Did any one else notice. . .

. . .that sometimes I get a little carried away?  I just posted this and, thanks to Kerri, my local scriptorian/runner/musician/mom extraordinaire I was put in my place. Check comments!

Did any one else notice in the Republican response to the State of the Union address given by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, he quoted the D&C 82:3, "unto whom much is given, much is required?"

I looked up the speech online today and it was framed in this context:

And no government program can replace the actions of caring Americans freely choosing to help one another. The Scriptures say "To whom much is given, much will be required." As the most generous and prosperous nation on Earth, it is heartwarming to see Americans giving much time and money to the people of Haiti. Thank you for your ongoing compassion.

When I heard that, I looked at D and was like, "Isn't that a scripture mastery scripture?" 

He said, "Yeah. I think that is in the Book or Mormon or D&C.  I don't think it is the Bible."

So, I had a chuckle this morning when I finally had a chance to look up the scripture and the speech.  I wonder if he knew he was quoting modern day scripture and not the Bible.  I imagine some junior, Mormon speech writer whose section of the speech was kept in the final draft scored big. . . .hee hee!

First Meet Photos

Did I mention I didn't take the photos?  (I know, you aren't surprised.) Thanks, Danielle!

Glad to be a boring mom wearing sneakers OR I'm sounding more like my mom these days

After listening to some collegiate babes in the dressing room next to me recount the 'sausage fest' (yeah, I actually think that is what it sounds like) at the party they went to last night, hear about the text from Greg ("What did he want?. . . ."Oh, just to come over and have a smoke."), and the looming quiz on Monday, ("I've got a chemistry quiz on Monday.". . . . ."Oh, that sucks."), I am glad to say I wouldn't trade my extra ten pounds in to go back to college.

On the other hand, I did learn something from these gals, "Oh, this dress can also be used as a shirt. . . .that is why I love fashion."

On the other, other hand. . .they helped me pick out a pair of much 'hipper' jeans than I would have bought on my own.

Fight the new drug

Hey, just read about this campaign, "Fight the New Drug," which will specialize in the facts about pornography addiction.  Check out this article in Deseret News.  And here is their website.

This is an exerpt from the website:

"We may not be able to control the spread or availability of pornography, and based on its prevalence, no matter how much we try to avoid it, we will eventually be exposed. But we can vaccinate ourselves now with education. We can learn of its addictive potential and the dangers that accompany it. We can educate those around us and educate everyone within our influence. The pandemic has spread too far and become too common for us to brush the responsibility off of our own shoulders. If we don't educate then who will? If we don't fight the epidemic then who will? For over 20 years we have known about the potential negative effects of pornography and we have largely ignored the evidence making assumptions that we wouldn't be infected, that we were born with some sort of genetic immunity against its addictive potential. Considering the growth of the pornography industry, the prevalence of it in our society is indisputable, and no one is immune to its influence."

Fourth child oops

After peeling a tangerine and having my darling baby beg in crying and flailing format for a bite, I gave him a wedge.  Then another.  Then another. Then another.

Then I remembered you are not supposed to give your baby citrus, right?  I can't even remember exactly but there are some red sirens going off in my brain right now, why didn't they go off 10 minutes ago?

Speaking of which. . . .Did any of you ever get into a conversation while pregnant and discover that tuna fish sandwich you'd been eating every day was bad for your fetus?  How about when there was an uproar outside of the nursery room because one of the aged leaders brought honey in for the kids to taste on her homemade bread?  How about the time you had a raging headache while pregnant and you spend ten minutes in front of the medicine cabinet trying to remember if it is tylenol or ibuprofen that you aren't supposed to be using?  And how about the butter/margarine controversy:  my head keeps spinning trying to decide if trans fats are worse than the extra cholesterol and saturated fat?

It is experiences like these that make me wonder how in the heck any of us survived until adulthood-- forget that, how about until age 5??  Now, don't get me wrong, I've got some friends whose kids did or still do have allergies and it is serious business, but sometimes I wonder who made up all these rules and how come I don't know about them???  In all seriousness, if we are going to freak out about not giving our kids honey until they are 3 on the off-chance that it might have a dangerous spore, then maybe we should just not get into the car with them because I bet the chances of them getting in a wreck are more likely. .  . . . .just food (no pun intended) for thought.

Hoorah for my little girl!

Most days when I drop my kids off at school, I remind them, "Remember who you stand for."  I encourage them to be kind to the other kids at school and give their teacher respect.  As I watch them walk (or generally run, since we are late) into school, I hope the good part of their personalities will come out.  I say, 'I hope' because I witness the teasing and sarcasm they exhibit at home.

This morning I had a delightful surprise when I opened up Liza's backpack to clean it out and found this note from a girl at school:

"Dear Eliza, Thank you for helping me when I got hert. You are so nice. And Caring. And pretty. Love, Rachel."

Can you say Proud Mommy Moment!! Made my day. Way to go sweetheart!!

If I only had a dollar

If I only had a dollar for every time one of my kids replied to a request with, "Can I just finish this level first?"  I would be sitting on the beaches of Hawaii sipping out of a coconut.  Right Now.  Ahhhhhhh, If I only had a dollar. . . . .

You know you are in trouble when. . . . .

. . . .the large pile of clean clothes in the laundry room baskets doesn't seem as large as usual, the drawers in your room are empty, and all the hampers in the house are spewing out their contents.

Just a moment to chuckle

Any thing you can do

I can do better

Seriously, boy!

I spent an hour in the twins' classroom today.  I was seriously disappointed to see that my son had scribbled the following notes on the cover of his literacy notebook: "stinky," "poop in your pants," and "butt." When the folders came out all the kids in his group read those words (and his partner in crime had the word 'underwear')  and were totally distracted.  Way to go, buddy.  So proud.

At this point two things are floating around in my head.  #1: The literacy center is the one that other moms help at, so they have also witnessed my son's potty-talk spilling over into his work #2: at least he spelled everything correctly.

I think I'll focus on #2.  Then I won't have to worry about what all the other moms are imagining goes on at the Millar house.

On the bright side, how can you hold a grudge against this face?

(Have I mentioned he is trying to start a new fashion trend at school--leave your hood on at all times)

To Michelle,

Michelle,
I really appreciate your comments on my blog. I know this sounds weird but I kindof look at you like a younger version of myself- intellectually curious and adventurous (hope that doesn’t insult you because I definitely have a lot of, ummmm, less desirable characteristics which I am sure you wouldn’t want to be associated with). Also, congratulations on finishing your thesis!! That is such a relief- better, yet, when you defend. .Have you already defended or is that still looming?

In case you didn’t notice (not likely), I’ve written a thesis of my own—a comment thesis, heehee! I actually started leaving a comment on your blog and it got so long, I thought, “hey, I’ll just send her an email.” But, I couldn’t find your email. . . .so I posted here.

I am glad that you feel comfortable letting your opinion be known. I really do appreciate a healthy and well-thought discussion. I think as Mormons we sometimes just ignore charged and heated discussions for fear of offending. And truly, if you've had a great experience with Government-run insurance in Germany, you have every right to dispel the myths you hear. There are surely a lot of myths floating around out there. You certainly have more personal experience than most who live in the U.S.  It sounds like Germany has a pretty good thing going, but I’ve read there are some serious problems with Canada and Britain’s plans (from newspaper articles written in those countries)—long, long wait times to get non-emergency surgeries and denying certain drugs to individuals who would benefit from them, as well as programs that are nearing bankruptcy.

I loved reading your thoughts and ideas, but had some thoughts of my own in reply (I'm not trying to take anything out on you-promise):
First, I agree 100% whole-heartedly that every individual should have equal access to healthcare. I promise I am not some cold-hearted soul who doesn't care about the poor, elderly, and uninsured. My heart goes out to people, like the woman who commented on your post that has lost her coverage and is afraid of being denied for pre-existing conditions. . .that practice should STOP. . .that is what Congress should be focusing their energies on, FOR SURE. Our system definitely isn't perfect, and there is lots of room for improvement that legislation should be written to help. I think you’re right on that America doesn’t focus enough on wellness or preventative care.

I would assert that equal access to care is not the same as everyone being insured. Currently, in the US no one can be turned away from an E.R. because of lack of insurance, no one is denied life-saving surgeries or care. Every patient in the hospital is given the same standard of care according to my husband. If they are not, their doctors are not good doctors, end of story. In addition, if you are truly needy and incapable of purchasing your own plan, the government DOES provide you with options: Medicaid and medicare are there to help those who can not physically pay for their own plans. I would, therefore, assert that Universal Healthcare (aka government-run healthcare) is not the same as universal coverage -being able to walk into an ER and know they will treat you-no matter what or being able to apply for government-paid care.

I would also like to point out that China, who was blue on your map (also I think 1/6th of world's population), is a communist dictatorship. There is a one-child limit to families who want to have children. China's slums are some of the poorest of the poor. In addition, the former USSR was also on the map. I would be wary to trade Russia’s average standard of living even for the poorest American’s. . . .not to mention the cold, yikes! So I’m not sure how well the argument runs that the best developed nations who care about their poor provide Government-run healthcare to all- even at the cost of ‘forcing’ individuals to buy a plan. But, as I pointed out above, Americans do have programs for the poorest individuals in our country, so we aren't completely cold-hearted.

I totally agree that most Americans want exactly the plan that you outlined in red and from the 4-minute video. That platform was why Obama won the presidency. I want those things for our country, too! My problem is that when general ideas are presented without a specific plan, the ideas are just fantasy.  Some would call it a pipe-dream. My problem is not with the general ideas, it is how they are implemented and what the unintended results in the future may be.

For instance, Obama asserts that if you have insurance you like, you are welcome to keep it and there will be low-cost coverage. That SOUNDS great. But here’s the hitch: based upon the free-market system that currently exists, the public plan as presented would be subsidized by the ‘public,’ aka government, aka our taxes. This is how the plan would be able to be more affordable to those that currently can’t pay for their insurance. When you introduce a competitor (public option) into the free-market system that doesn’t have the same constraints as the rest of the market, they have a one-up, the can offer the same coverage for less because they are being subsidized from an outside source. Government intervention messes with the free-market, which often turns into a meltdown (see Fannie and Freddie). For example, if you are a business owner, and you realize you can switch your employees coverage to a different, less-expensive public plan, what in heaven’s name wouldn’t cause you to do so? So, slowly, over time, the insurance that you have and like from your employer would change- yes, this might be a gradual change, but the change would inevitably happen. The result: over 10-30 years that insurance you wanted to keep is no longer an option to you.

Next, these bullet points:

• There will be no denial because on pre-existing conditions

• There will be no dropped coverage when you are sick

• There will be caps on how much you have to pay

• There will be required coverage for preventative care

I think these are great ideas. But providing a whole new system of healthcare for these? No, we can legislate each individual point without a bloated public plan.

To assert that no new dime will be added to the deficit by Obamacare, to me means one thing: new taxes. We all know the saying, “you can’t get something for nothing.” Some politicians have explained they will use the experts to eliminate waste in the system. . .okay, so DO IT!! Why do we need this huge bill to eliminate waste?? These smart politicians make no sense to me on that one. But, for arguments sake, say they do find waste, how do we know they will find enough waste in the system to keep our taxes low? I am especially wary because most government-run programs are bloated and inefficient themselves. . . Medicare as currently run will be bankrupt in the next 20-30 years (right when it’s time for us to retire, yep). Didn’t they see this one coming? Why don’t 'they' hire those experts to help Medicare get back on it’s feet and eliminate waste? Is it really so easy to cut costs by having an expert look at it all? And what you may deem a must for your health plan might be considered waste to those experts. Can the plan truly be ‘deficit-neutral?’ I personally don’t believe so, and several studies have come out to say the current legislation, as written is NOT deficit neutral.

Both the Senate and House bill ignored TORT-reform entirely (medical malpractice doohickeys). . . I know you wrote your post before the bills were finished so how could you know? To me, this just adds credence to the idea that these platforms sound wonderful and tell us what we want to hear, but don’t deliver on promises. The highest malpractice insurance is in the state of Florida where Ob/gyns pay $500,000/year to cover the threats of lawsuits. That bill gets passed on to bill-paying patients and hospitals. That’s one of the reasons we pay so much. Why did the drafters of this legislation ignore this? I don’t know for sure, but I do know trial lawyers (who make a living on lawsuits) pay out a lot of money donating to the Democrats' election campaigns.

I don’t know anything about the prescription drug hole. . . .but, again, is the only way that can be fixed through a public-plan?
Okay, so now you are probably thinking, “1) I told you not to take this out on me-sorry, and 2) Camilla's ideas make sense (or am I just thinking wishfully), but I’ve seen government-run healthcare in action here in Germany and it's not bad at all. . . .so THAT is the ultimate argument for government-run.” Am I right? (I’ve had the same thought myself).

My counter-argument would be this: German’s taxes are higher than American’s (I’ve heard around 50%, is this true?), they have a vastly smaller population with no shortage of physicians per capita (a huge problem in America that is only getting worse). In addition, their whole system of health care education and wages are different from ours: physicians’ medical school is totally paid for by the nation, physician salaries are set and paid by the government (at a much lower rate than American doctors), and physicians have protected work hours (they are required to work far less hours than American physicians).

In America, hospitals are starting to move toward salaried physicians- which is great and in some studies has shown better patient satisfaction (like in Germany) with their care . It also means longer wait times, which, with a shortage of physicians in the U.S., is not sustainable without other changes. Most commonly when a person works for less money, they don’t work as hard (decrease hours at work). This would spell disaster for the system as we know it.

In America, the average medical school indebtedness is $120,000 and it takes 4-8 years post-medical school training of about $40,000-50,000 salary (for our family of 6 that is at or below the poverty line: my kids would qualify for free school lunches) before you become a full-salaried doctor, so you can’t pay off that loan during training, thus accruing interest on top of what you already owe during the residency years. I would also like to add that most residents work 80 hours per week, so they are busting their buns for minimal pay. . . . . In fact, the average number of American applicants to medical school has decreased in the last ten years. . . .potential applicants (potential doctors) are less willing to go through so much time, with so much debt, and a trend toward lower pay. Add on to that the skyrocketing costs of malpractice insurance (does Germany have a problem with frivolous lawsuits?) and it is getting harder and harder to induce doctors to a field that is shrinking.

Wow. Okay, I know I am totally long-winded. . . . and I didn’t even cover everything I was going to say, believe it or not (I really wanted to talk about private-run healthcare and innovations to care- America currently is the trendsetter in standard of care). I hope I’ve brought up some relevant issues. I also thought a lot about what you said. Definitely, something has to give! Given the track record of American-run public programs, I am wary about adopting a new system without further exploring the implications of each new change we make. I like the idea of change. Change is certainly needed, as you pointed out! What I’m still trying to figure out is why Congress can’t just tackle one issue at a time, instead of writing a behemoth bill that the public can hardly wade through. They’ve been going about in a secretive and backhanded manner that makes me wary.

I welcome your counter-thoughts and once again, apologize for the length of this post!

Drumroll, please:

My baby is now sleeping through the night!!

Thoughts on health care, socialism, and beyond

I know I can be opinionated, so if my thoughts on health care are going to bug you, just skip this post.  Having said that I've lost sleep over the last few weeks thinking about this, and I just can't keep it in any longer.

President Obama promised health care negotiations would take place on C-span so the American public could be witnesses to the debate. This has not happened. The House passed a healthcare bill earlier this year and on Christmas Eve the Senate passed their version. Now they are in committee meetings behind closed doors to combine their respective bills into one bill to send to the President.

I, for one, think this promise by candidate Obama was one of the reasons he was voted into office. It makes sense!! I, for one, feel very angry he has broken this promise. I think all people who voted for the President should feel gypped and mislead. I, for one, want to know what deals are being made.

Nancy Pelosi seemed to be surprised to hear that Obama made these pledges (see video). . . .She and Senator Reid have allegedly refused a letter from C-span requesting full camera access to the final debate and reconcilliation of the two bills. Where is our President when all he needs to do is make a simple phone call to Pelosi to fulfill an obvious campaign promise?

I, for one, want to know how the Senate plans to prosecute people who do not buy health insurance.  Yes, you heard that right, in the Senate's bill, the American public would be required to purchase a healthcare plan.  Low income individuals would have their insurance subsidized.  What is their definition of low-income? Can that definition be changed or adjusted?  Who decides? How do you 'consolidate' a 1000 page House Bill and a 1500 page Senate bill in a few weeks so that all loopholes are closed and things are tidily set up for the American people?

Last time I checked, someone who doesn't follow the law gets fined, if they don't pay the fine they are jailed. This means your consequence for not buying insurance could lead to jail time.  Where in the constitution does it say Congress has a right or obligation to mandate our purchase of something?  Can't find it?  It's not in there.

Is this what our governing officials have come to?   They have to FORCE us to buy insurance (but if we opt for a so-called 'Cadillac' plan, we are charged a tax) so that all Americans will have access to healthcare?  What ever happened to America- the land of the FREE?  Can't our public servants come up with a better way to solve our health care problems than FORCING people to buy insurance?  What about free-market strategies?  What about incentives to companies for finding ways to cut administrative costs (besides the inherent incentive that cutting these costs will decrease cost to patients, thus attracting new patients-yep that's called free market)?  What about capping non-economic damages in malpractice law suits?  What about allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines?  What about making Health Savings Accounts easier to create and access- thus providing the public better incentives to PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES? 

Did it ever occur to anyone that if it is the mandated by LAW to purchase insurance, at some point in time you may be rejected from the E.R. if you can't immediately prove coverage?  Currently, NO patient can be sent away from the E.R. without care- it is considered unethical--it IS unethical.  Does this mean my physician husband (and all other physicans) who has taken an OATH to provide his best care may be forced to choose between following the law by NOT treating an uninsured patient (like an illegal immigrant or some other unfortunate, law-breaking American) or breaking his Hippocratic Oath? I'm not advocating keeping the health care system as is, there are certainly problems, but I don't think some of the solutions just passed and readied to be made law are the right ones.

Some people might say I'm being an alarmist and this would never happen in our country, but I feel very strongly that when Government is given this much control of our lives, though their intentions may be good (provide medical care to all), we can never predict what the unintended consequences may be.

A former President of our Church, Ezra Taft Benson had this to say in a devotional address:

"Another notable counterfeit system to the Lord's plan is collectivized socialism. . . . . . .Why is socialism incompatible with man's liberty? Socialism cannot work except through an all-powerful state. The state has to be supreme in everything. When individuals begin to exert their God-given rights, the state has to suppress that freedom. . . . .

Consider the recent testimonial from the Nobel prize-winning economist, Milton Friedman. He indicated that government spending in the United States at all levels amounts to over forty percent of today's total national income. If we continue to follow the trend in which we are heading today, two things will inevitably result: first, a loss of our personal freedom, and second, financial bankruptcy. This is the price we pay when we turn away from God and the principles which he has taught and turn to government to do everything for us. It is the formula by which nations become enslaved.

This nation was established by the God of heaven as a citadel of liberty. A constitution guaranteeing those liberties was designed under the superintending influence of heaven. Today, two hundred years later, we must sadly observe that we have significantly departed from the principles established by the founders of our country. James Madison opposed the proposal to put Congress in the role of promoting the general welfare according to its whims in these words:
If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every state, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasure; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor. . . . Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for [and it was an issue then], it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America. [quoted in Donald L. Newquist, Prophets, Principles, and National Survival, p. 342]

That statement, given as a warning, has proved prophetic. Today Congress is doing what Madison warned about. Many are now advocating that which has become a general practice since the early 1930s: a redistribution of wealth through the federal tax system. That, by definition, is socialism! Americans have always been committed to taking care of the poor, aged, and unemployed. We have done this on the basis of Judaic-Christian beliefs and humanitarian principles. It has been fundamental to our way of life that charity must be voluntary if it is to be charity. Compulsory benevolence is not charity. Today's socialists--who call themselves egalitarians--are using the federal government to redistribute wealth in our society, not as a matter of voluntary charity, but as a so-called matter of right."

I can't help but think President Benson had a view of things to come in our country.  In reading his words, I am convinced that the 'redistribution of wealth' that is occuring in our country is putting us on the wrong path.  I urge you to fight against this.

Having said that, I must also remember that President Benson encouraged us to be committed to taking care of the poor, aged, and unemployed.  Am I doing this?  I think I can do better.  I want to do better.  I am afraid that I have become complacent to the plight of others in need.  Is this because I know when I see a homeless person I think to myself, "Why aren't they on welfare?"  (sadly, yes, I have thought this).  If the option for welfare were not around, would I be more compassionate?  Maybe.  I hope my answer will help me to realize that I am part of the problem.  It is clear to me that I have a long way to go on my journey to be more like Christ.

I wish I had an answer.  I don't.  Maybe I'll wake up tonight and worry about that one now that I've got health care off my chest.

FOUND

Camera: Found.

Location: My kitchen countertop.

Pondering: Why I couldn't see it in the first place. For 10 days.

It is times like these that I think there really are bad fairies roaming around my house laughing at my stupidity.

Video-game Confession

I, the mother who rolls her eyes and spouts sayings like, 'Too much video-game time will turn your brain to mush,' must confess I played Super Mario Brothers Wii for 2 hours this afternoon while my little boys napped. It was deliciously fun and addictive, but I can't get past world 2-1.

I have a stack of laundry to be folded and my bed's not even made today.

You know your kid has a great teacher when

your daughter says she can't wait to go back to school because she "misses Mrs. Barnson."

Thanks to all you amazing teachers out there who make a difference to our kids!

Why Surgery is O.K. for Us

In preparation for Stake Conference, our leaders have asked us to record and recount a spiritual experience—so here you go:

One of the most important spiritual experiences I’ve been through happened during the end of D’s third year of medical school. I was pregnant with Roger, my 3rd, and D was trying to figure out what field of medicine he should go into. We had been warned and counseled by many, including D’s father, a cardiovascular surgeon, that surgery was not a field to take lightly—the work hours would always be exhaustive, pay was not on the rise, and years to train were longer than most residencies and those years would be guaranteed to be gruesome, at least 80 hour-workweeks and lots of, hmmm, difficult personalities to deal with.

D was torn—he had felt interest in surgery since he was young and this interest had increased during medical school. But he also knew he wanted to be a family man. He already had 2 children with one more on the way. How could he make a decision that would take him away from his family, especially when he knew he would probably be just fine following a less rigorous field of medicine like anesthesia. . . .What to do?

We had been discussing this issue pretty rigorously one Friday night. I told D I wanted to be able to support him in his decision to be a surgeon, but I was scared. My mind told me I wanted him to follow his dream, but my heart wasn’t sure exactly how I would react to weeks, months, and years with him at the hospital for longer and stranger hours than I’d like. I was afraid I wouldn’t be the stable support system for him that I knew he would need. I didn’t want to be the person who resented his decision—he didn’t want to make a decision that would impact me and our family so strongly without my full-fledged support. We’d been taught by our church leaders that any success in life can not foreshadow a failure in the home. I knew that for our home to be a ‘successful’ and happy place, I would need an okay from Heavenly Father that this was the right thing for us—specifically that I could handle whatever the years of training and beyond would throw at us.  That night we offered a heartfelt prayer to our Heavenly Father for an answer to these questions.

The next morning our Stake Relief Society had a fireside scheduled with the topic of ‘tender mercies.’ As I sat through the first few talks, my mind was rolling and thinking about the issues we’d discussed— Could I handle D’s surgical training? Could I support him? Could I be a good enough mom with him gone so much?

Then a beautiful talk began by a member of our stake. I wish I could remember her name. She began by recounting a recent and raw trial she had undergone: while in the hospital after giving birth to her fourth child, she had found a lump in her breast. The diagnosis was not good: breast cancer. She then shared the special and wonderful tender mercies that she had experienced during this trial that told her God was watching and aware of her. I was touched. She told of the oncologist who had visited her home to deliver the bad news. She told of the anesthesiologist’s reassuring words prior to her surgeries. She had been blessed by many friends and family as well.

But, my attention was riveted by the small experiences she had had with her physicians. In my mind’s eye I saw my husband away from our home. I felt the frustrations I would experience because of this, BUT a strong impression came to me that his absence from our home would be a noble work. He would be the practitioner making a difference to vulnerable patients—some of them mothers just like this woman with breast cancer. His time away would be work, yes, but also a great service to his fellow man—just like Christ. The spirit testified to me that although this was was HIS job, it would MY job as well. I felt strongly that Heavenly Father would support me in this endeavor. I felt that although I would only be an accessory to my his work—not a member of the medical team or staff-- my sacrifice and blessings would be as though I was directly involved. I felt assured that I could handle whatever was in store for us. I felt our answer was made. D could pursue surgery without regret. He could pursue surgery with my full support.

Now that we are 3 years into training, I have leaned upon this experience from time to time. When I am frustrated or tired and wishing D was just HOME or at CHURCH, I try to imagine the patients’ he is treating. I have been so blessed by his 'gift of gab' because he often shares some special moments he's had with me. When I am frustrated, I try to remember those impressions I had that wonderful morning. I thank my Heavenly Father for this wonderful experience I had and his answer to our prayer.  I feel so blessed because of it.

Get Prepared 2010

I am making a resolution to get prepared in 2010 and wanted to invite you to join in- no pressure, though.

I'll be using the guidelines from the Food Storage Made Easy website and posting a list of things to do each week for a year on my new blog: Get Prepared in 2010. You can also visit the site and subscribe to a TO DO list that is emailed every other week.

Anyway, if you wanted to check out the website and join me, I'd be happy to have you!

http://getprepared2010.blogspot.com/

A Mother's Work

I just cleaned a poo-out that was so bad I couldn't remove Reed's onesie without feces getting all over his hair.  Can you say EWWWW!?!

He just got his second bath of the day.