It's a Gift

I am reading a very interesting little book called "God Never Blinks" by Regina Brett. (Thank you Tracie, by the way)  It is deceptively described as "50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours".  Sounds like one of those books you can put in your pocket and read at lunch. Just a minute, not so fast.  The author has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and has won numerous awards.  She has had many of life's detours and shares her life through teaching the lessons.  I have really enjoyed each chapter.  But none so much as today.  The chapter is called "God Never Gives Us More than We Were Designed to Carry".  Of course, you can guess what it is all about.  She tells a touching story of her aunt and uncle.  Their sixth child was born with Down Syndrome.  Her aunt got cancer and died when their baby was three years old.  Uncle Paul lost his job because he missed so much work, but he held the family together.  Little Brett was the "broken piece" that made the family whole.  Paul never complained about being a single parent of six.  He got his real estate licence so he could work from home.  He made Brett his life partner.  The children all took turns "mothering" him.  People wondered who would take Brett when Paul passed away.  The problem wasn't that he would be a burden, it was that everyone wanted him.  The day before Brett's sister was to marry, the family was all together for the rehearsal dinner.  Everything was chaotic as you can imagine.  All of a sudden out of the blue Brett said, "Don't worry, Mom's here.  Everything is going to be fine."  After dinner he collapsed from a pulmonary embolism.  No one could revive him.  Everyone in his family considered him a gift to them.  Quiet strength.  Paul would be the first to say, "God never gives us more than we were designed to carry.  Some of us were designed for more, some for less.  No matter what, even if we are asked to carry a portion of sky, it is beyond bearable.  It is a gift."  Sounds a little like a familiar scripture, doesn't it?  "....for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Huntsman Award for "Excellence in Education"

Today our wonderful Principal, Julie Larsen, received the Huntsman Award for "Excellence in Education".  She is the most amazing person I know in her field.  She started as principal the same year I started as a counselor.  She hired me when I was not even half way through my program.  After four years at Boulton Elementary, she was asked to work her magic at Oak Hills.  She asked me to come with her, and when the counselor spot became available, of course, I was thrilled to make the move with her.  She hit the ground running from Day 1, and has only increased in speed.  She always brings her "A" game.  She has supported me through thick and thin and thinner.  There was never a day she didn't have my back through a myriad of challenges in my life, not to mention all that she has done for our school. 

In January I started a quilt for her.  We wanted it to be sentimental, but also pretty.  I went around to everyone in the school and asked them to choose a word, just one word, that represented Julie to them.  They chose with great thought and care.  Everyone wanted their word to be perfect.  These words were embroidered on a fabric label which we attached to the back of the quilt.  Now when she wants to remember how we feel about her, she can wrap herself up in that quilt and read the words.  We were going to give it to her at the end of the year celebration we have to celebrate what we have done and goals for next year.  When we received word that she won the award, we sped it up and presented it to her today.  This morning Karen Huntsman and her team arrived to tell her that she was being so honored.  She will receive a check for $10,000 to spend however she wants.  There are only ten of these given in the state.  It is an amazing act of generosity and kindness on the part of the Huntsmans.  All in all, a great day at Oak Hills!!

Get

I have to go to school tomorrow.
I get to go to school tomorrow.

I have to go to the temple this week.
I get to go to the temple this week.

I have to go to an early meeting on Sunday.
I get to go to an early meeting on Sunday.

I have to get two more lessons ready for the end of the year.
I get to get two more lessons ready for the end of the year.

I have to preview at book group this month.
I get to preview at book group this month.

There is great power in words. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. That is what keeps us going.

What do you get to do?

City Creek

I am happy to say that we finally made it to City Creek. If you haven't been there yet, you are in for a great treat. It is amazing. We had a fun lunch at The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate Mother's Day because I won't be around, and it was yummy, of course. We only walked around for a bit, but could not believe how impressive it is. Water running everywhere, fish in the water, water falls, outdoor eating, bridges, Nordstom back in the city, The Disney Store, Tiffany's, Rolex, Coach, and many others. It is going to be worth some serious investigating when the weather warms up. For the winter there is a roof that magically protects it all. We have been waiting a long time for this project, and it is definitely worth the wait. Kels, Brooke, Mariah, Toryn, Mary (Mariah's mom), Jenn, Kate, and Liz and I sure enjoyed the afternoon. We were sad that Tracie, Lindsay, London, Lisa and Lucca weren't there. Maybe next year.

PERFECT

Jenn was so excited about her Mother's day card for me that she gave it to me early.

I have to admit, it truly is a perfect thought!

However

The nice thing about the blog for me is that it helps to keep me positive. It is very therapeutic for me to try to stay upbeat. I try not to dwell on my negative thoughts. I probably could make anyone that reads the blog cry on a daily basis, but I try not to. I feel like I have to practice what I preach, so I usually mute a lot of my feelings. Bill is a master of the power of positive thinking. He wants me to be positive, but I am sure he doesn't mind a few tears from me either. However, today has to be worth noting. One year ago on this day, My Brave Guy survived four code blues and was still smiling. My emotions are, of course, a jumbled mess. I feel so grateful he is no longer suffering. I feel so sad. I feel so guilty that I am functioning in all of my capacities, instead of home crying from grief. I would have so loved to have had him with me these last four months. We have had so many events that we would have loved to have him be a part of. Also, so many events that I needed his wise counsel and judgment. He would have known what to do at every turn. It seems like it was just a minute ago, but it wasn't. I am so grateful for how fast time goes by. Seems that the new, sad element in my life hasn't affected the speed of days and weeks. I am often sustained by the words of Moroni, "...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith".

Blue Bloods

One of the highlights of my week is on Friday night when I get all set to tune in to "Blue Bloods". It is a show that comes on Friday night at 9:00 on CBS. I love it. It has Tom Selleck, it has family stuff, and it has a bit of action. The characters are great. I love them all. Last Friday night was a treat because it kept getting preempted for the NCAA games. There is a character by the name of Nicky. She is Tom Selleck's granddaughter. Her mom is an assistant District Attorney. Selleck is the NY Police Commissioner. The family name is Reagan, and they are very proud to be Irish. There was something that happened on the show that has really stuck with me. Nicky is a high school student attending private school. The scene is set in the cafeteria during lunch time. All of a sudden the phones of every one in the cafeteria receives a pix/text. The picture happens to be a very less than modest "self picture" of the friend that Nicky is sitting with. Immediately all of the students start giving her friend a very bad time. Nicky sits by, afraid to stand up for her friend. Her friend runs off in tears. Nicky is feeling very badly about not "being there" for her friend. She confides in her Uncle Jamie (Jamie is a rookie policeman that gave up being a Harvard trained lawyer to join the "family business"). Nicky is expressing her feelings of guilt and remorse, and Jamie says to her, "Do you know what your grandpa would say to you?" She replies that he would be so disappointed in her, and that she hadn't acted like a "Reagan". He says, "Nope, he would say 'IT'S WHAT WE DO NEXT THAT COUNTS'." Jamie then investigates and discovers that Nicky's friend sent the text herself to get attention. Nicky goes to see her friend and tells her that Jamie has traced the text. Her friend is upset, but Nicky interrupts her to say that he discovered that whoever sent it was a geek genius and there is a firewall and it cannot be traced. Her friend understands what Nicky is trying to say. She goes on to say that she knows what she did wasn't "normal". At that point Nicky tells her that they are in high school so "who is normal?", and then she says, "besides IT'S WHAT YOU DO NEXT THAT COUNTS".

Words to live by.

Lucca Simone Lewis

Please welcome the newest addition to "Team Lewis"!

She is LUCCA SIMONE LEWIS and she is BEAUTIFUL!

Her very proud parents are Trace and Lisa Lewis.

Julie B. Beck

Thank you, Sister Julie B. Beck for your service to Relief Society. I admire you for many reasons, but there are two that stand out the most to me.

The first one is that your presidency is marked by diversity. This is not a "cookie cutter' group. You were inspired to choose two VERY different women to serve as your counselors. BRAVO! These women of great strength are also my heroes. This serves as an example to anyone serving in the church. I believe it is a model we can all learn from. We attended the training held last Wednesday night in the Tabernacle. I believe it was probably your last event of that type. Your presidency stood together on that stage as one. You said that when your counselors were out traveling the world, they spoke for the entire presidency. Your faith in these great ladies was impressive, and it is an example to all of us.

The other quality that I admire about you is what you have done for the meaning of Visiting Teaching. When I was called to serve in Relief Society, I was amazed to read the first paragraph under the words "Responsibilities of Visiting Teaching" in the Handbook. It say, "Visiting teachers sincerely come to KNOW and LOVE each sister, help her strengthen her faith, and give service. They seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they are assigned to visit." I was somewhat taken aback by this. I thought for sure it would say something like, "Visiting Teachers are to visit their sister only once a month, read something from the Ensign, hopefully the VT message, and offer to help as they walk out the door" KNOW AND LOVE!! I love it!! I also love that I felt that was Sister Beck's instruction as well. When I call someone in our ward to tell them something I think they might want to know about a sister that they visit, they usually ask what they can do. Thank you, Sister Beck for giving me the courage to say to that sister, "Please let us know what you think your sister needs."

Thank you, Sister Beck for saying, "As committed disciples of the Savior we are improving in our ability to do the things He would do if He were here. We know that to Him it is our caring that counts, and so we are trying to concentrate on caring about our sisters rather than completing lists of things to do. True ministry is measured more by the depth of our charity than by the perfection of our statistics. We will know we are successful in our ministry as visiting teachers when our sisters can say, 'My visiting teacher helps me grow spiritually' and 'I know that my visiting teacher cares deeply about me and my family', and 'If I have problems, I know my visiting teacher will take action without waiting to be invited.' "

Thank you Sister Beck. We love you and will miss you, but we are grateful for your service.