I have been reading blogs this Christmas break which have really touched my heart, and I realized there is such power in bearing our testimony online. I have had so many things happen in my life since my last post, that it would be insane to try and post them all, but probably the greatest blessing has been being able to send my second son Jordan on a mission to Indianapolis,Indiana. He gave us a scare with his brain tumor, but he had such faith along the way that he would be able to serve. He left in October of 2011 AND has had a wonderful time. We are so proud of him. I received my associates degree in General Studies,and I should have my bachelors in Accounting by the end of 2013. I am not sure if I will graduate in August or December. What a blessing that has been in my life - at times it's a stress, but overall I feel so blessed. We also have three new grandchildren since my last post. Landon Simpson, born on June 10, 2011 - his aunt Alisa's birthday, Kate Hanson, born July 19, 2011 and Adalyn Bitner born October 4, 2012. Rachel will have another little girl in April 2013 which will bring our grandchildren total to TEN! Amazing, what little blessings they are in our lives!

I am now serving in the Primary with all those sweet little spirits so close to Heavenly Father - as the new year approaches, I pray I will find more time for the sacred experiences in life, and the ability to record them!

WOW! Where has the time gone!!!

I have had so much happen to me the past few years, but so much of it seems like a real blur! I started this blog in hopes of keeping a journal of sorts, but I am about as faithful as I am to a regular journal.
A quick update on myself, I have been attending Weber State for the last year and a half. Who would have thought at fifty plus years I would choose to spend my life at a university. I have really enjoyed it, and wondered why I didn't get into it when I was eighteen. I had to start all over with very limited classes from my "prior" life counting towards anything, so I am proud to say I will have my Associates Degree this August! It is my intention to go on and get my degree in Accounting, and if my husband is patient enough with me, I hope to get my Masters so I can sit for the CPA! You ask "why?" Well not a day goes by that I don't ask myself the same question, but I think my daughter explained it best to my little grandson last week when he asked why Grandma had to do so much homework. Her explanation was, we all have goals and grandma is working toward a very important goal to her.
There are days thought when I wonder if my focus is in the right place. After this last general conference, I realized I am not reaching out and helping others as much as I should. I felt a little guilty about that, but then I realized that there is not a job in the church that I have been asked to do that I have ever turned down. I have always tried to have a willing heart when asked to serve. So I am trying to think of the "little things" each day. Even if it is just a shout out to someone. Life is grand and there are opportunities everywhere to serve!

Memories.....

So I have been trying to see if I can remember things from my childhood. Most of it is a blur, but occasionally things come back to my mind. I remember as a child in Primary, we would always go on the "Penny Drive" in February for Primary Children's Hospital. I especially remember one COLD, SNOWY, February day. My teacher was Sis. Helen Lystrup. We were getting older, probably eleven, you know the old girls in primary. Anyway, we were not so excited, I don't remember exactly how she bribed us, but we went on the trip and back to her house for sugar cookies. Great big PINK frosting Heart cookies. I wasn't sure why this memory was playing over in my head, but this past month, Jordan has been referred to Primary Children's hospital neurosurgery department. I think it now becomes clear why this memory was there. It's a bit of a scary time for our family, but I feel calm. Could it be a blessing from the service I did those years ago coming back to calm my troubled heart...? I am trying to look for the symbolism in the world around me and how all things testify of Christ - I think the Pink frosting Heart cookies soothed my Spirit when I was eleven, and now I think of them representing the love of the Savior and how he has given His Spirit to always be with me - what a blessing! On this last Saturday, my little granddaughter Brooke was here - she is a lively wonderful little child of God. I was watching her in my room while her mother was getting beautiful - I lifted her off of my bed so she wouldn't fall while I hung some clothes in the closet. In a scurried little manner, she made it into the bathroom before I turned around and pulled a hot curling iron on her head - I knew the minute I heard it fall what had it happened, it had burned the whole right side of her face! I grabbed her and prayed very hard - I felt like she needed a blessing, but I also felt the Spirit, which is promised to always be with us. I worried about her most of the day - the next day when she came, she only had a small red spot under her eye, I truly believe it was a miracle we witnessed. It was just a little reassuring moment that we are children of God and He will help us through the rough spots. Not always the way we want, but He will give us Peace!

December Thrills!

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So December is upon us and the "thrills" have begun! This last Sundy Alisa and Emily brought their families to celebrate Randy's last day of the Army Reserves, yes, after 36 years, he is retiring! I don't think he will know how to handle it! We loaded everyone up and headed into Temple Square to see the lights! The temperatures were so nice we thought it would be a great time to go, lesson learned, don't go on Sunday - everyone else goes! It was a madhouse, but still niceAlisa's little Brooke was very enthralled with the music being played at the Nativity Presentation. When it stopped she was very sad.

It was interesting to me to watch little two and half year old Matthew, amongst all the hundreds of lights, the ones he seemed most excited to tell his mom about was the top of the temple where the Angel Moroni stood. It was quite touching to see how the Spirit works in these little children!

All in all it was a beautiful evening, just missed Nathan and Rachel's little family. It felt a little funny being so warm and no snow and ice. But still a reverent feeling. I love Temple Square

Do I show Sufficient Gratitude??

So I just finished a week fr0m_ _ double toothpicks! I think I came out on top! But as I was stressing so much this week, I opened the computer one day and there was Sweet Pres. Monson and a quote from his talk on Gratitude! I felt a compelling feeling of humility as I realized I was only "worrying" this week and not offering enough time to dwell on my blessings.
Often times in our lives, it is the stress or trial we live through which brings us great things. I wondered a few times this week why I felt so directed to go back to school - it seemed as if it was taking away from my opportunity to serve and be with my family - but then I realized how grateful I am for my chance to learn about Heavenly Father's wonderful world. How blessed I am to have this opportunity, which actually came about as a result of a "trial" For those of you who are reading this and don't know, I am going to school with Randy's post 9/11 GI bill. Had he not been mobilized and taken away from our family for two years, this experience would not have availed itself to me. I never thought at the time I would find reasons to appreciate that experience in my life. Had he not been mobilized, we would not be living here in West Point. We really miss our friends in Soda Springs, and what a blessing it was to live there, but Randy and I were talking about the amazing opportunities we have had here in Utah the past five years. We nearly always get a chance to go to a session of conference, we were able to go to President Hinckley's viewing and take our oldest grandson. I have shopped at Costco with President Uckdorf. We have found a noble ancestry on both sides of our family. Last Memorial Day, we had the opportunity to go to the Salt Lake Cemetary and find some fun stories about these family members and while there we took our grandsons on a tour of the Prophets graves there in the cemetary. What a spiritual experience!
Can I just tell you THERE IS A PLAN!!!! We may wonder at times why some have so many difficulties - but we need to train our brains to look for the blessing!
I know there are those of you out there wondering why me - next time ask yourself why not me? Who knows what is waiting around the corner. We may not always find answers to the sad times in our lives, but we can always find peace and comfort!
I feel worry in my heart for my family and friends struggling with cancer, heart disease, loss, or even more those living without the guidance of the Holy Spirit in there life, but I just want to express publicly to all who may read this my gratitude for my station in life, my family, my friends, my trials and most of all, my testimony of my Savior!

Thanksgiving Time Again!

Wow! I think I first started this blog to keep up a gratitude journal. I have been reading a few blogs out there in cyber world, and it's amazing how people's experiences can touch your life! I have a full heart at the blessing My heavenly father has seen fit to bestow upon me! Sometimes we forget to look at our trials as blessings.
Last month brought a significant scare into my life. It was the first time in my life I thought one of my children was going to leave this world before me. For those of you into "numbers", it happened on 10/10/10. Exactly one year after his father had to go to the emergency room. He had a severe gran mal seizure, which caused him to turn grey and quit breathing. I had never experienced anything like this before. I was sure I was losing this beautiful spirit Heavenly Father had entrusted to me.
Without going into unnecessary detail, the month of October has been a very long stressful one for me as I have contemplated my responsibility to this child. The doctor wanted to immediately put him on medication without any guarantee of it helping. As Randy and I thought about it we didn't have a good feeling. I actually felt quite sick as I looked at side effects and contemplated the road we should take. I prayed with a heavy heart that night. Many told me just listen to the Spirit, but I wasn't sure how to interpret what I was being told.
Interestingly enough, I had just finished reading the Book of Mormon. As I was thinking about how to make my scripture study take on more meaning in my life, I decided to look up subjects and find as many scriptures as I could related to the particular topic. I started with the Holy Ghost, gifts of the Spirit, the Spirit, etc.
The first scripture to play in my heart was 1st Nephi 10:17. To sum it up, it said to me if I diligently seek him - He will manifest himself unto me. First key - DILIGENT! Honestly, the first key really is to be believing - have faith! But I think Heavenly Father knew I knew that already and being diligent was the next thing I needed to work on.
As I mulled this over in my mind, not only did I study what Heavenly Father said about receiving the Spirit, but I studied a great deal about doctors, medications and the types of medical tests Jordan would be subjected to. In the meantime, I needed to be studying for my school. I went to bed with a brain on overload! When I woke up the next morning, I felt the Spirit whisper to me in a still small yet pierce to the bone voice that this child was Heavenly Father's before he was mine and He knew what he needed. I was to let it go for the time being and give the worry to Him.
It was amazing to me the calm I felt and the ability to let it go for the moment. Most likely we are not through with doctors and possibly not with the medicine route, but how thankful I am for the Spirit to rest upon my heart and give me the peace I need until we are able to work with the physicians and work through the affliction.
One thing I know - no one gets through this life without trials and affflictions. They make up who we are. It's how we deal with them that determines our character. It is my wish for this first Thanksgiving Post of 2010 to express my humble appreciation for the testimony I have of my Savior, and the gospel here on earth. Without this precious gift of the Holy Spirit, I feel I would be a failure!

The Miracle of Birth!

So can anyone ever describe the beautiful feeling of witnessing the miracle of birth! On March 23, 2010, Brooke Anona Bitner entered this big beautiful world. Her parents Brandon and Alisa Brooke chose to share this moment with me. All I can say is WOW! What a sacred and beautiful experience. This was the first birth I experienced where I was not the one delivering. You forget how totally draining this experience is on the mother. It is hard to watch your own child have to be in so much pain, but so rewarding to watch them be strong and work through to the end! What a miracle it is! You can't help but feel that larger than life Spirit enter the room in such a tiny little body! Of course, 8 lbs 12 oz 21 inches long isn't exactly tiny for a newborn baby.
Of all the searches for happiness and joy, none quite compare to bringing a child into the world! Children truly do fulfil the measure of our creation - and they keep on giving and giving! Thanks Alisa and Brandon for sharing this heart stopping thrilling miracle of birth!