Services Rendered

This holiday season I was truly grateful for the acts of service and kindness that people provided me. I say me because I was left to do IT ALL! With Mick down flat, three children sick, the heavens pounding us with snow, and Christmas preparations to be made, I felt deeply overwhelmed and exhausted. I dare say the most ever in my 31 years.

During this experience, I was reminded of a two week period as a child when my whole family came down with the FLU- the real deal. Mom took care of us all. She would tell the story that when she finally succumbed to the flu herself, we were told we were on our own. That is not how I recall it. She took great care of four sick family members- plus herself- but she got through it! She got through it being the key focus. This kept me going- until I got sick and had to shut down as much as I could despite .

One of my favorite quotes I remember hearing from a Relief Society sister states, "If you cast your bread upon the waters...it comes back a sandwich." Two loaves of bread- one accompanied with butter and jam- arrived at our door on two separate occasions. Both were needed as each time we were out of bread, and I had no time or energy left in the day to make more, or head to a store (for the umpteenth time in that day) to buy a loaf.

The sandwiches we ate were sweetly consumed by one grateful heart, and four hungry bellies. The influence of service is impossible to measure. I believe in it. I enjoy giving it. It changes lives for givers and receivers. Many blessing are had. I believe through others, the Lord provides for our needs. I will never forget our Christmas bread of 2008.

Snow removal became a difficult chore to attend to. Abbie needed to be held constantly (unless sleeping) to stop her crying, keep her comforted and to provide our surgery patient much needed rest (this created full arms...all day). Mick needed me at any given moment for food, drinks, moving, pillow propping, going to the bathroom, getting dressed, drug dispensing, ice bag stuffing and shuffling, physical therapy appointments, what ever you name it. Aspen and Liberty needed much of the same. I wasn't sure when I was going to get the chance or at what insane hour I would be outside shoveling 12 inches of much desired beautiful snow that blanketed us just in time for the holiday. It could not have been more than 5 minutes after I took a deep breath, holding back the tired tears, and mentally jotted down a to-do list- in order of importance- when I heard the glorious sound of a shovel scraping our sidewalk.
Some one was doing one of MY jobs that had to be done in order to get out of the driveway which had to be gotten out of early the next morning.

All I had to give him was a hug and a sincere Thank You. I had hot chocolate ready, but after all that work...he would have preferred a cold shower. It was the single most grateful act of service extended to me personally during that time. The snow was lifted and so was a heavy burden on my shoulders. Even a couple days later, as my snow shoveler was still healing, another person helped remove the last two feet of HEAVY, snowplow piled, back breaking snow from the entry of the driveway. Thank You!

Thank you also to Ruth for watching the girls, folding laundry, making Micks bed on the couch, taking calls from school, and yummy taco salad on surgery day. I'm so grateful to have you as a mother, you are constantly in tune with our needs, and to say I appreciate it, does little justice.

Mom thanks for letting me know you would be here if you could. It meant the world to me, and kept me pushing. I'm glad your patient is doing well now too!

A goal of mine this coming year:
To be more receptive to peoples needs and act on them.