Everyday miracles

Some people see coincidences, some karma, I believe in calling things miracles and giving credit where credit is due, to an almighty loving Heavenly Father.

Last night I experienced one of these miracles.  For years I have suffered with advanced early onset arthritis. My knees have limited Cartledge. About a week and a half ago, due to the pain becoming more intense, I Went in for a synvisc shot. I have had these multiple times, and never had any issues or reactions, and the effects for me have been amazing. Once again I had no real issues, and went happily on my way. Now fast forward to a week later. 

I had accompanied Tommy to a business conference he had in Las Vegas for the week. During the week, my leg was becoming a bit more stiff every night, and towards the end of the week was becoming painful with a limited range of motion. I didn't worry too much. With my history of arthritis this wasn't a rare occurrence.

As the week ended, we began driving the 5 hour drive back home. During the drive, my knee and leg began to swell, and swell, and swell. We decided to head to instacare to have it looked at, and supposed the symptoms likely meant a blood clot of some sort.  The pain at this point was quite intense and the drive was difficult to muster through.

When I arrived, after not falling down while walking in, which was quite a feat, they quickly got me back, and the nurse also suspected the same. She discussed the likelihood of needing an ultrasound to diagnose, and was checking on if the tech was around.

When the doctor came in to examine me, he asked me about my recent synvisc shot. I explained the situation, and he said he was a sport medicine Doctor and had seen this only twice in his career.  He said it was a rare reaction to the synvisc shot, and although they normally didn't treat this at instacare, he had treated it a couple times and would be happy to take care of it. 

He brought the nurse in with him, and he explained the situation, which she admitted she had never heard of. He then injected a huge needle into my knee land whisky she pushed all the swelling, he extracted a large amount of fluid, replaced it with some cortisone, and sent me walking easily out to the parking.lot with no pain. 

Some would call it a coincidence. Some luck. The fact that the doctor knew of a rare side effect that the nurse had never heard of, and which my own searches online couldn't find, Is a blessing in my eyes. Being able to sleep comfortably with no pain is a minor miracle. Being able to avoid expensive unneeded tests, an added miracle. 

God does watch over us in so many ways!! So grateful for his protecting arm around me!

Thoughts on the Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25

 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

 

This parable has always been one of my favorites, and has been on my mind more and more lately.  We have been taught the virgins represent the members of the church, and, of course, thinking of the parable in this way is frightening.   Growing up, I was blessed to have some trials which solidified my faith, and experiences where I could not deny God, nor His love for me.   And, although I am definitely not finished in learning and gaining a testimony, I know my Savior.  But I often times find myself wondering, which group of the Virgins do I fall into?  Will I have enough oil?

 

If you consider those who leave the church for some reason where their worldly mind has forgotten to consider "worldly problems" with an eternal mind, then I could figure myself safe, and decide I have no need to fear, or strive to work harder and learn more.  But, I wonder, are they even waiting for the Savior still?

 

The virgins and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  They hadn't left, offended because they assumed men being priesthood leaders meant women were not valued, forgetting that His most precious children are given to women to nurture.  They hadn't left because they decided that the church was old fashioned in its belief of Traditional Marriage, forgetting that marriages are for eternity, and our spirits are eternal in nature.  Those have already left.  They no longer wait. 

 

The virgins weren't those who were lukewarm, only going to church to socialize.  Those wouldn't wait till midnight.  They would go home and sleep.

 

The virgins were anxiously waiting. Their joy and happiness at the upcoming event filled them so they waited until midnight for their Lord.  The darkness did not dampen their spirits because they knew who was coming.

 

Upon finding they didn't have enough oil, the foolish virgins didn't give up and go home.  They asked others for help, and then hurried off to buy oil.  They hadn't left yet.  They wanted so dearly to be present when the bridegroom came.  They were still trying to be faithful, and didn't even realize their shortcomings until it was too late.  They had forgotten to prepare, and weren't able to rely on last minute efforts.

 

So, does that mean that of the 10 virgins, they were all those who were doing what they felt they needed? Are they those who state they will wait, no matter how long He tarries? Does that mean, of those who say their faith will never falter, half will run out of oil?  It is a scary thought, not because I doubt my friends in the church, but simply because I know of their faith.  I know of their trust in God and their love for Him.  It is because of the strength of others around me that I wonder, which group am I in? 

 

Of course, this isn't a competition.  I have no doubt that Jesus won't come down with a checklist, pull it out, and say, "Ok, I have 5000 of you, which means 2500 don't make the cut.  Now, I see you missed a day of scripture reading last week?  Sorry, you are right on the line, so I guess you are out. And you, over there, you are just barely making it!  You should  be happy that she missed those scriptures or you wouldn't be here!" 

 

But, it does mean there are those of us waiting, yearning to be a part of the great day, and thinking we are ready, and yet, when He comes, He will speak, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 

 

We must be daily making sure we have the oil we need.   We need to be constantly evaluating if we are doing what we need, and what we can do to better serve Him and become His disciple.  We need to be not only strong in our testimonies, but also serve others.  We need to not only know of  His love and His path for us, but help others understand and know of that love, as well as share with them His path.  We need to allow Him to make our weaknesses strong through the atonement.  We need to rid ourselves of our sins and our flaws.  And the Savior is the way.  We must strive to learn Him, and become as He is every day of our lives, so when He comes, He will know us. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks For Making the Magic Happen

This morning while Tommy was getting ready for work I took a brief moment to throw some laundry in the washer, one of those chores as a mother and wife we simply do without thinking.  As Tommy was headed out the door, he stopped to give me a quick kiss, and said sweetly, "Thanks for making the magic happen."

The "magic" in this case, is how clean clothes magically appear in his closet.  A few years ago, one of our daughters, who remembers which one, while upset we would have her do chores, stated that I, as a work at home mother, simply sat around eating chocolate all day while they were at school, and consequently, to ask her to help clean the house after school was simply uncalled for. To which, Tommy and I laughed, and took turns speaking of magical things that happened in our house, as of course, I didn't perform any of them.  Some of the list was food magically appearing either in the pantry, or later cooked at served at the table, toilets becoming clean on their own,  errands magically being done without anyone to do them, vegetables appearing out of nowhere suddenly into our garden, and of course, those magic clothes being worn, thrown into the hamper or onto the floor, magically becoming clean, and finding themselves folded and put away without anyone touching them. Truly we live in a magical house. 

So, this  morning as my husband watched me throw in a load of laundry, he thanked me for the magic.  Now, as much as my life revolves around the washer and dryer, sadly, that isn't really what I was thinking about when I sat down to write a quick blog post, but instead I was thinking about how lucky I am to have a husband who notices the "magic" and takes time to say thank you to me.   It has now been my job to wash his laundry for just under 19 years.  That is quite a few pairs of socks, underwear, pj's, pants, shirts, pillow cases, sheets, etc.  Too many to count.  I generally do it without even thinking about it, almost as an after thought.  And I think most times, he creates more "work" for me without even really thinking about it. But he does go out of his way to try to acknowledge that he appreciates the fact he doesn't have to think about where his clean laundry comes from, and generally (unless I am crazy busy) have to wonder if he will have clean laundry.  Such a simple thing, that I believe, adds so much to our marriage. 

I think I don't do as well at this.  I rarely call him on payday, and thank him for getting up every day, and going to work so "magically" money appears in our account to pay bills with.  I rarely thank him for making sure our internet is running correctly so I can work from home.  I ask him to run errands for me, or to drive the kids to and from their activities when I can't or don't feel up to it, and don't really consider how it takes him away from something he needs, or wants to do.   Now, before I get any "women's lib's" thinking he leaves me to do all the work myself, or raise the kids myself, that is not how it works. Yes, I generally cook. Mainly because I prefer my cooking, and prefer to have dinner (which I generally have been in charge of choosing when we eat) at a time where it doesn't work to wait for him to arrive home. He is more than happy to clean up, or even cook.  Even tonight, he realized I have "other plans" and asked if he needed to take care of dinner.  To which, I answered, I had it covered but thank you. 

To me, his simply "thank you" this morning was just one instance of something he always does that makes me more dedicated to my marriage, and more in love with him.  In every successful marriage each person is doing so many things simply to make the marriage succeed.  That might be raising the children, going to work, doing laundry, bringing home flowers, going to a movie the other one wants to see,  so many things.   And the marriage grows, as each one recognizes and shows gratitude for those little things.  I know every time my husband takes that time to  thank me for the "magic" I feel a bit more thankful for each thing he does, and falls a bit more in love.  Maybe that is the real "magic" in our marriage.  Maybe it is the small and simple acts of love and service, and then showing love and gratitude for those acts.  I do live in a magic house, not due any house elves (not that I would mind having some if anyone has any to share) or chores becoming done without any effort, but because the love my husband shows to me daily makes this a magic place to live!

What Did I Learn?

Last Sunday, my ward and stake boundaries were changed, leaving me in a new ward and a new stake.  Sadly I knew this meant I would lose a calling which has meant so much to me these past few years, Stake Girls Camp Director.  I received a call yesterday to go meet with the member of the Stake Presidency who had been over me during this last girls camp, and I had the dreaded "exit interview", not dreaded because of any reason but I didn't want to give this up because I can't imagine which calling could ever be as much fun, and yet still give me such a chance for growth.

As I sat there in the interview, I was asked a question I had never really contemplated before.  "What did you learn from holding this calling?"  I had often times contemplated what I wanted the girls to learn, how I felt they could learn best, how to make things better, how to be prepared for anything, but never really what I got from having the calling.  I simply was happy to have the calling, and although I feel I have grown so much, I never really sat down and enumerated what I had learned.   I felt a bit flustered as I tried to explain what I have learned, but I also know I forgot an awful lot as I sat there in the chair remembering everything that has happened over these years.  Hopefully, by writing this post I will remember what I learned throughout life.

Lesson #1:  If we had any idea of how very much our Heavenly Father loves us, we would never want to stray from Him. 

 

 

This lesson came a few different times in a few different ways.  The first time I felt it was when I received the call.  I was going through a rough patch, partially due to some trials in my distant past which still were haunting me.  Because of some betrayal of others, I was struggling with forgiving others when they hurt me.  I was sitting in church once, and we sang the song "More Holiness Give Me".  One of the stanzas ends with the phrase, "More fit for the kingdom, more used would I be, More blessed and holy, More, Savior, like Thee."   I had felt for awhile that I could do more, and be more, if only given the opportunity.  I said a prayer asking why I wasn't used more, why I wasn't being the chance to help with the church more, and how I felt so incompetent and unneeded.  I had a very strong prompting that God was waiting on me to take care of my own heartbreaks so He could fully use me.  I admit, I had tried, unsuccessfully, to bury the whole trial and everything that came with it, the hurt, the pain, so far down, I didn't want to dig it back up.  But, I also knew it was time.  I admit, it was not an easy thing.  But I went to some counseling, learned more about forgiveness than I had ever known, and through the process grew closer to my Heavenly Father, as well as my loved ones.  Soon after I felt I could handle my past, and move on, I was given this calling.  I was told by the Stake Young Women's president the final night of our first girls camp how she felt so strongly when she submitted my name, and she knew I was the one that was needed for that calling, I just don't know if she understood how much I needed the calling.  I also know to some this might seem like a silly calling to feel it was such an honor, but to me it was a calling which I could magnify and that I would get the opportunity to work with the youth, and have fun! To me this is a dream calling, and luckily God knows me well enough to know what I need.  Receiving the calling at all was a huge testament to me of God's love for me, as well as His trust in my abilities.

 

There were also moments at camp where I was able to see from God's perspective, how amazing each Daughter of God is, and how much He loves them.  The first year I was able to be the one to help each girl get harnessed into the zip-line.  It wasn't much time, but I had about 3 minutes one on one time to talk to them face to face, and get to know them a bit more.  Each one had something so special about her, and regardless of if it was the first day, when every one is excited and CLEAN, or the last day where they were all grimy and maybe a bit sleep deprived, each one sparkled, and you could see that they were truly God's children.  

 

When we had the Stake testimony meetings, I think I saw more clearly than ever how much God loves each and every girl (the only problem being when I can see something that sure and that strong, it makes me tend to babble, so hopefully the girls were able to feel the spirit regardless of my lack of "public speaking" skills).

 

I don't think any of us truly comprehend our Father's complete love for us, but every glimpse we get is so valuable!

 

Lesson 2: God Answers Prayers About Everything!!

 

 

With each camp, there were some differences that came due to answers to prayers.  One year we felt very strongly to mix up the wards.  We got a lot of concern over that decision, but we felt the need to do it, although I don't know for sure that any of us knew why ahead of time.  As camp came, and as we went through the week, it was interesting.  There were some girls who were struggling who truly grew from this experience.  There were girls who needed to grow in certain ways, and this choice allowed them that opportunity.  After camp I had a few people tell me they were sorry they had questioned the decision, because they had seen some results with their girls, and were so thankful that we followed through (however, none of them had acted in any way where they had need to apologize).  I would have never expected the situations to arise which made these miracles possible.  God did.  He knew what needed to be in place. He knew how to set up the situation.  I honestly don't think it made girls camp easier, but our lives aren't always made to be easy. Often times, our lives are made for us to grow.

 

The last camp was filled with "answers to prayers".  Whether it be the prayers issued from the day we heard there might not be any running water at the campsite (try bringing up enough water for 500 for a week? oy!) that were issued from January until July, when we finally got notice water was restored, or the prayers that somehow the skies cleared for just long enough to let the activities the wonderful seminary teachers prepared be carried out.  There were prayers asking for some way to get all the girls on the zip-line (which couldn't be used during bad weather, a huge portion of camp this year), to prayers asking the potentially very dangerous storm to pass (which it suddenly disappeared into nothing).  There were plenty of prayers and blessings given to those who were sick, and for those who were homesick and needed comfort.  There were prayers asking for us to somehow figure out housing situations, to blessings just on food to give us the needed energy to keep running camp.  It didn't seem to matter how small or large the problem was, prayer always seemed to be the answer. And every time we asked, we were sent a solution.   

 

 

Lesson 3: If You Truly Plan and Prepare, Heavenly Father Will Make Sure "Everything Will Work Out"

 

 This lesson goes along with the last one quite well.  We planned and planned.  One whole year of planning.  We planned as a Youth Camp Leader committee, we planned as the Stake Young Women's presidency, we planned with our High Counsel and Stake Presidency leaders.  We planned with the Ward Leadership. We planned with the cooking committee. I even remember a few meetings where we planned how to plan! 

 

We prepared! We took TONS of food.  We had plenty of activities.  We had schedules of this and that.  We had assignments made.  We knew what was going to happen, and how we were going to help it happen!

 

Then it happened, and it did not go completely according to plan! No amount of random supplies pulled out of my "Mary Poppins" backpack could solve every problem.  No amount of planning could have let us foresee every problem we encountered.  I think sometimes we are given a problem we couldn't foresee simply to remind us to rely on our Heavenly Father.  I believe He wants us to remember how He always makes things end up right side up and good, even when we don't know how it will be accomplished.  Luckily, often times He is kind enough to teach this with small lessons (such as trying to find refuge housing due to possible collapsing roofs) rather than in big ways (such as illness or losing a job).  It is up to us to realize what His gentle lesson means, so we can have the faith later when we face a larger trial.  Somehow, it always works out when we have faith in God.   

 

Lesson 4: Young Women Rock (especially my YCLs)!

 

Especially the YCL's (Youth Camp Leaders), and all those young women who were in the Rose Canyon Stake! I love ya all to bits!! I wanted the young women to take up the reigns and lead! And they did! My YCLs amazed me! There were a few hiccups the first day, as we all learned what was needed and how to make things work, but as I dumped responsibilities on them, and let them know what needed to be done, it would magically get done! From Birthday Patrol, to cleaning the bathrooms, it didn't matter! They saw a need, and they fulfilled it!! 

Of course, even those that weren't YCL's were amazing! Whether it be jumping off the edge for the zip-line (or asking me to push them off) because they were so scared, doing the obstacle course, or just being amazing friends to their fellow camp mates.  The Young Women are awesome!

 

Lesson 5: Attitude is Everything!

 

Ok. This one I didn't learn at camp, but the lesson was reinforced big time!  With hundreds of girls, and the logistics that come with that, there are bound to be some problems! A few had were such as "Ok.. which group do we put in the Never-Never Land campsite 50 miles away and force to walk in a few times a day" [and I appreciate none of those wards forming a lynching party!], to "We have an activity planned on the ball field, and it is raining cats and dogs, now what?"  In every case, there were two choices.  (1) Complain. (2) Don't complain.  In the camp this last year, it was the camp of  "Plan B".  It was the camp where everything changed once we got there, and nothing stayed the same due to forces outside our control.  Nothing seemed to cooperate with the original plan.  If you looked at it from the outside, there were times that it could have been the "worst of times", but the girls decided to make it the "best of times". 

 

But when I look at the groups who were the most happy, smile-y, cheerful they were the ones who decided to be happy!  In some ways, it seemed almost as if the fact they knew (due to weather and possible camp placement) they might have a hard time, and so they already knew they needed to decide to be happy, made it easier for them to be happy regardless of situation (even when there is a freak storm warning at midnight, and they have to hike, through the rain, all the way back to the lodge.  For crying out loud, that midnight game night in the lodge was actually quite fun!)  Attitude doesn't take away any trials, but attitude definitely makes trials more bearable, or even sometimes enjoyable!  

 

 

Of course, there are other lessons, such as how many hands make work light (As it came closer to the camp, I kept trying to find more stuff that needed to be done, and would discover there wasn't anything left!) First off there was my Assistant and the Stake YW Presidency who would do anything and everything to help! Even make up 500 "mud cups" in their kitchen, run around finding supplies, or help me get my head around stuff! To my amazing Head Chef who planned for, cooked, and fed everyone there with her wonderful staff (her job was way more difficult than mine!), and  the Priesthood leaders who were always coming to the rescue, whether it be someone needing a blessings, magically finding tents/trailers for 40+ people who were "homeless" #Refuge, to the ward YW leaders who were there doing everything 24/7!  There were lessons learned of how true love is found (ok.. so those "finding your eternal companion stories with the YCL's till 2am were suppose to be for them, but heck, I am a romantic at heart! And I will never forget some of the lines, such as "You will never find anyone better than me!"  Bwahahaha!) There were lessons on misunderstandings, and how although they can lead to stress, it will all work out.  There was also the lesson on how to dig a trench around a tent so you don't get a river flowing through it, and how iPhones can come back to life at 5am after a near drowning (#SquishyLives), but we won't go there!

 

 

Being a girls camp leader is a calling that will always be dear to my heart, and I will sincerely miss! I know there are plenty of other lessons I learned, and I know there are plenty I learned, and just slipped my mind. Luckily the friendships and knowledge I gained will be something that I can keep with me forever! And even though I no longer have the calling, I still won't mind those random hugs from girls I get when at the grocery store, or walking through the school halls!