{I feel like a post is not complete without pictures. These are some of my favorite images that my friend Kim Orlandini of Kim Orlandini Photography took!}
Cathy told me I should stand up in Sacrament meeting and bear my testimony about my humbling experience yesterday. When I gave her a big fat swear word in return, I decided I would write it down here. Much easier for me, and not so embarrassing for Paul.
Cathy told me I should stand up in Sacrament meeting and bear my testimony about my humbling experience yesterday. When I gave her a big fat swear word in return, I decided I would write it down here. Much easier for me, and not so embarrassing for Paul.
I feel like I should preface this with, I am not perfect. I get a little uncomfortable talking about religion, and making people feel like I am better because of one reason or another. I have a lot to work on. I also don't care what religion you belong to or don't belong to. Okay!? Now I can start.
I always have struggled to fit in at church, where in most other situations I am just fine. I have a deep feeling of inadequacy when surrounded by people who know a lot about my religion and scriptures, and I do not.
After Devin got to that stage of not being content to just sit, but also not being able to go to nursery I struggled to want to go to church. Knowing it was going to be 3 hours of torture, and I knew I wouldn't get anything spiritual out of chasing my kid around. Well, here I am again at that stage with Sabrina. Struggling. Wondering why I go to church, and when will it not feel like such an awful chore.
Do you ever feel like it doesn't matter how much good you do, or how many "right" choices you make...you still end up with lots of challenges? Maybe it is just us, we must have a lot to learn. We have lots of hard things come our way, making us have to rely on each other a lot. When most people could or would call their parents/siblings for help, we don't have those kind of options. Not wanting to bother our friends, we make do with the 5 of us a lot.
Yesterday while Paul was working, our basement flooded from our water heater. I had no idea how to shut off the water, and quickly asked anyone on Facebook if they knew. My friends are smart, and I got it handled. Brandie was a gem, and brought over an extra shop vac so Paul and I could get to work sucking up water. She offered to stay and help, but I figured with both of Paul and I with shop vac's it would go quick.
I was frustrated that our bad luck never seems to end, and just when we make headway...we have another bill. I was having the best kind of pitty party. I was in bed, ignoring my kids, and bawling...Paul would not have let this happen if he were home. Not my finer moments, I told my kids I wanted to run away.
I brushed my stinky self off, apologized to my kids, gave them big hugs, and went on my way. I decided to start boiling water so Sabrina could have a bath in the sink, and we could wait for Cathy to help me carry up the buckets of water. While I stood in my kitchen, I heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was Cathy, Devin ran to answer the door...and he yelled "It's Jerwiwee, Mommy!" Savannah and I both tried to correct him, but sure enough when I went to the door, Hali {Jerilee's daughter} was standing with a soda and a bag of candy for us.
As Cathy and I sucked up water, we started talking about how many times I have said to someone "Let me know if I can help." and people have said it to me. Knowing I really need help, but don't know if they are being serious or not. I think most people have a hard time asking for help, including myself. She is a wise woman, and quoted this talk...
"If you come upon a person who is drowning, would you ask if they need help—or would it be better to just jump in and save them from the deepening waters? The offer, while well meaning and often given, “Let me know if I can help” is really no help at all." Elder Ronald A. Rasband
I feel like I need to end this with a big ol' AMEN.
8 comments:
What an amazing post thanks for sharing. Your friends are amazing and the kind I hope to be one day. This is a very inspiring post thank you for sharing and I hope everything has gotten better!
I love you, Von! You really are awesome and a fabulous mom and friend!
Prayer, asked and answered. :) That's awesome. It's always great to have a reminder that we are loved and watched over. One time someone said something to me that REALLY had me down. They didn't intend to hurt my feelings, but it really dug a dagger into my heart. :'( Every time I thought about our conversation, I would start crying and just couldn't get over the way they made me feel. I couldn't handle feeling that way and didn't know what to do except pray. And pray I did. It didn't change what the person had said, it just changed the way it was affecting me. And it was IMMEDIATE. I couldn't believe it. I really felt the love from above, ya know what I mean? LOVE reading your blog - you're such a great writer and so cute!
I have been feeling a but beat down over the last few weeks. I haven't met the needs of my family very well and I was struggling with feeling unappreciated as a wife and 'mother' and in my most broken moment, I prayed for ANYTHING that could give me courage and strength. When I woke up the next morning, my younger brother's wife had left me a message on facebook:
Luke 12:7 (KJV) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Sometimes it doesn't even need to be a physical act when you reach out(though that is what you needed in that particular instance), my SIL reached out in exactly the way I needed. God knew what I needed and gave it to her to pass on to me. Even the very hairs on my head are precious and appreciated.
I totally agree with you Heather! Sometimes a simple call or email is what someone needs.
Good girl.
Maybe I didn't get the prompting to come over and help because I'm in Cali and Nevada is much further from my parents' house than mine??? Either way, I love and adore you just the way you are. And I'd totally jump in and save you from drowning...and then treat you to Pizzeria Limone followed by Hokulia followed by Sonic.
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