Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

April 20, 2020

HEARING HIM through Friends

Recently our prophet has encouraged us to focus on the ways we HEAR HIM.
I am grateful for my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know it is true.  I don't question or doubt.  It isn't in me.  I know I am one of the lucky ones.

I have thought about the prophets question and wondered if I knew how my Heavenly Father spoke to me.  Was I always listening?  Do I Hear Him when he is trying to reach me?

This last month has been a challenge.
March 14: we had to put Daisy down.
I adored my little Daisy.  She was like a child to me.  I get embarrassed to admit it but it is what it is and I absolutely LOVED that dog.
She was sick. I knew it.  I didn't want her to suffer.
After several sleepless night, I approached Aaron and told him that after taking her to her scheduled appointment, if her numbers were worse, we should probably put her down.
Although the vets advised the same, ultimately, I made the decision.
That decision has eaten me alive for the past five weeks.
I have cried EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I beat myself up and feel so much guilt and regret.
I wish so much that I could go back in time.

Sunday morning
Aaron and I were talking about my sadness.  I had tried to hide from my kids and Aaron when I am emotional or having my daily bawl session.  But Aaron knows me and knew I was struggling.  I finally sobbed and told him how embarrassed I am.  How I wish I could move on.  How I wish I could stop crying.  How I put up a front and say "I am okay", but I am not.
I tried to blame some of my emotions on this quarantine, but again, Aaron knew better.  Of course he tried to console me and remind me that I wasn't to blame, but he allowed me to cry.

I never questioned God about this.  I didn't shake my testimony.  I didn't feel like I needed Heavenly Father to say "I am here - it's okay". I wasn't searching for answers.

Back to Sunday morning
After my melt down, I went about the day.  We did our home sacrament meeting.  We did Come Follow Me Mosiah 4-6.  We ate a nice lunch and I played Wackee 6 with my kids. I didn't cry again.  I wasn't looking for answers.  I wasn't praying for comfort. I did what I do every day.  I cry and then hide my sadness and go about the day.

Sunday night
I got in bed.  That was the first time I had checked my emails.

I have a friend that I still consider one of my BEST FRIENDS/SISTER even though we don't talk much anymore.  She lived right next door to me during dental school.   She now lives in Texas and although many miles separate us, when we do talk, it is as if we lived right next door and we don't skip a beat.

We haven't talked much lately, but this was her email:

Hey Dawn, 
This has been one of my favorite songs lately. For some reason today I kept feeling like I should share it with you. Maybe you've heard it? It's kind of a tear jerker, but has the best message about faith, hope and healing through our trust in Christ and his atonement. I thought you would love it. Alyssa 




Naturally, I clicked on the link.
As the song played, I read the lyrics provided in the link.
As you can imagine ... TEARS
Not because of Daisy this time - Because I knew I was HEARING HIM.
I love Alyssa with all my heart.  I dare say she is probably one of the BEST people I have ever met.  She doesn't hesitate when she feels a prompting.  She HEARS HIM ask and she does.

As I said my prayers Sunday night, I thanked my Heavenly Father for Alyssa.  I thanked Him for friends messages.  I also thanked Him for letting me know he is aware of me.  He knows how I am feeling - EXACTLY.  I HEARD HIM and was so grateful.

September 5, 2019

Viking Cruise with the Gardner's

🚢Europe Trip

We left SLC August 28 at 9:00 pm

Flight KLM 610 - 9 hours 15 min 

We arrived in Amsterdam August 29 at 2:25 pm

Then we left Amsterdam at 4:40 pm

Flight KLM 1989 - 1 hour & 9 min 




 

We arrived in Basil Switzerland at 5:55 pm
They bussed us to the Viking Vidar
We departed from St. Johann, Klybeckquai or Dreilandereck




 

We arrived to Breisach, Germany August 30 where we toured the Black Forest
Of course we tasted a very bland Black Forest Cake and purchased a Coo Coo Clock & ________


 

After the Black Forest, Jeni and I walked through Medieval Colmar 




Todd & Aaron visited WWII sites 

 






Saturday August 31 we toured Strasbourg, France





Sunday September 1, we walked through Aaron's favorite Heidelberg, Germany
We saw Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg Alstadt & Rudesheim am Rhein.
Germany is like walking into a story book!
It's MAGICAL!



 









Later in the evening we walked back into town to roam without a tour guide and have dinner






 











Monday September 2 we arrived in Koblenz, Germany later in the afternoon 
We went to the Marksburg Castle








 





Tuesday September 3 we walked all over Cologne Germany
WE saw the Cathedral - Train Station - Love Locks Bridge, & Unesco Palaces




















Wednesday September 4 was spent in Kinderdijk, Netherlands
a rainy day with windmills




 






🚢Europe Trip

Flights & Cruise $8000

August 28:

Airport magazines $32

Crown Room $60


August 29: 


Aug 30: 

Black Forest (coo-coo clocks) $600

Coke & pie $9

Coke $4

Medieval Village of Colmar 

WWII tour


Aug 31:

Lunch $60

Ice cream $5

Nuts $4

Strasbourg -


Sept 1:

License plate $14

Chocolate $17

Ice cream - Todd 

Dinner Todd 

     Heidelberg 


Sept 2:

Ice cream $3

    Marksburg Castle 


Sept 3: 

McDonalds lunch $22

Sweatshirts $120

Donut $1

Perfume & matches $28

     Cologne walking tour

     Bruhl UNESCO palaces


Sept 4:

Souvenir bell & treats $30

     Kinderdijk windmills


Sept 5: travel

Airport treats $30

Airport breakfast $20