Weddings and Birthdays

Today we spent some time making bows and preparing for the wedding.  I'm so grateful Jess has found a great guy to spend her life with.  Alex really loves him too.
Candace turned 29 today, how could it possibly be that long ago?  We are all going out tomorrow to celebrate the girls birthdays.  We celebrate Joy's and Candace's.  It's usually just the girls but this time its the siblings since Kevin is here too. 
I know God has a plan for all of us and it's exciting, sad, scary to watch it unfold!

Christmas in Texas

I have missed several  days now, but with a good excuse.  I guess no excuses are acceptable so I'm just rationalizing. 
We left for NY on Wednesday and then on to TX for Christmas.  We arrived here Friday morning about 2am and have been going ever since.
Jessica is getting married on 1-1-11 at 1 pm so we are busy getting ready for that special occasion.  She has really done a great job organizing and planning everything.  Really just a few last minute details to take care of. 
We were coming back from picking up Kevin at the airport and stopped at a convenience store.  I stayed in the car and the kids went in.  I was watching them and realized how beautiful they were.  I commented that five of my beautiful babies were there.  Alex asked me "Are you proud of them?".  I am so proud of them!  I wish all seven of them were here but God really showed me how beautiful they all are, looking through the front picture window of a convenience store on Christmas Eve. 

Nothing new under the sun

It's late but I didn't want to neglect my promise.  So here I am with nothing new to say.  Or maybe there's just too much new to try to write it all. 
With 7 kids and almost 21 grandkids there is always something going on but I try to take it all in stride.  Actually quite a bit went on today starting early this morning and just now ending.  In fact my phone just dinged with a text message so I guess it isn't over yet!
Hopefully I gave some comfort and some good advice.  I try not to give too much advice unless asked for and then always try to give it by the Spirit.  Which of course is where God's hand comes in, which I feel it did tonight.

Great Ideas

Great ideas are God's hand in our lives.  I have been filled with ideas since the other night when I finished my blog.  There was an ad for Blog to Print which turns your blog into a printed book starting at $14.95.  That seems like a great idea.  I haven't decided what I should do yet but I'm thinking of doing either a personal history or family history.  I will continue to think on this and hope to get a solid idea of what to do next.

God IS in the details

I wanted to write about a miracle that happened recently.  It all started about 2 1/2 years ago.  My son was in trouble and came to MD to get himself together.  He had lost his Grandfather's business and the house they sold him.  Somehow we decided to buy a foreclosed house in Saginaw for he and his family to move into.  God made it clear that it was His will, so I did it and then he made it clear I also was to move to Saginaw and have one of  my grandson live with me. (long story)
We wrote a land contract on the house but they never paid on it.  This last summer they decided to go to NY for a visit. They were on a budget plan with the power company and if the payment wasn't made they would have to pay the full $6000 owed before it would be turned back on.  Needless to say the payment was not made and they of course wouldn't be able to live in the house again.  Which left me with the house, taxes, water bill and a huge mess to deal with.
Now on to the miracle.  Sometime maybe in April or May a young couple started coming to church.  The Spirit told me to invite them to come live with me.  At first I thought they would think I was crazy, I didn't even know them nor they me.  I got to know them a little better and found out they were looking for a new place, so I offered them my house to stay in until they could get into a place. They accepted.
A couple of weeks later, the stuff with my son happened.  I realized the Lord's hand was in all this.  I told the couple what had happened and that the Spirit had told me to invite them.  I told them I believed that it was the Lord's plan for them to have the house.  No pressure but just go look.  So they did and it didn't take long and we worked out all the details. 
I had hoped that house would bless my son and his family, it didn't and now I just hoped it could bless someone else.  We wrote a land contract with the same price and terms as with my son.  Only they are actually paying!  So we are all blessed.  I didn't have to deal with any of the house mess, they cleaned it all etc. 
God is so good!!  It amazed me that He had it all worked out before I even knew there was a problem.  How is it even possible for Him to take care of us so well?  All the details!! I am so grateful for His hand in my life and all His children's.
One last little detail, because they were living at my house while I was gone on my 9,000 mile road trip I didn't have to worry about the house or my sweet kitty!! Amazing!!!

Days Past

I did see God's hand today, but I really want to add the story of a day that was a WOW experience.  It happened a couple of months ago.
My friend Lily had been to the ER several times in the middle of the night.  She was having heart problems.  This night I got a call about 1 am asking me to also let her home teacher know. I called him and of course he was sleeping, I told his wife and said goodbye.  I didn't know if he would be coming or not.
When I got there I asked the staff if either Dr Deibel or one of the others were working.  Lily wanted a priesthood blessing and they were priesthood holders.  They said that they were not working that night.
So Lily asked me to pray.  When I came in I had left the curtain open a little, before praying I thought to shut it but I decided to pray first.  I prayed and asked God that if it were His will he would send the priesthood to give Lily a blessing.  As we opened our eyes from the prayer we saw Dr Matthew Deibel standing at the open curtain with his eyes wide in amazement as of course were ours.  He had heard me praying (he had been working at the other end and was walking by for some reason) and looked into the open curtain.  All of us were amazed!!!  I know God answers prayers but this time it was so obvious and immediate we were all shocked.  Lily's faith is very strong, what a blessing to be her friend.

Some days are better than others

And today was one of the better days!  God's hand was obvious to me in several ways this day.
First, Austin got elbowed in the ear about a month ago and it was bothering him.  The doctor looked at it and said it would be fine. Then recently he started complaining about it again, I was just going to put it off thinking it would get better like the doctor had said.  But this morning I had a feeling that I should take him in and got the idea to take him to the clinic.  I knew it was that burst of "pure intelligence" that Joseph Smith said is the spirit of revelation. At the same time I felt I should buy dinner and visit Lily Koroitamudu at the hotel (which is near the clinic).
Austin had an ear infection and we had a great visit with Lily. 
In the meantime in another place in time, Kevin saw the neurosurgeon again.  He had another MRI and a CTscan which the Dr said shows that the lessions have gotten better.  He said that he was 98% sure it was not brain cancer or a tumor or lymphoma.  He said the only thing it could be is MS but that MS doesn't behave that way either, that they get worse and that other symptoms start to appear.  And neither of those things are happening with Kevin.
Obviously MS is not good news but the dr said it was 75% possible that it was MS in his opinion. Kevin feels as if a death sentence was lifted off his shoulders. He will be having a spinal tap soon to get a clearer diagnosis.
I know God is at work in this and I just keep praying His will be done.

Boys, boys and more boys!!!

Pack meeting tonight, lots of boys.  And that's a good thing.  The world can use as many of these kind of boys as it can get, future Priesthood holders. We have 9 boys now and each of them come from active families, most of their fathers are leaders in the ward or stake and all have been sealed in the temple.  Pretty amazing group, I would say.  I'm very impressed with them and their families.
My family was blessed today by a great man who has worked hard to gain knowledge and is always willing to share of his time and knowledge to bless others. Thank you Heavenly Father for so many good things in my life.

Winter Concert

We have gone from Christmas to Holiday and now merely Winter Concert!  And it wasn't even Wintery let alone Christmassy.  Austin's band did play Christmas music finally.  They were last and best.
Looks like the grandkids had a concert tonight too.  Candace sent me a video of Nazario singing.  What a miracle technology is. 
Finding God's hand in every day life isn't as easy as it might seem.  I know He is there in a general sense but seeing the specifics isn't always so obvious.
Austin and I read Alma 40 this morning.  We both felt the Spirit as we discussed the spirit world.  We reviewed ch 39 when Alma tells Corianton that God wants all of His children to know the gospel whether they lived before, during or after Christ came to earth.  This has always been my favorite part of the gospel.  I never could accept a God who only saved those who had heard of His Son and accepted Him in this life.  God loves all of His children equally and because I know that I know that He can love even me!

Snow Day

When you're a kid you hope for and dream of little else when the snow begins to fall. 
It wasn't bad, I did get to sleep in which was really nice. 
The phone kept ringing so I was running late for the Ladies who Lunch at Sue Deibel's house. The streets were very slippery. It was only 6 degrees so no salt on the roads, too cold to work I guess.
We had a wonderful lunch and visit.  I love being with my sisters, they are all amazing in their own ways. Lots of stories to hear.
So, how did God work in my life today?  Was He too busy to worry about me on this Snow Day?  No, He sent great friends with good stories and Angel children to listen to.  I love to be part of their lives and know their hopes and trials their dreams their every day struggles. I am a lucky woman or better said a blessed woman!!

First Snow

The first snow of the season fell during the night and all day today.  They have already cancelled school for tomorrow.  Michiganders are wimpier than I remember!  I love it when it sticks to the trees, it's so beautiful.  Not so nice when it sticks to the roads.
It was slippery but God protected us.  My friend Lily has a prosthetic leg and it doesn't get much traction.  I was a little worried she was slipping as we tried to get her in and out of the car.  But all went well and we all arrived home safe and sound. Thank you Heavenly Father.
I used to tell my kids if they cancelled school they could go stand on the street corner until it was time for school to let out.  I guess I won't make Austin do that.  At least I will get to sleep in tomorrow.

It's a Wonderful Life

"It's a warrant for my arrest, isn't it wonderful?"  I'm watching the great movie with Jimmy Stewart mine and Kim's Christmas favorite!
I watched part of White Christmas earlier too.  How I love these movies.  Great themes and great memories.  I cried wishing for things that cannot and probably should not be.  Sometimes I just can't believe he left me!
I had tithing settlement this morning with the Bishop.  We talked about life and he commented that I had had a rough couple of years.  Actually it's been about 7 years since my world started crumbling around me.  That's when both my husband and father were diagnosed with cancer.  Six years since Dad died and four since Kim passed.  Wow!! 
Anyway Bishop asked how I was handling all of it.  I recounted how God had blessed my life in so many ways.  How can I worry too much when I know that God is in charge and He will take care of me.  So many "tender mercies'. 
I need to write about the Bond house and how God took care of me.  Don't think I'm going to do that tonight though.
The morning started with a reminder of God's goodness and I just got a phone call with more blessings He is pouring out on my family.  God is good.  It is a Wonderful Life!!!

The Good The Bad and The Ugly

Wow it's hard to believe but God's hand can be found in all things, good, bad and ugly! 
Today I see Him working in the bad and the ugly.  I just pray we all exercise our faith and let it happen according to His will! 
There is so much to learn in this world and sometimes the bad and the ugly are our best schoolmasters even though painful!

The World is a Wonderful Place full of Wonderful People

Today I am grateful for God's world full of His wonderful children.  I heard John Huntsman on the Glenn Beck show saying that he believes that most people on this earth are wonderful giving people you would be proud to call your friends.  Glenn Beck noted that most people would look at John's life and think it was so perfect (he's a billionaire) and not look close enough to see the extreme difficulties he has suffered in the last several years. He has a handicapped child, a daughter with 7small children died and he has fought off cancer 4 times!
 He is one of the billionaires giving away his fortune to improve the world.  It's amazing that someone would do that and it sure shows that he cares more for God and His children than he does for material possessions. Joseph Smith said something like this: that a man with the Spirit of god is not content with just blessing his friends and family but ranges throughout the world looking to bless all he can.  I should get the quote because he said it way better than I can.
Today, we had an IEP with Austin's teachers and counselor and the people from Heritage HS.  The meeting was to assess his needs for next year.  I could see that Austin was surrounded by people who love their work and the kids they work with.  I was so impressed with the love and concern they showed for Austin.
 I am grateful for God's children who educate themselves and dedicate their lives to doing good. He is blossoming under their care.
Thank you Heavenly Father!! 

Accountability

I really did not want to do this tonight!  But I know it's out there so I felt accountable to keep my commitment to myself, so here I am.  It's a good thing.
When I opened I could not figure out how to make a new post.  I'm still not sure how. Not sure how I got here but I'll figure it out later.
Did I see God's hand in my life today? 
He sent the CubMaster, Bob Larsen to rescue me.  My assistant didn't come and her son was going to do part of the activity so I was a little worried.  Just his presence was a big help.  Thank you Bob and Heavenly Father!! 

Another Day Another Blessing

God richly blessed me and mine today!  My great friends Dave and Sue Deibel had free tickets for the Saginaw Symphony Christmas Concert and they thought of me.  I called my favorite people, Lily Koroitamudu and Charlene Simpson and we all went, including Austin.  Although he wasn't thrilled he went with a pretty good attitude.
The music was wonderful.  The last part of the concert included an Honor Choral Group. It added a beautiful dimension to the music.  Then they played a medley of favorite Christmas songs with the audience singing along.  I hope everyone felt the Spirit I felt. 
Only one of the songs was a worldly song, Jingle Bells, all the rest were the classics praising God and the birth of His Son our Saviour!!  I felt so grateful to be free to sing and praise in such a large group of diverse people. It was held at the Temple Theatre which is also fitting.
I loved it so did Lily and Charlene.  I think even Austin enjoyed it. 

You have to start somewhere

I have been wanting to start keeping a journal again for awhile now.  Tonight my Grandson Austin gave a wonderful Family Home Evening lesson on Remembering.  Remember how good God has been to us.  Remember how good God has been to all His children.
We watched the Mormon Message video "O Remember,Remember".  It's taken from a conference address President Henry B Eyring gave some years ago.  He tells how he kept a journal for years never missing a night.  He would ponder every night, Have I seen the Hand of God today?  He challenged us to do the same.  I was inspired at the time and it was added to my "To Do" list. 
Here I am tonight remembering how good God has been to me.  He has blessed my with my beautiful family and all those they have brought into our circle.
Tonight I see the Hand of God in bringing Austin into my life.  He is a blessing to me and many others.
Tonight I see the Hand of God in bringing Shelly into our circle. What a great girl she is!
Tonight I see the Hand of God in this wonderful technology which makes it easier to do good things!