Prayers for Sammy

Brent and Dani called last night to say Sammy was taken to intensive care. He has RSV. His oxygen levels were very low. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages and is a big concern for such a tiny new baby. Dani is with Sammy and Brent is with the other kids. So lots of prayers are needed. Will keep you posted.

Family

Is there anything in the world that matters more to me? No there is not. I often look at how richly blessed I am with all my wonderful children and their spouses (who I love as much as is possible), my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. (I know I am way, way to young to be a great-grandma, but I was a child bride). My life is full and I will never be alone. How did I get to be so lucky? It was by sacrifice.

Years ago, when I was young, I did what I knew was right and put many of my own goals and desires on hold to raise a large family. It wasn't easy, pregnancy was horrible, childbirth a nightmare I still shudder at. Diapers, bottles, crying, etc. seemed to never end. But it was also the most wonderful time of my life. Because I was willing to sacrifice then I became the person I am today and now I am enjoying the harvest of my earlier work. The reward and blessings are so much greater than the sacrifice. I would do it all over again given the chance.

I wanted to share a poem with Lauri as she is struggling with her latest news. It is by one of my favorites, Carol Lynn Pearson

Investment
How enviously
I watched
The rose bush
Bear her bud-
Such an easy,
Lovely birth.
And
At that moment
I wished
The sweet myth
Were true -
That I could Pluck you,
My child,
From some
Green vine.

But now
As you breathe,
Through flesh
That was mine
(Gently in the
Small circle
Of my arms),
I see
The wisdom
of investment.

The easy gift
Is easy to forget
But what is bought
With coin of pain-
Is dearly kept.

Joy in The Journey

I just read Lauri's latest post and it has touched my heart. She quoted from Pres. Monson's talk on finding joy in the journey ..“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

I love this quote and want to make it a part of my life. I usually do find joy in the journey, but it seems I do so by accident. I am going to try to consciously do this each day, no matter what...no matter who gets in my way. So I going to follow Lauri's lead and use Joy as my word for the year. Thanks Lauri!

52 Blessing Project - Week 2

Last year I wasn't very good at writing down a blessing every week. I am going to start all over again.But this year I am going to try really had to accomplish that goal. So for my first blessing of the year. This week I am grateful for new beginnings. I love the chance to start over, wipe the slate clean and start again. I think this is the basis of the gospel. When we repent we are given a new page to write on. The old is destroyed and the new life begins.

I have thought long and hard of what my goals are going to be this year. I don't like resolutions, they are too easy to break but I am pretty goal oriented so they usually help me stay on track. There are so many things to choose from: weight, health, exercise, family, work, finances and on and on. I have decided to limit my goal to one with several sub- categories. My number 1 goal is going to be to purify my life, become a better person, more like what I know I can become. I think if I can do this everything else will fall in place, like work and money. Of course, this will take a big leap of faith, but I think that is part of the process.

I am starting by reading the scriptures every single day - no skips! Not alot, just 1-2 pages. This is possible and not hard, just need the habit formed. The next is more meaningful prayer. Every day. Again I need to take the time to really kneel down and think about what I need to say. I have begun to start every prayer with "Father are you there?" I then wait until I feel His spirit before I go any further. It is making a difference. I think spirituality is like anything else, it needs to be worked on or it is lost.

So I am looking forward to a great year. I will have some other goals as well so this could be a year of real growth.