurt we can become a better person if we choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can turn our losses and hurt into a gain
and obtain a greater understanding of God’s plan, and then we can implement
that knowledge and live accordingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can live a different life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life with
great meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life of service. In
order to live a life of service we have to let go of pride and ego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not about what we can get, but what we
can give to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The irony is the
more we build others up, the more we are built up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how do we become more selfless while grieving? Sharing
your story, your heartaches, your pain and your sorrow can be an act of
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps others to connect with
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps them to see that they are
not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharing facilitates the
creation of relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But where the
grieving process becomes selfish is when we forget to let others share with us.
It is about understanding that they too have had hurt and loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about getting to know them and showing compassion
and understanding toward them. It is not always about them helping us to feel
better, but about us helping them to feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like Ashlee, I discovered early on that when I was
struggling with my grief if I turned outward and focused more on other people,
my own grief was diminished which in turn helps with the healing process. When
I am being more selfless, I am better able to cope with my losses…I receive the
enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is when we are selfless
that we make better choices and decisions. When we are selfless we think about
what might hurt someone before we do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, when we lose sight of being selfless, it is
difficult to be aligned with God. When in self-mode, we tend to forget about
others, which includes God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are
not receiving personal answers from God, is it because we are so caught up in
our self that we are not aligned with and willing to listen to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And more importantly do we see that maybe we
need to be more selfless? I have wondered how often God has tried to
communicate with me and been unsuccessful because I was in self-mode. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe, at times we are trying to regain what we lost by
taking things into our own hands because we are focused on self instead of God.
Unfortunately, by doing so, we remove the help we can get from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t trust that He will make things
right, because how can He possibly make things right for us here in
mortality?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may not be the “right” we
thought it was supposed to be, but someday it WILL be made right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, who is to say that something very
different than what we thought it should or would be is not the right thing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can’t trust God, if we don’t know God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we know God if we are focused on our
self?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self-mode does not lend itself
very much to getting to know others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
order to know someone we have to talk to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ask them questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show love and
concern for them. And we need to listen to them and actually hear what they
have to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to talk to Him through prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the scriptures to understand Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we need to listen and hear His answers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like Ashlee, I have also discovered that you need to turn it
over to and trust God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn to really
pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn to really listen. It is not
always easy…some days are better than others. But with God’s tender mercies and
help we can make it through this thing called life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let Ashlee’s story inspire and motivate you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Motivate you to DO what she does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is more than just hearing and knowing her
story…it is in the doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Follow her
lead and DO what she does. It is those things that will help YOU to HEAL!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>P.S. Don’t forget
this is a daily battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not lose
hope!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And always remember you ARE enough
and MORE! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-36720368642779123322014-08-27T11:49:00.002-07:002015-08-11T20:00:44.593-07:00Who doesn’t love a good party?<style>
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</style><span style="font-size: large;">This morning started out as “one of those mornings”…missing
my husband…listening to sad music…then feeling sorry for myself. Yes, I successfully created a pity party. Who doesn’t love a good pity party now and
then?
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was thinking about the singleness I feel. How at times you can be in a room full of
people, yet, feel so alone. Missing my
best friend. Missing my greatest
supporter. Just plain missing…everything
about him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So grateful for friends you can call to join your pity party
and cry until the “sup sups” start…then you feel oh so much better. Yes, there is therapy in crying…lots of good,
wet, salty tears! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, I decided…enough with the pity party. Time to move forward! Just so you know, the pity party will come
back again someday…but fortunately it doesn’t come around very often! It is all just a part of the process…and it’s
ok.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, how did I get myself out of my funk? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night, my youngest daughter had just finished
showering. She had a great time, sitting
on the shower floor playing with the designated tub/shower toys. She loves to play with them, but hates to
clean them up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, after she is done showering, my other daughter goes in
to take her shower and starts to throw a huge fit. She comes running out of the bathroom
screaming at her sister to get in there and pick up the toys. A screaming match starts. Great.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Being the amazing mom that I am, I decided it is not fair
for my youngest daughter to always leave the toys laying in the shower,
especially since no one else has a desire to play with them, and they can
really hurt if you step on them! I tell
her to pick them up and she says no. Really?
Did you just tell me no?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now the battle of the wills begins. In all honesty, my children are more
strong-willed than I am…but I just knew I had to stand my ground. I informed my daughter if she did not pick
them up, I was going to take them out to the garbage in the morning and she
would not ever get to play with them again.
She said, “I don’t care. I am not
going to pick them up. I don’t really want to play with them anymore
anyway.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I gave her every chance to go in and pick up those toys…but
she flat out refused. So, I told her
that they WOULD be thrown away. My other
daughter interjects, “Well maybe mom you better not actually throw them away
because she might want to play with them again someday, and you know how whiny
she can be when she doesn’t get want she wants.” After she said that, I realized, all the more
reason to throw them away!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, she didn’t pick them up.
So guess what I did today? Yep. I
did it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiROxXZ4Euu9D_22y12qZug3FRj4Ki-rGAjCfUx274KDUDij0diOhJ2bs9EG8lKNqq266bEHWFhmNQcvSnAfLulJqXeaWGw8I6JtxHjqVcFk-gNKTRjLtGFwpiY5B7zK52CSScfgiMrDif/s1600/IMG_2792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiROxXZ4Euu9D_22y12qZug3FRj4Ki-rGAjCfUx274KDUDij0diOhJ2bs9EG8lKNqq266bEHWFhmNQcvSnAfLulJqXeaWGw8I6JtxHjqVcFk-gNKTRjLtGFwpiY5B7zK52CSScfgiMrDif/s1600/IMG_2792.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv6KZh_GJ8Jl6Yxv44cI0Pr3ITn-eCtsNe3rgrhupdXKhqpJP7qlq_SzlZqMPFuqoXD66zlB6nfx2Hbs7O9w_bFo16TmdIEmFl54AiWePHuK7oRz3jC7O8vDqCIHaF123ESVKDKIIppT3/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv6KZh_GJ8Jl6Yxv44cI0Pr3ITn-eCtsNe3rgrhupdXKhqpJP7qlq_SzlZqMPFuqoXD66zlB6nfx2Hbs7O9w_bFo16TmdIEmFl54AiWePHuK7oRz3jC7O8vDqCIHaF123ESVKDKIIppT3/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, sometimes it’s the little things that make us feel
happy and amused!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am actually glad she didn’t want to pick them up. Now, I don’t have anymore bathroom toys…just
one less thing to worry about!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I took this picture of my daughter and her
efforts, or lack thereof, to clean her bedroom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JHGCAUTSQqKwYjDjPLTNrKmVSqqNM-ytMZVQZPKtCi8yVJMHd6iNjRg_KkAFmMQCdc2eqM1JO84NCsm01x9opwoxfzsvquK3iAS3-h6OBNR5FejnZC9ycyR8UKHE5Ncb1MuRCAtjATh6/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JHGCAUTSQqKwYjDjPLTNrKmVSqqNM-ytMZVQZPKtCi8yVJMHd6iNjRg_KkAFmMQCdc2eqM1JO84NCsm01x9opwoxfzsvquK3iAS3-h6OBNR5FejnZC9ycyR8UKHE5Ncb1MuRCAtjATh6/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep, kind of tired of their messy bedroom. I can remember my parents always getting on
us to clean our bedrooms. One day my dad
warned my sister and I, that if we did not get our room cleaned up by that
evening, something drastic was going to happen.
We didn’t get it cleaned. I guess
we didn’t believe him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next day we come home from school. I will never forget walking into our
bedroom. It was messy before…but I was
in total shock at how bad it looked now.
It literally looked like a tornado had hit it. There was stuff everywhere…not only did he
dump out all of drawers, empty the entire closet, take everything off the
shelves, he dumped other things in there as well. Honestly, I just remember that we had to
climb over mountains of things to get in there.
It took my sister and I along time to get that mess cleaned up. After that, we took my dad seriously. If he said get your room cleaned, we couldn’t
move fast enough!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since my girls still have not cleaned their bedroom…do I do
it? Hah! The thought of it makes me
laugh, but the reality of it makes me think it is not a wise choice at the
moment! So, I guess not today… Who knows
maybe throwing out the toys will have some sort of impact? I can only hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the mean time I feel empowered. I am doing what I can to raise my children on
my own. As a single widowed parent you feel a huge amount of responsibility in
raising your children. You are both mom
and dad. You are it…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, my therapy for today was throwing away some toys. Who knew that could be so therapeutic. My message in this post is simple, sometimes it really is the small things that
bring us joy. It is about perspective. It is about attitude. It is about choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I can’t wait for them to come home from school and see
the empty bucket sitting there! Here’s
to empowerment! Here me roar!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-22656121835005445282014-04-08T15:56:00.002-07:002015-08-11T20:06:21.856-07:00Perceptions<style>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2CMQRpD-yuRxX1zQAD9ubVxmmXgqNqwGf5_MkeUiiEiWKbemqMVNboMg97kHvHDzQu-5AdoD-mj7_1oCl7nho62Rk4cYqsTB690_hH59zMaZ-Ibdnh-LpDZ80pW_tbbv8NRGqrpxaRTC/s1600/8-Lao-Tzu-Quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2CMQRpD-yuRxX1zQAD9ubVxmmXgqNqwGf5_MkeUiiEiWKbemqMVNboMg97kHvHDzQu-5AdoD-mj7_1oCl7nho62Rk4cYqsTB690_hH59zMaZ-Ibdnh-LpDZ80pW_tbbv8NRGqrpxaRTC/s1600/8-Lao-Tzu-Quotes.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> We ALL have perceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perceptions are impacted by things we may
have already learned through stereotypes and past experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perceptions affect our thoughts and they occur
BEFORE judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judgment is the
conclusion. The judgment we make or don’t make impacts our ACTIONS. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Recently, I was at Walmart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual, there was only a couple of cashiers
open. As I got in line behind a woman, I noticed that she had a shopping cart
FULL of items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also had a handful of
coupons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes, and she had three
children with her that she was wrestling with. Quickly a perception started to
form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">My perception led to unhappy thoughts. </span>I knew that this was going
to take a long time!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I stood in line…looking and hoping to see
another line I could get in to…starting to feel anxious about all the things I
needed to be doing…one of the children falls over on the floor and bonks her
head…now the mother is trying to console the child…now the cashier is getting
frustrated because all the bags are full and there is no where left to put the
groceries…it is chaos!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I stood there, thinking about how I wished
I were in a different line (which was not an option anyway), I realized that maybe I could do something to help
the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I should put aside
my unrighteous thoughts and help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
realized that I had the ability to make this situation better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At first I was afraid that she would think I
was trying to hurry her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, wasn’t
I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially, that was my thought, but
then I changed my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
changed my thoughts, it changed my actions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I walked forward to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I showed this woman compassion, reassured her
that I wanted to help and started to put the bags in the cart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I started to help with the children.
Amazing things transpired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I
helped the happier I felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually
was happy!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A stressful situation was changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This woman hugged me and thanked me for my
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me that just a couple of
weeks ago, she was checking out and the woman behind her was getting really
impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidently, the woman was very
irritated that she had coupons. She said the woman got angry with her and said,
“If all you are trying to do is save a dollar, I will give you a dollar!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As she relayed this story to me, it really
made me think. Our thoughts and then actions directly impact the outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am glad that we had a great outcome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have perceptions/thoughts that may or
may not be accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having the thought is not the
problem, it is the action that comes as a result of the thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the power to change our thoughts and
the power to act appropriately! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think that Heavenly Father has a lot for me
to learn at Walmart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just last week, I
was standing in line again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, of
course, was in a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman in
front of me was chatting on her iPhone while the cashier was checking her
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed that she was using
government assistance to get her items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am ashamed to say my first thought when I noticed this was, “great she
is getting government assistance, but she can still afford an iPhone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course, it was not going to be a simple transaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she realized she did not have enough
money to pay for her items she started to return them to the cashier. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My thoughts started to change…to one of
compassion…kindness…I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to help
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I ignored it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would she feel embarrassed if I tried to help
her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continued to ignore the feeling,
but it would not go away. So, I finally listened.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After this woman had put back several of her
clothing items, she started to put back her bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped forward and told her to put it
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her I wanted to pay for the
remaining items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at me with
shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me it was not necessary,
but I told her that I wanted to do it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This woman, whom I don’t know and will
probably never see again, gave me a huge hug and thanked me profoundly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt so amazingly happy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably felt better than she did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It wasn’t about the thanks I received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about the feelings of empowerment I
received as I learned that I can change my thoughts and choose not to judge
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can act appropriately!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To have charity we must act first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Dallin H.Oaks explanation of charity,
“</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The reason charity never
fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of
goodness he cited is that charity, “the pure love of Christ”, is not an <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">act</span> but a <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">condition</span> or state of being. Charity is attained through a
succession of acts that result in a conversion. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Charity is something one becomes</b>. Thus, as Moroni declared, “except
men shall <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">have</span> charity they
cannot inherit” the place prepared for them in the mansions of the Father.”-</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Challenge to Become, Ensign, October 2000.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
is through our actions that we become charitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our thoughts lead to our actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I mentioned earlier, is not the initial
thoughts we have that are the problem it is how we develop those thoughts and
then act.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a talk about the characteristics of
Christ, David Bednar said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It is
interesting to me that one of the central elements of the word </i><i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">character</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is created by the letters A, C, and T. As
we already have seen in the examples of Christ's character from the New
Testament, the nature and consistency of how one <b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">act</span></b>s reveals in a powerful way his or her true
char<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">act</span></b>er. In the case of Christ,
he is described as one ". . . who went about doing good"
(Acts 10:38)...</i></span><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I noted earlier in my
remarks that the letters A, C, and T form a central component in the word char<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">act</span></b>er. Also noteworthy is the similarity between
the words <b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">char</span></b>acter and<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> char</span></b>ity--as both words contain the letters C, H,
A, and R. Etymologically there is no relationship between these two words.
Nevertheless, I believe there are several conceptual connections that are
important for us to consider and ponder.”-</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Character of Christ,
BYU Idaho, January 25, 2003.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are times in our lives where we must
make certain judgments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned
it is better to err on the side of caution! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perceptions quickly become judgments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are not careful, we can make
unfair/unrighteous judgments and behave inappropriately toward other
individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change your thoughts! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ACT wisely!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My husband
was an amazing example of someone who was charitable. He did not pass
judgments on others. He just loved...when I grow up I want to be just
like him! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In this video clip, what were his perceptions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only he (and God) knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can tell what his judgements were by his actions...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uaWA2GbcnJU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span> <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-87393981574542791862014-03-26T13:57:00.003-07:002015-09-14T13:39:56.768-07:00Plans Change<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifiOXqo4paQJMcCeXcuZGpVYx3HM9q2VC3owzwNiqkwaOuQtbhFFQGE106x3uGFYA4tUoWfGPZw3R8W6B1iJkgWJSHjvG0Ay_V9QZcr_kLNVRoifINhRRh6uSEFujXLNW_kNUkWMEYSBe/s1600/Happily+ever+after-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifiOXqo4paQJMcCeXcuZGpVYx3HM9q2VC3owzwNiqkwaOuQtbhFFQGE106x3uGFYA4tUoWfGPZw3R8W6B1iJkgWJSHjvG0Ay_V9QZcr_kLNVRoifINhRRh6uSEFujXLNW_kNUkWMEYSBe/s1600/Happily+ever+after-001.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Once upon a time”…I had plans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those plans included romance, marriage,
children, growing old with my husband… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like many young girls, I created my own
version of “happily ever after”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
version had me married by the age of 21. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have five children all spaced exactly
two years apart (I even knew all their names).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My children would NEVER be the ones with snotty noses dripping all over
the shopping carts. I would always be thin and beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be the perfect mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I would grow old together and
serve a mission for my church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get
the picture! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like many young girls my plans did NOT
include trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, “once upon a time” always means “happily
ever after,” right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just figured you
create your plans and then you “live happily ever after.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I was about 2-years-old, my
parents realized that I had vision problems and took me in to get some
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were informed that I had a
lazy eye and that it was imperative they patch my good eye so that I would not
become totally blind in the lazy eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition, I wore glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must say I
looked really cute with my “cat-eye” glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although at the time I didn’t think I looked cute. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway, my poor vision contributed to
some of my shyness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partly because I had
grown such a fear of things when I was an infant because I could not see
properly and partly because once they corrected the problem with glasses I got
teased!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glasses are not viewed the same
now as they were then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always hated
being called four-eyes!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2FwMoV5jehVuFb8vJ1cMdjV4VypxZQsUiI5vZenXz2c3-cdOHeCE-NiiSoBosrV3uV4t3qrdAGZ_VrfK-LSz9hlI2GJfK2rcrFBxnrKSN14QDzGvP82YmsUpAjhW91Jo22oRMjK-1sUq/s1600/5615_101393659873753_3414646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2FwMoV5jehVuFb8vJ1cMdjV4VypxZQsUiI5vZenXz2c3-cdOHeCE-NiiSoBosrV3uV4t3qrdAGZ_VrfK-LSz9hlI2GJfK2rcrFBxnrKSN14QDzGvP82YmsUpAjhW91Jo22oRMjK-1sUq/s1600/5615_101393659873753_3414646_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was so shy, I had to hold my duck in front of me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5V8LmK4sfIAR04EslX2bE2hPSoP_vCJ50FKEelJjog9NPFTu5sWqd-cly8rcFAJftXPYhB561rGMOXrzegDuRrC2CXwySL61Bu3FCUcUZLwM0WfHzB6U7bjyfBPunCqELb6j2-oR1K3o/s1600/5615_101393663207086_4009374_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5V8LmK4sfIAR04EslX2bE2hPSoP_vCJ50FKEelJjog9NPFTu5sWqd-cly8rcFAJftXPYhB561rGMOXrzegDuRrC2CXwySL61Bu3FCUcUZLwM0WfHzB6U7bjyfBPunCqELb6j2-oR1K3o/s1600/5615_101393663207086_4009374_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the hair and the cat-eye's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjea2ODr6Z5J4y5Eg3JLjwl1FoAollnin1KM1Du_u6Lc5sl277fmGyi02asb9W6mF_fFFpH_wfYpHcH9QtETzie-rWLE7dLBYx2s6Hmc7_bMzyy5vzmffHX-TElTwAxOgNCnxMCtQAMpi/s1600/5615_101393669873752_1982685_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjea2ODr6Z5J4y5Eg3JLjwl1FoAollnin1KM1Du_u6Lc5sl277fmGyi02asb9W6mF_fFFpH_wfYpHcH9QtETzie-rWLE7dLBYx2s6Hmc7_bMzyy5vzmffHX-TElTwAxOgNCnxMCtQAMpi/s1600/5615_101393669873752_1982685_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, don't I look cute?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My senior year of high school I entered
the job release program and went to cosmetology school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so excited to have my cosmetology
license at just 18-years-old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought how
cool it was going to be to work until I got married at 21 and then I could quit
and stay home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could create beautiful
hairstyles on my daughters! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I was in my early twenties, I had
already started to see my plans change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the age of 21, I felt impressed that I needed to serve a mission for
my church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was blessed to have the
opportunity to go to England for 18 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I was on my mission, I was able to overcome my shyness and many of
my insecurity issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who know me
find it hard to believe that I was shy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I was terribly shy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just ask my family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I returned home from my mission and
started to date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became engaged to a
really nice guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only problem was I
didn’t feel good about it. I couldn’t understand why it was not the right
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, he was a good
guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, those feelings did not change,
so I called my wedding off four weeks before it was supposed to happen. It was
a very tough thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people questioned
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that some people thought I
was just afraid of marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard
knowing or at least feeling that people were “judging” me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I continued to work in a salon doing
hair, I came to the realization that my plans were not what I thought they were
going to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was now 23 years old and
home from a mission and still just dating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was not married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to
think about furthering my education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
decided to go to college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While working and going to college I
continued to date and meet some very nice guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before I knew it, I was graduating from college with my bachelor degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a double major in Family Studies and
Communication. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I still had not met my “Prince
Charming”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was starting to wonder if
he existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plans were quite
different from what I thought they would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the hardest parts of this trial in my life (yes, it was a trial)
was to deal with comments I would hear from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard that I was too picky. I worried that
people thought I had blown my chances. I even started to wonder if I had blown
my chances. I had opportunities to marry and did not take them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was I really too picky?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was wrong with me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether real or imagined, I was sure that
others were wondering the same things too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I even started to feel like I was not good enough in God’s eyes to be
married.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One day, I met a man and we hit it
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was so fun to be around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the life of the party kind of guy. We
dated. We got engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made plans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I started to have concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ignored the concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents were not excited about this match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come to think of it, I don’t think any of my
family or friends were too happy about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They just weren’t vocal about it like my parents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had this feeling my fiancé was not
being completely honest with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
like he was seeing his ex-wife behind my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He never would confirm it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore,
he was always telling me things that I needed to fix about my physical
appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would say things like,
“tanned fat looks better than white fat”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would also say things like, “just think how much I will love you when
you get thinner”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just knew I could
be a size three instead of a seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
how he loved bright red nail polish on fake nails!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Somehow, I put up with his emotional
abuse. This man did not accept me for who I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not fat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he started to convince me that I
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would call and check on me every
day to make sure that I had gone to the gym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would ask me what I had eaten for the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was one of those people who was very good
at manipulating you…he made everything he said seem logical and real.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plan change…one day after being engaged
for five months, he informed me that his ex-wife wanted him back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that he wanted to be with me, but if
he went back he could be with his young daughter full time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest is history…he chose to go back to his
ex-wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this day, I am grateful his
desire to be with his daughter was greater than his desire to be with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In case you were wondering, yes, he is
divorced from his wife again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After this disastrous relationship, I
was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like my chances were
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured that all the plans I
created for my “happily ever after” were not to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I felt tired and defeated I
started to date again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I was
too excited about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just four months later, I met my
“Prince Charming” on the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
funny, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and I both worked
downtown Salt Lake City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t go into
all the details on this post, but lets just say, it was a match made in
heaven!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we dated I never had any
fear or doubts of any kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A year later we were married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, at the age of 32, I married the most
amazing man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so grateful and still
am that I was blessed to find him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
look back, I know that God has been guiding my path all along. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My husband was previously married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His first wife suffered from mental
illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, she chose to
take her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart is sad for her
and all the suffering she endured. When I married my husband, I became the
stepmom to three children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say
children, but really they were two teenagers and a young adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was anxious to start having more children
to add to the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I
wasn’t getting any younger and neither was he.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was seven years older than me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, as usual my plans were
changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took longer than I
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little bit angry with
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, He made me wait until
I was 32 to get married and now I was forced to wait longer to have
children…seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I get to
struggle with infertility too?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, it finally happened after almost
three years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally got the double
lines on the pregnancy test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a
thrilling moment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan change…at 25
weeks pregnant I started to have a lot of contractions…preterm labor…I was
forced to quit my job and stay home on bed rest for 10 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, only a few weeks early, I had
this beautiful new baby daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
got her nickname of Cinnamon at this time because she had the most beautiful
colored hair!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My new baby was so beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new baby was also very inconsolable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cried all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean all the time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember one of the nurses in the hospital
called her a brat because she was such a fusser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, I didn’t like that nurse very
much!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, who tells a new mother
their baby is a brat?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To say that the first few months with
our new baby was rough is an understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My baby was fussy while she ate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She would arch her back when she has held. She was so upset at three
days old that she managed to roll over from her back to her stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only was she fussy, she was not gaining any weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After testing in the hospital and an overnight stay, it was determined
that she had severe reflux.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
placed on medication. Now, we were also working with a pediatric gastroenterologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple of weeks on the medication we
saw improvement and she started to gain weight. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
a miscarriage, we became pregnant with our second baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, I suffered pre-term labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, it started later and I only had to
do bed rest for 6 weeks.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our sweet little Skippy (nickname she
inherited because she started to skip around everywhere she went at a young
age---in fact right after she started walking) was born almost 4 weeks
early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan change…she did not have
trouble breathing, but she had major blood sugar issues which landed her in the
NICU for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that time it was
also discovered that she had severe reflux after she had a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“blue episode”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful she was in the NICU when it
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had aspirated while
sleeping and was not breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, they monitor the babies closely while they are in the NICU
and they were able to help her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had she
been at home she may not have made it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was another one of those times I counted my blessings!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plan change…as time went on we noticed
that our Cinnamon was very sensitive to sounds, textures, bright lights, and
changes to her routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
struggling in school socially and a bit academically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half way through her first grade year, I
found a neuropsychologist for children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a lot of money and testing, we discovered that our daughter had
Asperger Syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also had a math
learning disability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asperger Syndrome
is an autism spectrum disorder. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Someone with Asperger Syndrome can be
very high functioning, like our daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You do not look at her and think, “what is wrong with that child”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older she gets the less I see of the
Asperger traits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, I still see
it at times…mostly socially. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With time, she is learning to handle and overcome this trial. I have explained to her that some people struggle with depression; some people struggle with ADHD (which is what they were originally thinking she had); some people struggle with diabetes; some people struggle with other ailments. We all have our struggles in life...whatever that may be!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am constantly trying to remind my
daughter that there are many famous people who have been diagnosed with or
thought to have had Asperger Syndrome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
really is such a delight to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart
aches as I watch her cry because she struggles so much with friendships.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plan change…in 2009, his back really
started to bother him again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paul had broken his back when he was working as a lineman for the phone company in
his early twenties.</span> </span>We knew
that another surgery might be headed his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In 2010, we knew that he was going to have to have surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could hardly walk and his leg was starting
to atrophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took Paul in to the
Neurosurgeon and we were told that his L4 and L5 were rubbing bone on bone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was decided that he would have
surgery on May 21, 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember that
day well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was my first glimpse at
what it would feel like to lose my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The surgery they were performing was called an ALIF (Anterior Interbody
Lumbar Fusion).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this procedure they
do the surgery through the abdomen rather than the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They move the organs out of the way to expose
the spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While moving things somehow a
vein attached to the Iliac artery ripped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was approximately 4:40 p.m. when the nurse
came out to tell us that doctor would like to meet with us in one of the
conference rooms. My father, father-in-law, and I were relieved to know that
the surgery was completed in almost the exact time they told us it would
take....or so we thought. A very pale and weary doctor came in to meet with us.
As he came in the room, I was thinking, man he looks pretty drained, it must
have been a little harder than anticipated...little did I know. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the doctor started to speak his voice was
very shaky...he did not make eye contact with us...he said, "There has
been a complication. I am not sure exactly what happened...he is bleeding from
a vein...we are working to save Paul's life". At that moment, I could not
believe what I was hearing...What? He went in for back surgery? Why are they
having to save his life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several
intermittent updates, over a two hour span, they finally came and told us he
would be going in to ICU...We had to wait for another hour or so before we
could go in to see him...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
was not prepared for what I saw when I walked into Paul's room...I almost
collapsed...he was full of tubes and IV's and his face was very swollen...but
he did have good coloring in his face</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As it was explained to me, Paul had coded on
the table, had received 15 units of blood, had two vascular surgeons working on
him and really was lucky to be alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were informed that yes, he was truly a miracle!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two
months later, Paul went in for surgery on his back again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only this time they did it the traditional
way, through his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple
more months of a grueling recovery, he was finally able to go back to
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been off for six months!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Plan
change…after Paul had been back to work for 13 months, we discovered that he
had cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read the cancer
story on my blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first post is
this <a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2011/12/are-you-serious.html">Are you serious?</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband died after a valiant
battle with stomach cancer on February 25, 2013. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No, my life is not what I planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan did not include cancer. My plan did
not include my mom dying just six months before my husband. My plan did not
include becoming a widow at a young age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My plan did not include having a child with Asperger Syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan did not include having a child with
major OCD issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan did not
include my plans changing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My “once upon time” is very different
from what I thought it was going to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plan that I am on is
what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows what is best for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows how to help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows what my “happily ever after” WILL
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyone experiences changes to their
plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone has trials, whether they
are directly related to their change in plans or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people’s trials are less obvious than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are people who silently suffer
daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what your trials are,
know that God loves you and is mindful of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With God’s help, your trials will make you stronger if you allow them
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
have met other women who have written about the changes in their dreams and
plans. They are sharing their own personal struggles and trials and how they
are dealing with them. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read about </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Veronica
here <a href="http://not4naught.blogspot.com/2013/11/giving-up-my-plan-and-learning-to-be.html">Giving up My Plan and Learning to be Content with God's Plan</a>; you can read about Julie here<a href="http://breakingthesilence-cam.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-name-is-julie.html"> My Name is Julie</a>; you can read about Ashlee here <a href="http://www.themomentswestand.com/2014/03/i-dream.html">I Dream</a>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the talk <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/05/your-happily-ever-after">Your Happily Every After</a>, Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, <i>“</i></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how
your life’s story will develop…</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enduring
adversity is not the only thing you must do to experience a happy life. Let me
repeat: how you react to adversity and temptation is a critical factor in
whether or not you arrive at your own “happily ever after.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I hear the phrase “happily ever
after” it sounds like eternity to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know that someday I will be reunited with Paul and all other loved ones that I
have lost to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that sounds like
“happily ever after” to me!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-3467708818460516692014-03-20T14:22:00.001-07:002015-08-11T20:07:33.959-07:00Flashbacks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWku898e2meApqasFS9kt_TT_fToaUIiuA2sQ9dgSfoZx7FGulfSlxDs6UCIiAg6GhBzM_6ZzvUqdyCBhvVk9Tel24HxkeJ5bsh_y9v59sLqM_rqfBXi5noGVEsueCz_vRIA7VYyn54-no/s1600/Mother-Teresa-meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWku898e2meApqasFS9kt_TT_fToaUIiuA2sQ9dgSfoZx7FGulfSlxDs6UCIiAg6GhBzM_6ZzvUqdyCBhvVk9Tel24HxkeJ5bsh_y9v59sLqM_rqfBXi5noGVEsueCz_vRIA7VYyn54-no/s1600/Mother-Teresa-meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today has been one of “those” days. I have been having flashbacks. I am remembering the suffering. I am remembering the days where Paul was
vomiting over and over…there was nothing I could do…I felt so helpless. I am remembering those words…”Paul is
terminal. There is nothing left to
do…” I am remembering the whole hospice
experience… I am remembering the fear of raising my children alone… I am
remembering the day he died…he died laying right next to me…I reached over to
feel his chest…there was no movement…I flipped on the light…I knew he was
gone…I knew that his body was only a shell…the spirit that was housed in that
body was in a much better place…I wept tears of joy for him and tears of
sadness for me…</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am also remembering how I got through those tough
times. I am remembering how I am getting
through these tough times. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last couple months of Paul’s life were spent mostly at
home. We were either at the hospital,
doctor’s appointments or at home. I am
remembering a Sunday that I was home with him…I did not go to church that day…I
was in the shower feeling very sad and distraught…the song “A Child’s Prayer”
came into my mind. As I was singing it
in my head, I started to sob uncontrollably.
The shower was and still is a safe place. I can meditate and cry. It is my time…no children…no cell
phone…nothing but me and hot running water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unbeknownst to me, at that same time, they were singing this
very song in my church. My friend shared
that with me after I told her about my day.
Anyway, as I was singing this song in my head, I had a warm feeling (no
it was not just the hot water) that God and my Savior Jesus Christ were there
for me. That, yes, my prayers are heard
and answered. They just might not be
answered in the way I would like them to be or in the time frame that I feel
they should be answered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have discovered through my trials that prayer is key to
survival. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Richard G. Scott said, “<i>The counsel about prayer is true. I have
tested it thoroughly in the laboratory of my own personal life. I have
discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to communication
is a giant step to be taken in trust.” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have discovered that trust in God is imperative. Back in October, 2013, I wrote a post on <a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/10/trusting-god.html">Trusting God</a>. If I trust God than I need
to trust that prayer is a true principle.
The only way I can discover if something is true, is to act. So, if I want to know if prayer really works,
I need to pray! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">This I know. Everyone
can pray. Everyone can receive help from
God. God loves all his children no matter what religion or lack of religion
they participate in. There is great
power in prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">This I also know.
Prayers are not always answered immediately. We do not get everything we pray for because
God knows what is best for us. He knows
our plan. Sometimes we do not recognize that our prayers were answered because
we are too busy to notice. Prayer is not
about convincing God that your will is better than His. It is about aligning our will with His. Prayer is about putting
your trust in Him, that He will be by your side directing you on your path.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please watch! This song has a beautiful message! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eb29gVgaHcY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-5204626942491163412014-02-25T16:16:00.002-08:002014-05-15T13:31:22.063-07:00Life's a Journey--Serve With a Friend<style>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaP9OH1CdCRH8PiO3trk2QyL-WycXbvrG3Iq2TlHN0KYw4WJdVenWe7bFRpfmW4qfwx2PAetARQ6E1v59x8pmZtctX_DNALmCv1IkfrHHrdeKVmL1P9s-KDU3w65jNy9y2uDnTDsy9XDA/s1600/Thanksgiving+2009+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaP9OH1CdCRH8PiO3trk2QyL-WycXbvrG3Iq2TlHN0KYw4WJdVenWe7bFRpfmW4qfwx2PAetARQ6E1v59x8pmZtctX_DNALmCv1IkfrHHrdeKVmL1P9s-KDU3w65jNy9y2uDnTDsy9XDA/s1600/Thanksgiving+2009+007.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul doing what he loved to do! He was always cooking for others!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One year ago today, Paul passed away after courageously
battling cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was such an
inspiration to all who knew him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
that one-in-a-million kind of guy! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I was thinking about his many great qualities today, I
think his greatest qualities were his ability to love unconditionally and serve
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always the first person
to offer a helping hand…no matter what…if he was able, he would drop what he
was doing and help someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This post is something that I feel Paul would like me to
share with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was his
legacy…to serve others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel that it
is very important to share this message for and in behalf of my loving husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like Paul, I was raised in a home where service was always a
top priority…for that I will always be grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned the importance of serving others at
a young age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that if at all
possible, you stop what you are doing and help others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul and I were “two peas in a pod”…honestly, we were inseparable…I
miss taking his homemade rolls and cookies to people…I miss his optimistic
outlook…I miss his kind and giving heart…I miss so many things…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To marry a man with the understanding of the importance of
service was such a blessing for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was something else we did together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
we couldn’t do it together, we would SUPPORT EACH OTHER in accomplishing the
things we needed to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, I just have to say this…I enjoy the serving part more!
To be the one receiving service is not easy…but in saying that, I am so
grateful for all the many friends and family who have made our burdens lighter
through their service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only during
Paul’s illness, but we are still receiving kind acts of service on a regular
basis.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know something really cool that I have discovered that
has been a huge help to me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
still serve others, even during your own trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I have discovered that SERVICE is a
great way to help YOU get THROUGH your TRIALS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Besides the obvious thing like it helps you to focus on someone else,
therefore you forget about yourself, service creates an enabling power which
actually improves our own individual lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus Christ taught, <span class="chunk"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whosoever will save his life shall lose it:
but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it”-</i>Luke
9:24<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="chunk"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
believe,</span></i></span><span class="chunk"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">” said Thomas S. Monson, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Savior is telling
us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose
to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and
figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to
others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives”-Serve the Lord with
Love, Ensign, Feb. 2014.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="chunk"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thomas S. Monson also said, “</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Often
we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. There are those
within the sphere of our own influence who, with outstretched hands, cry out,
“Is there no balm in Gilead?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of
another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often
has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling
that “oh, surely someone will take care of that need.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back,
however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have
immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we
spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter
much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important
causes.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
years ago I heard a poem which has stayed with me, by which I have tried to
guide my life. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It’s one of my favorites:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
have wept in the night </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
the shortness of sight </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
to somebody’s need made me blind; </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But
I never have yet </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Felt
a tinge of regret </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
being a little too kind. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our
encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members,
friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the
earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon
each of us.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
may lament: I can barely make it through each day, doing all that I need to do.
How can I provide service for others? What can I possibly do?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just
over a year ago, I was interviewed by the Church News prior to my birthday. At
the conclusion of the interview, the reporter asked what I would consider the
ideal gift that members worldwide could give to me. I replied, “Find someone
who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely, and do something for him or her”-</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What Have I Done for Someone
Today, Ensign, Nov. 2009.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="chunk"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have asked myself these important
questions and would encourage you to do the same. Am I willing to sacrifice my time
to help someone else? Am I really too busy to help? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span>Am I waiting or hoping for
someone else to do it…let that someone else be ME and YOU!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might say, but I am serving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I serve all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have family responsibilities that require
me to serve them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no time to
serve anyone else but them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are my
priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, our immediate families
are our priority so I am not suggesting that we don’t serve and take care of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I am suggesting, and what Thomas Monson is suggesting is that just maybe we have more time to help
than we think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we can rearrange
our schedules. Maybe we do actually have time to prepare a meal and take over
to the sick neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just maybe we can
do it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, the dishes will still be there when you get home; the
laundry will still be piled high; dinner will not be cooked; there may be
little in your own cupboards; but this I know, we are blessed when we follow
the teachings of our Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow
those things will be taken care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically, it may be through the help of someone else! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul was an example of true love and service up until the
moment he went into a coma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He found
ways to serve while he was sick and in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would call and check on other people to see how they were doing and
to offer words of encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
would greet others who came to visit with a warm smile…he always wanted to know
about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to serve them. He
wanted them to leave his presence knowing that they were loved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Service doesn’t always have to be something
big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it is the small things
that matter most!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Matthew Chapter 5 we read<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“For
I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I
was a stranger, and ye took me in:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Then
shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and
fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When
saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Or
when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“And
the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
me.”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="chunk"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This I know, when I stand before my
Savior, He is not going to ask me if I had my laundry done; if my house was
clean; what kind of car I drove; how big my house was; which soccer team my
child played on; if I got an A on the math test…He is going to ask me how I
loved and served others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all about
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a large part of love is the
service we render.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life can be busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are counseled not to run faster than we have strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, sometimes I have felt like I was
pushing the edge a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times I
wish I could do more, but find that my body just won’t allow it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to say no, but understand that
sometimes it is necessary. I feel the way Anne Morrow Lindberg does, “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart
responds.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While I have never run the Ragnar Relay Race,
I have numerous friends who have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
website it says this about the race,</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“In
the Ragnar Relay Series, teams of 12 run a 200-mile relay over two days and one
night; in the Ragnar Relay Series teams of 8 run a 120-mile trail relay over
the same time span. Often called a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant,
this unique relay turns out crazy costumes, inside jokes, close quarters and
unforgettable stories.</span></i><br />
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each
Ragnar brings thousands of people together to create deeper connections and
celebrate together as they conquer a challenge they couldn’t accomplish alone.
Life’s a journey – run it with friends!”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At times, service can be like a
relay race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You go and go and then you
need a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need someone to pick
up where you left off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together you can
accomplish great things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together you
can experience true joy and happiness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together you might get sweaty and stinky.
Together you can find much laughter. Together, many hands make work light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to ask you to join my team and
remember : Life’s a journey - serve with friends!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-26971051802939853842014-02-12T17:11:00.005-08:002014-05-15T13:31:50.965-07:00Those Words You Never Want to Hear!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
One year ago today was one of those days that I don’t really
want to remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were meeting
with Paul’s oncologist this is what we were told, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”Paul, you have
fought a good fight, but it is time to stop fighting…the chemotherapy is not
working…you need to go on hospice and let them help you be as comfortable as
possible…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Those are words no one ever wants to hear!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At that news, Paul and I held each
other and cried and cried and cried…to be told that you will have 7 to 10 days
to live…to know that you can no longer fight…to know that all the dreams and
plans you created together are about to end…there is no way to adequately
describe the pain and sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, I was reading an article from the Deseret
News <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865596178/To-wives-Before-you-were-Mommy.html?pg=all">To Wives: Before You Were Mommy. </a></span></div>
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is an
excerpt from the article, “<i>But Ladies, when Mommy becomes your name, remember
this man. Remember that you are his wife. Remember how much you love and
appreciate him in this moment. Remember his dedication to your family. Remember
his love and devotion to you. And then, when the days are long and you need a
break, fall into his arms.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<i>
</i><i><span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Men,
remember your bride. The care and love that she has given you will soon be
spilled over to your children. Her love for you will not change. Give her the
grace to be enough even when she doesn’t feel like it. Remember when your days
are long, hers are too. Remember her. Fall in love with her again.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i>
</i><i><span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember
each other. Remember the two that made the family. Let the Lord lead you both
together. Because when the days are endless and the hours short, it will only
be his love who keeps you together. It will only be his mercy that gently
guides your hearts as one. Hold tightly to one another, and even more tightly
to the Lord. There is no greater adventure for you to experience and no greater
gift than to walk through parenthood with your best friend. You are a team.
Every single day.”</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I cried big
tears as I read this article. I remember how much I loved being his wife. I
remember how much I loved and appreciated him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I remember his love and devotion to me. I remember the butterflies in my
stomach when I would hear his voice on the phone and when he would come home
from work. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I also
remember my teammate is no longer physically here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not get to fall into his arms after a
long hard day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not here to give
me a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not here to fall in
love with me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My best friend is
not here to walk through parenthood with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only do I not have “every single day”, I do not have even one day
now.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, my
husband helped me around the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
cooked. He cleaned dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He helped
with laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even, on occasion,
cleaned the bathrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know that
not all men help around the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also know that this is a sore spot for many women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I believe that maintaining the house
should be a joint effort, but ironically it is not those things that I miss.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I miss
talking to my best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss
holding hands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss laughing
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss the way he looked at
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss hearing his voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss someone to vent to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss my parenting teammate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss his hugs and kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss the smell of his cologne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss hearing “I love you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss being told I am beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss his smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss his optimism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just miss him…</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="italic-text"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The last
year of Paul’s life he was not able to help me around the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was too sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I had more work to do because I was
his caregiver…but you know what, it didn’t matter because he was here with
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could still talk to him and see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was present in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="italic-text">Paul and I had an amazing marriage. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First and foremost, we always put God
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you put God first everything
else will fall into place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of
our love of God, we followed/follow His teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Why
should we love God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like Dieter F.
Uchtdorf’s explanation, <i>“<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God
the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs
us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard,
deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time
and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No, God does not need us to love
Him. But oh, how we need to love God!</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For what we love determines what
we seek.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What we seek determines what we
think and do.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>What we think and do determines
who we are—and who we will become”</i>-<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Love of God, Ensign, Oct. 2009.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was our love of God first that enabled us to love each
other completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned by
following God’s teachings what love really is and how to establish a loving
relationship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our relationship was fabulous because of one really
important teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Service. It was
never about what I could get from him or how he could help me. It was never
about what he could get from me or how I could help him. I always worried more
about him and his needs and he always worried more about me and my needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, both our needs were always
met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Selflessness and service is what develops love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the other way around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once love is established than continual
service is what keeps that love going strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Service promotes charity, the pure love of Christ. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love this quote, <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No, love isn’t an
emotion or even a noun. It’s a verb. Better defined as
giving. As putting someone else’s needs above your own.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I couldn’t agree more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we love our children so deeply?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say it is more than genetics...it is
because we are constantly serving them…it is about putting their needs above our
own. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how it should be with our
spouses as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lynn
G. Robbins said, <i>“If a husband and wife are willing to apply the scriptural
definition of love to their relationship, even a stale marriage and romance can
be revived. </i></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen
R. Covey relates the following experience:</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“At one seminar, after I’d
spoken on the importance of demonstrating character within the family, a man
came up and said, ‘I like what you’re saying, but my wife and I just don’t have
the same feelings for each other that we used to. I guess we don’t love each
other anymore. What can I do?’</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“‘Love her,’ I replied.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He looked puzzled. ‘How do you
love when you don’t feel love?’</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>“‘My friend,’ I responded, ‘love
is a verb. The feeling of love is the fruit of love. So love your wife. You did
it once, you can do it again. Listen. Empathize. Appreciate. It’s your choice.
Are you willing to do that?’</i>-<span style="font-size: x-small;">Agency and Love in Marriage, Ensign, Oct. 2000.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we are approaching Valentines Day, <span class="italic-text">I would like to challenge everyone to reassess their
relationships. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember love is a
verb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such, it requires action.</span> How are you serving your companion? Often times, it is the simple things that matter most!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I miss serving my husband. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be forever grateful for the opportunity
I had to serve such an amazing man!</span><br />
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-14977153717127842882014-02-01T18:55:00.002-08:002014-05-15T13:32:22.378-07:00Who Knew...Press'n Seal Can Make You Cry?!<style>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I was using Glad Press’n Seal Wrap and I started to
cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it made me sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it probably sounds crazy, but the
tears started to flow freely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would
have thought wrap used to protect your food could bring on such sadness…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually, I am not surprised at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Paul had his port accessed, we had to
cover it every time he showered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He would have times where he would be accessed for weeks at a time. </span>When we
ran out of the medical plastic protectors, we had to get a little more
creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discovered that Press’n
Seal worked better than anything else…it clung pretty closely and helped to
keep the port dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nN9X_IXw2_mkYjRrSkenrkjMPznhs-ksxZhZgcSCu6n_ijdhdTLdgHgIglAhJadjEl22IeoT1r2fjCHSch9iJs-ZfF7r1ZuAWnfSmQn8gpHqXQfh6HdjJBk3QgSCv9t9f9ogL7nRbd2B/s1600/P4030074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nN9X_IXw2_mkYjRrSkenrkjMPznhs-ksxZhZgcSCu6n_ijdhdTLdgHgIglAhJadjEl22IeoT1r2fjCHSch9iJs-ZfF7r1ZuAWnfSmQn8gpHqXQfh6HdjJBk3QgSCv9t9f9ogL7nRbd2B/s1600/P4030074.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port accessed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGD7Ags5vhJHPbFJwH2G_cJAppQ3onpmeS9f4ZX1Cayz4Eh8-zMJiHH8fAHvLurQQykO3LEPG2dUcCZ9VX5Nv-JloQXvzCVlVapNL7Pl832LsoHikeVZrz2OzkhTDFHzmv0QeM19OF8sI/s1600/P4030079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGD7Ags5vhJHPbFJwH2G_cJAppQ3onpmeS9f4ZX1Cayz4Eh8-zMJiHH8fAHvLurQQykO3LEPG2dUcCZ9VX5Nv-JloQXvzCVlVapNL7Pl832LsoHikeVZrz2OzkhTDFHzmv0QeM19OF8sI/s1600/P4030079.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port not accessed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, now every time I see Press’n Seal it makes me think of
Paul…it makes me think of all his suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t use it often anymore, but I do have a couple rolls sitting in
the drawer…we bought several to use for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Usually it doesn’t make me cry, but it does make me think and feel a bit
sad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I am feeling a bit more sensitive now that February
is here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have dreaded this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This
month represents a lot of sadness for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically, some of my best and happiest memories were in February. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our wedding anniversary is on February 5; on
February 12, 2013, we received the news that Paul was going on hospice;
February 14, 2013, was the last Valentine Day I spent with Paul; February 25,
2013, Paul passed away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is hard to believe that Paul has been gone for almost a
year now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss him more than words can
say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can say that I understand true
sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At times, I feel deep sadness for my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, I received a couple emails from my
girl’s elementary school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both emails
were regarding activities involving <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the emails was referring to the annual
Valentine dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dads and their
daughters get dressed up, of course spend time dancing, have treats, and get
their picture taken together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year,
my father-in-law took the girls because Paul was in the hospital, and obviously
was too sick to take them anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I read those emails, I cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is our reality now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul is not coming home from work…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul is not here to take the girls to the Valentine dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will never be here to take them
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not be here when they are
learning to drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not be here
when they go on their first date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
will not be here when they graduate from high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not be here when they graduate from
college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not be here when they
get married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not be here when
they have their babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not be
here……..at least not physically.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do believe that Paul will be present for all of those
activities, just not in the sense we would really like him to be here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be here in the only way that is
possible at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful
that I know I will see him again one day and so will my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, like Paul said in the video we
recorded of him, he will be here watching over them on their first dates!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I look at my journey over this past year it has been a
huge growing experience. Well, actually it began about 4 years ago when Paul
was having major problems with his back, died on the operating table but came
back, and then had to have another surgery to repair his back; his cancer
diagnosis (surgeries, chemo);my dad’s heart attack and major surgery; my mom
dying; Paul dying; and a few other trials along the way…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have been times this past year where I have wondered
how I was going to do this by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have come to realize that I am not doing this by myself at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have help from a loving Heavenly Father and
my Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know that Paul is still
watching over us and helping us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
amazing friends and family who have become my angels and Paul’s hands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do I have moments of complete sorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, fortunately they are just moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have discovered that I can experience great sorrow and then move
forward. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do I feel blessed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Absolutely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have so many things
to be grateful for!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I woke up this morning to find this beautiful, </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">brightly lit mohawk, </span>little girl laying in my bed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0x346rkW_ZuLUhlTywdAUA0R3y2F0jxJgV832Bg2n2x7ahGqRPZo5nvp8pZSaK8af638u_BYenpLo0UBk9AzsY1vksM0vlcYoCuv9tSr4pJ8YkJnJhtlpuQyqu7ms8aZ6J-EqNBMwWup/s1600/IMG_1749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0x346rkW_ZuLUhlTywdAUA0R3y2F0jxJgV832Bg2n2x7ahGqRPZo5nvp8pZSaK8af638u_BYenpLo0UBk9AzsY1vksM0vlcYoCuv9tSr4pJ8YkJnJhtlpuQyqu7ms8aZ6J-EqNBMwWup/s1600/IMG_1749.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-41980822810996692602014-01-25T18:02:00.004-08:002015-01-03T18:36:32.061-08:00A Trial is Really a Blessing?<style>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was looking at pictures of Paul last night. It was strange to see the impact that cancer
truly has on someone. It can take a
vital, healthy person and literally age them and destroy them before your eyes. I remember thinking as I watched my husband’s
health decline so rapidly that it was like watching his life being snubbed out
in fast motion…one minute he looked healthy and happy…the next minute he could
not walk to the bathroom anymore.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeNqnnGyqfNjjJ-C7P96-AXkPvf3vXBp3KJnMT-0BeHa4dF2Zjh_0VFsJMcVng2spDaJSyYdzTqWvzC5zxvTRhk7-CZcJP5rLJJLnYMU2locLYZh3Pj_GJGJPnZuNWUk3togtO_m-cQ9m/s1600/Paul-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeNqnnGyqfNjjJ-C7P96-AXkPvf3vXBp3KJnMT-0BeHa4dF2Zjh_0VFsJMcVng2spDaJSyYdzTqWvzC5zxvTRhk7-CZcJP5rLJJLnYMU2locLYZh3Pj_GJGJPnZuNWUk3togtO_m-cQ9m/s1600/Paul-001.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The last picture does not really reflect how thin he was...I think it is because his head was laying back and pushing his neck forward making him look heavier than he really was. Anyway, please notice the smile. Paul was amazing because he always had a smile even in great times of adversity and pain. The first picture taken does not reflect that because he is watching television...but it is the only picture I have of him at Thanksgiving by himself...four days before we got his diagnosis of cancer.</td><td class="tr-caption"></td><td class="tr-caption"></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, we were able to get video of Paul before he passed away. I have created a short video with some of those clips. As can be seen in this video, it was as hard for Paul to leave us as it was hard for us to have him leave. The first clip is from December 2009, the other clips were taken on Feb. 13 & 21, 2013. He passed away on February 25, 2013.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Click on this link for video:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c49kdWRHCpc">Paul Winchester</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have had some flashbacks recently about those last couple
weeks of Paul’s life. I remember how
hard it was to watch him starve to death.
He could not eat anything because of his bowel blockage and we were no
longer able to give him TPN ((Total Parenteral Nutrition—given
through his PICC line) because he was on hospice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to say that it was excruciatingly painful to know
that I could go and get a bag of TPN out of the refrigerator and just hook him
to up to get some nutrition. Paul did
not want that. He was so sick. The rules
on hospice are that you cannot give anyone “life saving measures”…Paul could
only eat if he could do it by mouth…that was not possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I could not throw the TPN bags out…we had a weeks worth
sitting in the refrigerator…finally a good friend took them out and threw them
away for me…I just couldn’t do it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When we were placed on hospice we were told that Paul would
probably live 7 to 10 days. Paul lived
for 12 days. He had no food and very
little water for 12 days. If you would
like to read more about the last couple weeks of his life see these blog posts <a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/02/it-is-time-for-hospice.html">It is Time For Hospice</a> and <a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/03/trying-to-adjust.html">Trying to Adjust</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I look back on that time, I realize I was blessed,
otherwise I would not have made it. I
see God’s hand in all that has happened in my life. He is always there to help lift me. He utilized the hands of others then and He
is still utilizing the hands of others now to help us. Many thanks to all my angels!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is there really any good way to lose your spouse? Not
really. After discussing this with
friends who have lost their spouse whether it was instant and unexpected or
from terminal illness it is HARD! They
both have drawbacks—just of a different nature. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are there people who have greater trials in life? If you were to ask me that, until recently, I
would have said yes, absolutely! Now, I
don’t know how I would answer that, but not because I think my trials are
greater. I see things differently. If I say that there are others who have
greater trials than mine then ultimately I am saying that there are others who
have lesser trials than mine. It is not
my responsibility to judge or determine how hard someone else’s trial is. It is my responsibility to have charity. It is my responsibility to show compassion,
empathy and understanding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have learned through my own trials that perspective and
attitude DO affect the outcome. As
strange as this sounds, trials are a blessing IF you choose to see them as one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“The most beautiful people we have
known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known
loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an
appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with
compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just
happen.” <br />
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We become who we are because of trials. They help to define us as to whether we
become better and stronger or become a defeatist! It is important to remember, “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has
specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.” –C.S.
Lewis</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please watch this short video called “Mountains to Climb”. It’s message is very uplifting and</span> <span style="font-size: large;">profound</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdN8rfwW3SI">Mountains to Climb</a> </b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So are trials really a blessing? It depends on your perspective and attitude!<b> </b></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-47394419915927230492014-01-02T21:08:00.001-08:002014-05-15T13:33:23.547-07:00Laughter Yoga<style>
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Did you know there is something called Laughter Yoga? I
didn’t until today, but just the thought of it made me laugh! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I just was trying to visualize…somehow
yoga and laughing doesn’t seem to go together…I think of meditation and
yoga…deep breathing and yoga…or maybe the game Twister...that is a form of yoga many of us are familiar with...you twist and contort in all kinds of strange and unusual positions...trying not to get too close...you don't want to end up with your face too close to someone else's booty...then you fall on each other and laugh your heads off! Ummm...I don't think that is what they had in mind at <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.laughteryoga.org/english/home">Laughter Yoga International</a></span></span>!</div>
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I have discovered that laughter really can help to heal a
wounded soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure why Laughter
Yoga would be necessary or is actually more beneficial than just laughing on
your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he reason it might
be beneficial is because you create laughter with others and you are allowing
yourself time to be silly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly enough,
we don’t take time to do things if we don’t make time for it…that could even
include laughter. My vote is to forgo the the Laughter Yoga and play Twister instead! </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brad Wilcox said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Humor helps. Humor heals. In fact, many medical studies have linked
laughter with better physical and mental health.<sup> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup>Such studies confirm the scripture that
states, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov. 17:22). Humor allows
us to view our lives in a more positive light, deal with personal conflicts and
intolerance, and cope with trials and frustrations that might otherwise seem
overwhelming. As we are told in Ecclesiastes, there is “a time to laugh” (Eccl.
3:4</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> ).” </i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
all encounter things that seem ugly, inconvenient, even unbearable. We change
what we can, but sometimes we simply have to accept and cope with unpleasant
circumstances. Humor can be a helpful coping tool.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
Art E. Berg was thrown from an automobile during a rollover just five weeks
before his wedding date, his neck was broken, and at the age of 21 he was left
a quadriplegic. Although his body no longer serves him as it once did and he is
confined to a wheelchair, Brother Berg is far from being helpless and
depressed. He has learned to depend upon the Spirit of the Lord and draw upon
his own incredible will to overcome. He now lives a life full of service,
activity, and accomplishment. What got him through? Among other things, Brother
Berg says peace came from learning to laugh again, particularly with his
family. He writes, “I am not sure I would have survived the emotional trauma of
my injuries and the complications of my new life if it hadn’t been for the wit,
chuckles, laughs, and good-natured humor of my wife and family.”</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u><sup><span style="color: blue;"> </span></sup></u> </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abraham
Lincoln struggled with bouts of depression and used humor as therapy. His
ability to laugh at himself was revealed during a political debate in which his
opponent called him “two-faced.” Lincoln replied, “I leave it to my audience.
If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?”</span></i>–If We Can
Laugh at It, We Can Live with It, Ensign, Mar 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Gary
K. Palmer said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have learned that the ability to laugh at everyday family
difficulties helps keep life in perspective. If we will learn to laugh and play
more with our families, not only will we feel better but so will they. “A merry
heart doeth good like a medicine,” says Proverbs 17:22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studies show that humor and laughter help
people live longer, happier lives; be more creative and productive; and have
more energy with less physical discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup>Humor reduces stress,
fear, intimidation, embarrassment, and anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Laughter also has extraordinary healing power.<sup> </sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a person laughs, blood pressure
decreases, heart rate and respiration increase, the body releases endorphins,
and depression declines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
laughter subsides and you relax again, that good feeling has a lasting effect,
even until the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup>Not many medicines will do that.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On
average, children laugh 400 times a day, while adults laugh about 15 times. Why
the gap? Did we lose something? Have we forgotten the way we used to be? Why is
it that children seem to cope with life’s oddities better than adults? Perhaps
it’s because they do not fully understand. But I think it’s simpler than
that—they laugh. As we grow older, we get far too serious. Watch children play.
They don’t need expensive toys to entertain them. Everything is fun. They are
spontaneous. Only when we become adults do we start to get boring. Do we need
to cultivate a different attitude? Humor is in the way we see things, the way
we think. It’s an attitude, not an event. Perhaps the key lies in becoming more
childlike.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think laughter is more important than a family vacation because it’s always
available and it’s free. Vacations are not. Big family events and vacations are
wonderful, but these will not replace the daily humor and laughter in a home.
Laughter is like getting away without going away. It gives you a break.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laughter
improves communication and builds relationships because everyone laughs in the
same language. Your children will remember your humor much longer than they
will the things you buy them. Children are more receptive when they are having
fun. Laughter helps us remember. And we remember what we feel”-</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Power of Laughter, Ensign,
Sept. 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paul knew how to laugh…I can
hear his laugh now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always trying
to make others smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laughter was
something that helped us through some really tough times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Have
you ever noticed laughter is like yawning--it is contagious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you start to laugh because you hear
someone else laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not even be
sure why you are laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This
blog post was prompted by a quote a friend sent to me, “<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laughter
is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart. Seven days without
laughter makes one weak.” </span></span><span class="null"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">―</span></span><span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mort Walker </span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cobwebs are threads of spider webs covered with accumulated
dirt and dust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In essence, a cobweb is a
snare--something that traps or entangles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the prey that has become entangled in the cobweb doesn’t get free, it
will eventually die, because either the spider will come and get it (don’t need
gory details here) or it will die because of starvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we allow cobwebs to entangle our heart, it will
eventually destroy us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cobwebs can
be sorrow, anger, hate, self-pity, holding grudges, selfishness, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition to laughter as one of the bristles, I also see
that prayer, scripture study, service, and gratitude are bristles on the brush
that helps to sweep away the cobwebs from our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the key things that have helped and
are continuing to help me survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are keeping the cobwebs away! </span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brushes only work well if all the bristles are in
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have bristles that are
missing in sections on the brush, it is not as effective while using it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you may remove some of the cobweb, some
may be left behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The part that is
left behind can keep you entangled to a degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can feel when some of the bristles on my brush are missing…then I know
it is time to replace the bristles…make sure they are all there! </span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I say it’s time for a good laugh! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTOeuH-iEJ8">Laughing Baby</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.wimp.com/badmorning/">Bad Morning!</a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A song to make you smile! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz3ZbP0IF7A">Smiles for Life-Alex Boye'</a> </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-30131303546948222342013-12-07T07:36:00.002-08:002015-08-11T19:59:06.665-07:00Got Joy?<style>
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I need my therapy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every time I walk into my garage and see "my toy" sitting
there, I get this overwhelming urge to jump in and go for a ride!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I get down right giddy at the
thought of it! Yes, this girlie girl loves to get out in nature and enjoy the
dirt and mud!</div>
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There is nothing like being out in nature...observing,
pondering, enjoying...even at times driving like a bat out of you know where!
This has Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland beat hands down!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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At times, after Paul died I wondered if I would ever feel
true joy again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can honestly say, I
feel a bit of that pure joy when I am out on my UTV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel him close by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel his happiness that I am happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, who needs to pay for a therapist?
I will just jump on “my toy” and go for a ride!</div>
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It is a good thing that I have discovered other things that
can bring me joy, especially since it is now winter and I can’t head to the
mountains. As I have discovered, my UTV, is not the only thing that brings me
joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Service to others brings me joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can remember as young girl always being
told if you serve others, you will feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really does work!</div>
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Expressing gratitude brings me joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it sounds strange. But it really does
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give it a try!</div>
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Spending time with my children brings me joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I take the time to just sit and listen
to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hold them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Laugh with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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These are things that bring us joy that does not cost
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are things that if we choose
to do, we will actually get back more than we give.</div>
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Do I miss Paul?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days are harder than
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days I just have a hard
time breathing because I miss him so much…but I must keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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During this holiday season I am feeling the sadness that
comes when someone you love so deeply is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dark, overcast, cold days do not help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look for every bit of bright that I can find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, that bright is found through
other people. It is through serving each other. It is love. It is kindness.</div>
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So, everyday as I longingly look at “my toy” and wish I
could just jump in and go, I get crazy thoughts about buying a big sled to haul
behind it…pull the kids around…not on my road because it is too small…over to
the church parking lot across the street…no mail boxes to hit...is this
crazy…one of those “you’ll shoot your eye out” kind of moments? </div>
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This is my therapy, what is yours?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What brings you joy?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-47492508687200514852013-11-28T08:14:00.001-08:002014-05-15T13:34:17.815-07:00The First Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuzELrWJEKWYj5GvYYNomlOnS3QI2EUaqEa0bMn-WmwS1cF7x-2XjCKPTwx-HzsXJXyEN0aiNYd-weL-Oyg-UbP0dvtUnk8bhbkty_nynNcR_lys2suZhYETi_MgpOa3exbxJQTvWN-9E/s1600/Recognize_Thanksgiving+Printable_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuzELrWJEKWYj5GvYYNomlOnS3QI2EUaqEa0bMn-WmwS1cF7x-2XjCKPTwx-HzsXJXyEN0aiNYd-weL-Oyg-UbP0dvtUnk8bhbkty_nynNcR_lys2suZhYETi_MgpOa3exbxJQTvWN-9E/s320/Recognize_Thanksgiving+Printable_small.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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This is our first Thanksgiving without Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel many different emotions today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this day will be different without him
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already miss him bustling around
the house...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Paul loved to bake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made the best rolls ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would make those the day before
Thanksgiving so we could have the oven free to cook the turkey... </div>
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I am so grateful for the knowledge that I will be with Paul again--that we are an eternal family. Of course this goes without saying, but I will miss him terribly today. </div>
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I am grateful that I get to spend today with my wonderful in-laws. I know that Paul will be happy to see the family together. Family has always been so important to him...not just "his" family but "my" family as well. </div>
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Often times, we would combine my family and Paul's together for holidays and other important occasions. We are just one big happy family! Unfortunately, we are not able to have us all together today...but I know the love will still be felt.</div>
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As I ponder the things I have experienced the past couple
years, I feel gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I have
felt and at times still feel immeasurable sorrow; shed many tears; wondered how
life could continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through it all, I
have been blessed. </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Apostle Paul counseled, “In EVERY
THING give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”
(1 Thes. 5:18).</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are also told, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“he who receiveth ALL things with thankfulness shall be made glorious;
and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold” </i>(D&C
78:19).</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have been counseled in the
scriptures to be grateful for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">every thing</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just the things that make us happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have discovered, if I am grateful for all
things, my life is greatly enriched and I receive even greater blessings. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dallin H. Oaks has said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“we should even give thanks for our
afflictions because they turn our hearts to God and give us opportunities to
prepare for what God would have us become…</i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When
we give thanks in all things, we see hardships and adversities in the context
of the purpose of life. We are sent here to be tested. There must be opposition
in <i>all</i> things. We are meant to learn and grow through that opposition,
through meeting our challenges, and through teaching others to do the same.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I discussed in my previous post, <a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/11/grateful-for-cancer.html">Grateful for Cancer</a>, I have discovered that we can find sweetness in life in
spite of the bitter or even because of the bitter. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have an amazing widow friend, Veronica,
who recently posted on this same topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was teasing her the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told
her she just wrote my next post for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here is a link to that post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://not4naught.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-do-you-give-thanks-in-all-things.html">How do you give thanks in all things?</a></span></span></div>
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I have truly been blessed! In closing this post, I would like to quote a widower
friend: </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i><span class="textexposedshow"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
hard as it is to explain, I feel closer to the Lord than ever in my life; I
echo Job’s summation: ‘the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the Lord.”</span></i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-81112671705976125112013-11-17T19:05:00.001-08:002015-01-03T18:33:22.033-08:00Grateful for Cancer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmxIOSpm5XFDxbjjWrrcfPV33qm76LPtiFFhU9w5XUPb0Zkmcw3d9jQ7N_NkemLt5TsEuq7m7VCMbIuxrJ9uD2nA-tVdf1hyphenhyphen_YzwHobJ_AcXW3nzORHk4wRZQWrtCstu1M1-TT6-QANeG/s1600/bfeeaac39b058097e130a94beb6641de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmxIOSpm5XFDxbjjWrrcfPV33qm76LPtiFFhU9w5XUPb0Zkmcw3d9jQ7N_NkemLt5TsEuq7m7VCMbIuxrJ9uD2nA-tVdf1hyphenhyphen_YzwHobJ_AcXW3nzORHk4wRZQWrtCstu1M1-TT6-QANeG/s320/bfeeaac39b058097e130a94beb6641de.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Life is a “bitter-sweet” experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have both good and bad experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the bad we can know and appreciate
the good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned if I choose, I
can even find sweetness in the bitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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When you are struggling with trials, it can be very
difficult to find something to be grateful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, sometimes you don’t even feel grateful for the obvious or
“sweet” things such as family, friends, food to eat, clothing, a warm home, a
good job, children, etc… Not because you aren’t grateful, you just don’t think
to be grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Being grateful requires action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must think about it. You do not realize
you are grateful, unless you take time to analyze the situation and realize
there is something to be grateful for. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Gratitude and optimism go hand in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was a young girl, I can remember
watching the Disney movie “Pollyanna”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
loved that movie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie was based on
the book “Pollyanna”, written by Eleanor Porter in 1913.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t watched it in years, but I ordered
the book and DVD on amazon yesterday so I can read the book and watch the DVD
with my girls. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Pollyanna" is a </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">story
about an 11-year-old girl who has an optimistic attitude about life. After her
father's death, Pollyanna goes to live with her wealthy but bitter aunt, Miss
Polly. Miss Polly is a stern disciplinarian, who frowns upon open windows
and banging doors. Pollyanna has great enthusiasm for life because of her
positive attitude. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of her
attitude, she manages to change the lives of the people around her, including
her aunt and other cynical people.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pollyanna maintains her optimistic attitude by playing
a game her father created called "The Glad Game".</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
This game came about when Pollyanna, the child of missionaries, was hoping for
a doll to arrive for her for Christmas in the missionary barrel. Instead,
when the barrel finally arrived, it contained only a pair of crutches.
Her wise father immediately made up the Glad Game, teaching her that they must
choose to focus on the positive, and be glad about the crutches – be glad
because they didn’t need to use them!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
of many profound conversations that takes place in the movie is when Pollyanna
stumbles upon her pastor as he is practicing one of his typical condemning
sermons for the congregation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">POLLYANNA: <i><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are
eight hundred happy texts, did you know that? </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">REVEREND: <i><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No, I didn’t
know that.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">POLLYANNA: <i><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, well
there are. And do you know, my father said that if GOD took the trouble to tell
us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must have wanted us to do it.</span></i></span><br />
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Being glad, isn’t that what gratitude really is? When Paul
was in the middle of his cancer treatments, I realized I needed to figure out a
way to remember to be grateful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
created a gratitude board. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided we
needed to play the gratitude game. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">some days we were
just grateful for toothpaste or toilet paper, but I can guarantee we were almost
always able to find things to be grateful for! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKS2FgAkKTsn9X0w6_mw8ur2OeqnID9f_iIxf6LogZusa9jn6CXTGgnuz1ePoU9KdN76bWtsD7aPotGx9kPOLgd5ZB_aRjfwD-bzzrmFtXLqfLGvqtt0tSHWzUUUEcusDos16u3jsZoxA/s1600/P3070220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKS2FgAkKTsn9X0w6_mw8ur2OeqnID9f_iIxf6LogZusa9jn6CXTGgnuz1ePoU9KdN76bWtsD7aPotGx9kPOLgd5ZB_aRjfwD-bzzrmFtXLqfLGvqtt0tSHWzUUUEcusDos16u3jsZoxA/s320/P3070220.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratitude Board</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During
Paul’s cancer journey, I know that we struggled to be grateful at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was just so much to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being grateful is not always easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Often times you have to dig deep
within your soul to find gratitude. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While
reading past blog posts, I found this, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I pray daily that Paul’s cancer will not
return. I pray daily that I will be strong enough to handle what comes
our way. I pray daily that Heavenly Father will forgive me for not always
being as grateful as I should be. I do know that it is so important to be
grateful for even the small things, but sometimes you just feel a little like
having a pity party. We really have been blessed throughout this whole
ordeal. God has given us amazing family and friends who constantly are
supporting us and lifting us up.” </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was happy to see that at the end of my
statement I still managed to find something to be grateful for!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I was reading through my past blog posts I
came across one titled, “Trying to make sweet lemonade…” I would like to share
an excerpt from that post:</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
have been thinking a lot about the phrase, ”When life hands you lemons, make
lemonade.” What does that really mean? I visualize the lemons as
things like cancer, someone losing their job, death, unexpected tragedies,
etc. But what is the sugar that sweetens the lemonade? After all,
lemonade needs to be sweetened with something or it can be very bitter and not
really that delightful to drink.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
thinking about this for a while, I have decided that gratitude is the sugar
that sweetens the lemonade. If you have gratitude, things don’t seem so
bitter in life. If you remember that while you are being squeezed by
life’s trials (lemons), you have the ability to be grateful (sugar) and focus
on the blessings and tender mercies. If you add enough sugar to lemonade,
it can be very delicious.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
hard part is remembering to be grateful when things look so bleak.
Lately, I have been realizing how many blessings I have been given.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for a daughter who saw that I needed help to get the oil changed in
the car because I don’t have the time do it. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for daughters who are willing to come and spend time with their
father at the hospital when I can’t be there. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for friends who run errands for me and bring me the things I need
(food, new broom, toiletries, etc.). </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for the phone calls and messages I receive from friends and family.
</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for friends who shovel my sidewalks.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for friends who have helped me with my children.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for a sister who helped me to get my husbands anniversary present
because I didn’t have the time or the knowledge of how and where to get it (a
reel for his fly rod and fishing line).</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for friends who are willing to drive us to Huntsman if needed.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for friends who drop whatever they are doing to come bring me
dinner at the hospital.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for all the gift baskets and goodies we have received.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for all the meals that have been brought over.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am grateful for each and every kind act that has been shown toward my
family. There are too many to mention individually. We have been so
blessed! Much love and thanks to everyone!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
just have to remember all the things I am grateful for, so I don’t feel bogged
down by everything that is happening…After all, I would much rather have sweet
lemonade to drink!”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That post was written at a very
difficult time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember it all too
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul was very sick with
pneumonia…not to mention his bowel blockage and everything else…the constant
puking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember being so completely
exhausted because I was giving Paul four IV’s of antibiotics a day, in addition
to his TPN…let’s just say I was getting little to no sleep…it was brutal.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I look back on our cancer
journey, I have discovered it was the remembering to be grateful that got us
through—in addition to a lot of prayer and help from others!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have been pondering my life’s experiences and the things I
am grateful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy for me to
come up with a long list of the “sweet” things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I decided to challenge myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was determined to come up with a list of the “sweet” things I was grateful for that
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">came as a result of</b> the “bitter”
times.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are a few things I am grateful for because of the
bitter:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
am grateful for cancer</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is an excerpt from one of my previous
blog posts, “I am not going to lie…cancer sucks! It turns your life
completely upside down. The terror you feel when you hear that your loved
one has cancer is something I never dreamed I would experience. It
is so very hard to watch the one you love so much, suffer so much…but…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cancer can also be a blessing. Cancer
is a teacher. It teaches you patience, love, compassion, humility,
charity, gratitude, and many other things. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the most important things that cancer
is teaching us is to rely on our Heavenly Father. We have had some
very spiritual experiences while going through this trial. I cannot
adequately explain it in words, but I can actually “feel” the prayers of
others. It carries us through the tough times.”</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I am grateful Paul
was healed from his cancer</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
that sounds like a strange thing to be grateful for, since he no longer
possesses his mortal body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, was he
not healed from his cancer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is still
alive and well…only in spirit form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is no longer suffering. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I cannot say I am
grateful for Paul dying, but I can say I am grateful for all the things I have
learned because of his death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>When
you go through a trial of this magnitude, you are driven to your knees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You rely completely on a loving Heavenly
Father. You learn compassion, faith, greater spiritual knowledge…a greater
understanding of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could be
who I am now, but still have him here with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I know that would not be the case, it is because of his death
that I am a stronger, better person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is those excruciatingly painful trials that we grow from the most!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I am grateful for EVERYONE
who comes into my life. </b>There is something to be learned from everyone
whether it be a positive or negative experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to experience the negative to
understand the positive!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, I
have encountered people who are selfish and unkind, it is through those people
that I learn forgiveness, patience and charity—these qualities are gifts from
God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdsQkWA2XAHgQQv-0050VuIGODN9BWOQ53dFWmT7yVP2X-koQPkXbZ7GM4g6RG_Ys7FIQkWOAQhSGshFaYTEVCck8XEYnnkJs5kfXj3YngF3ADR7Q8A9Sx7AH61NoP1vuPFUe-iBWQ3BD/s1600/1395227_10151984114390255_1740280613_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdsQkWA2XAHgQQv-0050VuIGODN9BWOQ53dFWmT7yVP2X-koQPkXbZ7GM4g6RG_Ys7FIQkWOAQhSGshFaYTEVCck8XEYnnkJs5kfXj3YngF3ADR7Q8A9Sx7AH61NoP1vuPFUe-iBWQ3BD/s320/1395227_10151984114390255_1740280613_n-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being grateful does not eliminate all pain and suffering,
but it enables you to find joy in life in spite of the trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe where the most growth and strength
of character can be developed is by finding gratitude in the sweetness that can
come because of the bitter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember
that while you are being squeezed by life’s trials (lemons), you have the
ability to be grateful (sugar) and focus on the blessings and tender
mercies. If you add enough sugar to lemonade, it can be very delicious!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-51043545563018829372013-11-02T08:38:00.003-07:002014-05-15T13:45:57.733-07:00Forgiveness<style>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNyYS6hioAe-G9HSazvig3nXt-D3FYyY1JloB8zhQI7eO264NXY04aOtUUBqk6GsEak62W18szhSG33wRbKuSxZNb8ud0nSGuljAWpgggfIy9QhuoSrAEn5nQ-x5ivsFfuvttF5OcXcks/s1600/1174689_10201364099158675_2001409168_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNyYS6hioAe-G9HSazvig3nXt-D3FYyY1JloB8zhQI7eO264NXY04aOtUUBqk6GsEak62W18szhSG33wRbKuSxZNb8ud0nSGuljAWpgggfIy9QhuoSrAEn5nQ-x5ivsFfuvttF5OcXcks/s320/1174689_10201364099158675_2001409168_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recently, I have been learning the true
meaning of forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always
thought that I was good at forgiving…the Lord thought it was time to put me to
the test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are times in our lives when
someone hurts us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have discovered
there are different kinds of hurt and some are easier to get over than others. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obviously, I am sharing this with you
because I was deeply hurt by someone. This individual made some poor choices
which has had an impact on both me and my daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been struggling with this issue
for the past few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate feeling
sad, hurt, and angry…I have been praying about this…I want to forgive…I want to
feel peace…I need to feel peace! This I know, you cannot have peace when you
harbor feelings. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At times I have felt like I was over
this…only to have those feelings return again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously, why can’t I just get over this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have even thought maybe because I have had
so much hurt this past year I am not as resilient as I could be…maybe I am
tired out emotionally…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway, I have prayed a lot about
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have asked God to help me
forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been searching my heart
and soul. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few days ago, while showering, the
place where I receive the most inspiration, I had this scripture come into my
mind:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="verse"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 23:34 -T</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hen </span><span style="color: windowtext;">said </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus, Father, </span><span style="color: windowtext;">forgive</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
them; for they know not what </span><span style="color: windowtext;">they do</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My first thought was how can this
person “know not what they do”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then as
I thought about it some more, I started to analyze the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It dawned on me, this person truly may not realize
how much they have hurt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
people are so caught up in worrying about themselves and there wants and needs
that they forget to assess their actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In essence, they act without thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They do not think about the impact of their choices on others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in that sense, they “do not know what they
do” because they are so focused on themselves they do not see what they are
doing to others.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know there are times when we are
offended by something someone says or does only because we misunderstood them….there
was no malice intended…they have absolutely no clue they have offended you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There may be many various reasons why
“they know not what they do”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it
matter? As I pondered this scripture, I came to a greater realization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if a person appears to know what they
did was wrong, would that change my responsibility to forgive them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would still need to forgive. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So...I started to feel like I had this
conquered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was finally over this hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, my bubble was burst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw this person and the old feelings
returned again…what…I seriously thought I was done with this.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back to my knees again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heavenly Father what is my deal? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to harbor bad feelings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was sitting in bed after saying my
prayers, I felt impressed to look up forgiveness on the internet.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
found an article in the June 2012 Ensign, “Finding Peace Through Forgiveness”, that
specifically addressed some things I needed to hear, “That evening I pondered
something about forgiveness that I had understood in principle but never fully
appreciated: Forgiveness was not primarily about restoring my relationship with
the person who had offended me. Instead, its focus was restoring and improving
my relationship with God. It was about trusting—really trusting—that He would
take care of me and that He hadn’t allowed anything to happen to me that
wouldn’t eventually work out for my benefit. Forgiveness centered on drawing
close to Heavenly Father, understanding the Atonement of </span><span style="color: windowtext;">Jesus Christ</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
and laying everything on the altar—and doing this cheerfully, with confidence
that I was safe in Heavenly Father’s care…”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were many other things in this
article that touched me, but this stood out the most because I feel like I need
to trust God more (see previous post <a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/10/trusting-god.html">Trusting God </a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I trusted God enough, I would not feel a
need for retribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would know that
God will make everything right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would
leave this hurt behind me knowing that all will be well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, I started to feel like I had this
conquered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was finally over this
hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, of course, my bubble was
burst again when I saw the person who had offended me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to feel anxiety and
unhappiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to think about
what had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh brother!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last night, I started to pray again and
do more soul searching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up in the
early hours worrying about everything…as I was sitting in my bed, a song came
into my mind, “Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to
pray?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At first I started to chuckle, I was thinking
where did that come from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sitting
here in my bed…I haven’t gone anywhere…I was planning on saying my
prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I started to think a
little more about the words…remembering there was a phrase about forgiving
others…then I realized that it was Paul prompting me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have had some special
answers/promptings that have come from Paul through music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consider them tender mercies from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul loved music!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know answers that come through music are
from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In future posts I will share
more experiences I have had through music.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway, I looked the song up on the
internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the words:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ere you left your room this morning,<br />
Did you think to pray?<br />
In the name of Christ our Savior,<br />
Did you sue for loving favor,<br />
As a <span class="ilad">shield</span> today?<br />
<br />
O how praying rests the weary!<br />
Prayer will <span class="ilad">change the</span> night to day;<br />
So when life seems dark and dreary,<br />
Don’t forget to pray.<br />
<br />
When you met with great temptation,<br />
Did you think to pray?<br />
By His dying love and <span class="ilad">merit</span>,<br />
Did you claim the Holy Spirit<br />
As your guide and stay?<br />
<br />
When your heart was filled with anger,<br />
Did you think to pray?<br />
Did you plead for grace, my <span class="ilad">brother</span>,<br />
That you might forgive another<br />
Who had crossed your way?<br />
<br />
When sore trials came upon you,<br />
Did you think to pray?<br />
When your soul was bowed in sorrow,<br />
Balm of Gilead did you <span class="ilad">borrow</span><br />
At the gates of day?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After I finished reading the lyrics, I
pondered what he was trying to tell me, besides the obvious things-pray...forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept noticing the words Balm of
Gilead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had heard those words used
frequently in the past few weeks…I can’t even remember where.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, of course, I did what I always do,
I looked the words Balm Of Gilead up on the internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to understand the significance…since
it was a term I had heard over the years, but never paid much attention to.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In my research, the first talk I came
to was Boyd K. Packer, “The Balm of Gilead”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article stated: “The Bible records that in ancient
times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, a substance used to heal and
soothe. It came, perhaps, from a tree or shrub, and was a major commodity of
trade in the ancient world. It was known as the Balm of Gilead. That name
became symbolic for the power to soothe and heal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I continued reading, I knew I was
reading something of great importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was very touched by what I was reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I knew that Paul wanted me to read this…that this has some key points to
help me in my journey to forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would like to share a story from the
article that really made me think:</span><br />
</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you suffer from worry, from
grief or shame or jealousy or disappointment or envy, from self-recrimination
or self-justification, consider this lesson taught to me many years ago by a
patriarch. He was as saintly a man as I have ever known. He was steady and
serene, with a deep spiritual strength that many drew upon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He grew up in a little community
with a desire to make something of himself. He struggled to get an education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He married his sweetheart, and
presently everything was just right. He was well employed, with a bright
future. They were deeply in love, and she was expecting their first child.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The night the baby was to be
born, there were complications. The only doctor was somewhere in the
countryside tending to the sick.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After many hours of labor, the
condition of the mother-to-be became desperate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally the doctor was located.
In the emergency, he acted quickly and soon had things in order. The baby was
born and the crisis, it appeared, was over.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some days later, the young
mother died from the very infection that the doctor had been treating at
another home that night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John’s world was shattered.
Everything was not right now; everything was all wrong. He had lost his wife.
He had no way to tend both the baby and his work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the weeks wore on, his grief
festered. “That doctor should not be allowed to practice,” he would say. “He
brought that infection to my wife. If he had been careful, she would be alive
today.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He thought of little else, and
in his bitterness, he became threatening. Today, no doubt, he would have been
pressed by many others to file a malpractice suit. And there are lawyers who
would see in his pitiable condition only one ingredient—money!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But that was another day, and
one night a knock came at his door. A little girl said simply, “Daddy wants you
to come over. He wants to talk to you.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Daddy” was the stake president.
A grieving, heartbroken young man went to see his spiritual leader.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This spiritual shepherd had been
watching his flock and had something to say to him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The counsel from that wise
servant was simply, “John, leave it alone. Nothing you do about it will bring
her back. Anything you do will make it worse. John, leave it alone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My friend told me then that this
had been his trial—his Gethsemane. How could he leave it alone? Right was
right! A terrible wrong had been committed and somebody must pay for it. It was
a clear case.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But he struggled in agony to get
hold of himself. And finally, he determined that whatever else the issues were,
he should be obedient.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obedience is powerful spiritual
medicine. It comes close to being a cure-all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He determined to follow the
counsel of that wise spiritual leader. He would leave it alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then he told me, “I was an old
man before I understood! It was not until I was an old man that I could finally
see a poor country doctor—overworked, underpaid, run ragged from patient to
patient, with little medicine, no hospital, few instruments, struggling to save
lives, and succeeding for the most part.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He had come in a moment of
crisis, when two lives hung in the balance, and had acted without delay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I was an old man,” he repeated,
“before I finally understood! I would have ruined my life,” he said, “and the
lives of others.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many times he had thanked the
Lord on his knees for a wise spiritual leader who counseled simply, “John,
leave it alone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After I read that story I
remembered something Paul had shared with me right after we first got
married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me that he was
struggling with the death of his first wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wanted to know why she suffered from mental illness and why her life
ended the way it did.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paul told me as he prayed, he
received a very distinct answer. He heard an audible voice say, “Let it go. You
cannot dwell on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do, it will
destroy you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said at that point, he
let it go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I started to cry as I realized what
my sweet husband wants me to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
wants me to “let it go”…”leave it alone.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time for me to put my trust in God and
forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to move forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Boyd K. Packer said, “Some
frustrations we must endure without really solving the problem. Some things
that ought to be put in order are not put in order because we cannot control
them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Things we cannot solve, we must survive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you resent someone for
something he has done—or failed to do—forget it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Too often the things we carry
are petty, even stupid. If you are still upset after all these years because
Aunt Clara didn’t come to your wedding reception, why don’t you grow up and
forget it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you brood constantly over a
loss or a past mistake, look ahead—settle it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We call that forgiveness. Forgiveness
is powerful spiritual medicine. To extend forgiveness that soothing balm, to
those who have offended you is to heal. And, more difficult yet, when the need
is there, forgive yourself!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So now the journey begins
again…back to forgiving</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know that it is easy for my mind to wander back to the situation and
rehash it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all isn’t that why a
person can’t forgive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our minds go back
to the past and relive and rethink things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I realize that a big part of success in life is learning how to control
your thoughts. If I can control my thoughts, I can forgive!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
past hurts resurface, I am going to redirect my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have heard of suggestions to memorize
scriptures, sing a song (of course not out loud if your in public—then again
that could make life interesting), think of a favorite quote…any other
suggestions?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
I discussed in a previous post (<a href="http://hopeanchorsyoursoul.blogspot.com/2013/10/staying-in-present.html">Staying In the Present</a>), I need to choose to
act and not be acted upon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to
stay in the present!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staying in the
present doesn’t mean that I don’t learn from the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just means that I don’t dwell on the past.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I am learning from this
experience is that God, at times, allows us to struggle to forgive someone
because it can make us stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
are struggling, we tend to be more humble and less prideful; therefore we are
more receptive to growth and learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forgiveness
is a process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is something that
doesn’t just happen over night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
learning through prayer and the help of a loving Savior, I am going to do
this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to let it go!</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A book that I highly recommend about
forgiveness is called,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let It Go”, by
Chris Williams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of months ago,
I had the opportunity to talk to Chris…what a great experience!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would also recommend reading the
articles I referenced in my post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is a lot of great information to ponder! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy reading!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have made it easy for you…here are the
links!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/06/finding-peace-through-forgiveness#footnote1-10406_000_025">Finding Peace Through Forgiveness</a> </span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-healing-power-of-forgiveness?lang=eng">The Healing Power of Forgiveness-James E. Faust</a> </span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/11/balm-of-gilead">Balm of Gilead-Boyd K. Packer</a> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-33330382100269082892013-10-30T13:02:00.003-07:002014-05-15T14:18:14.757-07:00Put On Your Own Shoes <style>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been pondering the sorrows of many who have lost a
spouse, myself included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
indescribable pain in losing someone you love so deeply. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mom passed away six months before my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember feeling such great sadness at her
passing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember feeling so lost
without her…then my husband died…wow…and I thought I couldn’t feel deeper
sorrow…now I know a deeper, indescribable sorrow that causes you to physically
hurt…it’s the kind of sorrow that brings you to your knees…you curl up in the
fetal position and sob uncontrollably…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not know the sorrow that comes from losing a
child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never lost a child, nor do
I wish to ever have that happen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
only imagine the pain and sorrow which follows…I pray I NEVER have to face that
loss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My dad and I have had many conversations about the death of
our spouses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first, I was frustrated
at how he kept saying I can’t believe this happened…how could she have
died?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My initial thoughts were, “Seriously, dad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t believe she died? Death doesn’t
come as unexpected when you are in your 70’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least you had 52 years in mortality with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least, your reality is that you will see
her a whole lot sooner than I will see Paul. My husband died when I was in my 40’s…mom
was in her 70’s…I might be here another 40 years without him…you might be here
another 10 years (not likely because of health).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least all your children are raised…I still
have young children to raise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It didn’t take me long to realize that his loss was just as
significant to him as was mine to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am ashamed to say that I even thought those things. You may lose your spouse
after only 3 months or it might be 60 years later. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have come to realize that it doesn’t matter
when you lose your spouse, it IS PAINFUL. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have also come to realize that everyone grieves
differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people
grieve longer than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people
appear to not grieve at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not
my place to judge anyone else for the way they choose to handle their
grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my responsibility to love
unconditionally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently, I have thought a lot about the sayings, “you can’t
understand a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes” or “don’t judge
someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have come to the realization that even if
you were to put on another persons shoes, your experience would be different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What if your feet are larger or smaller than the shoes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if your arch is higher? What if your
feet are wider or narrower? Realistically, your feet would fit in those shoes
very differently than the person originally wearing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would feel things differently, because
the shoes fit differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
your experience would not be the same. In order to have the exact same experience in those shoes,
they would have to fit you exactly the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not realistic, because even if your
feet were almost exactly the same…they are not the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s take this a step further and say you even wore the
same size of shoe as someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were
each given the same pair of new shoes to wear at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would your experience wearing those shoes be
the same? Not likely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You still have
differences in your feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No two people
have exactly the same feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be
just small differences, but differences nonetheless. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So it is with experiences in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if two people could be given the exact
same trial to deal with, it would be felt and handled differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have different personalities; different
life experiences; different perceptions about life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is those things that influence how we deal
with our life circumstances. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have learned that while the sorrow from the experience of
the death of my spouse may be different than someone else’s, I still know
sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not know the depth of someone
else’s sorrow nor can they know mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But what we both know is that we are hurt and sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can focus on commonalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can show compassion and empathy towards
others just simply because we understand pain. Knowing that we cannot
completely understand how someone is feeling, we can still do our best to
support and love unconditionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
follow the teachings of our Savior and just “mourn with those who mourn”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many types of loss in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some may experience it through death, divorce,
illness, work lay-offs, etc… All loss causes a form of suffering. Some people
may want someone to talk to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
people just need someone to listen to them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people may want visitors and others may
prefer to be alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that it can be difficult to know how to help someone
who is grieving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best advice I can
give is to let the Holy Spirit guide you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you pray to specifically to know the needs of another, God will guide
you through the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be
something as simple as letting them know you are thinking of them…it can be
through a card…it can be in person….of course food is always welcome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it’s the simple things that mean
the most.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not our responsibility to attempt to put on someone
else’s shoes and judge them or try to completely understand how they are feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
never walk in another person’s shoes and have the same experience!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You will never completely understand. </span>You don’t need to walk in someone else’s
shoes to show compassion and empathy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can put on your own shoes,
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you,</span>
and walk beside them and help them through
their trials!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been blessed with so many kind, compassionate and
understanding family members and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
I am grateful they wear their shoes and I wear mine and we walk together side by side. </span>For this I will be eternally grateful!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411971539756345417.post-76951184379668115162013-10-24T14:02:00.000-07:002015-08-11T20:02:40.574-07:00Trusting God<style>
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I have discovered one of the biggest challenges in this life
is to REALLY trust God. It is easy to say that I do, but can be very hard to
actually put into practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When trials,
like the death of my spouse, come into my life I have been tested to see where
I really stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time and time again, I have seen the hand of God in
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is guiding my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why don’t I always trust Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do I “fight” his guidance? I have been
pondering these questions a lot recently.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have come to realize, trust is more than believing that
God is directing your life and has a plan for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is trusting that, with God’s help, you can
endure the direction your life is headed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is trusting that I will receive the best outcome for my personal plan
and growth. Therefore, trusting God is really a three step process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I must trust that God knows my plan
and is directing my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, I must
trust that He will guide me through the path placed before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, I must trust the end result will be
what is best for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have discovered that, more often than not, I trust God is
directing my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I have
lacked, at times, the trust that He will help me on my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forget that He can and will help me to get
through the loneliness, sadness, pain, etc… I have also struggled with the
third part of trust. It is hard to trust God because it is hard to visualize
that something so painful can turn out to be the best thing for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Let’s face it, we all want to feel loved; most of us don’t
want to be alone; we don’t want to feel sadness; we don’t want to hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the things we face in this life cause
us to feel these undesired—downright painful—emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though we may know the outcome will be
in our best interest, we still try to avoid things that will cause us pain to
get to that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is human nature.
God understands why we struggle with trusting Him completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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One of my favorite books is called “The Lord Looketh on the
Heart”, by Max & Bette Molgard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would like to share a story from that book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is an old Arab Legend that can help us to understand God’s panoramic
view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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“The great prophet Moses was visited by angels and invited
to come to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there he
noticed God giving orders to some of his angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Curious, Moses asked if he could accompany an
angel on his mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord was
reluctant at first to send Moses, claiming that he would not be able to
understand what the angels had been sent to do, but with further pleading he
finally consented, with a condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moses must promise not to question the things he would see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this Moses agreed and soon found himself
flying with the angel down to earth.</div>
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They first flew over the water until they came to a small
fishing boat upon which seven poor fishermen were trying to catch their daily
sustenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they flew nearer, the
angel looked upon them and waved his arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Immediately the ship broke in half and all seven of the humble fishermen
drowned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was stunned at this and
began questioning the angel. The angel reprimanded Moses, reminding him of his
promise, and they flew on in silence.</div>
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The second circumstance found them flying over the desert
near a small village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking down a
dusty path was a young boy of about ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As they flew by, the angel once again waved his arm and the young boy
dropped dead on the path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was
again astonished at the irrational behavior of the angel and began to protest
loudly until the angel again silenced him by reminding him of his promise to
the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quiet but angry Moses
continued on the journey with the angel, confused that the Lord would send an
angel to work such destruction and sorrow upon innocent people.</div>
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The third episode involved a small family living on the
outskirts of a large city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the
caravan road entering the city lived a poor widow and her only son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were desperately poor and lived solely
upon the meager harvest of a small garden scratched into the dust of their
backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The garden was alongside an
old stone wall erected to separate the home from the caravan route into the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Moses and the angel flew by, he
once again waved his arm, and the stone fence fell into the widows garden,
destroying all the produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this
unexpected turn of events, Moses could no longer be silent in his protesting
and the angel took him back to heaven and to the Lord.</div>
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Moses asked the Lord why he would do such things, and the
Lord reminded him of the warning that he would not be able to understand the
workings of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After further protests,
the Lord decided the only way to teach Moses would be to send his again with
the angel, this time to see things he had not seen before.</div>
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Once again Moses and the angel flew over the water where the
fishermen had perished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Debris and
wreckage still floated on the surface of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Moses watched, he saw something that he
could not see the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far over
the horizon, just barely in view he noticed another boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angel allowed Moses to see what would
have been had he not been sent of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other boat was full of pirates, and Moses knew that the fishermen
would have been captured, tortured, and sold into slavery had the Lord not in
his mercy chose to bring them home.</div>
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They then passed the young Arab, still lifeless along the
desert path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was allowed to see
that later that same afternoon this young boy would have accidentally killed
his brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the custom of
the village, he would have been disowned by his family and made an outcast in
the town, being forced to make his living begging in the streets until death
from disease freed him from his misery.</div>
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Finally, they flew over the widow’s garden, where the woman
and her son were struggling to salvage something from the chaos that was once
their garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the young boy dug away
the earth under a large rock, he noticed a small cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigating further he found a small chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called to his mother, and they looked
inside and found a treasure trove of jewels and riches enough to provide a
comfortable living for them for the remainder of their lives.</div>
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With a smile Moses flew back to heaven with the angel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally understood what the Lord had been
trying to tell him.</div>
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As we consider the legend, the words of Isaiah come to mind:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith
the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). “</div>
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Trusting God means I will not always understand why things
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trusting God means letting go of
what I think or thought should happen. Trusting God means that I need to have
faith that He knows what is best for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not just for this mortal life, but for eternity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trusting God means I have faith He will help
me on my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trusting God means I
understand that my path may be very undesirable and painful at times, even with
his help, but that the end result will be worth it!</div>
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