So it has been a while since I’ve written anything.
The holidays happened with gusto . . . and lots of family and fun. Then our
clan was blitzed by the raging flu bug that is unfortunately going around. My
mother was hit very hard by that particular bug. One night she got up, was
extremely dizzy, and began to fall. She tried to stop herself by grabbing onto
a small chest of drawers located in her bathroom, and pulled it on top of
herself. She lay on the bathroom floor for a good 30-40 minutes before she was
able to finally pull her herself out from under all of that.
My mom lives by herself in a cute apartment not far
from where I dwell, but I had no idea she was in trouble until I called to
check on her the next morning. When she told me what had happened, I knew we
needed to take her in to see a doctor. So my oldest son and I hurried into
town. (We live about 4 miles outside of the local village.) Since it was
January 1st, we knew none of the local clinics would be open, so we
took her to ER.
Luckily, Mom hadn’t broken anything, but she was
covered in bumps and bruises. She also tested positive for the flu. She was
placed on Tamiflu, and her doctor (who happened to be on call that day)
insisted that we needed to look into a medical alert system for her to prevent
this kind of situation from happening again.
We were just starting to get on top of things after
all of that, and our ward suffered the loss of two beloved members—in the same
week. Both deaths tore at the heart strings. One was expected, the other was
not. And as luck would have it, my husband and I had been assigned church
cleaning duty the first two weeks of January. Let’s just say we weren’t bored
for those two weeks.
Thus far, the new year has been a bit of a blur. I
haven’t even had time to ponder life-changing resolutions. Free time has been
nil. (This means there hasn’t been any.) Between all of the adventures
mentioned above, plus little things like helping my husband with the local
meals on wheels program available in our area, Cub Scout adventures, etc. I do
my best to swamp out our abode, and keep up with things like laundry, meals, so
on and so forth.
I barely had time to acknowledge and ponder the loss
of our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. A lot of things have
slipped to the way side, including blog posts. I apologize for that, but am
happy to report that despite everything, I am somehow managing to keep my nose
a bit above the turbulent waters that currently surround us.
That’s kind of how life is for a lot of us. I’ve
talked to other family members and friends, and though their life adventures
differ, they all appear to be in the same boat. LIFE IS CRAZY!!! (Emphasis on “crazy.”)
I remember years ago hearing a seminary teacher
state that in the latter days, church members will be kept so busy, they won’t
have time to worry about all of the intense events that will be taking place in
the world. At the time, I thought that was rather silly. I have lived to a
point in my life where I take back what I once thought. We are seeing it. We
are living it. It is happening. Just sayin’ . . .
I am realizing that it is crucial these days to make
the time for items like personal prayer, scripture study, and however we manage
to fill our personal buckets. For me it’s a combination of things, like the two
items I already mentioned, and hot baths, going for a walk with a good friend,
taking pictures, writing, strumming my guitar, etc. I find that life seems to
go better when I can work that stuff in . . . but in light of the crazy times .
. . it doesn’t always happen. And a price is paid. Peace of heart and mind seems
to fade as we flop into Chicken Little mode.
So we take a step back, take a deep breath, and try
again, knowing we must work in the things that will inspire the peace of heart
and mind that we desperately need these days.
A writer writes. I’ve heard that saying repeated
countless times . . . but it is true. And sometimes we take a lot of notes.
I’ve been accused of that on family trips, during General Conference season,
etc. So it may not be a surprise to my close family members and friends that I
took a few notes the day our new prophet was announced. The ones that stand out
are as follows:
“Keep on the covenant path!” President Russell M.
Nelson
“The best is yet to come!” President Henry B. Eyring
“Maintain faith in the Lord!” President Eyring
“Wake, eager to face the day’s adventures!”
President Russell M. Nelson
“(The Savior) will guide and bless each one of us!”
President Dallin H. Oaks
“Face the future with optimism and joy with faith in
the Lord!” President Russell M. Nelson
“See the Church as it really is!” President Henry B.
Eyring (I took this one to mean that we
need to ignore the small stuff and to quit judging each other!)
It’s looking like our new Church Presidency is
trying to tell us that despite all of the craziness taking place in today’s
world, we need to focus on the good things. We need to shrug off the negative
vibes and actively pursue those items that bring us happiness. It won’t be
easy, things of worth seldom are, but I have decided that despite the avalanche
of life that mowed over the top of us at the beginning of this new year, it
will be possible to find joy. I am determined to make 2018 a year to remember,
one that is filled with positive events and peace.
Only we can change our mind set. Only we can pull
ourselves out from under whatever has fallen on top of us thus far this year,
and be as my mother has been, determined to survive!
With that said, I realize it will be a challenge. It
will take everything we have to offer and then some to heed the advice from our
church leaders. I am determined to try. And if other avalanches come along in
our lives, let’s help each other dig out!
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