REMEMBER…

The other day Tauna said, “Mom there is something on your eyelash.” I said, “honey, there can’t be, remember I don’t have any eyelashes.” She looked closer and reached up to remove a piece of white lint from my eyelash. “See,” she said, “you do have eyelashes!” I couldn’t wait to get home to see my new eyelashes.

Then yesterday as Amy and I were standing by her car she said with excitement, “Oh Mom, you have eyebrows!” I said, “Honey, I don’t think so.” She then said, “Yes you do, the sun in shinning on them and wow – there’s actually a lot of them!"

It’s so interesting how quickly things change and how fleeting our life can be, either for good or bad. Last month I tried a new herb called Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) that was supposed to help with my neuropathy in my feet. I had been using it for a couple of weeks and hadn’t noticed any improvement and so I told my doctor that it wasn’t really helping. He told me to go ahead and stop taking it. I tapered down and finished off the bottle, not even thinking I would notice a change. The next week my feet started to “KILL” me! This went on for 2 weeks, until one day I realized that maybe that ALA had in fact helped. I went to the store and bought some more and this time, I started noticing the slight improvements along the way. It wasn’t all at once, and it is not a cure, but in the long run it helps me be able to endure the pain.

It wasn’t until I was completely out of this stuff, that I finally realized the benefit it had been for my feet. Then I thought of how this kind of parallels our life. The Lord blesses us every day and many times we don’t see it, until it is completely gone. Then we look back and sorrowfully realize that we had been blessed and watched over by Him.

REMEMBER – this is the most commonly used word in the scriptures. The Lord wants us to remember all the tender mercies he has given us and as we do, we will feel His love even more. It was actually on Memorial Day, as I sat cross-legged on the grass, watching my two sons play in an outside volleyball tournament, that I paused to remember. Six months ago, I would never have been well enough to sit on the grass, let alone cross-legged. I wouldn’t have been well enough to even be there sitting in a lawn chair.

Today I read a blog post from Alisa http://joshalisa.blogspot.com/2012/05/if-wishes-were-fishes.html where she was in the hospital last week and missed all the final events and recitals of her children. My heart ached for her and it caused my mind to reflect on where my journey has taken me.

I remember after my surgery, asking the husband of my cousin who had passed away, if I would ever be able to experience joy in my life again. He said I would, but I wasn’t sure I believed him. But now I can say yes, there is joy everywhere I turn…but it’s all about remembering how far you’ve come!!!!

Last week as I got to go to my granddaughter’s pre-school graduation, and sit on a hard chair through both granddaughters (long) dance recitals, I realized this would never have happened six months ago.

 
  
All the sewing, babysitting, baking of bread, and hiking I have done lately, all would never have happened 6 months ago either. When we went hiking, I was able to walk up the mountain, but when it came to coming down hill.... it killed my toes, so I tried walking heel, toe, heel, toe. Check out the 12 sec. video clip below, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KKYY6s7qLU&feature=youtu.be

When I look at what I have been able to go do, I ask myself, “Am I forgetting how sick I was and how far I’ve come?”  I can’t believe how easy it is to fall back into the way things used to be. There are many times that I forget that I am still recuperating, and run “faster than I have strength”, but as I lay my exhausted head down at night, I try to look back and REMEMBER how far the Lord has blessed me to this point.

AAAAMAZING Amy!

Today, our second daughter, Amy turns 31 years old!!!!!  Every once in a while, you get to sit back and take stock of your life and see if what you have done has made a difference in the world.  I have 5 main reasons that I know that I have made a mark that will last for eternity.  As each of our 5 children grow up, I love to reflect on the times we had with them growing up.

              Amy at 2 months                                               Amy at 15 months

           Amy at 2 years                                             Amy at 4 years

Little would you know that this sweet, adorable little face would end up knowing how to give you a piece of her mind (I wonder where Brooke and Mya get it) haha.  We love Amy so much!  She started out as a very shy little girl, but changed into a very outgoing, social girl, loved by all her know her. 
  
Here she is during her College years….graduating from BYU where she found her man- Steve Rindlibacher!!!!

Amy & Steve’s Engagement Picture  (How blessed Amy was to find a man that could “handle” her and make her so happy!)  We all love Steve!!!!!!

Amy the Princess and her prince will celebrate 10 years of marriage this year.

Now a Forever Family with four children of their own!!!!!

Amy is such an incredible wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.  She AMAZES me on how organized she is and how well she takes care of the emotional and physical needs of her growing family!  She is very sensitive and such a loving daughter to me, continually concerned about my physical and emotional welfare.  I’ve learned so many things from her example, I can’t quite figure out how I ended up being the mother!  I must have done something right.  Happy Birthday Dear Amy!!!

"Stories on the Sabbath" - Did You Think to Pray?

Hello everyone,

I am writing a book on prayer and have decided to conduct an on-line survey, and your response would be very much appreciated.

Here is a link to my survey, "Did you think to Pray."  Please click on it now.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G965VZX

This survey is completely anonymous.  I will not be able to track the answers to anyone's email address.  The company (surveymonkey) does all of the compiling for me.  

If you have any personal stories relating to the categories below, and you would be willing to share in my book, please email me at micheleromneygarvin@gmail.com and I will get back with you.

•        Personal Prayers
•        Children’s Prayers
•        Group Prayers
•        Dreams and Visions
•        Prayers of Gratitude
•        Priesthood Blessings
•       Trials overcome through Prayer

•       Prayers of Forgiveness/Repentance
•       Unanswered Prayers

•       Receiving Answers through:

        o   Scriptures
        o   General Authority quotes
        o   Music
        o   Holy Ghost
        o   Temple

Thanks for your participation!

Michele Garvin

Grateful for Life itself!

Last night as I was saying my prayers, I started thanking the Lord for my good health and as I did the flood gates opened and I started full blown crying.  It's been a while since I've cried and so it felt really good, but it also made me stop and take inventory once again of my many blessings.

I had Avastin again yesterday and my CA-125 was at 20.  So we are at a good holding pattern considering it was 21 three weeks ago and 17 three weeks before that.  (0-35 is normal).  I feel so blessed to have been chosen for this clinical trial and that things have gone as well as they have.  I am trying to count my blessings every day for my good health, because I don't know how long I will have it.  And yes I want to be optimistic and pray for a miraculous healing,, but when people ask me if I am cured of cancer, I am also realistic with them.

I have been going through some of my old journals and reading different entries.  I was so interested to read an entry from over two years ago.  We were without a paying job while living in Prescott, Arizona.  I had cited all of the job hunting frustrations we were going through, then my eyes read the next words, "at least we can be grateful that bad health is not one of our trials now!”   Oh my goodness..... when I read those words I realized that we never know what trial is just around the corner and we have to pray that we will be able to handle things as they come.  Little did we know that in less than a year and a half we would both have cancer! Last week when Craig and I were in the temple, we stood in the prayer circle and I was reminded once again of our blessings as the officiator said, "We are grateful for life itself!"  What a profound statement.

It's been amazing living in Utah and having the finest doctors and knowing that most of them are LDS and have the same belief in God that we do.  My primary care doctor, Amy Hawks was the one who ordered my initial CT scan that found my cancer.  She turned me over to my oncologist, Dr. Wallentine and my surgeon Dr. Soisson.  I hadn't seen or talked to her in over four months when one day I got a card from her that said,

"Michele, I'm afraid this note is long over due, but I just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking of you and hoping that your treatment and recovery go as smoothly as possible.  I keep thinking about your response when I told you that the CT Scan indicated ovarian cancer.  You reminded me that your husband had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and then you said, "The Lord must really love us!"  I admire your strength and faith and hope you feel sustained during this time.  I know the Lord does love you."  Dr. Amy Hawks

It's been almost 8 months since my surgery and 7 since Craigs and we definitely know that the Lord really does love us.  We are grateful for that knowledge that has and will sustain us through the good and bad times in our lives.

"Stories on the Sabbath"

                                                            "On the Lord's Errand"

Money was rather tight, and I thought I could help if I found some part-time work.  I read an ad in the paper that sounded like it might fit the bill, and soon I found myself attending a "group interview."  By the end of the evening I knew that this job would not be our solution.  However, during the break I visited with a young married couple who had just moved to our town.  The wife was five months pregnant with their first child.

Once the interview was over, I told the young couple that while I was sure it wasn't their habit to ride with strangers, under the circumstances they might want me to drive them home.  The husband hesitated, looked at his weary wife, and then accepted.

We chatted casually on the way to the apartment complex where they said they were staying with friends.  I told them that after having five children, I had quite a few baby things I would be happy to give them.  They seemed pleased and thanked me.

They requested that I drop them off in the parking lot.  I asked them for a phone number so I could bring some baby things back to them.  I wrote their number on a piece of paper, wished them well, and drove home to my family.

On the way home, I came to the conclusion that the reason I had been drawn to the interview was probably so I could help this young couple.  As I told my husband about the events of the day, I received a very strong impression to prepare a "care package" of food for them.  I felt there would be plenty of time later to get the baby things to them, but for now I couldn't ignore this prompting.

The following day I started working to put together the package.  Our own cupboards were a little on the empty side as we waited for our next payday, but I gathered what I could.  Then I called several neighbors and enlisted their help.  Before long I had gathered four boxes of food and household supplies, including some delicious homemade bread and jam.  It looked wonderful!

I called the number this couple had given me, only to find that the person who answered had no idea who I was talking about.  "Well," I thought, "I must have transposed the numbers somehow.  I'll just drive over there and find them."

Excitement ran through me as I thought of how thrilled this young couple would be to see all the food I had for them.  Maybe I could even share the gospel with them.  As I drove to where I had dropped them off, contentment filled my soul.  It felt so good to be on "the Lord's errand."

The manager of the apartment complex refused to give me any information, which definitely interfered with my plans.  Not to be dissuaded, I drove around the parking lot looking for this couple for nearly an hour.  I prayed earnestly as I tried to find them.  I even drove to a nearby shopping center and looked around.

My face was hot with tears of frustration as I finally pulled into my driveway.  I told my husband of my efforts.  He said not to worry about it, I had done my best.  But I knew the Lord had TOLD me to prepare this care package, so I insisted that my husband help me try to find them.  Because of his love for me, he drove me back across town.

We had about the same experience together that I had had on my own.  I couldn't understand it.  Why would the Lord instruct me to put together this food, and then make it impossible to deliver?

Jim and I drove home in gloomy silence.  We had no sooner pulled into the driveway than I had a new surge of hope.  My husband stayed home this time, but I drove back across town yet another time.  I was convinced that this time the Lord would help me find "my" couple.  No such luck!

Parked by the side of the road, tears streaming down my face, I pleaded with the Lord. "I KNOW that thou instructed me to put together this food!"  Then, ever so quietly, a clear voice came into my heart and mind, saying, "Yes, my daughter, I instructed you to put together this food.  Now, be still and I will tell you who it is for."  I was shocked.  Instead of being so frantic to do what I thought was most important, I sat quietly.  Almost instantly the name of a couple, our very good friends, came into my mind.  I knew that they had been struggling, but it hadn't occurred to me to take them anything special.

I drove slowly home, then gave my friend Louise a call.  "Louise, this is Stephanie," I said.  "This may sound strange, but I have several boxes of food in my trunk, and I think they belong to you." 

Stunned silence.  "What did you say?" she cautiously asked.

"Well, I felt impressed to put some food together today, and I think it's for you," I repeated.

"Just a minute," she replied.  She was gone from the phone for a couple of minutes.  When she returned, she told me that she had had to stop her husband, who was on his way to the store with their tithing money.  They had been out of food for a couple of days, and had finally decided to use the only money in the house to buy food.

As I joyfully drove to my friends' house, I reflected on how, in our eagerness to be "on the Lord's errand," we sometimes actually get in his way.  The Lord had told me to put some food together, but I was the one who had decided it was for the elusive couple.  The Lord had other plans.  In my determination to do what I thought was needed, I almost missed  a wonderful opportunity to bless the lives of some very dear friends. 

The words of a very familiar scripture came to mind: "The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7).  It all made sense now. The Lord had used my service to prepare a way for this family to accomplish the thing which was commanded of them.  I felt truly humbled to have been an instrument in his hand.

Louise met me at the door with a hug.  Then, arm in arm, we went to my car to bring in the food the Lord had wanted them to have in the first place.

                                                                                    --Stephanie Abney, mother of five

  (By Small and Simple Things)

How was your day? Sew, sew!

Since I’ve been feeling so much better these last couple of weeks, I thought I would try and make up for lost time and babysit some of my grandkids.  I had my two grandsons come visit at different times.  They are adorable and I enjoy them so much.

Then since I didn’t get to help out with Amy after she had the baby, I have tried to take her two middle daughters who get “bored” at home.  We have found a place where we meet half way.  It takes both Amy and I 10 minutes to drive there and we exchange the kids in the parking lot of this place called Noah’s in Pleasant Grove.  Then I take them for the day and we go and do fun things at my house.  But first, they always want to go shopping at Wal-Mart with me, so they can help drive the scooter. It’s so funny to see the cute looks I get from people in the store.
 
Since Mya, Amy’s 3rd child had given up her crib, she now had a new bed and needed a new bedspread.  So we went shopping for one, but everything was over a hundred dollars.  Stupidly I said, “Oh Amy, we can make one just as cute for a lot cheaper.”  haha Famous last words!!!!!  We had fun shopping and picking out the different fabrics to make the bedspread.  Well, 3,000 hours later (or so it seemed) I finally finished the bedspread and the pillows. A word to the wise, next time we will buy the stupid bedspread (unless you are wanting some bonding time) and that’s what we enjoyed the most.  Here is Mya with her new bedroom set and bedspread.  The pictures make it look red, but it is a bright pretty pink.
  
When Brooke saw what I had made for Mya, she looked a little sad.  So I quickly said, “How would you like to come over to my house and go shopping and buy some special material and I will make you a skirt.”  She was delighted!  We bought the material and I made the skirt with no pattern.  When it was finished, it fit Natalie.  So that meant that I still needed to make another skirt for Brooke.  Then when I saw how darling they turned out, I felt bad that my other grand daughters in Vegas wouldn’t have any.  So when we were in Vegas last week babysitting, I made a couple of skirts for them.  I’m a glutton for punishment!  Well needless to say, I bit off more than I could chew…(maybe that’s why I’ve had a stomach ache for past two weeks).  I think they turned out sooooo cute.
Here is Natalie and Brooke Rindlisbacher in their skirts.

And Cassidy and Kara Johnson (Vegas)

Cooper, Cassidy’s Twin brother wanted to get in on the photo shoot too!

(I still have skirts to make for Allie and Mya).  Good thing I only have 6 granddaughters - but how blessed I am to be feeling good enough to do this!  It's "sew" important to me to make memories with my grandkids while I am able to.  I never know how long my good health will last.  Sew, "I will make hey while the sunshines!" (a saying my Dad used to say). :-)

"Stories on the Sabbath" - A Mother's Day Tribute

                                        "Legacy of Service"

The missionaries were asleep in their bedrolls surrounding the Christmas tree.  It was about midnight and my mom was working as fast as she could to get all the presents put under the tree.  On one trip, Mom's arms were overflowing with Christmas presents, one of which was a cast-iron skillet.  She tip-toed into the living room, being ever so careful not to step on any of the elders.  But as she did, she was not aware that she was losing some the presents from off the top.

Thud!  The cast-iron skillet fell.  Quickly, she turned to see where it landed.  She was horrified when she saw it sitting right on top of one of the elder's head!  She bent down and picked up the frying pan, prepared to apologize to him, but he slept on.

Wow!  These elders must have been really tired! she thought as she continued to go about her last minute duties.  Not until the next morning when she was telling us this story did she wonder if he had really slept through it, or if it had knocked him unconscious!  However, she was greatly relieved to see sitting on the couch, a healthy-looking missionary opening some of his presents from home.

We lived in the mission-field and at that time missionaries serving on the reservation were allowed to stay overnight in the members home for special events.  We loved it when the missionaries came.  They brought with them a special spirit that blessed our home.  We also had family, friends and even strangers stay in our home.  I grew up watching love in action as I watched my parents reach out to those in need.  However, our lives were always blessed more than those we served.    

We had chicken every Sunday! People loved to stop by our home because they felt welcome.  Sundays were a time where we all invited anyone we wanted to come over for dinner.  To make sure we had enough food, Mother would make four or five whole chickens on Saturday night.  Many times we fed over twenty-five people on a given Sunday.  After we ate we visited and had some wonderful gospel discussions.  Those who left were fed both emotionally and physically.  In my home, I've continued the tradition of chicken every Sunday, but not to the magnitude of my mother.  Those were special memories that have stirred in me the desire to serve. 

When I was six months old my father was in a serious car accident.  Both of his legs were broken and one ankle was badly crushed.  During the next three years, he was under the doctor's care unable to work.  This was a very humbling experience for him because he had five children and no way to support the family.  My parents did not want to take advantage of the church so during these three long years, my mother went to work and held down three jobs to make ends meet.

Before the accident, Dad had started remodeling our existing home to make it larger.  During his rehabilitation time, he still found ways to work on the house.  He would get a pillow and scoot around on it as he put in the new floor in the living room.  When he needed to stand and hammer, he would prop the crutches up under his arms and they would hold him as he labored.

As the years went on, my mother's physical and emotional health became worse.  Being the sole bread winner and raising a family was beginning to take a toll.  Their bishop was aware of their situation and counseled my mother to quit working and stay at home with her children.  My parents felt they couldn't do this because there wouldn't be any money for food.  My dad was getting a little from workman's compensation, but not enough to feed and clothe the family.  The bishop suggested that the church would provide for their needs, but my parents immediately refused.  They told him they could not accept that without giving something back in return.

A wise bishop went to his stake president to receive counsel concerning my parents.  They went to their area presidency and a decision was made.  The bishop's storehouse which was being housed in a large warehouse was expending too much money on overhead, utilities and storekeeper.  It was suggested that it be closed down and moved into our home.

When the bishop approached my parents, they were truly humbled.  Part of the remodeling my dad had done was to build a very large storage room.  The bishop's storehouse was moved into that new addition and my mother became the storekeeper.  In turn for her work, she could trade in kind.  She was allowed to use any of the food in the store house for our family.  What a miracle!  The Lord had made a way for my mother to stay at home, and still be of service and pay their way.  The bishop's storehouse remained in our home for ten years.

During this same time, a brand new stake center was being built in Flagstaff, Arizona where we lived.  Every member was asked to contribute $350.00 to the building fund.  (That was a large amount of money for anyone during those years, let alone someone who was not working).  My dad hadn't been released from the doctor's care, but still felt like he wanted to do his share.  He asked if there was some way he could work off his assessment.  The leaders agreed and soon my dad began helping to build the stake center.  He was not as fast as the others, but his work was just as good. 

At the end of each week, he was paid by check for the hours that he had put in.  He could pull out enough money to pay part of the assessment and then take the rest home to his family.  However, my dad wouldn't think of it.  As he received each and every check he would turn it over, sign his name and endorse it back to the church.  When the building was finally complete, my dad had signed over three thousand dollars to the church for his part in up building the Kingdom of God.

I've often pondered this experience.  Why, considering my parent's financial situation, didn't they use the rest of the money for themselves?  There was over two thousand, six hundred dollars they had not been required to give.   Since then I've realized that we are always in debt to the Lord.  In Mosiah 2: 23-24 it further explains: "And now, in the first place he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.  And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you.  And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?"

Just at the time we think we might have caught up with what the Lord has given us, He gives us more.  We will never reach the break-even point.  My parents example has shown me how important it is to not only do that which you are compelled to do, but to go the extra mile and do that which is not required.

Through the years my parents, Pearl Tenney and George Lee Romney have left a "Legacy of Service" in the lives of each of their children and grandchildren.  There is not a day in my life that goes by that I am not influenced by this great legacy.  Hanging on the wall in each of our homes is our family motto found in Joshua 24:15.  "Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  My parents truly lived what they taught.

                                                                            --Michele R. Garvin, daughter of

              Pearl Tenney and George Lee Romney

                         (Out of Small Things)

       

My father passed away in 2003, but my dear mother still is living a full life of service at age 88!  Happy Mother's Day Mom - I love you!

Thinking about...thinking positive!

Last week was my week to have my Avastin (I will have it every 3 weeks for the rest of my “healthy” life.)  Things went well and they took my CA-125 count again.  Last time it was 17 and this time it was 21.  I panicked when I heard that it went up, but the doctor said not to worry because it was still in the normal range (0-35) and would vacillate from month to month.

I’m feeling better and better each week, and I’m also taking advantage of my good health.  However, I don’t know when to stop. One of my friends has a family motto and I think it fits me so well.  “If something’s worth doing, it’s worth OVERDOING!”  I go like crazy for a few days and then crash, and then start the cycle over. 

Last night I was able to hear Hilary Weeks speak at a women’s conference.  She was delightful! She reminded me of the importance of thinking positive.  She shared a quote that was so good.

“To a great extent we accomplish what we think about.  Your thoughts, more than anything else, will be the determining factor in what you accomplish during your life.”
                               --Grant Von Harrison (Drawing on the Powers of Heaven pgs. 34-36)

Hilary talked about having a “clicker” and clicking every time she had a positive thought.  My sister sent me a clicker right after my surgery.  I remember lying in bed when I was feeling so awful and all I could think of that was good in my life was a kind, supportive husband (click) and five wonderful children (click, click, click, click, click).  Now I look back at how much better I am feeling then I was then, and I should be clicking a lot more!  This last week my stomach started hurting again for about 3 days, just like it did after surgery.  It wasn’t until then that I realized, “Hey, I haven’t had this stomach pain for a long time.”  I need to learn to be grateful for my good health while I am having it!!!! 

My husband and I were able to go to the temple this week and be the witness couple!  It was so wondeful to be able to do that again.  When they asked us I said yes right away.  My husband looked at me and asked me are you sure you are up to this?  My first thought was why?  Then all of a sudden I realized, "Oh yeah, I have cancer and I've been sick and every time I've come to the temple in the past months I've had to totally pace myself."  I started second guessing myself if I was healthy enough to do this, then I realized that if the Lord had helped me accomplish all of this other stuff I've been doing, he certainly would help me be the witness couple.  So we accepted.  It was so wonderful.  I kept wanting to pinch myself to remind me of how "healthy" I was feeling and to "remember" this special experience because I never know how long this stretch of good health will last.

Lately I have been so inspired by strong women who are going through hard trials.  One of my daughter’s friend is fighting a battle against melanoma http://www.joshalisa.blogspot.com/. I am so strengthened whenever I read about her courageous fight to live!  It makes me want to be a fighter like her.  Her last blog entitled "same spot" had me in tears!  Good tears that made me grateful for what I have.

Last week I got a call from another wonderful woman who was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer stage III-IV over 19 years ago.  What a miracle she is to still be alive!  I loved talking to her and feeling her strong spirit and gaining strength from someone who has gone before me.  She told me that one of her friends challenged her to find at least one good thing about every day.  She said she started doing this and soon found that she was able to come up with a whole list of good things.  She said as she did this little thing,it changed her attitude about many other big things!

A glimpse of Zion

Last night we saw the “Gospel in Action!” It was Monday and I had watched some of my grandkids that day. I was not feeling really good and so for FHE we decided to let me lie in bed and we would watch a conference report. When we were done, we came out into the living area and heard/saw a bunch of people in our back yard. I peeked out the window and saw all these kids and adults with rakes and gloves and bags. Then I looked closer and recognized them as our neighbors. They were doing a “spring cleaning” on our yard, but as a “surprise.”!
   
I grabbed my camera and Craig grabbed his gloves and we went out to “thank them”. We found out that our next door neighbors had gone to every house in our little cul-de-sac (14 homes) and invited them to a neighborhood FHE to clean up the Garvin’s yard. Everyone showed up except 3 homes (who were out of town or leaving the next day).

Not only did they pitch in to clean, rake and pull weeds, but they also donated money to buy new flowers and bark for our front yard. (This was done before we knew that anyone was at our house, and so we didn’t get to see them doing it, but our neighbor took some pictures).

Talk about Zion people! - Zion means “of one heart and one mind”.

It’s amazing what can be done when everyone has a common goal. It was just like King Benjamin taught, “When ye are in the service of your fellowmen, ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17)

Jodi Nichols said that she got emotional as she watched all the kids and adults working together. She said that it reminded her of when she grew up and what a wonderful feeling inside it gave her. Apparently her daughter felt that same feeling as she ran into the house to give me some money she had just earned!

Here is a quick video clip of the neighborhood kids cleaning and dancing!

I had already taken off my scarf for the night and so I grabbed a “hat” when I went out. I  thanked everyone and all of a sudden I felt inclined to take off my hat and show my “bald” head to the kids. (I know if I were a kid and was helping an old lady with cancer, I would think it was so COOL if I could see her bald head). Now remember, this is way past my “comfort zone” (including putting this picture on my blog),  but my heart was so full of love and appreciation that I wanted to do something different for them. As I did, they all gathered and felt my fuzzy head. Here is a Kodak moment with baby Jude – the youngest member of our neighborhood. They said we looked like twins!

Service is a wonderful thing! But in order for it to happen you have to have a giver and a receiver. It’s much easier to on the giving side. I’ve done that for years and reaped the joy and satisfaction that comes with it. Now it is my turn to be a receiver. It’s hard. But it’s important. My mom was an amazing example to me of being a “gracious receiver” when our childhood home burnt down and so many came to our aid. I hope I can be just like her.

Here is the final product of the back hill and front yard!
 

Thank you dear neighbors for lifting our spirits as well as our burdens!

"Stories on the Sabbath"

(This story is dedicated to one of my clinical trial nurses who just got back from China, with her arms full -bringing a baby girl that they were able to adopt after 5 long years.)

                                                            Aching  Arms

The words she spoke seemed to be aimed directly at me:  "There is a special need for service dealing with unwed mothers."  I couldn't seem to hear anything else our Stake Relief Society President was saying.  It was September 1980, and I had recently been called as  Relief Society president.  Many of the presidents had been asked if they would check in their wards to see if anyone would like to be foster parents to these young, unwed mothers.

The Spirit had spoken to me, and I felt very strongly that this was a service in which the Lord wanted my family to be involved. I approached my husband with my feelings and he agreed.  We had  three young daughters at the time, so one more temporary daughter seemed all right with him.  Several weeks later, I received a call from a woman stating that she was from LDS Social Services.  She was the head case worker for unwed mothers and wanted to  visit with us and tour our home.  Soon we were on our way to becoming foster parents.

About three days after our visit with the case worker, Jill and her parents came to meet us.  She was precious!  Eighteen years old, she had graduated from high school and was about four months into her pregnancy.  After meeting with us, her parents felt good about having their daughter stay in our home.  And we received a witness of the Spirit that she was to be our foster daughter.

During the next five months, we felt both joy and sorrow.  It was a glorious experience full of love and learning, and a bond was formed between Jill and our family that will never be broken.  After she delivered, Jill decided to place her baby for adoption.  This very unselfish decision was not an easy one.

One morning about two months after Jill had gone home, I received a phone call from her case worker.  She asked me if I could help her out of a predicament.  She had two newborn babies who needed to be picked up from different hospitals at the same time later that day.  She was calling to see if I would be available to help.  She needed me to pick up a baby girl and bring her home with me until the adoptive parents could be notified. I love babies and told her I would be thrilled to help out!

 When I arrived at the hospital, I presented my credentials to the admitting desk and was led to a small, private room in the farthest corner of the hospital.  As I apprehensively approached the open door of the hospital room, I caught a glimpse of a lovely young girl, about 16 years old.  She was sitting on the edge of her hospital bed, cradling in her arms a beautiful baby girl, a gift from God.  Her mother and father were standing arm in arm, looking out the window at the majestic mountains reaching toward the azure blue sky, trying to keep their composure and be strong for their daughter.  I was very nervous about entering that room and intruding on the spirit that was there.  I felt as if I might be stepping on hallowed ground.

The new mother was cooing to her daughter, expressing her deep love for her, telling her she was going to have some great opportunities in life by going to an adoptive family--opportunities she might not have otherwise.  She whispered that she would never forget her and that someday, if the Lord permitted, they might have a chance to meet again.  Her final words to her infant daughter were, "If I didn't love you with every fiber of my soul, if I didn't know beyond any doubt that you were to belong to another family, I would never let you go!"  She kissed the tiny forehead and pressed her lips against each infant finger.  Then she passed her baby from her aching arms to mine, turned away, and broke into sobs.  Her mother and father cried with her and encircled her in their arms as I left with the baby.

I cried all the way home for that precious little mother who had just taken her first step on the road to recovery.  How difficult this must have been for her.  I was privileged to have this darling baby with my family for two days before the case worker called and said the adoptive parents had been notified and would pick her up.

Again with trepidation, I entered a room filled with a mighty spirit, but this time a spirit of pure joy.  The cycle was complete as the baby was passed from my arms to the aching arms of her new mother.  Tears flowed down the new parents' cheeks, and I left the room quietly.  Like them, I too was shedding tears of joy!

From that experience came the opportunity to become a boarding mother for newborn babies.  For the next 20 months we housed newborns on a regular basis.  What a blessing that was to us!  Some babies we had only for a few hours, many for several days.  We loved them, fed them, clothed them and cared for them, and experienced heaven on earth each time,  gaining much more than we gave.

--April Goodman Baird, volunteer for "OutReach"   

               (By Small & Simple Things)