BLESSINGS

We have had many amazing things happen this summer... and some really horrible things happened.  It has been a roller coaster from the moment we got the news almost a year ago that something was wrong with our sweet little Declan.  We have been through so much the past months and with a recent emergency surgery for Declan a few weeks ago, another post for another day.  Today I wanted to share something spiritually uplifting.  With all these experiences I have had lots of things to ponder; The outpouring of love, sacrifice and service in our behalf has been amazing!  Family and friends praying for us, concerned friends bringing us food, watching Paige so that we could care for Declan.  The Christlike love that has been shone to our family has been amazing, Thank you!

I have been in deep thought today of the amazing blessings that we have received through such difficult trials.  No, they were definitely not easy... But, I do have to say if there is anything that I learned from these past experiences it is that God has a plan for all of us.  There are things that we are sent here on earth to learn and sometimes it takes something really devastating for us to realize what it is and why we are here.

I sit before you an even more changed person than I was yesterday.  This year has been a year of change for us as a family and I am different now than the person I was a year ago.  I'm still me, just more thankful than I ever thought possible!  I will never again take for granted good health, supportive  and loving family and friends, or life!!!  I have said it before and I will say it again, WHAT A BLESSING LIFE IS! What a glorious gift that we have ALL been given.  I understand it on a deeper level than I ever had before.


I just wanted to share a moment that I had today when I was sitting in church today as the sacrament was being past....


I love the moments that you have when it is silent.  All you have are your thoughts racing through your head, or as mine where today in slow motion.  I was pondering about the savior and everything that he has done for us (with only the most pondering one can have when they have children, a million interruptions, but as brief as that moment was I am forever changed!)   I will always carry with me the image that I saw today and it is truly imprinted upon my heart.  As I sat next to my beautiful, (oh so big) little girl (Oh Paige, how she has grown!) I gazed up and saw my husband holding our sweet little miracle.  I stared at them all in amazement... This is it!  This is perfection... The feeling of seeing them sitting there and just realizing how very much I loved them was so overwhelming for me!  It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.

I realized even more today then I had before how thankful I am for all of them!  I just sat there smiling and thinking "I am so lucky, so blessed"... Eternal Family!  Is there anything more wonderful than that?  Believe me there have been so many horrible moments in the past 10 months.  But I would experience them all again for that moment that I had today!  It is all worth it, everything is worth it!  Looking over and seeing my beautiful children and husband sitting next to me, I tried to absorb every detail that I can remember of that moment.  Studied their faces, their expressions, everything!  Watching my amazing husband, who has been my rock, my support through everything, and loves me despite of my many short comings.  My children that love me unconditionally and are perfect in every way.  Oh, how much I love them!  I realized this is what our Father in Heaven must feel for each and everyone of us!  God is good, he lives, he loves us, and blesses us in ways that we never even realize!  I am changed.  And I want to stay changed.   Never to forget that feeling that I had today.  I thank God for everyday that I have with my beautiful children and am so thankful!

Preview of some amazing pictures that one of our wonderful friends took for us!  Thanks Liz!!!!