Angels Among Us

Watch this short news clip before you read this post...would you please?

This amazing place that I live...

If you have been to my home, you may recognize my neighborhood in this news story. The home being shown where the accident occurred is three houses away from us to our right. It belongs to our bishop. The grandmother is my next-door neighbor. The little granddaughter?  I see her playing all of the time at her grandmother's house. She is such a sweet little girl, always smiling and greeting me when I come outside. My neighbor is a very loving grandma. She adores these children. Her yard is decorated to the hilt always, for every season, every holiday. I believe it is for the children. The kids in the neighborhood love to come by and see what she has out, as well. She is always going around helping others. She is amazing at taking care of her yard. It is gorgeous...perfect. I am embarrassed to live next to her with our troublesome sprinkler system and dry spots in our grass! She goes around mowing lawns for people who are ill, or out of town. This is exactly what she was doing on Monday for our good bishop and his family as they were on vacation.

I saw so many miracles that afternoon. So many tender mercies from a loving God.  People who were right there, in the right place, who had the first aid skills required to do what they did, one who was so very strong for someone so young. She was amazing in her ability to think on her feet and give the help and comfort that she did. There were men working on my roof, installing solar panels. they heard and saw what was happening and without hesitating were off the roof and across the street, giving help and comfort to total strangers. When I arrived they were comforting the older sisters who were beside themselves with fear, and had offered a canvas drop cloth for shielding tender eyes from an awful scene. There was our wonderful across-the-street friend who ran to get the first responders who initially went to the wrong house around the corner. He helped two of us try to calm and comfort our good neighbor as she was living through anyone's worst nightmare. After the ambulance left, he stayed with us in our neighbor's garage as two other neighbors took her to the hospital. He called us to prayer. There we stood in her garage, five friends united by faith. The first of many, many prayers that are now being said throughout our neighborhood. He was a miracle in and of himself. After the police and fire squads left, cleaning up what they did, he stayed in the bishop's yard for an hour, making sure there was no trace left behind. He took care of the mower and hid it away. He spoke to the press as they arrived very soon afterward and asked them to not bother our dear neighbor Thankfully they respected that request.

Life is full of joy and sorrow, pleasures and pain, good and bad. If it weren't, it wouldn't be much of a life. The sorrows help us understand how great the joys truly are. They help us appreciate our many blessings. This knowledge may not be much of a comfort when we are asked to pass through something like this. I only know that through faith and prayer, and because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ who bore all of our grief and pain in Gethsemane, we can eventually overcome every trial, every sorrow, every pain. I am so grateful to live in this neighborhood full of such Christ-like people. They amaze me. I am humbled.

Please pray for our dear neighbor and for her little granddaughter and her family. They need every prayer so desperately right now. There is much love for them all.

I just discovered this link on Facebook. Give if you can!

https://www.gofundme.com/2hrhaz8

There are moments in time, that when we pass through them are so profound we  just know that life will never be the same. I think of the five trips Dee and I made to the hospital, late at night, early morning hours, in sun, rain, and snow. I knew each time that the next time I sat in our car our lives would be different because there would be a new family member with us. Our family dynamics would change. The direction our family destiny was taking would be forever changed by the addition of a new baby. Which of my children would be happy and who would feel misplaced with sibling jealousy. Would it be a hard transition? Was I up for it? I would sit back in the car, take a deep breath and tell myself I could do this, again!

I remember another moment like this on my wedding day. We were ready to go to the temple, my father started the car and I knew that when I got into that backseat it would be my last ride as a single young woman. Life was about to change in a big way. I recall asking myself if I were truly ready because it was all about to change.

We have made decisions as a family, as a couple, and as individuals that have shaped our futures. Mission calls, job opportunities both accepted and turned down, which house to buy; these have all placed us in times and places that have helped shape who we are and what our futures will be. Phone calls come that bring these moments of sure knowledge that "it will never be the same again".

One such call came ten years ago. I answered our kitchen phone to hear my sister-in-law Renda on the other end.

"From everything the doctors are telling us we think it would be a good idea if you could catch a flight to Albuquerque and get here as soon as possible."

I was stunned. Wasn't my Dad getting better? Mom had just said so this morning! And there it was, that sinking feeling that my life wold never be the same beyond this moment.

Ten years ago on this very day (ten years?)  I lost my sweet father. He slipped away from this life with all of us around him. It was a sacred moment of sure knowledge that while we would not see him again here on Earth, he wasn't very far away at all. The pain was intense as we held each other and wept in his hospital room. As I turned to leave that place I knew that everything had changed...again...and that it would be alright. There were many deep breaths after that day. "You can do it" I would tell myself. Ten years later I have done it! I know with every part of my soul that my Dad has gone on to his heavenly home where he lives in spirit form with his parents and brothers and sisters, tow daughters & a little son, as well as many loved ones from his earthly life. I know that there will be a resurrection day and we will live again in glorious, perfected bodies. Most importantly I know that through Jesus Christ's atonement we can be a family, forever dwelling in the presence of God our Father and with our loving family!

On Thursday afternoon a life changing call went out to the family members of a young man who has been valiantly fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma. "Come to the hospital" was the message they received. Among them are Brittany's friend and roommate Sarah. Their son and brother Stephen was sent home from his mission to NewYork when it was nearly complete because he was not well. He hated that he could not stay and finish. When the diagnosis came he faced every treatment, every new medicine, every invasion of his life by this awful disease with great courage and faith. Memebers of his family, church, former swim team, and the community came together in fund raisers and events to help his well-loved family. If I recall correctly, this battle has gone on for about two years. Yesterday he was called home, surrounded by his loving family. I am grateful to know the Griener family and to have known Stephen. He was a swimmer for Dee's team and one of his very fine students at Lone Peak High School. I know he is not very far away and that with the passage of time, life will settle into a new normal for all who loved him so dearly. Until then, please pray for this sweet family. They are going to miss Stephen and need this support for awhile to come. Jeff & Jane, we love you! It is a privilege to know your family.  You inspire us all!