Sunday, January 16, 2011

Taylor is Home!

Today was a good day.  In many ways.  First, Taylor got to go home!  Jen called me as they were about 2/3 of the way home to let me know they were on their way.  I spoke to Taylor this evening and he was a little tired but feeling pretty well still.  I bet he will have a nice sleep in his own bed tonight.  He has to stay home from school for another week but then should be able to return.  The site where they took the drain out is still open and should close up and heal on its own.  For now, he cannot get it wet so he'll have to be careful showering, etc.  Melon Man sent him some joke books to keep him laughing and they were there waiting for him when they arrived home today. 

Melon Man came home from work this morning and made us some of the best biscuits and gravy ever for breakfast.  I need to photodocument the process for the blog so I can do it sometime too.  I'm sure it's just a roux made from the sausage and a white sauce with some additional seasonings, but in the last 5 years, I've never watched him make it so I'm not sure.  Plus, why would I want to learn to make it when it's tradition that he does it?!?!?!

After breakfast, we got ready for church and then headed over.  We left at 9:30-ish and it is always so nice not to have to rush to get there on time...to just sit and enjoy Brother Baumann playing the organ.  The talks today were so good.  It was the first time ever that both the youth speaker and the female adult speaker had spoken in church.  The youth speaker just recently turned 12 so that is why she hadn't and the female adult speaker is a new member - only 4 years - and so this was her first time.  What a wonderful lady!  I was fixated by her testimony, her talk, and her love of the gospel.  There are many times in my life that I have wished I was a convert instead of a lifelong member.  To have that experience of feeling the Holy Ghost for the first time - as an adult - with life experiences under my belt - would be such a blessing.  But, I was also blessed to have been born into an LDS family and to have the gospel in my life since I was born, so I don't complain.

The talks today were on service and they were really good.  I feel, so often, that I need to do more to serve....serve my husband, serve my family, serve others, serve the Lord.  I make excuses though...I'm tired, I work a lot, la-di-da-di-da.  I need to work on this.

Our closing hymn was I Believe In Christ - one of my most favorite hymns.  I was touched, as I always am, by the strength of Elder McConkie's love and testimony of the Savior through these words which he wrote for this song.  I thought of our Tato Bug and his love of the Savior and how he strives to do right and how someday, he - as will all of us - will see the Savior again.  I hoped deep within my heart that it wouldn't be many, many years for him though.

In Gospel Doctrine, we talked about the birth of the Savior.  It was a really good lesson and gave me a different perspective on a couple of different things about His birth.  I'd never thought about "why" there was no room for "them" in the inn other than it was "meant" to be that way so that the Savior of the World would be born in humble surroundings.  Were Mary and Joseph the "wrong kind" of people for the innkeepers?  Were they too poor?  Were there too many people in the city?  What else?  I'm sure there were other things but I still think there was no room for them because that is how it was to be.  the teacher asked us if there is room for "Him" in our hearts and in our lives.  Although we always say "yes!" to this question - do we really mean it?  Do we live as though He is there?  Do we acknowledge the blessings we've received from Him and strive to do all He has asked - without reservation or consternation?  Do we forgive others for their trespasses?  Do we do all we can do?  I really thought a lot about these questions.

It was good to be in Gospel Doctrine class again - I haven't been able to go for weeks because I've been playing the piano in Primary.

Relief Society was so good.  It was on Fasting.  How appropriate, considering our entire family just fasted last Sunday for Taylor.  I could feel the Spirit telling me that what we had done was good and accepted on his behalf and that no matter what ended up happening, things would be okay.  I don't know if it's my increased testimony from the experiences, trials, joys, etc. that I've had in the last 10-20 years that gives me the power to move forward knowing that Taylor's illness could be terminal because I know we will be an eternal family, or what it is, but I just feel at peace right now with what we are going through with him. 

The closing song was Because I Have Been Given Much - another one of my favorite hymns.  I ended up not being able to sing the final verse because I was overcome with emotion from the second verse: 

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-
my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head,
that he too may be comforted.

I thought of all that I have been blessed with - a wonderful husband, a good family that although has its trials still [hopefully] loves one another deep inside, a nice home, a good job, a testimony, a few good friends, the ability and desire to help others.  I thought of the family we were able to help at Christmas.  I just learned today that they are soon going to the temple to be sealed for all eternity.  What a joyous blessing!  It was truly a good day at church today.

We came home and the three of us (Melon Man, me, and Dog) all cuddled on the bed for a little bit and talked.  Well, Dog didn't talk, but he let us love him.  Soon, I left Melon Man to go to sleep and I worked on designing the monthly ward history documents so it's not such a headache at the end of the year.  I planned out a shopping list for my trip down to the Honeyville Farms store in Chandler tomorrow.  Melon Man has really been having some strong impressions that we need to stock up on some more things.  We didn't add a lot of food storage last year so this year will probably be another year for doing so.  We just have to make some changes around here so we have a place to put it all other than the corner in our bedroom.  It's all over the house right now - the pantry closet in the front hallway, the kitchen, wheat and water in the garage (the ONLY things that can go outside here in the desert), our bathroom, our closet, our bedroom corner, everywhere.  I think I want to convert the front bedroom closet into a food storage closet.  I bet I could.  I just need to clean it out of all the other "stuff" we have in there!

Well, I think that's about it for today/this week.  Oh...I got/accepted another "assignment" at church last week.  So, let's see...what callings and assignments do I have now?  I am a Visiting Teacher, substitute pianist in Primary, ward bulletin specialist, ward historian, and now LDS Prom committee.  Take into account that I also was on the activities committee until they were just recently disbanded...well, that is six callings!  Eh?

So, I am now on the LDS Prom committee.  Weird, huh?  Apparently, there are some issues at the schools here and our youth have asked to have a separate prom so they don't have to go to the ones at the local high schools and experience the grinding, nasty dancing, freak dancing, inappropriate dress, gangs, guns, etc.  So, I spent a few hours yesterday doing some research and writing down ideas.  I'm interested to see how this will turn out!

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