1.25.2010

gratitude

I've been keeping up on Talitha's progress thru her blog when I came across this post by Tali's dad, William.  They are words we should all try to live by made especially more powerful spoken by a man that is struggling with a young daughter battling cancer.

I loved what he wrote and wanted to share...


Where do people come up with all the weird names for the different chemotherapy drugs? My brother Evan is a Neurologist and he says they actually do market testing to determine what people will respond to best. I can't imagine anybody "marketing" chemo. If they do, they probably didn't do much market testing with Cytoxan. I mean, what does that word sound like to you? We know that chemo can be toxic to the system but they didn't even try to hide that fact with Cy"toxin".


Oh well. Too many medical terms, processes, and lists of possible side effects running through my head.


(I asked the nurse if we could get college credit towards a nursing degree for all this time spent in the hospital helping. She said that quite a few parents actually do get nurse certified because they do get so involved with the long term care in situations like this. Wow.)


Received a forwarded email from a friend of mine who is serving a two year mission for the LDS Church in the Dominican Republic. From time to time they have conferences with visiting leaders of the Church who help inspire them to do their best to bring people to Christ. During one of these conferences the visiting leader, David Bednar, opened up the meeting for any of the missionaries to ask questions. My friend raised his hand and asked the question, "How have you personally been able to put more trust in the Lord?" [This is something I'm trying to learn how to do so I read on with heightened interest.]


The answer my friend reported was very interesting to me: (1) serving His children, and (2) seeing the Lord 'touching' you or others in your life.


But the part that hit me the strongest was what this leader said directly to my friend while looking him in the eyes: "remember everytime the Lord has touched you and that will give you the patience and diligence you need in your life." [Isn't that amazing advice?!]


There's such an enabling power in Gratitude, isn't there? When we remember all that God has done for us, we have a grateful heart and have power to see the best in ourselves and others. And we want to be better and do better and help others along the way. But when we forget God's hand in our life--everything from the oxygen we breathe to the times He has helped us through the scrapes big and small--that's when we become blind to everything good. In our state of forgetful blindness we panic, fear, blame, and are miserable.


I've kept a journal for over 22 years now. There's a lot of travel-log type stuff I've written along the way that can bore you to tears but fortunately, there's also been a lot of writing about very special experiences with my family and children and life's endeavors that clearly demonstrate and help me remember the countless times God has been there for me and for those I care deeply about. The evidence I've accumulated over the years just from my life about the Lord's hand all around where I can see it and witness it personally literally fills handwritten books on my shelf at home.


Our lives on this earth don't begin with mortal birth and don't end with what we call physical death. It's not always easy keeping this perspective when you feel pain in the moment. But when I do remember, that's when I feel peace, hope, love, gratitude and so many other virtuous emotions that help to keep me sain through the deep trials that can come to each of us in life.


Let's all keep going with as much gratitude and remembering as we can muster. There's so much good we can all do in this world if we will.


Thank you all for your prayers and faith on our behalf. You have lifted our burdens and made them light.


1.14.2010

all thoughts and prayers welcomed

This is my cousin's youngest daughter Talitha (Tali). Please visit here to read her story or here to read updates on her condition.

Please remember little Tali and her family in your prayers. If you feel so inclined leave a message of support on Tali's blog - I am sure the well wishes will be appreciated by the family.

A fund has been set up to help with the escalating medical costs. You can read more about it here. William and Audrey would never ask for the help but any little bit of help from those able to give would be appreciated by their family (and the rest of us - their extended family)

1.02.2010

5 am - really?

I'm angry at Santa - is that a bad thing?

Our kids had saved money to buy Disneyland passes and Santa decided to make up the difference for Christmas. It all seemed good until this morning when the alarm went off at 5 am. 5 am ?!?!?! Where is the humanity?

We are now eating breakfast and heading out the door to be at the park early for a "magic morning". Magic morning my foot! We get in the park before the gates open for an hour of Disney magic before the crowds convene on the happiest place on earth. Although it all sounded good yesterday during daylight hours it is now seeming like an evil plan formulated by the fat guy in the red suit and a well known mouse - I think they are trying to make me spend more money by letting me into the park earlier. I wonder what Santa's cut is in this whole deal.

In a nutshell...

I miss my warm comfy bed
My stomach is feeling yucky from a serious lack of sleep last night
I hate Disneyland (for the moment at least)
Santa's on my naughty list
and...my kids better appreciate this or else!