It's no surprise to those that know us...That we Love God, Family and German Shepherds. And of course we treasure the outdoors (especially miss Northern Ontario), music and good food. We value the work ethic and always trying to be better each moment. Everything that life has to offer with it's interwoven tapestry. Motto: FAMILY FIRST and Good Works are the Best Medicine.
Our last big outing with Sage before he went home yesterday. We had so much fun! We went on Thursday, July 30th. We went on the train that was an hour long. He was ecstatic! So were we :) Afterward, we hung out on the beach till till about 6:30pm. We packed up trying to look for picnic tables to do our little BBQ. If we had drove down the parking lot just a little more, there was a Pavillon. So finally, we found it and it was nice. On our way home, we saw a couple deer. Good times :)
This is the piece that spoke to me most: "5 That your aenemies may not have power over you; that you may be preserved in all things; that you may be enabled to keep my laws; that every bond may be broken wherewith the enemy seeketh to destroy my people.
6 Behold, I say unto you, that ye must avisit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received. Amen."
In this passage, enemies refer to those things in life that can bring us down. In other words - people, places and things in which I have no control over. The cure or protection is touched upon in the next verse where it talks about visiting the poor and needy. Again, getting out of ourselves and helping others not necessarily takes away the trial but can bring some peace in our life so we are not consumed in our own sorrows. And also it helps us to develop charity, which is the Pure Love of Christ.
Today, I am grateful for the blessings that God continues to pour out in our lives.
Last week was a bit of whirlwind. Like the rest of this year, it has had it's mountains and valleys. And even some middle of the road time. The way I made it through... Prayer, prayer and more prayer.
It'll take a few posts to get up to date. I'll try to work on it as much as I can.
Here is our little Annika last Saturday and Sunday before the surgery.
Sage and his precious little sister. (these videos aren't as crisp as I did them in compact form so I could upload quicker)
At Dragon Fly Park with Jade, Rayne and Sage.
Riverside Park
Sick Kids Hospital was completely amazing. They were exceptional skilled, compassionate and investigative. I can't say enough good things about them. The staff to patient ratio in that unit is 1:1 with a max of 1:2. Once Annika was out of ICU, there was a private room with a built in wall bed, equipped with bathroom, shower and roll away cots also with linens provided for the family. The staff took their time with you with questions and very gentle with our precious little angel. They had countless surveys to complete with research. We are incredibly blessed to be living in this area with Sick Kids having some of the best surgeons and healthcare in the world. (no exageration - people come internationally to Sick Kids) And this all is paid through our taxes and not directly out of pocket. Wonderful I say!
Here is our little Annika after surgery. Difficult to watch her in pain but the staff were attentive in helping her manage it. I praise my Lord for the blessings amongst this huge adversity.
The week went by very fast. I can't believe it's Friday already. It's been a prayerful day and a half. I had some thoughts that I had been pondering and turned to my church site. www.lds.org
Some great words of encouragement helped yesterday and today. Here is a clip that I watched entitled, "Hope Ya Know, I Had a Hard Time".
That reminded me of our family motto: Good works are the best medicine. It reminded me that the Saviour knows us and what we were are experiencing. The sweet and the bitter.
I was praying this morning, to hear God's will of something that was and still is very much on my mind. I needed to be reminded that I need to get to that quiet space so that I can communicate and HEAR the Lord's responses. I strongly received an impression and direction on what I needed to do. I felt the calm assurance of God's Spirit. The article, Sugar Beets and the Worth of a Soul by President Thomas S. Monson I had read the day before had strong meaning now.
Quote, "He has promised: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
Shortly afterward, the opportunity presented itself to express what I needed to. Again, I felt the calm assurance that I can do the Lord's will and I need not worry about the outcome.
My grand-father Frank Lepine words from his personal history remind me that my daily writings are of worth to me and to my family.
This next clip confirms it and lets me deeply know that the Hand of God is in my life.
I love my family so much and I know that with God, all things are possible as He certainly has proven time and again if we submit to His will joyfully and seek the happiness in our life.
Today, I plan to do the laundry as I want to get it down while there's not a ton of humidity.
And we are writing out our plan for our 72 hour Emergency Pack Test trip. It's been almost a year since we fill our 72 kits so it's time to restock it with fresh stuff. Shane and I decided that we would run a with it. So in the early part of August, that is just what we plan to do. We will take our kits and live in the van for 72 hours. We are going to travel around and stay outdoors as much as we can and sleep in there at night. Sounds like a lot of fun and challenge! I'll keep you posted as time goes on and definitely let you know of the outcome.
Our ward is also putting in an order at the Bishop's Storehouse. Awesome deals. Shane our budgeting to get quite a bit of stuff. Especially with wheat at $5.60 for 25lbs! Okey dokey, the little guy has been patient waiting for me so I am off. Have a good day :)
