This morning I did an overview of my Legal and Ethics in Heathcare classwork, took the final online and pushed submit. All of a sudden, I was finished and didn't know what to do with myself. For this entire school year, there has always been some sort of homework or text reading to do, and I must admit that I have been rather obsessed about the entire process as the classes have been more difficult and required a bit more of my brain than last year. So it was 9:30 a.m. and my brain was in a haze of uncertainty, confused as to what I should do next. I am taking the summer off to be with my children--who are amazingly supportive of my being in school--since they are now teens and will be leaving the nest much sooner than I would like to think. This hazy, weird, disjointed feeling stayed with me all through the day, until it was time.....
For many weeks now, Jessica, Josh, and Daniel have been practicing almost every week for the Cultural Celebration for the dedication of our new Kansas City Temple. They have danced until they couldn't even stay upright, and sang until their voices were practically gone....working hard to be able to perform for our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who came to dedicate the temple tomorrow.
Nothing could have prepared me for the amazing performance of 3000+ youth--singing, dancing all the while telling the history of our area. So many emotions--laughing, crying, cheering joyfully as I watched the story unfold. They sang about their differences, they danced and honored those who serve in the armed forces in this area, while in between there were small glimpses as many were interviewed on the screen. One young man said that he would think it was the coolest thing in the world if President Monson would just wiggle his ears (and at the end, a prophet of God did just that because this young man asked.)
I cried as those from the Joplin area told through song and dance of the devestation of the tornado last year and then of the hope that came from those who have and are now still helping them to rebuild. Tears ran down my face during that part, and then again when 10,000+ people gave a standing ovation for over 5 minutes as the missionaries serving in the 2 missions covered in this temple district marched down the middle of the young women and young men that sang of preparing themselves while in their youth to serve the Lord.
What started out as a day of feeling lost, ended with feeling blessed to be a part of this great event. Of seeing my youngest 3 children, who all sacrificed sleep, homework, reduced hours at work, sore muscles and more put it all out there, doing their best for a prophet of God.
Yet even now as I think of it, I know that in just 9 short hours, I will feel the spirit of our Heavenly Father even stronger as I watch our Prophet, dedicate our new temple. A temple that is only 50 minutes from my home--so close. What an amazing blessing!! I will always remember this 36 hours as a time I felt lost and the Spirit of God found me, gently reminding me that He is there for me always.
Having just finished the 2nd week of this new semester, I thought I would put down some thoughts.
Still not a real fan of coding, however it is getting easier and I am getting better at it.
The Legal and Ethic of Healthcare is an interesting class, I think I am going to enjoy it this semester.
Geography--learning about places is really cool, remembering country names and thier spelling, and being able to put them on a blank map, not so cool.
Astronomy is my favorite class this semester. How cool is it that I get to learn through something called an astroportal--just the name is fun for my scifi-loving mind. Learning about the stars--too fun.
This semester I decided to knock off a couple of GenEds. It has put me in with people I don't know (since I first went back to school, I have been going along in a program with pretty much the same people) and has been a bit unsettling, however it has been a fantastic opportunity to meet new people (a bit scary too). This past Friday, when I was getting in the elevator first thing in the morning, two maintenance men got in, turning asked who was having a crummy day. I stated that it was going to be a great day as it was Friday. I then started to sing our family's Friday song--not the one that is popular, but the one we have been singing for almost 20 years. They loved it and so I taught it to them. Funny thing was that when I was in another building much later in the day, I passed by another maintenance man, and over his walkie talkie, I heard someone singing the Friday song to him. It made me smile.
Today we honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. By following Him, we can return live with Him and our Heavenly Father once again. This is indeed a great thing to celebrate. Thank you Jesus for your great sacrifice.
By following the teachings of Jesus Christ we can know joy while here on Earth. Merry Christmas World!!
It seems that the hardest thing this semester for me so far is keeping up with the homework. Most of my classes are rather labor intensive, more so than in the previous semesters. In addition, life is running pretty hot right now--as though someone decided to turn the burner on the stove to a high fire. All together, it is getting me a bit down. That being said, I put my trust in the Lord that if I do my part, we will be blessed.
It is funny, for the past 2 years I have missed my son, Elder Matthew Helm, as he has served his mission in the Pocatello, Idaho mission. At times I have missed him so much it has been as a ache inside that nothing would abate. Only the knowledge that he is serving the Lord has soothed that ache.
As his mission draws to a close, I marvel that it is finally here--that in 9 short days he will be home (for a bit). I know that he has served with great honor and has blessed many lives. As I listen to his brothers and sister pray for him daily, I know that his service has blessed their lives as well. They have been shown that serving the Lord is a blessing, not a drudgery.
Matthew's mission has been a difficult one. In the area where he has served, the people either love the church or hate it--there are few who have never even heard of us. The opinions are tough and outsiders are not trusted easily. Yet through these challenges, and others he has continued to serve with not only honor (I expected this) but with great joy as well. He is like a light that burns brightly not only for those here at home, but those who he comes in contact with.
I am proud to be a missionary mom! I know that I have been strengthened greatly while he has been gone--our entire family has. I know that the work he has been doing is important to our Heavenly Father. I know that God lives and that His son Jesus Christ died for us--he loves us that much. I know that he restored His Church here to the earth. I know the scriptures guide us, comfort us, and sustain us each day. As my son has delivered this message to those who he has come in contact with, I have found myself testifying of these truths almost daily--something I was too afraid to do before. I am blessed to be a missionary mom, and even though my arms have ached for 2 years to hug him, it is a small sacrifice for the good he has done.
That being said MATT COMES HOME IN 9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!
Tonight for the first time ever, I went to a football game with the intent of actually watching football. Weird right?? As usual I took you, my precious knitting expecting that soon I would begin to be bored and you and I would begin our traditional football regime of knit and purl. However that part never came tonight. I watched the game, yelled and cheered for the players and was excited when we won! However don't dispare, knitting, I was watching a special person play tonight, one of my former cub scouts, and so had a vested interest in the game. I am positive that we will get tons of knitting done tomorrow while waiting for the band to play at half time.
This morning as I was driving to school, the world was shrouded in a blanket of fog. Most people I know hate the fog, but I love it. I am reminded of the mists in the Gothic books I read as a teen. Everything is so mysterious, and yet if you look--look really carefully, you can see the seasons changing.
Over the years I have told stories to children about how the leaves get painted. Stories about the fairies who flutter around painting the leaves one by one. Other stories were of the great painting masters of the past, coming back to earth as angels and painting a wondrous delight for us to see. In biology I was taught what really happened. It is boring. So I will keep my stories or wonderful creatures, angels or fairies who come to earth each fall and paint our leaves--one by one--brilliant yellow, orange and red.
Last week I saw a tree that had a vine that was wrapped around it. The vine had turned a vibrant red while the tree was still green. It looked as thought fire was wrapping lovingly around the trunk of the tree. It was amazing to see.
Look around you.....take time to see the wonders Heavenly Father has given us....see the beauty we are surrounded with. The world is decorated to give us joy! Please don't let it go to waste in the vast speed of everyday life. Take time....be thankful...find joy!
