Almost A Year

It has been almost a year since I last wrote. Not sure why it has been so long. After my last post I went through a rough transition between being RS Pres. and not having that responsibility any more. I felt lost. I worked many Sundays last summer trying to avoid facing the feeling of not belonging any where. It took both Eugene and I receiving new church callings in September to pull me out of the funk. To be honest, the feelings I had were new and so unexpected. I was so ready for a change, but that change was a hard one.

November 28th we got a new grandson. Liam Michael Nielson was born. He is such a sweet little guy. He is a delight. I was invited to be with Laura during the labor and delivery process. It was so hard to watch our baby daughter go through such a long, hard delivery knowing there was nothing I could do to make it easier. Then, after Liam was born, he swollowed some mucous and then quit breathing. I looked over where he layed as they worked on him and it scared me to see his blue feet. His daddy really struggled with the fear of losing another child. It seemed like a very long time that he refused to breath, but with the help of some fabulous, caring medical staff, they were able to get him breathing. Thankfully Heavenly Father saw fit to allow this little guy to stay with us.

Two days ago was Sammy's birthday. She would have been two. We miss her. When we love on her new baby brother, we think of her and wonder about the things she told him before he left their heavenly home to come here. When I see Liam smile in his sleep, I believe Sammy is visiting him. His presence has been healing. I think about Sammy often and wonder how she is doing.

Charlie, Michelle and Mackenzie are here. It is so fun to have them come visit. Mackenzie is such an adorable little girl (20 Months). Charlie goes back on Sunday, Michelle and Mackenzie on Tuesday. They will be glad to get back home where it is warm. We will be sad to see them go.

Today I was standing at the kitchen sink and saw a robin sitting in the snow on top of the shed. I think she must be lost. It is soooo cold here. Maybe she is here to give us a sign of the spring to come and give us hope that it is on the way.

Change!

Today in church we got a new RS Presidency. President is Jan Price, 1st. Counselor is Mary Hobson, 2nd Counselor is Rhonda Dowding, and Secretary is Clover McMurray. I'm so excited about the change! I have been the President for 3 years 9 months and 1 week. I had two different sets of counselors and 3 different secretaries in that nearly 4 years time. It is time for a change! I'm excited and a little nervous about what is to come next....

Spring?

The first day of March always brings thoughts of Spring to me. Even though we have had a very mild winter, I long for warmer weather with no threat of icy, slick roads. I don't like to work in the yard so that is not a reason I love Spring. I do love the new birth all around. The trees and grass returning to vibrant green, the flowers blooming, the warmer air, the longer days... I love Spring! When I was a child my birthday wish every year was that the snow would be gone by my birthday. Some years it is, some it is not. I still hope for that each year.

Spring also brings Easter. A time for us to re-evaluate and remember the great sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I wonder if I am doing any better this year than last. I've been told that if you aren't moving forward, you are moving backward. I think this past year has been an up and down roller coaster ride. Currently I feel I'm falling down a long slope on that ride. I guess the point is that with each fall, we rise higher on each new climb.

Hopefully, Spring is just around the corner and not months away. Happy Spring!!

Happy Birthday, Angel Sammy!

Today Our Sammy would have been a year old. Today hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. Not sure why, but I am grateful! In Sacrament Meeting the closing song was one that is always hard for me to sing. Where Can I Turn For Peace. When I sing that song, or hear it, I always think about the first Sunday in RS after taking Laura, Sammy's mommy, and leaving her in Lewiston, ID for college. It was so so hard! I had to leave the room that day because I couldn't keep it together. The song always brings tears to my eyes. Then, the first speaker told what her topic was on and I just had to smile thinking the Lord must have known what I needed to hear today. Her topic was on Elder Bednar's talk about Tender Mercies. Although this trial has been the hardest I have ever been through, I have seen and felt the Lord's tender mercies. Especially on the day we buried Sammy. There had to be an army of angels there to hold us up and get us through the day. The strength I felt that day was like no other day in my life. I have often longed to feel that strength again.

Sometimes when I see pictures of Sammy's sisters, I wonder what she would look like. Would she have blue eyes or brown? Would her complexion be fair or dark? Would she be quiet and reserved like Makayla and Kimmy or would she be more outgoing like Ellie. Would she be tall with very long legs like Makayla or more petite like Ellie and Kimmy or would she be somewhere in between? So many questions with no answers. I guess the answers we do have are the important ones. She is safe! She is with our Heavenly Father and Jesus! She is busy learning and working. We are promised we will be with her again if we live up to our covenants. I pray I have the strength to be worthy to be her grandma and to live near her again!

Love you so much, Angel Sammy!

Catch Up

We have been very busy this summer. I started work the end of April and am working usually 5 days a week. Not all of those days are 8 hour days. They range from 1 1/2 hours to 9 hours. The quilting business has picked up dramatically! Right now I have 4 quilts in my house. One I finished last night, a baby quilt is half quilted and two more are waiting in the wings to be quilted.

We had our family reunion the end of June. We all met at a townhouse that we rented above Huntsville, UT. We spent three days together. Charlie and Michelle came from Texas with Mackenzie. We got to hold her and love on her for those three days. She's growing up so fast! Katie and Shawn drove out from Michigan. The rest of us live relatively close to each other...Sarah in Ogden, Lizzie in Salt Lake and Laura in Green River, Wy. It was fun to see the cousins play together. We had family pictures. That was a bitter sweet moment. We all missed Sammy so much! Her quilt was in every picture that she would have been in. Oh how I wish she could have been there with us. I guess in a way she was. Just not so we could see her.

Last Sunday Laura and the girls came to church with me. As we sat there, I thought of Sammy and wished she was there with us. Then the thought came to me that she was. I think she is with us more often than we know. At least more often than I know. I'm pretty sure Laura feels her close quite often.

Last week Laura and the little girls went to Yellowstone camping with Eugene and I. When Laura was telling Kimmy we were going camping, Kimmy said no. Then Laura told her we could sleep outside in a tent. After that Kimmy was excited to go. When we took the tent down Wednesday morning to come home, Kimmy was not happy! She really loved camping, I think. It was a fun two and half days. We saw 4 grizzly bears, a couple of wolves, a coyote, a few elk, and many, many bison. We had ice cream twice (YUM) and cooked hot dogs over the fire. It was a short trip, but at least we were able to go.

Up coming events...We are flying to Texas in November!!! I can hardly wait! Right now my goal is to lose 20 lbs before we leave. Hoping I can make it happen so I can fit into my clothes.

Mackenzie Rae

Mackenzie Rae Wright was born May 5, 2011 just before 10 p.m. in Longview, Texas. She weighed 8 lbs. even and was 20 inches long. She is the first child of Charlie and Michelle and our 8th grandchild, 6th granddaughter. We are so happy she is here and all is well.

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

I am more grateful for His atoning sacrifice each day of my life!