Patriotic

Happy Memorial Day!

Pretty accurate

I found this diagram on this marvelous blog and laughed out loud. This is exactly how I feel about sewing machines.

The sewing machine is not my friend.

True Faith

"Centuries ago, Daniel and his young associates were suddenly thrust from security into the world—a world foreign and intimidating. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to bow down and worship a golden image set up by the king, a furious Nebuchadnezzar told them that if they would not worship as commanded, they would immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. "And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"

The three young men quickly and confidently responded, "If it be so [if you cast us into the furnace], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand." That sounds like my eighth-grade kind of faith. But then they demonstrated that they fully understood what faith is. They continued, "But if not, . . . we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." That is a statement of true faith.

Our scriptures and our history are replete with accounts of God's great men and women who believed that He would deliver them, but if not, they demonstrated that they would trust and be true.
He has the power, but it's our test.

Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not. . . . Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not . . . . He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not. . . . Our God will deliver us from threats, accusations, and insecurity, but if not. . . . He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not, . . . we will trust in the Lord."

Taken from General Conference Address by Dennis E. Simmons
Picture found here

Today I...

Wish I was here right now.

... made a tough decision to stay home from a trip I've been looking forward to for two years.

... did 300 crunches and 30 push ups

... walked 2.5 miles and ran 1 block. Progress!

... watched my little sister sleep

... wore flip flops for the first time this summer

... made a new friend

... stayed in bed until 11:00 am. Yep, I'm a lazy bum.

P.S. Thanks for your prayers. Carrie is improving a little each day.

Miracles

"... my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."
Moroni 7:29

To read more, go here.

Please pray for us

Funny Carrie at our pre-surgery drinking party. Jello shot anyone?

On Tuesday night, I learned how it feels to watch someone I love lay in a coma. It was terrible.

Carrie opened her eyes for a few seconds now and then yesterday, and today she's moving a bit more. She is by no means out of the woods, but she is taking baby steps forward each day.

I am praying harder than I ever have in my life (and that's really saying something).

I want our Carrie girl to talk to me again. I want to see her eyes smile and hear her tease me about the dumb things I sometimes say.

Prayers are powerful. I know that prayers bring miracles. Will you join your prayers with those of my family and me that we will be strong to handle whatever comes and that Carrie will heal?

There are not words to express how grateful I am for the love and compassion I've felt poured out to my family and me. My heart is overflowing.

Full Time Sister

Some days (like today), I want to quit my job and be a full-time sister. I just want to sit at Carrie's side and make artist trading cards with her, paint her nails, braid her hair, and stroke her forehead. If only that could be my whole life.

Instead, I'll just keep rushing to the hospital as soon as work is over. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than with my baby sister.

Get Well and Bon Voyage

“Have fun, Jenny! Get Better, Carrie!” said the cake at last night’s family party.

This morning, our beautiful sister, Jenny, boarded a plane to cross the pond and find herself a London-ese man – and study a bit of British literature as well. We celebrated her adventure in Carrie’s hospital room last night.

A going away party usually means pictures, so Mom took the camera and started snapping. I knelt down next to Carrie and Mom took a picture.

“Take pictures of Maggie, Mom. Don’t take pictures of me,” Carrie said. She wasn’t feeling especially pretty, and she was self-conscious of having her picture taken.

But the thing is, I think my valiantly brave youngest sister looks absolutely beautiful. Even though she doesn’t feel so hot, and she isn’t wearing her regular cute clothes, her root beer eyes are still shining. Her dark auburn hair is as gorgeous as ever. More than anything, her bravery is breathtaking. Her courage in the face of pain and frustration moves me to tears.

Once again, Carrie is combatting a medical obstacle. And once again, she is overcoming it with grace and faith.

There is nothing more beautiful than that.

Man! This guy can dance!

Yep. Pretty much in love with him.