The Loaves and the Fishes

On two different occasions during Jesus' ministry on earth He took a small amount of food and was able to feed thousands of people and still have leftovers (Read here and here). These miracles fall into the category of "What I Don't Understand". Was everyone actually full or did the Moms (as moms will often do) say that they weren't hungry so their children would have food? Did others sneak their extra snacks in the baskets in order to insure that there would be enough for others? This miracle is one I could never quite get a grasp on.

A couple days ago there was A LOT of rain in our neighborhood. Drains got clogged and the water began to build up. Children were up to their knees and having so much fun playing and splashing. Water crept up yards and began to cause some problems. One family had some flooding in the basement and called on the neighbors to help them move their furniture so that it would not be ruined. My Mom, Dad, two little brothers and their two friends (all teenagers), and Steve went to help out. Thomas, Angela, and I stayed home to get dinner ready so that could have a hot meal when they were finished. We made 10 chicken breasts, a pot of pasta, and a salad. As the hour past and they still weren't home I was worried that there wasn't enough food. It was after 8:00 and they were going to be hungry!

When they finally got back we all quickly sat down to eat. One of the young men helping offered the blessing and wisely said, "Thank you, Father, for giving us the opportunity to serve". Then they dived on the food. Not counting Thomas, there were 9 very hungry people filling their plates as fast as they could. My mom sat back assuming she would just eat a PB&J and let the boys get their fill on chicken.

When everyone but my Mom and Dad had eaten there were still three chicken breasts, half a pot of pasta, and plenty of salad left. Okay, okay, I know if you do the math that means everyone had one chicken breast each, but if you knew these boys you would see the miracle! We were all blessed for the service that had been performed that day by having enough to eat and some to spare.

The miracles of Jesus were and are real. Through faith we can see these happening and begin to understand how marvelous our Savior truly is.

Appendicitis (A Blessing in Disguise?)

Steve, Thomas, and I have been traveling a lot this summer! We've had a lot of fun and have really enjoyed spending time with all of our family and friends. We were fortunate to get home from a family reunion in Kentucky late Saturday night. My mom was a little upset because my dad wasn't able to go to the reunion because of work, but I'm really grateful now that he didn't go.

I say fortunate and grateful because sometime on Sunday I developed appendicitis and Steve and my dad were the only two here to provide the immediate help I needed. And I also grew in my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (keep reading and those two things will be related).

Sunday evening I had an incredible craving for brownies. Mmmmm...warm, gooey, made from scratch (and Hershey's Cocoa :D) brownies! I'll share the recipe later. They were sooo yummy! But, poor Thomas started running a fever and so I couldn't stay up into the late hours eating them. We gave him some Tylenol and went to bed. I started having a little pain in my lower right abdomen, but brushed it off.

A few hours later I couldn't sleep. The pain was getting worse and I couldn't ignore it anymore. It had been exactly two years and one week since Steve had his appendix removed and this seemed all too familiar. I fretted and worried for a couple hours before waking Steve up. Thomas was restless and his fever was rising slowly past 102. Then the dog got sick and kept getting Steve up to let him outside to do his business. And I was in pain and could not get comfortable. I was so worried about my little Thomas needing me while he was sick that I didn't want to go to the hospital like Steve wanted.

I finally asked Steve for a Priesthood Blessing. As Steve laid his hands on my head I could feel God's love flowing through my body. God promised that through my faith my pain would subside enough for me to get some sleep, that I would be healed. As Steve was giving me this blessing I had two worries running through my head. First I was worried about Thomas being okay without me. And second, I really wanted an experienced Surgeon to work on me since it would be the first surgery I've ever had. I hadn't told Steve of either of those concerns. But, in the blessing God promised me that Thomas would be all right without me able to care for him fully. I know that through the Priesthood Steve holds God was able to tell me that Thomas would be all right. I began to feel peace in my heart and my pain went away. Immediately after the blessing Steve said, "I know that it's your appendix. Get some sleep now while you can and in the morning we are going to the hospital."

As scared and nervous and stressed as I was, I did sleep. At 7:30 we woke up, showered, dressed, and got ready to go to the hospital. It was then that we experienced the second miracle of the day (the first being the blessing I received). That miracle was that my dad was home instead of in Kentucky with the rest of my family. We were able to leave Thomas home with him and knew that he would be safe, happy, and well cared for.

Steve and I went to the ER and began all the procedures there. We were 100% sure that I would need my appendix removed, but since I wasn't feeling any pain and had no fever the doctors and nurses weren't so sure. But, sure enough, after the CT scan, blood tests, and urine tests they came and told me I would have an appendectomy.

That brought along miracle number three. I was scared of having surgery done. I was honestly and truly scared. But, we arrived at the hospital right after shift change and the on call doctor was Dr. Hill, the same man who removed Steve's appendix two years earlier. Yet another of my prayers had been answered. After I found that out I was no longer worried or scared.

This leads to miracle number four. All the timing was so perfect that Steve was able to send me off to surgery, take Thomas to an appointment to check out his fever, and be back before I came out of surgery. I never had to be alone. But, poor Thomas has a double ear infection.

And so I was in surgery, out of surgery, and home by 4:30. I was tired, sore, and only wanted to see my baby. He was mad at me for having left him all day and wouldn't come give me a hug or even look at me.I was sad, but realized that it was probably for the better since I couldn't really hold him anyways. He's since forgiven me and will give me kisses and cuddle with me even though I can't pick him up and hold him every time he wants. We then realized miracle number five: the brownies. It was all he would eat and the only thing that would make him stop crying when I couldn't hold him.

Miracle number six took a little while for us to realize, but what a miracle it is! I had planned on breastfeeding Thomas through the summer. Due to routine changes and traveling I realized one day last week that Thomas hadn't been nursing and my milk was dried up. I was sad at the time, but now I am grateful. I wouldn't have been able to nurse him after all the medicine and pain I've had and I'm so glad that Thomas doesn't have to deal with being weaned on top of a double ear infection and not being able to play with him mommy.

I could go on forever naming all the blessings I've had during this experience. Like the fact that Steve got a job in Utah and so we weren't living in a different state. Or the fact that Steve doesn't have to work in the summers. Or that Steve was here since we had considered flying him up to Washington right after our Kentucky trip so he could drive some of our stuff down here. The fact that we were in Utah instead of Kentucky when this happened. There were so many more little things that all fell into place that I can't see how anyone could not see God's hand in my life. He has blessed me so richly.

I am grateful for my Dad for taking such good care of Thomas. He's a loving Grandpa and Father (and Father-In-Law). He has been willing to sacrifice sleep and time to help us through this.

I'm grateful for Steve. He's been put through a lot trying to be mommy and daddy and he's done a superb job. I know he'll always be there to hold my hand and help me through anything in life.

I'm grateful for my cousin Shannon for coming over and helping out. She is willing to do anything for us and that is a great comfort.

I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. I know that through my faith in Him I have been and will continue to be healed. I'm grateful for Joseph Smith for restoring the Priesthood to this earth so that I could be blessed with it today.

Thanks to everyone else for their prayers, well wishes, and thoughts. They really, truly do help. I am recovering and feeling better!