Ryan got his Arrow of Light award on the 23rd. We are so proud of him. It was a lot of work.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March 15
Took a 20 mile bike ride today. Man it feels good to be on my bike. I didn't think I was going to be able to ride because Sydney has been feeling under the weather lately, but she went to school at 10:30, so I had the rest of the day to ride. I hope that one day my fluttery heart will calm itself when seeing cars come on to side roads. I have a huge fear of being hit again.
We were asked to speak in church on Sunday. Uggh! I hate speaking in church. It's not the speaking that I hate really, it's the fact that I can't control my tears. I get up there and I am touched by the information and I cry through it. I can't get my thoughts together either. Double Uggh!
Brett is at a meeting with the Young Women leaders. They are planning a Youth Fundraiser. I think the youth should be planning it, but they didn't ask me :).
11 weeks until the Little Red Riding Hood Ride. Can. Not. Wait.
Life is good.
We were asked to speak in church on Sunday. Uggh! I hate speaking in church. It's not the speaking that I hate really, it's the fact that I can't control my tears. I get up there and I am touched by the information and I cry through it. I can't get my thoughts together either. Double Uggh!
Brett is at a meeting with the Young Women leaders. They are planning a Youth Fundraiser. I think the youth should be planning it, but they didn't ask me :).
11 weeks until the Little Red Riding Hood Ride. Can. Not. Wait.
Life is good.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
March 8
- Finally got caught up on laundry - I hate laundry
- Took Brett to the Dr and then took the kids to the grocery store.
- Sydney was happy for 20 days and earned a prize. She picked her very own white board. Hopefully that will save the white board that I bought for scouts.
- Watched Open Season 3 with Sydney, and then the end of Biggest Loser. I love that show.
- Took Brett to the Dr and then took the kids to the grocery store.
- Sydney was happy for 20 days and earned a prize. She picked her very own white board. Hopefully that will save the white board that I bought for scouts.
- Watched Open Season 3 with Sydney, and then the end of Biggest Loser. I love that show.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Life's experiences that change you
On Tuesday we took the scouts to the UT County Jail. It was a humbling experience for me to say the least.
As we entered the jail, we were asked by the tour guide, a man in our ward - Brother Lomax, if Mormons could go to jail. One of the boys said "Absolutely NOT." Brother Lomax smiled and said "There are 800 inmates in this jail. 80% of them are Mormon." That was a shocking statistic for the boys.
Many years ago, I wrongly judged a mother whose son was in and out of juvenile detention because of drugs. I had heard things from her brother about how this boy was allowed to dress a certain way and therefore it put him in situations that allowed his drug experimentation. My judgments were harsh and it is embarrassing to me now.
We were able to see the inmates who were in heightened security. Some of them were in there for murder. They were in tiny cells and the only thing they could do was pace back and forth. They could see our silhouettes and some of them started yelling. We could not hear them, but we knew they were talking to us.
We were taken to the chapel and there we were taught. An inmate came in and spoke to the boys and told them how he came to become an inmate. He was raised in a strong LDS home. He was a strong member of his faith up until college. He went to college on a basketball scholarship. While there he hooked up with bad crowd of friends and started experimenting with tobacco. This led to alcohol consumption and eventually drug use. He was kicked out of college and went into rehab. After rehab, he went through the repentance process. He transferred to BYU, and then was married in the temple. Nine years into his marriage, he fell into a deep depression and returned to his substance abuse. He is now divorced. He has three children - 11, 6, and 2. It is heartbreaking, and he knows it.
I learned that no family is immune to the temptations that hit us so hard. Sometimes it is substance abuse that gets us. Sometimes our trials come in other forms. Sometimes we fall into these temptations, and it lands us in jail. Sometimes we fight these demons alone, and sometimes we fall into temptation and our family is faced with the borderline of loving the sinner, but not the sin itself.
We have been taught by apostles of our Savior that our world is worse than that of the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is scary to me.However, we are also taught that we have a loving Heavenly Father. He did not send us to earth to be alone. It may be hard sometimes, but we are not alone. I know that to be true.
We are given these life experiences so that they can change us.
As we entered the jail, we were asked by the tour guide, a man in our ward - Brother Lomax, if Mormons could go to jail. One of the boys said "Absolutely NOT." Brother Lomax smiled and said "There are 800 inmates in this jail. 80% of them are Mormon." That was a shocking statistic for the boys.
Many years ago, I wrongly judged a mother whose son was in and out of juvenile detention because of drugs. I had heard things from her brother about how this boy was allowed to dress a certain way and therefore it put him in situations that allowed his drug experimentation. My judgments were harsh and it is embarrassing to me now.
We were able to see the inmates who were in heightened security. Some of them were in there for murder. They were in tiny cells and the only thing they could do was pace back and forth. They could see our silhouettes and some of them started yelling. We could not hear them, but we knew they were talking to us.
We were taken to the chapel and there we were taught. An inmate came in and spoke to the boys and told them how he came to become an inmate. He was raised in a strong LDS home. He was a strong member of his faith up until college. He went to college on a basketball scholarship. While there he hooked up with bad crowd of friends and started experimenting with tobacco. This led to alcohol consumption and eventually drug use. He was kicked out of college and went into rehab. After rehab, he went through the repentance process. He transferred to BYU, and then was married in the temple. Nine years into his marriage, he fell into a deep depression and returned to his substance abuse. He is now divorced. He has three children - 11, 6, and 2. It is heartbreaking, and he knows it.
I learned that no family is immune to the temptations that hit us so hard. Sometimes it is substance abuse that gets us. Sometimes our trials come in other forms. Sometimes we fall into these temptations, and it lands us in jail. Sometimes we fight these demons alone, and sometimes we fall into temptation and our family is faced with the borderline of loving the sinner, but not the sin itself.
We have been taught by apostles of our Savior that our world is worse than that of the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is scary to me.However, we are also taught that we have a loving Heavenly Father. He did not send us to earth to be alone. It may be hard sometimes, but we are not alone. I know that to be true.
We are given these life experiences so that they can change us.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Angels in the Outfield
It is said that angels frequent the halls of a children's hospital. I was administered by them. Ryan was administered by them.
10 years ago I distinctly remember asking the nurses of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles how long it would take for Ryan to heal. The answer was "a long time". My first thought - 10 years. Of course, it didn't take 10 years to heal my son, but here we are 10 years later and I can hardly believe that we are that far out.
A baby died last month of SCID. The death triggered some emotions that I haven't felt in a long time in regards to SCID. The disease is curable. The problem is that very few states even test for it until it is too late.
This month Ryan is learning about genetics in school. I asked his teacher if she would like me to come and share our story with her class. She agreed and so I went and taught Ryan's 5th grade class about SCID. I showed pictures and answered questions and tried not to get choked up.
I looked through more pictures when I got home and realized that my faith is stronger because of Ryan's life. I know that angels carried me as did the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. After all, if you build your faith, they will come.
10 years ago I distinctly remember asking the nurses of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles how long it would take for Ryan to heal. The answer was "a long time". My first thought - 10 years. Of course, it didn't take 10 years to heal my son, but here we are 10 years later and I can hardly believe that we are that far out.
A baby died last month of SCID. The death triggered some emotions that I haven't felt in a long time in regards to SCID. The disease is curable. The problem is that very few states even test for it until it is too late.
This month Ryan is learning about genetics in school. I asked his teacher if she would like me to come and share our story with her class. She agreed and so I went and taught Ryan's 5th grade class about SCID. I showed pictures and answered questions and tried not to get choked up.
I looked through more pictures when I got home and realized that my faith is stronger because of Ryan's life. I know that angels carried me as did the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. After all, if you build your faith, they will come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)