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!

WOW! Where Does the time Go!

Okay, life has gotten the best of me and I haven't blogged or kept up my journal in a while. I have been keeping my blog for a journal - so I guess I better get off facebook and write a few thoughts here. I started back to college in January! Wow, what a ride! I am loving it! Even if I am the old lady in the class. There are a lot more non traditional students than I expected, but I am pretty much a "raisen" among grapes! It has taken up quite a bit of my time and I am not the brightest kid in the class! But I really have a thirst for knowledge and experience. It's hard to study when your 18 month old grandson calls and says "Sweep ovah (Sleep over?) Grawma?" But those are the most precious times! So far I have been able to keep up and still enjoy my family. There are days though when I think I will have time for nothing but ALGEBRA!!!! But wait, I did algebra 35 years ago! That's right, you have to take it again!!! So to my posterity I say - get that degree while you can - so you don't have to revisit MATH!

The Pursuit of Education!

Okay the question is, can an almost 52 year old survive the rigors of college life? Especially when she has to start all over???? I have felt a need for some time to pursue my education - the problem has been finances, time and what to pursue? Well I think I have solved the first two, but I am still questioning what to pursue! But I pretty much have to start from scratch - so back to those "General Studies" I have had a few people tell me you can petition for some "life experience" credits, - But Right now I am just trying to figure out what classes to take! And of course, trying to find all the math and English skills I once possessed! I must admit - I am extremely NERVOUS! yet very EXCITED! So Wish me luck! Or think of me in a prayer now and then!

YELLOWSTONE - It's beauty never ceases to Amaze me!

So we found this awesome deal for military families to stay at Flaggs Ranch just south of the South Entrance to Yellowstone. We rented a couple of trailers and tried to take the whole clan to Yellowstone. We planned a very bad time for Steve's business - so we didn't have the Hanson's with us. We did have Nathan and it has been a while since he has been with all of us. We traveled from the South End up to Mammoth Hot Springs in one day. We wanted to swim in the boiling river, but by the time we got there, we decided we better head back to camp. Long day - but I really enjoyed having the experience with the kids. It's such a beautiful place and it can't help but calm the soul. We saw moose, bear, elk and bison. Great fun! We hiked up and down some of the trails and tried to take pictures galore. Rylie called the mud pots the "smoking dragons" She was a little trooper and hiked with the best of them. When we got to Teton National Park, we took the boat across Jenny Lake and did the hike into hidden falls, she said, "I'm going to climb that mountain" And she did! If we tried to carry her she would say, "No, I'm fine!" Pretty cute!

All in all I think we all had a pretty good time! Brad said he thought we should make it a tradition - so at least we didn't scare off the one son-in-law we brought along! The older our children get and the more spirits that join us really help me understand "the measure of your creation" and finding "joy in your posterity." They truly are my joy. They can wear me out, but I wouldn't trade any one of these 13 spirits in our Lowe Trooper Clan!

WOW! Where does the time go!

Well I have been busy having a great summer and now I see I haven't even blogged for almost two months. Considering I am using this as a form of journaling, guess I better get on the ball! We enjoyed the peaches and grapes from our yard this year, but most everything else struggled. Way to many bugs! We need to figure out a way to control them next year. They even affected my rose bushes, despite my efforts to spray and fertilize. So...sure hope he have better luck next year. For the last four years Randy has missed going up to Idaho to pick huckleberries. This year we went twice. We took Em and her boys up the first day in our shorts and flip flops and decided we needed to go back a little better prepared! We recruited some more "pickers" and headed back up Mink Creek on Labor Day. In the end we had close to a gallon - and Alisa and Brandon were ready to keep their own. Randy felt a success because he had some of his kids and grandkids there so he was just like a kid in the candy store. I think the only thing that would have made him happier was to have Nathan and Rachel's family with us. I decided it's not the huckleberries he likes, but getting his family out and away from all the electronic gadgets and in the woods he loves - so thanks kids for humoring him! I wasn't smart enough to put on long pants - they are way too hot - so I still have scratches up and down my legs!