Watching over us!

The last time I went to Flagstaff alone with Garrison was a day I will never forget and even if I could forget it David and Garrison will never let me.  We had been going to Flag for about 6 months every week for speech therapy and I had just had a cute little baby and I wasn't getting enough sleep and the afternoon sun was coming in through the window.  Garrison was occupied with a movie, which by the way we had rigged up with a small TV/VCR combination. . .  those were the days. I was soo tired and going 80 miles an hour I dozed off and woke up as my car was heading into the center. . I truly felt like our car had been slowed to a gently stop by the hand of someone who loved us very much.  I normally would have freaked out and over corrected and killed us or someone else.  We were so blessed and all that came of that tired moment was a flat tire and Garrison bumped his head on the side window in the back of the van not hard enough to remember the next day.  Wow. . .

So Flash forward several years to this same combination traveling to flagstaff this time to get immunized for yellow fever and typhoid then to shop till we dropped for mission necessities.  How greatful I am for those few hours I got to spend with Garrison.  He has turned into such an amazing person.  He has a quiet confidence that I admire so much.  Garrison loves the Lord and his savior Jesus Christ and wants more than anything to serve a mission.  He is going somewhere that I am a little nervous to send him and I probably wouldn't be able to handle it except for the fact that I know that his Heavenly Father has called him to be in Brazil at this time to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lives of all those who will listen and except it!

I am soooo greatful for the tender mercy of all those years ago as our car was gently slowed and our lives were spared.  Thank you Heavenly Father for watching over us!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Cuiaba', Brazil

Garrison has been called to serve in the Cuiaba' Brazil Mission and he leaves from the Show Low Airport on September 7th and 8:30 am.  Brazil is so far away and the mom in me can't stand the thought of just putting him on an airplane and then off he goes to a foreign country.  I am sure glad that he will have the Lord as his protector and guide!  Time for faith to kick in.  I never realized how hard it is to be a parent of a missionary.  I am going to miss him so intesnely.  I know that a mission is such a blessing in his life and that of his future family that I will sacrifice and let him go.  He is sooooo excited to go!  I am so proud of his decision and am very thankful that he has a testimony!  He has several friends that have their calls and I have a firm testimony of the importance of good friends in our lives.   So my Tender Mercy today is the good friends in Garrisons life to help him get to this point of being ready to serve a mission.  I love you Garrison.

A little love and understanding.

Even after exhibiting poor behavior and acting with a very mean demeanor to my children yesterday, I still received an abundance of hugs and I loves you's as they left the house to go face their world. They seem to sense that I was not my usual self. How I appreciate their love and concern and kindness; when non was given to them by me.

This causes me to reflect on my life and actions. I am not proud of the times I anger too quickly, judge to harshly or get annoyed at simple actions. I want to be more than I am now and be better than I have been, because of them.

I have the most amazing children who teach me what it means to be compassionate, to love unconditionally, to forgive instantaneously and to give hope in tommorrow.

Because of my wonderful children my sadness is replaced by joy, my understanding is increased and my sanity restored. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives.