It happened last night

Will and I were leaving after a mormon tabernacle choir preformance, where Jane Seymour was the guest artist who told stories of King Wenceslas.  As we were filtering out of the conference center with about 21,000 others, we made our way towards our parked car. After crossing in front of Mrs. Seymour's limo and thanking her for the preformance we proceeded to cross the street. At which point we heard a "Pow." Not a crash like metal on metal -- but a "Pow" like body on metal. We raced over to find two people rising from the ground. The driver apologizing than hurrying off in her SUV. The couple hobbled to the sidewalk where the girl had to sit down--  she said her ankle hurt. Of course as more time passed her ankle started to hurt even more and an ambulance was called. Will and I sat with the couple for about 30 minutes in the below freezing weather. We held her when she cried and laughed with her over her embarrasment of the scene. When all was said and done the paramedics reccomened she go get an xray on her foot and the police officer gave her a case number... he than said "this is a rotten thing to happen just a week before christmas."  I quickly rebuttled "no it's not. It is such a blessing. It is such a blessing that something much worse did not happen...."

I know I am not always as sensitive as I should be and these words may or may not have been welcomed words... but I begin with this story because this is how I feel this Christmas season. Will and I have had a very magical season. And it isn't magical because we were welcomed into a PA school-- because we were not. It isn't magical because we got a job, we have not.  It's magical because our situation is not much worse. It's a blessing that Will is alive, that we have Ben. That we are together and unified. Our family is well, our finances are stable, and we feel warmth from the angels/family/friends who surround us.  In the past few weeks we have visited a few care facilities to bring them Christmas goodies. One person in particular, who we visited was a 20 something girl who could not move her arms or legs--- actually I don't know if she had arms or legs her body was covered by a sheet.  To communicate she used a microphone attached to her head, and a computer that sensed the movement of her face.  I don't know how she ended up like this but I imagine we can realize that no matter what situation we are in... things could be much worse--- that we really are blessed beyond measure. Take this season to count your blessings. Take this very moment to write them down. You will find much more to write than you ever expected. The Lord is great. He loves us and protects us. Be thankful for your life this season and for those you love!

The Wind Storm

This Sunday was a little unusual. After church a couple of young men came to our door asking for fast offerings (donations we give once a month to our church). This was unusual because normally they come on the first Sunday every month. This time was different, however, because last Sunday, the first Sunday, our entire congregation was out doing something else.

What were we doing? Well, last week we had a terrible wind storm come through on Thursday and another one was predicted for Sunday evening. Because the storm was so terrible many trees here in Bountiful and throughout Davis county were blown over. Also the power was out for lots of people including us for at least a day and others had it out for longer. Because it was supposed to be windy again last Sunday night we spent a lot of time trying to be a little more prepaired for the storm. This meant getting rid of the trees that had fallen during Thursday's storm or at least tying them down so the wind couldn't blow the branches into other peoples houses.

One of the trees that blew over was a tree in my parents front yard. It was a massive tree and required a lot of work to get it cut up and moved out. Fortunately my parents had a lot of help both from neighbors and from the city as well as from us.

Its kind of sad now that the tree is gone. I think it was kind of a landmark of my parents property. But having said that I think the property will be fine including the place were the tree once stood. I'm not sure what they are going to do, maybe just flatten the area out and plant grass, or possible plant a new tree. I don't think it really matters. I guess, in a way, I'm kind of like the yard with that tree. Unfortunately a stroke was my windstorm and knocked my tree down flat. Fortunately, however, I've had a lot of help getting the old tree out and making room for a new tree to grow. I hope and pray that it will.