The Lord Provides a Way

It has been a long time since I've visited my blog. So much has happened! I think that the wedding of our son Matthew to Christina "Jelly" Roushar is the biggest event to write about!

They were married in the St. Paul MN Temple on December 30Th. It was a beautiful wedding. The sealing room was full of family and dearly loved friends. We are so pleased that so many wished to attend. They had to bring in chairs because there were upwards to 60 people in attendance. The spirit filled the room as the priesthood holder spoke to Jelly and Matt. In that moment as I sat beside my son, my heart became so warm with love and of the spirit. It was the most amazing feeling.

The week was full of festivities. I provided two meals for the families. One was the grooms dinner. I made Hawaiian Haystacks, a favorite of our family. I had two friends make authentic egg rolls and sushi to go with them. It was a hit! The next day I made soups and salads from the leftover veggies and meat. Many friends made bar cookies to go with the meal. All the extra bars we had went to the reception. It all worked out amazingly well.

There was one hero amongst us that I must mention. Karissa Showalter, the newly baptized girlfriend of our third son Ryan. She , being a new member could not attend the wedding. So she spearheaded our luncheon, helped prepare food right along side us for several days before both meals. She was amazing! We dearly love that sweet gal. I think we are all hearing wedding bells for her and Ryan in the future. Well, they talk about it all the time, but have not actually become engaged yet. lol!

Our son Jason and daughter in law Julie flew in the day of the grooms dinner. My parents JoAnn and DeWayne Hess flew in the day before that. Everyone was here except Hunter who is on a mission in Lone Pine CA! I missed my sisters, but totally understood the things that kept them away. Perhaps next wedding they can make it. I can only pray that it will be so.

I did go off my diet for the two days leading up to the wedding and for a couple of days afterwards. It wasn't hard to get back on track. I was so sick of rich foods! Bleck! I have no desire to go back to that way of eating again. After I'm done with HCG I will be going into the Zone Diet way of eating for the rest of my life. You balance protein with Carbs. It's a way of life for me. I never want to get sick because of what I put in my mouth again. I'm in control of my appetites now. I no longer have food cravings and they not longer rule my life! It's amazing! I am no longer in bondage to the natural man. I'm prayerful every day that I can stay the course and do this hard thing. I am winning! To date I have lost over 50 lbs! I'm measuring myself this Saturday and I'll be able to tell you how many inches I've lost. I know it will boggle your mind. It sure has boggled mine!

Life has taken on a different luster for me. I have some pain in my back due to the accident a year ago. But, I don't have all over body aches any more.

My mind is clear of the "fibrofog" that I used to experience with my fibromyalgia. I sleep deeper. I can do so much more since I lost 50 lbs. My joints don't hurt when I walk. My hips stopped popping out the joint.

My chiropractor is amazing and keeps me going as my body changes. I need adjustments every other week to keep up with the changes because I'm losing so much weight. I welcome this. It's a great tool to keep moving due to my medical history. My blood pressure is perfect! My liver continues to heal and I have not had pain in my right side for weeks now! YES! That is such a relief!

My kids noticed right away how much more energy I have. We used to have to park near the stores so I could go in. I was weak and in pain and they were so considerate. When we shopped, not only could I go all day, I could park way away from the doors and walk quickly and keep up with them and was not winded in the least! It was truly a milestone.

This has been a wonderful, happy, busy, spiritual, uplifting revelatory Christmas season. I am so filled with gratitude for all I have learned about my spirit, my body and my own inner strength. I can do hard things with the Lords help. I can call down angels to protect me from the adversary as I go through this process and I have on the tough days. No longer are the voices whispering in my ear that I can't accomplish this program. I pray each time I bless my food that I can keep going until I reach my weight loss goals and beyond. I know that angels attend me and attend you when we have righteous goals. Make sure you ask for their help. The Lord provides a way for us to do what is right. This is one of those things.

The Healing Message...

Today we went to a wonderful graduation party. It was our sons sweethearts party. The party was the best one I'd attended in years. So many friends were there. I can't recall having such a good time in years! Maybe because I can actually enjoy a lively conversation again? In the past I couldn't follow a conversation for long, the fog would roll in on my brain and I'd feel anxious. It was very disconcerting.

Now, I feel like I've joined the land of the living once again. I can't describe how it feels to be able to notice the trees and the leaves and the even the ripples in the water on the lake again.
When I wasn't sleeping I was just trying to survive. I was gradually circling the drain of life--and I felt myself slowly dieing away. It was so hard to feel that way and not have doctors that would listen to me. I'm grateful that they finally did and now my life is getting better and better as the days go on! I'm so filled with joy at the prospect of living a full and meaningful life once again.

I love my Heavenly Father so much and I pray that I can show my gratitude towards Him by living my life as Jesus would want me to. The second half of my life is going to be beautiful! No matter what trials come my way, I'm determined to live it prayerfully and with hope and thanksgiving for what it does bring.

A quote I read this week really touched my heart about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ touched one mans life. I had to share it with all of you because without the Gospel, I'm not so sure I could have held on for so long. I know that President Uchtdorf feels much the same way...It is also the source of my strength and my hope and faith as well.

"In the middle of [the] despair [of postwar Germany], my family learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and the healing message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This message made all the difference; it lifted us above our daily misery. Life was still thorny and the circumstances still horrible, but the gospel brought light, hope, and joy into our lives. The plain and simple truths of the gospel warmed our hearts and enlightened our minds. They helped us look at
ourselves and the world around us with different eyes and from an elevated
viewpoint."




(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?" Ensign, Nov. 2007, 19)

Fathers Day

Fathers day is always a wonderful day in our house. It's neat to see the individual ways our kids can show their appreciation for their dad.

Although our gifts are humble in nature, they hold greater meaning for Terry, and he appreciates each of them so much. He has told them many times how he just likes to spend time with them-- today is no exception. He is out in the driveway looking over our sons new car. They are putting their heads together about what they should fix first this week. I know they are both happy just being together out there. It's nice to watch them through the window. Sometimes dads need alone time with their kids. It's a good thing.

Sundays and Mondays are always special to us. Sunday is the Sabbath and we love to go to church and worship. When we come together at the dinner hour we share all the lessons we learned that day. When I was ill, sometimes that's the only lesson I would get. It was enough because I knew our kids had paid special attention, just for me and in turn had learned more than any other child in Sunday School. What blessings come from our struggles if we allow them to happen.

Today I shared with them how we had a lesson on the topic of, "How do I want to be remembered by my ancestors?" It was thought provoking. Some of the things the girls listed were...
1. to have been compassionate
2. strong
3. to have loved the Savior
4. to have been obedient
5. long suffering
6. kind
7. gentle
8. to have upheld the standards of the church
9. loved my family
10. given service to those who needed me

There were many more things on this list. I was so impressed by the 12 to 14 year old young women and our teacher who gave the lesson. It was deeply spiritual. She passed out small slips of paper to fill out and place in our scriptures as a reminder. We wrote about the kind of person we wanted to be remembered being. It was a gift and touched me deeply as I wrote. I will never forget that simple lesson. Each girl went away with something to ponder and it was so good!

I can hardly wait for our Missionaries to write home tonight and tomorrow! I wait for their letters each week. They strengthen me and fill me up spiritually. Only a missionary knows how it is to truly serve the Lord each and every day of the year. They are my examples. I have learned so much from my sons.

Happy Fathers day to those men out there in the world who make a difference in one kids life. They will never forget you.

Please Pray

This is the night before one of the most important days I've had in a long time. I'll be going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota in the morning. I've come here for answers to medical problems. It has been a very long year for me. I'm grateful that I have insurance and that I was well enough to make the trip. I feel blessed to have been able to hang onto hope for so long. I have felt the prayers of so many this week. So many all over the world. My heart is full. I am so grateful for the Lords tender mercies.

May you all have gain comfort and strength as you say your prayers tonight.

More tomorrow.....Goodnight!