Saturday, May 31, 2014

Prayers of a Righteous Mother

In the 8 1/2 months that my son has been serving his mission, I have witnessed many miracles that have come to pass because of the faith of the Missionary Mommas! Struggles and trials are shared. Prayers and words of encouragement are offered. Miracles happen!

Tomorrow is Fast Sunday. That does not mean we will be running to all of our meetings...hahaha. To me, this means for 24 hours I will focus on the things I have been praying about, the things I am studying about and trying to discover the things that my Heavenly Father wants me to know and do! This is also the time for special requests from me to the Lord.

So this evening at 5PM (Pacific Standard Time) I will begin my fast. Tomorrow at 5PM (PST) I will kneel in prayer and offer up the things in my heart. I have invited the MMs to join me. I would like to extend that invitation to anyone that would like to be included in this fast in any way!

My Righteous Mother 

"I have come to know that faith is a real power, not just an expression of belief.  There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother." ~ President Boyd K Packer





Wednesday, May 28, 2014

All You Need Is Love

Tim Love
I am an adult convert of 24 years. I am a musician (play in a classic rock band - all LDS members: We are The Beatless http://www.beatless.com). My son joined our band about a year ago. I am pretty much a life-long Beatles fan. Upon becoming a member of the church, I learned the important difference of admiring someone's talent and idol worshiping (which I was pretty close to!) I have 4 kids total (3 of them daughters). My oldest daughter 22 is getting married in the L.A. temple this August. My 2nd daughter, 20, is serving a mission in the Utah Salt Lake City South mission. My 17 year old son will be graduating High School in 2 weeks and then plans to leave on a mission in February. Lastly (but not leastly!), is our 10 year old Josie. My wife and I check out Missionary Momma's all the time. We very often end our evenings with "Did you read this story on Missionary Mommas?"
I am a new Missionary Dad. My daughter, who just recently left the MTC for her mission in the Salt Lake City South mission, told us of a Sister Missionary she knew who was shy at giving discussions. She said the only thing the girl wanted to talk about was The Beatles. I laughed at this when I read it, because I am a life-long Beatles fan (of their music anyway). I asked my daughter to tell her friend that St. John & St. Paul tell us to "Spread The Word and you'll be free" and "The Word is Love". She needed to let investigators know that when it comes to Heavenly Father, "he loves them yeah, yeah, yeah, and with a love like that, you know they should be glad". I also told her that Brother George Harrison talked quite clearly about the second coming when he said "Here Comes the Son". Lastly, I told her that it is important she Get Back her will to serve a good mission, Get Back her desire to serve the Lord, and that through our acceptance of Jesus Christ, we would indeed Get Back to where we once belonged. My daughter showed her the letter and it apparently made her day. She wrote me this wonderful letter made out to Brother "All You Need Is" Love. She said my letter made her "Good Day Sunshine", and that after reading the letter she knows she could serve this mission "Eight Days A Week". I guess this has taught me that sometimes you got to talk to people in a language they'll understand. Glad the Sister was into The Beatles and NOT into Justin Beiber!
 

Monday, May 26, 2014

Languages of our Missionary Children

El Evangelio es verdadero, 福音是真實的, L'Evangile est vrai, Das Evangelium ist wahr, Vajtswv txoj lus yog qhov tseeb, Evangeliet er sant, Евангелие истинно, พระเยซูเป็นความจริง.... in any language, THE GOSPEL IS TRUE!



Please welcome back Shannon Avery as our guest blogger today!

As of a week ago, the worldwide membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was 15,082,028. Of those, 83,035 are serving as full-time missionaries (actually, that number went up Wednesday when over 1,000 entered our 15 MTCs around the globe!), and over 10,000 have mission calls or are working on their paperwork. These missionaries are serving in 405 missions around the world!
One of the facts that interested me the most when I read these statistics, was that our missionary children speak in 189 published languages!! This doesn't include the unpublished languages spoken by tribes, gypsies, and other smaller groups. WOW!
This really piqued my curiosity, so I started digging further. First, I found data regarding the most spoken languages in the world. Topping the list is Mandarin Chinese, with nearly two BILLION speakers! WHAT?!! This data includes all speakers of the languages, not only native speakers:
Mandarin Chinese -- 1,917,000, 000
Spanish -- 406,000,000
English -- 335,000,000
Hindi -- 260,000,000
Arabic -- 223, 000, 000
Portuguese -- 202, 000, 000
Bengali -- 193, 000, 000
Russian -- 162, 000, 000
Japanese -- 122, 000, 000
Javanese -- 84, 300, 000
I was interested to see how this data compared to the most common languages spoken by the over 15 million members of our global church. The data I found is for native speakers ONLY, so doesn't include languages learned by missionaries:
...
  •  English—6,008,000—47.8%
  • Spanish—3,903,000—31.1%
  • Portuguese—970,000—7.7%
  • Tagalog—172,000—1.4%
  • Cebuano—131,000—1.0%
  • Japanese—118,000—0.9%
  • Ilokano—113,000—0.9%
  • Samoan—107,000—0.9%
  • Tongan—80,000—0.6%
  • Korean—79,000—0.6%
  • All others—7%
This gave me the idea to find out what languages the children of our Missionary Mommas Facebook group are speaking (those who commented on my post). Although my data is not representative of all the missionaries serving, I feel like our group of almost 5,000 Missionary Mommas is a good representation of a cross section of current missionaries. And, although this is not meant to be scientific in any way, it sure does make you feel good to be a part of something so amazing!
Afrikaans
Albanian
American Sign Language
Amharic
Arabic
Armenian
Bicolano
Bislama
Bulgarian
Cambodian
Cantonese
Castillano
Cebuano
Chamorro
Chuukese
Coloqua
Cree
Creole Portuguese
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dari
Dutch
English
Estonian
Fante
Farsi
Fijian
Finnish
Flemish
French
French Tahitian
German
Guarani
Haitian Creole
Hebrew
Hiligaynon
Hindi
Hmomg
Hungarian
Icelandic
Ilokano
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Kazakh
Khmer
Kiribati
Korean
Krio
Loatian
Macedonian
Malay
Malagasy
Mandarin Chinese
Maori
Marshallese
Mauritian
Moldovan
Mongolian
Navajo
Norweigan
Oromo
Patois
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Q'eqchi'
Quechua
Romanian
Russian
Samoan
Saran Tongo
Serbian
Shona
Sioux
Slovenian
Slovak
Sotho
Spanish
Swedish
Tahitian
Tagalog
Thai
Tongan
Turkish
Twi
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Waray Waray
Welsh
Xhosa
Yiddish
Zulu
I don't know about you, but I think that is pretty WONDERFUL! Hugs to all you beautiful mommas who love and sacrifice so much - MWAH!!


Shannon Avery



 Shannon is a wife, a mom, a business and social media consultant,
 a writer, an avid genealogist....and a Missionary Momma! 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

I Love To See The Temple



I love to see the temple.
I'm going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I'll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

 
I love to see the temple.
I'll go inside someday.
I'll cov'nant with my Father;
I'll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I've learned this truth:
A fam'ly is forever.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxlfhXDOr48&feature=youtu.be

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Eyes in the Back of My Head

Today we took the fam to the park for a picnic.  While we were enjoying our lunch we were reminiscing about "the good old days". My 17 year old daughter was telling her 8 year old brother about "Moms eyes in the back of her head".  She remembered a day that she was supposed to be sweeping the front porch and she kept getting sidetracked...this girl loves all things outdoorsy, bugs, plants, reptiles, rocks, etc...

It is important at this point in the story to know that I had caught her earlier this day doing something she shouldn't have been doing!!! She was convinced that I had eyes in the back of my head because she couldn't figure any other reasonable way in her little 8 year old mind that I could have caught her in the act!

Soooooo, as any desperate Mom would do....I got an idea!!! Muahahaha!!! I had some leftover Halloween candy like this...

...I took it out to the front porch and set this fun little piece of chocolate right where it was "looking" at her!!!

Guess how long it took for her to get that porch swept!!!  ;)

With all of the craziness going on in the world today, I wish I could send chocolate eyeballs to watch over my missionary to make sure he is doing all that he should be and to watch out for his safety. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches over our missionaries. Accidents still happen, missionaries still get a little sidetracked at times...but I knowing that Angels are protecting these valiant servants of the Lord helps me sleep a little better at night!

And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for 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. ~ Doctrine and Covenants 84:88





Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Favorite P-Day Pics!




Our Missionaries are all over the world teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They teach, learn, grow and serve! And on P-Day they get to wash their clothes, clean their apartments and WRITE HOME! Here are a few of the Missionary Momma's favorite pictures this week!!!

P Day = Preparation Day II


Monday, May 19, 2014

$1

Last month Jill Prado came up with a brilliant idea! Here is her post...

Calling all Missionary Momma's,
I hope you see this post. I have an idea. As I was reading where each of you are from and where your missionaries are serving, I was amazed at the sisterhood we have and our power to do good. 


Here is my proposal:
There are over 2,000 of us. Lets all put in at least $1 a month into the general missionary fund. That is 2,000 a month and we certainly won't miss $1. If we do that consistently for one year that is $24,000 and we will help fund at least two full missions. If you can do more, that's up to you. But let's commit to do at least $1.00 every single month our son's are in the mission field. 
Who's in?


There are now over 4,600 Missionary Mommas! We can REALLY make a difference! So I'd like to echo Jill's question.... WHO'S IN???





Sunday, May 18, 2014

Mormonish

Shannon Avery
Please welcome guest blogger Shannon Avery. 
 Shannon is a wife, a mom, a business and social media consultant,
 a writer, an avid genealogist....and a Missionary Momma! 


Guide to “Mormonish”

Whether you’re a lifetime member, a new member, or not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon or LDS church), you’ve undoubtedly noticed that we have our own language. Here’s a little breakdown for those who are still trying to understand what the heck we’re saying!
Most of the REAL definitions (the IS parts!) came from either www.lds.org or www.mormon.org. You can find just about anything you want to know about Mormons (the true stuff…) using the “search” feature on those sites. Please understand that the phrases Mormon, LDS, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and “the Church” are used interchangeably, and they mean the same thing.
 
BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD:
Is NOT: Exhuming dead bodies and baptizing them.
IS: A proxy baptism in behalf of those who have died. This is performed by a living person, for a person who died without having the opportunity to be baptized while they were alive. As we all have freedom to choose in this life and in the next, anyone who does not wish to accept their proxy baptism after they have died will not be forced to. This was taught by Christ and His apostles in the early Church (see 1 Corinthians 15:29).
 
BEEHIVE:
It’s NOT: A home for winged, honey producing insects.
IS: A 12 or 13 year old girl, and the first class in the Young Women’s organization (see also Young Women, Mia Maid, and Laurel).
 
BISHOP:
Is NOT: A piece in the board game of chess.
IS: The leader of a local congregation (known as a WARD, see below) with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest or rabbi. In The Church, Bishops, and all other positions, are unpaid.
 
BLOCK MEETINGS or THE BLOCK:
Is NOT: A neighborhood party or a child’s toy.
IS: The three hour time frame in which Mormons attend normal Sunday church meetings. Used in context, one might say, “I will see you during the block,” or “Brother Jones attends the next block of meetings.”
 
BRANCH:
It’s NOT: The part of a tree that grows out from the trunk.
It IS: A smaller version of a WARD (see below)
 
BROTHER:
Is NOT: Your male sibling.
IS: What we call any male in the church. It goes along with the idea that we are all children of God, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
ELDER:
Is NOT: The first name of every male missionary in the church.
IS: An office of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Also used as a title for male missionaries or General Authorities of the Church.
 
FAMILY HOME EVENING (FHE):
Is NOT: A place where small children are bribed to sit quietly (“If you’re good, we’ll have treats!”) while parents pontificate using felt cutouts, popsicle sticks, and charades to explain church doctrine while their teenagers are sleeping on the floor….okay, it is…. Just kidding!
IS: A time set aside, usually on Monday evenings, to build family unity and to teach gospel principles to our families.
 
FAST SUNDAY:
Is NOT: A Sabbath when you get dressed, drive, or do any other activity with great speed.
IS: A Sunday, usually the first one of each month, on which Mormons abstain from food and drink for two meals and donate the equivalent cost, or more, to the Church to assist the poor and needy.
 
FIRESIDE:
Is NOT: A place to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories.
IS: A supplementary, evening meeting, usually held for members of a congregation or group of congregations in an area. A fireside is most commonly held on Sunday evenings, but may be held on any day of the week.
 
HOME TEACHER:
Is NOT: Associated with homeschooling or teaching homebound students.
IS: A priesthood holder responsible for visiting assigned families from their congregation at least once each month to teach and strengthen them, and to assess any needs.
 
INSTITUTE:
Is NOT: A hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced persons (well, some might debate this with us!)
IS: Religion classes for college aged young people. From lds.org: “The Institute of Religion is a place where young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven.”
 
LAUREL:
Is NOT: A sweet smelling, evergreen shrub.
IS: A 16 or 17 year old girl, and the third class in the Young Women’s organization (see also Young Women, Beehive, and Mia Maid).
 
LINGER LONGER:
Is NOT: What home teachers are supposed to do (see HOME TEACHER above).
IS: When members stay after church to share a potluck lunch or dinner.
 
MIA MAID:
Is NOT: A young woman who is missing in action.
IS: A 14 or 15 year old girl, and the second class in the Young Women’s organization (see also Young Women, Beehive, and Laurel).
 
MoTab:
Is NOT to be confused with “Motown.”
IS: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. According to their website, the choir “is dedicated to the universal language of music that has the power to bring joy, peace, and healing to its listeners. Made up of hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life, this unique music organization transcends cultural and generational boundaries and brings together people from around the world through stirring music. The Choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and the Bells on Temple Square act as goodwill ambassadors for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
 
MTC (Missionary Training Center):
Is NOT: The “empty sea,” or the “Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (see MoTAB above).
IS: The place where missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints train and learn languages before traveling to their assigned missions. There are currently 15 MTCs worldwide.
 
MUTUAL:
It’s NOT: What you think it is….
It IS: A regularly scheduled activity for young men and young women, where there is mutual respect and support for one another. Mutual is held on a day or an evening other than Sunday or Monday.
 
P-DAY (Preparation Day):
Is NOT: “Play Day” or anything to do with using the toilet.
IS: The day when Mormon missionaries do their laundry, shop, can wear “street clothes” instead of their dress clothes, email and write to their families, clean their living quarters, exercise, and go site seeing.
 
PRIMARY:
Is NOT: A preliminary election to select the candidates for a presidential nomination.
IS: The name of the Church’s children’s organization, for children ages 18 months to 12 years old.
 
RELIEF SOCIETY (RS):
Is NOT: The same thing as the Red Cross or Goodwill Charities. Nor is it a trauma or addiction recovery program.
IS: A philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories. The Relief Society is the largest women’s organization in the world.

SEMINARY:
It’s NOT:  A college that prepares students to be priests, ministers, or rabbis.
IS: A four-year religious education program for high school youth, ages 14-18. From their website: “In seminary, hundreds of thousands of students and their teachers meet, each weekday during the school year, to study The Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.” Youth who are not Mormon are also invited to participate. In most places in the world, seminary is taught either early in the morning or after school. In places where there is a large LDS presence, seminary may be offered during school hours off campus.
 
SINGLES WARD:
It’s NOT: A suite of rooms in a hospital or mental facility for people who are unmarried.
IS: Properly known as a “Young Single Adult” (YSA) ward, the singles ward is a congregation of young unmarried adults, ages 18 to 30, within a geographic area. Young Single Adults are not required to attend a YSA ward, but there are many social activities that they might enjoy and that will allow them to meet other people their age and with similar interests (see WARD below).
 
SISTER:
Is NOT: Your female sibling or a Catholic nun.
IS: What we call any female member of the church (see BROTHER above). It’s also the title we give all female missionaries.
 
STAKE:
It’s NOT: A delicious cut of beef.
It IS: A group of Mormon congregations in a geographic area. “Stake” is not a term found in the New Testament, but is taken from Old Testament tent imagery in which the “tent,” or church, is held up by supporting stakes (see Isaiah 54:2). (Also see WARD below)
 
STAKE CENTER:
It’s NOT: A place where you go to dine (BUT…. Mormons find all kinds of reasons to eat, so it’s likely there will be food at the stake center….don’t let this confuse you!).
It IS: The church building where several area congregations meet twice a year for stake conference. It is also the place where the leader of the stake (Stake President) has an office and oversees the membership of the stake.
 
SUNBEAM:
Is NOT: A ray of sunlight.
IS: A 2 or 3 year old child, and the name of the very first Sunday school class (see PRIMARY above) a child attends.
 
TENDER MERCY:
IS: “The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar, April 2005 General Conference).
 
VISITING TEACHER:
Is NOT: A teacher visiting from a distant area.
IS: A woman assigned to watch over and help another woman in her congregation. Two visiting teachers are assigned to each woman; they contact her at least once a month and encourage her efforts to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
WARD:
It’s NOT: A suite of rooms in a hospital or psychiatric facility.
IS: What we call our local congregation. Wards are organized geographically and members attend a ward near their home. Mormons use the word “ward” in two ways; 1) referring to the people in their local congregation, and 2) referring to the building where they attend church every week. Sometimes Mormons refer to the people in their local congregation as their “ward family.” See also BROTHER and SISTER.
 
YOUNG MEN’S (YM):
See YOUNG WOMEN’S below
 
YOUNG WOMEN’S (YW):
IS: The organization in the church for girls ages 12 to 18 years of age. Many times you’ll hear girls say, “I’m going to Young Women’s,” which really means they are either going to MUTUAL (see above), or they are going to their Young Women’s organization meeting (a one hour class on Sunday).
 
ZONE LEADER or DISTRICT LEADER or SISTER TRAINING LEADER:
Is NOT: A military rank or level in a pyramid scheme.
IS: Part of the leadership team in an LDS mission. Zone, District, and Sister Training Leaders are responsible for training, checking up on, and caring for a determined number of missionaries in their assigned areas within the mission boundaries.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

We Do Not Doubt our Mothers Knew It



In Alma 56 of the Book of Mormon it says...
46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
 47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.



Saturday, May 10, 2014

Tomorrow, Tomorrow It's Skype/Call Day Tomorrow!!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow It's Skype/Call Day Tomorrow it's only a daaaaaay aaaaaaaway!

Tomorrow Moms of missionaries all around the world will be anxiously awaiting that call or that skype! Letters in our mailboxes are really fun, weekly email is wonderful....but the call/skype is very precious to a Missionary Momma! But, what do you say...there's so much that you want to know...and yet, you want to just let your missionary talk. Do you write down questions? Do you type up a speech...aaaaahhhh.  You want that few precious minutes to be perfect!!!

Here's a few fun suggestions for a Mother's Day call/skype  ;)


~Send more pictures...and WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME!? Just kidding! I'll try not to mention that I can't wait til October!

~"I FREAKING LOVE YOU KID!!!!"

~Would you pleeeeaaasee stop taking pictures of all the animals that you find in Australia? The snake wrap around your body almost gave me a heart attack!!!!

~ THANK YOU for the quick thinking that saved your life when the semi hit you!!!

~ I'm going to fill him in on what he's missing. I will ask him everything that comes to mind about what I'm missing. It will all happen really unscripted and organically. I can't wait for my mother's day date with my son.

~I don't ask questions - we just sit and listen to her energetic love for the Gospel!! Can't wait to hear her voice!!!


~I will let him talk. I want to hear his testimony and I will ask him what 3 things he's learned most on his mission.

~Where are my Picture's and you could write more LOL

~Did you feel the last earthquake? Are you prepared if there is a big one and have they trained you in any of your missionary meetings what to do?

~ Piddle after we both cry. I'm gonna scream. I so love you.

~I'm not worried at all about what we will talk about!

We are never at a loss of things to talk about!


~ I want the details of day to day life, so I can picture him on his mission.

~We love you and are SO proud of you! ( No crying allowed.)

~ My son is naturally not much of a talker. So I imagine it will be hard to keep him talking.

~Just going to let her talk the entire time.

~Everything

~I love you to the moon and back...

~So how was your visit to the Urgent Care center and next time call your mother's phone not your Dad's!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~This is what I am going to say.." Danielito te amo!!!!

~ Are you using your mosquito repellent? How many times have you had Dengue Fever?

~ I really want him and his companions to sing a song to me in Spanish!

~It is all mumble through the tears !
~How is dorm living (he has 3 other elders in his apt)? Are you eating anything besides otter pops and PB&J? How much do you love feeling the spirit every single day? How often do you miss your mom? ????

~With my other missionaries, we have always had a family prayer before we hang up. Our missionary offers the prayer in whatever language they are speaking. I usually don't cry until then...floodgates!

~I'm so very proud of you!!!

~ I want my gift to be his testimony in Portuguese. I don't care if I don't understand a word of it. I will feel it.

~ Thank you for your example!

~ I will ask her what its like teaching out in the desert in old west ghost towns. Mostly I just want to tell her how proud I am of her and that I love her.


~I LOVE YOU!!!!!!





.....and then "Good-bye"....for now.  Only 227 days till Christmas!



Friday, May 9, 2014

DO SOMETHING!

Jenna Baumgart
Please welcome guest blogger Jenna Baumgart! Jenna has both a son and a daughter serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  She posted a story on MMs today that really touched my heart! In fact, I think from now on I will keep a 20 dollar bill stashed in my purse somewhere....just in case ;)

On the way home I drove past a pair of sisters walking the opposite direction and my daughter Kristen's begging words from her first letter home from the field slammed into my brain, "Mom, every time you see the missionaries, promise me you'll DO SOMETHING for them, even if it's getting them a cup of soup!" (Her first area was pretty unfriendly to the missionaries) I drove about a half block past them and felt horrible that I was still driving, so I peeled into a church parking lot, rummaged thru my backpack and violin case and came up with $20 that had been stashed and pulled back out into traffic. I pulled over and rolled down the passenger window. Both of these sweet girls looked in,
smiled and said 'hi'- at which point I started to cry and explain to them the promise Kristen had me make, handed them the $20 and told them it was all I had and all I was able to do right now and to get lunch or something on me. They each, in turn, reached all the way thru the passenger window to give me a big hug, graciously accepted the money smiled ear to ear and said 'God bless you!' I left them with a wave and drove home thru tears and mixed emotions of missing my daughter (and son) but, after a crappy day it was one teenie bright spot -- to see that tall willowy African American sister with her short blonde blue eyed companion walking up the road and to spend 30 seconds making them smile even bigger than they were already smiling.

I love being a missionary momma...even a surrogate one for a brief minute. I surely thank my Heavenly Father for these brief moments to return a kindness for all the kindnesses shown to my missionary children.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

It's What Makes Me Tick

When I sent my son off to the Mexico CCM (MTC) I felt like I had  a piece of my heart ripped out of my chest and put on a plane to Mexico! The crazy thing is that IT REALLY DID MESS WITH MY HEART!!! I came home from the airport in atrial fibrillation (AFib)...heart failure.

Post cardioversion
So, the doctors did what they normally do and shocked me....literally! (cardioversion) That worked great for a couple days....but then...I was back in afib.  So, they scheduled me a lovely week-long stay at the beautiful St.Vincent Resort...LOL! I was started on a new medicine and shocked again! While I was there, I was fortunate enough to be visited by one of the best heart surgeons around, Dr Jeffrey F Swanson. During our visit, he told me that he recommended I have another open-heart surgery.

I should probably tell you that 17 years ago, I had both my aortic and mitral valves replaced due to scar tissue that had formed when I had rheumatic fever as a child. But, that is a story for another day ;)

Amazingly enough, they had an opening the very next week....Friday the 13th...good thing I am not superstitious and neither is Dr S  ;) The other real benefit here was that it forced us to have Christmas ready BEFORE the 24th!!! Wahoooo...there's a first time for everything!!!

After 9 hours of surgery...I now am the proud owner of 2 brand new mechanical valves (aortic and tricuspid) and a spiffed-up mechanical mitral valve. I am pre-wired for a pacemaker and my heart has had new pathways burnt into it so that the electric current will flow just right!

Why am I telling you this??? First, I want you to know that a Mother's love for her children is as much a physical thing as it is emotional!  Second, I want you to know that there are missionary miracles happening every single day in all sort of places...even hospitals!!!

A dear friend sent me an awesome care package (thanks Susan, love ya) filled with all sorts of fun stuff to help make my hospital stay a little more comfortable!  In that package she sent a heart-shaped locket that says "Missionary Mom" on the front! What a great conversation starter!!
I had the opportunity to share parts of my testimony with everyone that came into my room....and there were a lot of people in and outta there at all times of the day and night!!! And that wasn't the last time I got to visit with these people!  Even with the over-haul that they did on my heart, I still was having trouble with afib. I got to have another stay to try out another new medicine.  I was getting a little frustrated! I was whining about it to Susan one night and I said I wished I would hurry up and learn whatever it is that I am supposed to learn so I can get on with my life, and she said...maybe it's not for you.

While I was enjoying yet another wonderful stay at St Vs, I had the pleasure of having a wonderful nurse on a particularly icky day.  Anyhow, we got to talking and she said she liked my positive attitude (that's because she wasn't there back when they pulled those blasted tubes outta me) and how she felt like that is what really helped her brother who was seriously injured in a car accident.  She told me how he asked their family to read the Bible to him and how she thought that was really important! I said yes, that it is such a blessing to know where we came from, why we are here and where we are going... She said she really wished she knew....I asked her if she had a minute because I DID know! I whipped up the quickest Plan of Salvation drawing ever on the dry-erase board in my room. Don't judge.... I'm not an artist!

Next she asked me how I knew these things.  I showed her a verse in the BOM that I had read just that morning.  She told me she would really like to read "that book"! Ahhhh...why didn't I pack an extra!!! BUT, as soon as she left the room, I was able to contact the missionaries in my home ward and tell them about it!

Would you believe about an hour and a half later two elders showed up in my room! WITH a BOM and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet! I wrote my testimony in it and gave it to her.  She was so excited!  She asked me how I got it and I told her about the Missionaries. She asked me for my number, I wrote it in her BOM.  I am still kicking myself for not getting her number!!!  Might be time to visit St Vs  ;)

Sternum side view
So, after one more trip up to the cardiac unit to have a "loose wire" removed (more opportunities to share what I believe) I tick...I tick really loud! A little like a watch....a LOT like a BOM(B) I really love Dr S....but, unless I run into him at Walmart, I really hope I never see him again in this life!

****THE GOSPEL IS TRUE****
                         ~Heidi

Staples  - Heart Pillow  - Room with a View - Locket - Backman (Hubby) - My Heart