Brooklyn just celebrated her 6th birthday. Many of you have followed Brooklyn’s progress after the seizure she had in August when she stopped breathing. There have been so many prayers and questions asked in her behalf and I wanted to share an update of sorts for those that have been so constant in their support of our family. In December she had a second MRI and got the results back from a number of tests. The MRI showed no change from the one taken earlier. We also have met with Brooklyn’s geneticist and cardiologist. What we have learned from all of these tests and conversations is that Brooklyn has scar tissue on her brain, a PFO (hole in her heart) and a history of seizures. When considering her magic eyes (bilateral colobomas) and these other criteria we were searching for an overall diagnosis or label that would link everything together. At this point in her life, there is no definitive umbrella reason to explain the seizures and their relation to any other symptom or diagnosis.
We are going to enjoy Brooklyn and live life “normally”. We may repeat an MRI in another year to compare over time what may or may not change. What we know is that she is bright, intelligent, independent, soft-hearted, fun, whimsical and imaginative. She is enjoying kindergarten and dance class. She is mastering piano like she has always been playing and riding her scooter and bike when the snow melts. Her favorite birthday gift is the long-awaited swing set. So when spring comes you will find her out back swinging and swinging – not worrying a bit about IV’s – MRI’s – or seizures.
We are grateful for the great medical care of Primary Children’s Medical Center (Salt Lake City, UT) and advice from Uncle Johnny. Your prayers and love have been the silver trim around the clouds of not knowing. Living by faith is so much easier than living by fear. That is what children teach us. That is what Brooklyn is supported by. We feel only hope and gratitude – come what may.
“Faith makes all things possible…. love makes all things easy.”
Ok, so anyone who knows my sweet husband knows he has a beautiful voice. My children have gratefully inherited his talent. I do not sing…. I mean I sing at church and at home but not to perform. So if you are like me you may be leery to participate in the traditional caroling at Christmas. I am here to say – go for it! Even if you don’t consider yourself a “singer” you can still have a successful caroling event. It is the quickest and cheapest way to feel Christmas cheer.
Our little family went caroling down our street dropping off neighborhood treats along the way. We were a small chilly quartet, but the effect was powerful. Our hearts were warmed by smiles of friends and singing awkward notes of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. We were trying to give something to others – but the connection we felt with our neighbors was a gift back to us.
Caroling is a great way to give back to our communities beyond our street corner. We piled into our car and drove to a local nursing home. We joined with a group of volunteers and helped grant some Christmas wishes for the residents. The local newspaper and news station were there to document the story behind this special caroling party. I love sharing stories of people who have dealt with trials but still find ways to give back. The story of Julene Robertson is one of those great heros that inspire us to give no matter what our own circumstances may be.
After a night of singing fa la la la la’s – I noticed my children were happier and our inner lights glowed brighter. My pre-teen son thanked us for taking him. Giving back and sharing the music of Christmas is a guaranteed happy holiday experience. I promise that if you are feeling more Grinch than gratitude, sharing a few minutes and melodies will mend your cold heart! Merry Christmas!
5 Tips for Caroling
1. Gather your family and share a few plates of cookies with the 5 homes near your house while singing Jingle Bells.
I love attending Sunday Church services the week of Christmas. Our Christmas program was awe inspiring. The music was lovely. My son sang in the choir and with a youth chorus. Rob spoke about the true meaning of Christmas and the history of Christmas is the history of Christ. He also sang in the choir and in mens chorus. We ended the service singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. The spirit was so powerful – I was not the only one in tears. Merry Christmas!
“You may strive to be like [your children], but seek not to make them like you.”Kahlil Gibran
I love this time of year because it feels like children rule the world during the Holidays. It is all about surprise treats and fun. One of my new goals for the coming New Year is to be more like a child. Everything good that happens in my life comes when I open my heart to be really in the moment and experience the possibilities of the natural world. My over scheduling and calendaring can become a trap and a burden. As a mother I can fall into a trap of wanting my children to grow up and be responsible. I know that one of my primary roles is to teach them the social rules that we all try to live by but childhood is so short. I read recently “To live the long, wonder filled days of childhood is a God-given birthright, and child’s play is a most serious and necessary occupation. It is a sad injustice to infringe upon an already too-short childhood with heavy schedules and inflexible routines that conform to adult standards of appropriate activity.”
It can feel scary to leave the to-do list for later – but it is a necessary practice if we want to achieve more balance in our lives. We can learn from our children – that playtime and dress up really is a lot of fun. Remember when the best part of going to school was recess. A friend called today to share how much fun she just had racing down a snow packed hill on a sled in the dark. She said it gave her some much needed perspective. When was the last time you just had some good old fashion fun – just because? For Christmas this year and all through the next year give yourself the gift of having more fun and acting like a child. Thought For Today: The freedom to be themselves is as necessary for my children as it is for me.
5 Ways to Act More Like a Child
1. Give yourself a week off of chores. The toilets will still be there waiting, I promise.
2. Paint your toe nails and fingernails. It feels great to be a girl.
3. Throw a dance party with your kids. All you need is music and a floor.
4. Eat dinner on a blanket in the family room.
5. Pull out crayons and a coloring book and color or go to a park and swing. It will feel great to tap into that part of your brain.
Cameron received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of a Deacon. On December 6, 2009 my son turned 12 and my husband was there to ordain him. I have a testimony that the Priesthood of God is on the earth at this time.
“Do you have the courage to ask for a miracle and then the faith to let it occur, easily, gracefully, free of drama and struggle?” Carol Tuttle
December is the time of year where many in the world celebrate religious miracles. Our Jewish friends commemorate the miracle of light during Hanukkah. Members of the Christian community focus on the birth of the Christ child in a lowly stable. The magic of this time of year is in the possibility of a miracle appearing around any corner. For a young child it is finding a wish wrapped under the Christmas tree. The tragedy is that as we grow older, we start replacing that unwavering faith with fear. We stop recognizing and expecting – even asking for miracles to occur.
My heart feels more open and soft during the holidays. I know there is a power greater than me working in the universe. There are some prayers that have been prayed so often that only God knows the count of the constant pleadings of the heart. You may be petitioning for a miracle of great proportion. Maybe you are facing cancer or unemployment. It may not happen quickly, but every prayer is heard and answered in someway.
Sometimes recognizing the miracles in other’s lives is easier than seeing them in our own. I see countless miracles in the story of Stephanie Nielson. This mother of 4 survived an airplane crash and was burned over 80% of her body. Her life is a testimony of the power of perseverance and prayer. In her tragedy, she has encouraged and inspired millions. It isn’t in the healing of her scars that the miracle has shown through, but in her daily overcoming. Her beauty is evident. We hear her story and learn that we can live life with more love and tenderness for our own families.
To regain the courage to ask for a miracle, start collecting a list of your own miracles. Begin by recognizing prayers answered. For me it recently came in the form of a beautiful visit with family. There was no tension or conflict, only love and joy in being together. There was a shift from what I expected to happen to what I prayed for. I did not survive a plane crash or win the lottery, but this event was a miracle. Give yourself a gift of faith this holiday season by starting a list of miracles. Look for them in both the quiet moments and the enormous surprises of life.
I share the beginning of my miracle list…
* new tires put on my car the day before a huge snow storm
* a year of recovering from an eating disorder
* the freedom to have a pajama day with my daughter
* my husbands business trip cancelled because of the snowstorm
It is that time of year again. It is full of nostalgia from music to decorations. As the mom of the house, I feel it is my role to play head elf in creating magic for the people in my life. The to do lists, running errands and extra planning start to take on a life of their own. In all the hustle and bustle it is easy to forget that we must take care of ourselves! Are you on your own lists? Making time for everyone and everything else doesn’t work.
Sure, you may feel like you are getting things done and checking them twice but you also become depleted. Cars can not run without gasoline and as women we need to keep the fuel tanks of our souls full if we want to experience the true joy of the season. By putting first things first you will have more of yourself to put towards the many activities that come at this time of year.
When the New Year comes decide how you want to feel and what you want life to look like. Do you want to be worn out, in debt or depressed? If not then remember the priorities you have already placed in your life and honor them. It is in the small decisions that give you win the greatest victories. Tony Robbins says, “in essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.”
It is still early in the month to refocus and recommit to yourself. Don’t let the momentum derail the peace you may have discovered through an established daily practice of Quiet Time. Be flexible. Maybe you have to readjust or take a quiet time in the afternoon. Look at your calendar and decide where you can maybe say no so that you can say yes to something of more value. Write down a goal of something you will do for yourself this holiday season to stay more balanced and then put it in a place where you can remind yourself daily that you are still on YOUR own LIST.
Remember, this time of year is about familyand making memories. You won’t feel present physically or emotionally if you don’t stay consistentwith the self care and priorities you have already put into place. Take a few minutes to fill out this online quiz from Beliefnet that rates what your Holiday Stress Level is. If you are in the red consider making a few course adjustments before you derail.
5 Ideas for Putting Yourself Back on your Holiday List
2. Say 2 no’s for every 1 yes. You already know things are going to busy so this isn’t the time to automatically say yes. Think about if saying yes will bring you back to your priorities and maintain the spirit of the season.
3. Get enough rest. When we are tired we act and choose differently than when we are rested.
4. Keep it in the day. Live each day of December one at a time and don’t try to tackle everything at once.
5. Remember you are worth it. Keep the appointments with yourself. Show up for that yoga class, take your vitamins or finish that book you have wanted to.
‘Tis the season to sit at a table and offer prayers of Thanksgiving. What if your holiday feast doesn’t resemble a Norman Rockwell painting? Maybe you have a loved one fighting in a war or the economy has hit your household with a job loss. You could be walking through some of the biggest challenges ever faced. The power of grace comes in being able to offer prayers of thanksgiving even in the midst of distress. When I feel that my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, never reaching the ear of God, I stop and reflect on the last time I really offered a prayer of gratitude. God is used to hearing from me when things are hard; but rarely do those moments of distress include gratitude. I want the problem fixed and I can’t see pass my pain to ever see the blessing in the crisis. I ask for what I want. But the true strength of a soul is gracefully thanking Him for the experiences I am having even if they are stressful.
Some may pray only when things are hard. We may find God in only in our distress. Talk with Him in prayer while in your abundance. Kahlil Gibran said, “You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” So at this time of year, when society doesn’t seem as uncomfortable with the talk of prayer and God, take time to say “thank you when things are hard”. Gratitude is one of the highest states of emotion and it can quickly change our attitude. Express thanksgiving when all seems well in your world. “The expression of gratitude for blessings received keeps alive the awareness of who I am and where I came from.” For Today ~ OA Give yourself a gift – teach yourself to appreciate everything. Even those not so pretty parts of life.
5 Statements to Help Start Your Gratitude List
1. I am grateful for my freedom.
2. I am grateful for my ability to choose how I respond to my life.
3. I am grateful for my family.
4. I am grateful that God is watching out for me.
5. I am grateful for all I have learned this year.
