This Christmas season has been such a happy and joyful experience for our family. Our children have a been filled with the spirit of the season, and I have enjoyed spending time together as a family. Kera has been feeling so well and she has been in such great spirits. I know this is a blessing from God, and I'm very thankful. One of our sweet neighbors has been delivering the 12 days of Christmas gifts to our doorstep each day, and it has added to the joy and excitement, especially when the gifts and their message have been centered on the Savior. I am grateful to our secret santa for thinking of us with their thoughtful gifts each day. Before the deliveries started I had commented to my mother in law that I don't really have any manger scenes displayed in our home. We have a small one, but over time some of the figures have been lost or broken. So what is one of the gifts that we have received with our 12 days of christmas, a manger scene with a different figure each day being delivered. The kids can't wait until the day we receive the little baby Jesus to complete the nativity :)
I have been wanting to blog about our wonderful experience attending Elf the musical. As I said before our wish granter contacted the person in charge of the shows at Pioneer Theater Company and we were given four tickets to see the musical, as well as getting to go backstage to meet the cast. The whole cast was amazing and so thoughtful. The cast made special gifts for Kera, including her own t-shirts elf the musical t-shirts. She was given some elf ears, her own elf hammer for making toys, an etch-a-sketch, and several other special and thoughtful gifts. We brought our video camera to capture the moment. Our wish granter and the musical's own photographer also captured photos of the night, so I will be attaching those on here as soon as I get them. I was also so thankful that the actor who played Santa Claus took the time to talk with Kera and she was able to tell him what she wanted for Christmas this year. His special spirit has helped make the spirit of Christmas even stronger and more magical. Kera also got a special letter in the mail the other day from Santa himself. She was so excited to get her very own special letter from Santa.
Not only do we have Christmas to look forward to, but this Friday we are having her star raising party for make a wish before we leave for our big trip to Disney world on the 30th. I'm trying not to panic about all of the little details that have to be seen to before we take our trip, and just to enjoy Christmas first, but the day after Christmas is over, I've got some planning and preparing to do!
I love taking the time on this blog to express things that I've learned or talks I've heard that have helped me and have made an impression on me, and one that Dave brought to my attention tonight, and I watched on TV, was Elder Bednar's talk that he gave at a CES devotional called "That We Might Not Shrink". Elder Bednar shared the story of a young couple who had only been married for 3 weeks when the young man received the news that he had bone cancer. Elder Bednar shared the feelings that this young couple felt after receiving the news, and Elder Bednar counseled with this couple and he was prompted to share something Elder Maxwell shared with him when he was undergoing chemo treatments. While Elder Maxwell was about to start his treatments, he said that he has learned that not shrinking is more important than surviving. He said as we confront our own trials and tribulations, we too can plead with the father that we might not shrink. Not shrinking is much more important than surviving. Partaking of the bitter cup without becoming bitter is in emulation of Jesus Christ. Orson F. Whitney said "no pain that we suffer is wasted. All that we suffer and all that we endure builds up our character, purifies our hearts and expands our souls, making us more worthy to be called the children of God."
The young man who went through treatments for cancer successfully went into remission but months later the cancer came back. He learned through this process that he had to put complete trust in God that His will would be done, and that he needed to have faith to NOT be healed. This submitting our will to God must occur if we are truly faithful. If I know that the Lord has a plan for my family, I must be willing to fully submit to His will and know that He has the power to heal my daughter, and I know that I need to have faith to not have her be healed if that is the will of the Lord. Our natural desire is to be in control, but when I put it into the Lord's hands, that is when we show true faith. That is what I am continually striving to do. I am always thankful for these little reminders and I know the Lord is shaping my life and my family's life through this process. I am forever grateful for the knowledge of the plan of salvation and the atonement of the Savior.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Back to blogging
I was doing really well for awhile keeping my blog updated every week, but I started to slack on my updates, so I'm back to my commitment to write once a week.
First of all, one of Kera's wish granters came to our house on Friday to let Kera know that her wish would be granted and we will be going to Disney World over the New Year holiday. We leave December 30th and will come back on January 5th. We are all so excited to get to go on this special trip and especially to be able to ring in the new year at the happiest place on earth!! She was given a special new dress to wear on New Years Eve and also a christmas Pascal (the chameleon from Tangled) decked out with Santa hat, some games, balloons, and candy. She was so excited when she found out we would be going to Disney world right after Christmas. Another great surprise was that the other one of her two wish granters was able to get four tickets to Elf the musical this Wednesday and Kera will get to meet the cast after the show. We have been so impressed with the whole make a wish program.
There were a few hiccups when we found out the special resort for the kids who are sick called "Give Kids the World" right outside of Disney in Florida is booked all the way through January and then they are closing for renovations on the 6th of January until the end of February. The person at make a wish who coordinates travel didn't know until after she booked plane tickets that the place would be closed. Luckily she was able to change our flight so we could be there when it's open. The village resort is such a special place where they go out of their way to make this sick kids have everything they want for the few days they are there. There are restaurants and an ice cream shop that's open from 7 am til 10 pm, a kids playground, swimming pools and mini golf, a movie theater room, arcades, etc. They celebrate a different holiday each day, like Trick or treating on Tuesday, Christmas on Thursday, etc. Kera really wanted to stay there, but since that won't be possible, I'm glad we are going while the village is still open and we will stay at another Disney resort called the Disney Polynesian resort, which also is supposed to be a wonderful place. We will just have to travel back and forth from our resort to the village for the activities.
Kera has been feeling really good overall. Her nausea has lessened quite a bit, and she has a lot more energy lately. I try to make sure that she gets something to eat right when she gets up to keep the nausea at bay. I also got some frankinsense essential oil that I'm going to start rubbing on her feet at night and in the morning which is supposed to help with tumors. It can get very nerve wracking just feeling helpless in this process and wishing there was something else we could be doing to fight this tumor, but I also get spiritual reminders that I need to be at peace and know that God knows our family and our trial and he will be there to help us when we need Him.
Tonight we watched the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional as a family. I really enjoyed the broadcast, and President Monson's talk about slowing down and getting into the spirit of Christ at Christmas and not getting distracted by shopping and business at the holidays. Always a good reminder for me. I was touched by Elder Nelson's talk in particular. He showed some clips of Christ's life with narration and he showed the pictures of the Savior healing the sick and the blind. He said that we must have faith to be healed. I know this is true.
I find myself freaking out a lot and feeling so discouraged by this terminal illness and the diagnosis that we were given. I also know that the only way to feel peace is to trust in the Lord. It is a constant battle internally for me, but I know the feeling I get when I turn it over to the Lord, and the difference I feel when I do this and when I fall into despair and start to lose hope is huge.
During this Christmas season I am especially grateful for the gift that the Savior gave to all of us when he suffered and died for us so that we may be able to return to live with Him. It comforts me to know that I will be able to live with all of my family again after this life no matter what happens. After the broadcast was over Dave asked us all to go around and say one thing that stuck out to us after watching this. Kera answered that she enjoyed Elder Nelson's talk about how we need to have faith to be healed, and that we can all be comforted when a loved one dies because we know we will see them again. It touched me deeply that she was so in tune to the spirit and understands this principle as well. She was sitting on my lap while we watched it, and when Elder Nelson talked about having faith to be healed, we both looked at each other and felt the spirit so strong.
"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Peace can come to those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you." These words are so comforting to be when I feel overwhelmed by it all. I want to feel the spirit all the time. Unfortunately I cannot always feel it and I get carried away with worldly distractions. I am grateful for this reminder tonight that I just need to turn to the Savior for peace. I want to keep this feeling with me throughout this holiday season and I hope that our family can be successful in keeping the Spirit of the Lord at the forefront during this time. As Kera said when she bore her testimony in sacrament meeting last Sunday, the best gift I have been given this Christmas is for Kera to be feeling well. She has been through so much, and we are blessed that she is feeling great and is in such good spirits. It will make this Christmas even more special seeing her filled with joy and able to do all the things that she wants to do.
First of all, one of Kera's wish granters came to our house on Friday to let Kera know that her wish would be granted and we will be going to Disney World over the New Year holiday. We leave December 30th and will come back on January 5th. We are all so excited to get to go on this special trip and especially to be able to ring in the new year at the happiest place on earth!! She was given a special new dress to wear on New Years Eve and also a christmas Pascal (the chameleon from Tangled) decked out with Santa hat, some games, balloons, and candy. She was so excited when she found out we would be going to Disney world right after Christmas. Another great surprise was that the other one of her two wish granters was able to get four tickets to Elf the musical this Wednesday and Kera will get to meet the cast after the show. We have been so impressed with the whole make a wish program.
There were a few hiccups when we found out the special resort for the kids who are sick called "Give Kids the World" right outside of Disney in Florida is booked all the way through January and then they are closing for renovations on the 6th of January until the end of February. The person at make a wish who coordinates travel didn't know until after she booked plane tickets that the place would be closed. Luckily she was able to change our flight so we could be there when it's open. The village resort is such a special place where they go out of their way to make this sick kids have everything they want for the few days they are there. There are restaurants and an ice cream shop that's open from 7 am til 10 pm, a kids playground, swimming pools and mini golf, a movie theater room, arcades, etc. They celebrate a different holiday each day, like Trick or treating on Tuesday, Christmas on Thursday, etc. Kera really wanted to stay there, but since that won't be possible, I'm glad we are going while the village is still open and we will stay at another Disney resort called the Disney Polynesian resort, which also is supposed to be a wonderful place. We will just have to travel back and forth from our resort to the village for the activities.
Kera has been feeling really good overall. Her nausea has lessened quite a bit, and she has a lot more energy lately. I try to make sure that she gets something to eat right when she gets up to keep the nausea at bay. I also got some frankinsense essential oil that I'm going to start rubbing on her feet at night and in the morning which is supposed to help with tumors. It can get very nerve wracking just feeling helpless in this process and wishing there was something else we could be doing to fight this tumor, but I also get spiritual reminders that I need to be at peace and know that God knows our family and our trial and he will be there to help us when we need Him.
Tonight we watched the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional as a family. I really enjoyed the broadcast, and President Monson's talk about slowing down and getting into the spirit of Christ at Christmas and not getting distracted by shopping and business at the holidays. Always a good reminder for me. I was touched by Elder Nelson's talk in particular. He showed some clips of Christ's life with narration and he showed the pictures of the Savior healing the sick and the blind. He said that we must have faith to be healed. I know this is true.
I find myself freaking out a lot and feeling so discouraged by this terminal illness and the diagnosis that we were given. I also know that the only way to feel peace is to trust in the Lord. It is a constant battle internally for me, but I know the feeling I get when I turn it over to the Lord, and the difference I feel when I do this and when I fall into despair and start to lose hope is huge.
During this Christmas season I am especially grateful for the gift that the Savior gave to all of us when he suffered and died for us so that we may be able to return to live with Him. It comforts me to know that I will be able to live with all of my family again after this life no matter what happens. After the broadcast was over Dave asked us all to go around and say one thing that stuck out to us after watching this. Kera answered that she enjoyed Elder Nelson's talk about how we need to have faith to be healed, and that we can all be comforted when a loved one dies because we know we will see them again. It touched me deeply that she was so in tune to the spirit and understands this principle as well. She was sitting on my lap while we watched it, and when Elder Nelson talked about having faith to be healed, we both looked at each other and felt the spirit so strong.
"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Peace can come to those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you." These words are so comforting to be when I feel overwhelmed by it all. I want to feel the spirit all the time. Unfortunately I cannot always feel it and I get carried away with worldly distractions. I am grateful for this reminder tonight that I just need to turn to the Savior for peace. I want to keep this feeling with me throughout this holiday season and I hope that our family can be successful in keeping the Spirit of the Lord at the forefront during this time. As Kera said when she bore her testimony in sacrament meeting last Sunday, the best gift I have been given this Christmas is for Kera to be feeling well. She has been through so much, and we are blessed that she is feeling great and is in such good spirits. It will make this Christmas even more special seeing her filled with joy and able to do all the things that she wants to do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)