Thursday, January 22, 2009

Todays Thoughts

Today as I was driving my daughter to yet another doctor appointment, and of course feeling a little sorry for myself and her, I heard something that made me sit up, think, and count my blessings. The radio announcer was interviewing Meredith Vierra's (the lady from the Today Show - can't spell her last name) husband about a new book he wrote. He is currently in a wheel chair and his speech is a little slurred due to multiple sclerosis. He noticed how people mistook his disease at first for drunkenness and how they acted around him, and realized that he wasn't alone out there. So he recently wrote a book about 5 people who are all dealing with chronic illnesses and how they look at life, handle their day to day care, and make a difference. It was so humbling....fascinating....inspiring....and even encouraging to hear. One person was a lady dealing with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), another severe MD, and one other Crones disease. Just listening to a few of their day to day routines, made me grateful for the 45 min routine Melissa has to deal with twice a day. A couple of them have to plan out their days down to when they will take a drink of water so that they know someone will be with them to help them with the bathroom. Imagine! But the part that really got me....the part I already knew, but to hear that these people say it really made me think was this.....the author got all 5 people together and they told of their lives, everything...and not one person there thought they had it the worst, and not one person there would want to trade their "bag of trials" for any other persons there.
There is a children's book called Jenna and the Troublemaker. It is out of print, but I found an old one and I keep it in my desk at home. I pull it out now and then to remind myself how lucky I am and how my troubles are mine...and they are not half as bad as anyone else's. It basically tells of a little girl who is mad at the bag of troubles that she has to carry around and the "troublemaker' lets her go through everyone elses bags and pick another one to take home. In the end she chooses her own. I really believe our "troubles" are hand picked for us, that a loving Heavenly Father lets those that He knows will eventually bring us the most growth and joy enter our lives, and then we get to choose how to handle each one. I hate the saying "we'll never be given more adversity than we can handle", I'm not sure I even agree with that at some times in my life, but I do know that I am very blessed, overly blessed, and I am very grateful today for all those people in my life (friends, family, etc) who make my life great and my troubles seem small.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Happy Moments

Here are a few highlights of our week. First, Melissa's middle school basketball career has begun. They played Cloud Peak and had a great time. The score 16-12 (we were 12) was close and the girls seem to have fun. I had forgotten how different MS ball/ MS girls ball, is from the high school stuff I watch each week. Big Difference! But oh, so fun and much more relaxed.




Melissa made 2 baskets (4 points for you basket ball greenies) and was high point man for the game. We like to say that, and that's what she told her sister, Aly, when she called, but the actual truth is that she, Sarah and Mikala were all high point men (women?, girls?) with 4 points each, thus Rocky's 12 points. Above is an actual picture of her ball about to drop in (I can never get the exact swish moment).



She is one of the point guards. Michael sat right by me during the game, pointing out all the areas he needed to coach Melissa on. I don't think that will go over very well...we'll see.




Our next big news of the week was Emily's amazing Rock Band score. Expert Level, 98% correct and the crowds went wild. We are so proud, this may be her senior graduation announcement picture - how can High School acheivements compare to this incredible Rock Band score. In fact, we're hoping she cancels her college plans and goes on the professional Rock Band tour. What more could parents want for their children?????





And there you have it, our week.