All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience

Here’s what’s been happening in my life for the past 3 months:

My father-in-law came to live with us the last few months of his life, while he was dying of pancreatic cancer. Before cancer he weighed 212 lbs. He got down to under 100 lbs. before he died. He was in our home exactly 2 months. It was so hard watching someone die. What a growing experience it was while our house conformed to the new circumstances of having to keep our house quiet from the pitter patter of little feet, fixing dinner for countless visitors coming to see Grandpa, and caring for the needs of a dying person. However, there were tender moments with great-grandchildren, healing times with relationships, and opportunities to grow stronger as a family as we said our final good-byes.

A little ray of sunshine happened at the end of January as I witnessed the birth of our 4th grandchild into the world- Oliver James Liddle. What an incredible experience to watch your daughter give birth. We felt close to heaven on both ends – the leaving and entering of that heavenly realm.

The day after the funeral I got really sick and was flat in bed for 6 days with influenza B and a sinus infection and not feeling good for about a month. I don’t remember ever being that sick. During this whole time we had smaller trials like our goat Bella who got stepped on by our horse and broke her leg. Clara who got de-horned, our new freezer that broke for the second time in 3 months, a water leak in a pipe in our wall (the paint on our wall is bubbling and sheet rock is soft). Oh yeah, our house was also invaded by little critters. One night Benson set 3 traps, full in the morning. The next night he set 6 traps, full in the morning. The next night he set 10, needless to say, I didn't sleep that night. Thankfully we only caught one. We put moth balls in the holes to try to stink them out (my father-in-laws idea), we also enjoyed the smell permeating our lovely home. What fun.To top it all off my granddaughter, Katie Marie, was life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital because an armoire fell on her. My 9 month pregnant daughter had to lift it off her ( 200+ lbs.) She found her totally unconscious with blood coming out her ears, nose and later vomiting blood. She ended up with 2 hairline fractures on both sides of her head but miraculously is doing great. The power of priesthood is real, fasting and prayers work we have seen a miracle in her behalf.We still have 1 more grand baby to look forward to any day now.And this handsome face in just 5 weeks. Yippee!!! So many talks during Conference were spoken just for me. I am grateful for the trials that make me a better person and all these things that give me experience and will be for my good. I have so much to be grateful for.It’s definitely not boring at our house.