faith- (Nelson story)

Today Nelson taught me a great lesson on faith. As always I pushed it more than I should have to get ready for church. I am sure I was trying to squeeze in accomplishing one more thing. As I was getting ready Nelson had come home From church with a migraine. He had a bad headache that morning, but headed out for meetings hoping he would be ok. He came home the worse he has ever felt. He couldn't stand the pain he was in. He laid down for 5-10 minutes and was convinced he was going to sacrament to support the primary program. I told him to just lay down because he looked miserable. I had asked the young men president to have the young men bring sacrament into him. But what do you know, 5 min after church he came walking in. I knodded my head a bit because of his stubbornness. But at that moment I had an overwhelming reminder of Gaithersburg. Reminder how my faith needs strengthened. I thought he should have just laid down and called it a day. Nelson was convinced to be a part of something and knew heaven,y Father would help him to accomplish it.

reaquanting with our neighbors - (Laura story)

On Monday nights we try to take treats to different people in the neighborhood. A few weeks ago I had felt a prompting to take treats and reaquant ourselves to the people who lived behind us.  It took me a time or two to follow through with that prompting. We made pumpkin cookies and headed over to the street behind us. We made a few stops then went to the Bushell's. I know John (the husband) but if I ran into his wife at the store I would not recognize she was my neighbor.
We knocked on their door and they let us in heir entry way. Lily jumped up in my arms next thing I knew she started barfing all over me. I started pushing my way out the door as she pukes all over the entry way, white carpet, front porch and driveway. We found ourselves standing outside completely covered in throw up. We couldn't jump in the car so we found ourselves walking home.
As I was washing the throw up out of my hair I was thinking what bad timing, and that the situation wasn't really ideal. But what do we do? I asked Nelson what we should do, can't really take treats to replace the throw up treats. I ended up calling and apologizing and having a fantastic talk with her. I decided this meeting couldn't have turned out any better. She in turn brought us a big bowl full of juicy apples and Carmel. We a few days later picked bushels of their apples for them and us as well. She in turn brought us a nice apple pie.
This mistake made our exchange greater than it would have been with just a plate of cookies. Grateful for that embarrassing moment and what we gained from it.

What a day - (Laura story)

Not sure what happened today, but the past few days have been super tough with lily. When she returns from her visits she is hard. She starts and ends her days with huge fits. Today I found myself in a downward spiral crying to Heavenly Father saying "I cant't do this anymore". I think in my frustration I was crying to the lord to take this from me and bare it for me.  I am often reminded many times that Christ bore a lot more than I am asked to bear.
While sitting outside the Brigham temple an hour after the fits I had an impression that heaven,y Father created and blessed us with so many beautiful things including the temple. Just as he does that, he also created us to be beautiful. We just have to take the opportunity to do something about it. To become the beautiful person we are meant to be through and with Christ.

10/12/2012- bodies
This weekend we were out of town to island park with our neighbors. Nelson and I went for a run together. I expressed my frustration with always having pain in my body. Nelson reinsured me that I keep figuring out it by bit and he strong,y felt I would continue to do so. In relief society our lesson was on the word of wisdom. The teacher stated...... we are all here to master our bodies no matter the challenge. I fell this applies to me especially where I have plenty to continue to figure out.

Heavenly Father has buoyed me up- Laura story

Today as I walked out my deep tissue massage I realized how blessed I truly am. I have gone to the doctor a number of times to figure out why I have so much pain. The last appointment I had he told me my back muscles are constantly spasming. I have been trying to keep it under control, but sometimes I can't. When I just can't that's when I need help. I go to a massage where they dig all the knots out of my back. It is rather painful and far from enjoyable. With the girls in our home, Nelson as bishop and stress in my sisters life, I have a lot going on.
Today I realized how much a loving Heavenly Father is aware of me how he has buoyed me up and giving me the strength to keep going. He has shown me many tender mercies.
I know my Heavenly Father knows and most of all loves me. He gives me no more than I can handle

darkness- Laura lesson

I usually meet my friends in the early (dark) hours of the morning to enjoy a run. The good thing about hat time of day is it is quiet. I usually have sometime to reflect on the person I am, the day And my life. I love these quiet moments of the day. Love to realize what I am blessed with.
Today my back pain was super high, which effects my whole body including my legs. Even if I have done nothing my legs feel super weak. I decided to cut off from the group. I found myself running on the dark bumpy rocky canal road alone.
It made me start thinking a lot about life.  How easy it is to be caught in darkness.  To be caught in those dark, rocky paths where we can't see much around us.  Where we get frightened and hope we can find our way back. I often find myself praying why did I put myself on this dark path on my own. Heavenly Father help me be safe and not bump into a itching undesirable.  So it is with the dark paths we get ourselves in. Hopefully we are seeking heaven,y Father, saying where did I get myself, help me get out.
When I am running I see some of the most beautiful things Heavenly Father has blessed us with, stars, moon, sunsets etc...

My cousin Rhonda

My cousins wife was currently in the Murray hospital for 24 weeks. She has diabetes and it has attacked her body. She has faced years of challenges from this disease. This current challenge has caused problems with her vision, her internal organs and her legs and feet. With this last hospital stay she had to have her leg amputated. What pain and sorrow she has suffered. Yet she has had such faith to stay faithful. 

I finally went to visit her on her 24th week stay in the hospital. I pondered a lot of questions. Why? Why doesn't it take me so long to reach out to someone in need. Why have I not been serving her earlier. As I heard in conference today I need to be in tune and find more wAys to serve.

Trampoline moving

This spring we ended up getting our kids a new trampoline.  We have been use to a smaller round trampoline that can be moved rather easily by yourself. We decided to get a rectangle tramp to allow our kids for more jumping space. Not on,y did we get a bigger tramp, we now have two tramps. The kids have spent countless hours jumping on those trampolines. We have even been asked if our kids were grounded to the tramp. The downfall to our backyard set up is mowing

Each week the duty of mowing falls upon me.  I mow as far as I can until I come to those trampolines. I stop my mower and grab a leg of the tramp. I tug and tug and it hardly even moves. I find myself discouraged and frustrated as I tug and pull all the tramps and it barely moves. I have gotten into a routine I count 1,2,3 pull one leg and move to the other and repeat the same thing. Rotating from side to side until the tramp is finally moved where I want it.

Weekly as I go through this silly routine I always think of the same thing. I think of our challenges in life and how we want to just move over them and be done. We want the, to be moved quickly instead of doing step by step and learning and growing in each phase. It's a gentle reminder to me that I need to be patient on Heavenly Father own time and not mine. Be willing to learn and grow along the way.