Day 5 - Modern Medicine

I am more than grateful for modern medicine.  If not for living in this generation, I would not ever had the opportunity to be a wife or mother.  I would have left this earth long ago.  When I was 19 I had a ruptured ovarian cyst and needed emergency surgery to stop the bleeding and save my life.  Three days after Erin was born, I needed a D&C to clean out my uterus due to part of the placenta being left behind.  When Andrew was just a few months old, I developed pneumonia.  Antibiotics healed me then.  Yes, I am very grateful.

More recently Tom needed to have a hernia fixed.  I had one fixed a few years earlier.  He did an amazing job and healed quickly.  Pat's heart attack in July could have been fatal had there been no angioplasty or stents.  Now with the correct medicine he is able to overcome and be healed. 

Even though modern medicine couldn't heal or fix my dad's cancer, it was helpful to alleviate the pain he endured.  I feel blessed to live in a time when I am a beneficiary of modern medicine.

Day 4 - Callings

Today I'm grateful for church callings and responsibilities.  I've had the opportunity to work in the Young Women, Primary and Relief Society organizations.  There were definite highs and lows in all of those callings.  I loved my time in Young Women as I was young myself and enjoyed being with the girls.  I loved teaching them and playing with them.  I wasn't always crazy about the drama and other issues of worthiness.  Those were times for growth. 

Primary was such a time of learning how to listen to the Spirit.  The children are so important to our Heavenly Father that he gave me things at times before I even asked.  I loved received inspiration but some children were tough to handle and those experiences were for my growth.  I learned that I could love all children. 

Relief Society happened a few times.  The first time was with Gene and Linda and it was a time for growth for me.  A time to know the sisters and love them.  I was a teacher for three years.  I loved that and I was able to hone my skills as a teacher which would definitely come in handy for my future.  When I was called to be the RS president, I was overwhelmed to the point that I cried just knowing it was coming.  I really came to love the sisters of our ward.  I believe I brought some unity to our sisters.

I had the opportunity to work in the Activities committee as well as be a stake missionary.  I was also the Teacher Development teacher a few times. 

For eight years I taught seminary.  This was a calling that I feared I wouldn't be good at.  I went into it whole-heartedly and I believe I was very successful.  I loved those youth!  I learned so much about the scriptures!  As much as I came to love the Book of Mormon I also came to love the stories of the Old Testament and of course learning of Christ's ministry was amazing.  I cannot even begin to calculate the knowledge I gained that will bless my life forever.

My husband served as a bishop and then as the stake president for 9+ years.  During his tenure I was able to rub shoulders with the visiting authorities.  It was always such a blessing to glean knowledge  from them and share experiences and testimonies.  I know that wasn't officially my calling but Pat surely couldn't have done it without me at his side. 

Now that he has been released and I am no longer a seminary teacher, we both have been called to serve as Area Temple and Family History Consultants.  The best part of this calling is that we are serving together.  We've been out speaking in the different units around the six stakes as well as doing training with the stake presidencies and high councilors.  We were able to teach about preserving memories in familysearch.org at a Family History conference in Shawano.  What a blessing! 

Callings are God's way for us to grow in the gospel.  I am ever grateful for His plan to help me become the person He knows I can become!

Day 3 - Memories

Last October Elder Rasband gave a talk in General Conference about remembering.  This talk gave my husband a terrific idea.  His testimony began in our kitchen in about 1978.  Because he has such fond memories of that experience, he wanted to have his memory painted.  Mort McBain is a terrific artist.  Pat approached him and asked his if he would do this for him.  Mort agreed.  I racked my brain and looked through a ton of photos to find and remember what our kitchen looked like before it was remodeled.  This is pretty close.

At the moment the painting is hanging from some door handles in the kitchen until we decide where it's permanent placement will be.  Not all the detail is totally correct, but all the things in the painting belonged in the house or currently belong here.  

I LOVE it!  Every time I look or even glance at it, I am filled with these warm memories of my childhood and teenage years.  Heck, even my young adult and early married years.  There really isn't a way to explain those feelings.

Then I think about all the talks I've been giving in the various units (I'll be thankful for that another day) about preserving memories; specifically photos, thank you notes, cards, letters, stories, etc.  I can't begin to express how my heart has clung to these memories and the importance of preserving them.  So today and everyday I am thankful for memories!

Day 2 - Prayer

Today I'm thankful for prayer.  Communication with my Heavenly Father is so wonderful!  I've had so many, many experiences in which my prayers have been answered.  Some were answered immediately and others not so fast.  Either way, I've always felt the love that my Father has for me by His communicating with me.  

We teach our little ones at a very early age the posture of prayer.  Little Butchy exemplifies what he's been taught.  As of late, he fold his arms as soon as he hears the prayer begin.

Whenever I've been the president of an auxiliary, I've had inspiration come so clearly.  At times it came before I even asked.  Answers to questions are answered!

I love getting answers but even more I love the peace and feelings of comfort that I feel because my Father in Heaven loves me so much.

I've never been disappointed with the results of my prayers.  I knew who to marry and when to have children and how many to have.  I've known when the right time for changes in my life.  I could never have been a seminary teacher without prayer.  Each and every day was better because of the inspiration given to me because I asked for it.

Yes.  Today I'm thankful for prayer!

A Month of Thanksgiving

The month of November is a time for Thanksgiving.  With that in mind, I decided to give thanks for a different thing/person each day.  Today I am more than thankful for my sweetheart.  Thinking about the events of the summer, I could easily have been without him this year.  I'm so grateful that things weren't worse.  A heart attack is never a good thing, but the up side of it is that we have been exercising together on an almost daily basis.  

On our Door County getaway, we took our bicycles and rode the 9.6 mile route in Peninsula state park. It was so enjoyable.  Good scenery, good trails, good company.  Since then, we've been riding our bikes a lot more.  In the last few weeks, we ride the Mountain Bay trail six days a week.  Along that route we stop and walk up Pingel's hill.  As hard as that is, it is getting a bit easier.  This guy is my everything and I'm ever grateful that he chose me to be his better half.  He's been mine for 34+ years and I couldn't be happier about that.  Now, just stick around and be with me for many, many more years.

Door County Mid-Week Vacation

Pat and I were planning a Lake Michigan tour this summer.  The plan was to go north and then come back south and go to Mackinac Island and then back to Wisconsin via the ferry to Manitowoc.  We had such a busy summer and then he had his heart attack so that messed up those plans.  Last week would have been the time we were going but the weather was miserable and Clare was gone to Boston and Sammi went with Andrew to Salt Lake City.  I spend a bit of time watching children.  So, I proposed that we get a condo in Door County.

This week the weather was in the 70's and 80's so it was absolutely perfect for a summer vacation. We had a nice condo on the Bay side only a few miles from Potawatami State park.  We brought our bicycles along to do some riding in the parks.  We also rode in Peninsula State park.  They have actual bike trails as opposed to riding on the roads.  This lighthouse  was our one stop in Peninsula.

These cedar trees lined up perfectly so it looked like we were in jail.  This was the same site as the lighthouse.

Also in the park was a beautiful beach.  The water wasn't any too warm so there weren't any people in it.  There were, however, plenty of sun worshippers.

This boat was anchored just off the beach.  I'm not sure how I feel about boating in such a vessel.  It might be really fun yet it is on the water.

 I believe this guy wanted me to get in that cold water.  He actually did swim off the beach by our condo.

This bike ride was 9.6 miles of some up and some down.  Lots of in between.  It was a lot of fun. I would do it again.

Mostly, we just love being together.  We took walks each morning as well.  We're trying to stay heart healthy.  It was a wonderful time just being together.  We bought a couple of movies and watched them in the evening.  I have a great life with this man at my side.  We are very blessed to share our lives.

It's Never Easy

These people are my my most cherished possessions.  If they can be referred to as that.  I've never wanted to be anything more than be a mother.

These crazies gave me the cherished title of Mom.

I recall taking and leaving Clare in Provo, UT as an 18 year old college student.  It was so hard to walk out of her apartment.  I felt as though I had left a piece of my heart there.  She didn't have a cell phone and we didn't have a lot of money so we didn't talk nearly as often as I would've liked.  I recall laying in the back seat of the van and crying as we drove out of Utah.

 These guys make my heart happy.  They're a good group of priesthood holders and I can always count on any one of them to help me if I should need it.  Two of them take great care of my daughters and I love that most of all.

These beautiful women are my best and dearest friends.  I recall leaving Sammi in Rexburg and although I had already been through leaving one daughter it really wasn't any easier.  The only thing that made me feel better was that she had cousins so close by.

When Erin went off to Rexburg, she chose to ride out with her cousin, Lauren rather than have us take her.  But, to make it easier for her, Sammi went along and got her all settled before flying home. It was hard not having her near but she had a phone and we talked pretty much daily.  Again, she had cousins close which made me rest easier.

Two Christmases ago this was as close as we could get to having a picture taken together.  Andrew was still on his mission in Utah.  My heart if full when I get them all together.  We've had a few weeks of togetherness in the last year.  Erin would come for a visit and make me happy.  My heart always breaks when she leaves or when I'm visiting her and I have to leave, it brings tears to my eyes. Is this a sign of getting old or just getting soft?

This morning about 5:15am, these two left on a cross-country trip to take Andrew to Salt Lake City where he will be attending the LDS Business College.  He was quite nervous about going and driving across the country alone.  I offered to go with him but then Sammi stepped up and went.  This evening they are in Sydney, Nebraska.  Tomorrow they will be in Salt Lake City.  Andrew has some things he needs to do--like take a placement test, register for classes and get settled into his apartment.  Another piece of my heart is going to be living in Utah.  I know this is the best thing he could be doing and I'm so proud of the man he has become.  It isn't as hard as it was letting him go three years ago and not being able to see him for two of those years.  Still.....

I wonder if our Heavenly Father feels this way as he sends his children off to live on this earth.  Does He wonder what kind of choices they will make?  Is He concerned for their safety and well-being? Does His heart ache for us at times?  I'm sure all of the above.

I pray for my children always regardless of where they are.  I want their lives to be full and happy and joyful just as mine is.  I want them to succeed in whatever they try.  My role as mother has been more fulfilling than I ever imagined.  It has given me the proudest moments, the highest highs and the lowest of my lows.  I must say, I didn't have the lows that many parents get.  Thank you Pleshek children.  I'm your biggest fan!  I love all of you with all my heart with a capacity that just keeps enlarging.  Who knew?  Certainly not me.