Angels all around us.

Remember when I was diagnosed with Salzmann’s Nodular Degeneration of the Cornea disease?  Let’s get real…you probably don’t.  HA HA!  Anyway, after a few years of watching the growth of the disease attack the eye and causing some distortion in the imagery, I was referred to a cornea specialist.  I ended up having surgery and guess what?  I lived through it.  J  

So…let me share a powerful experience. On Thursday evening (prior to my surgery), I felt a strong impression that I needed to have a priesthood blessing. Everything had happened so quickly and I was feeling a tad bit anxious.  One day I was at the eye doctor—a simple eye check—just something you get checked every year—two days later I am with a cornea specialist scheduling surgery.   I was anxious and felt a lot of concern for what was going to happen.  The blessing that I received was powerful.  I was told that Heavenly Messengers would be sent to be with me throughout the surgery and that there would be Heavenly Messengers that would be sent to steady the surgeons hand and with his expertise and the expertise of these Heavenly Messengers, the surgery would go as expected and that my eyesight would be restored perfectly.  The amazing comfort and peace that I felt during and after the blessing was something that I really cannot describe other than…WOW!!  I thought about that phrase all night long.   

The following day, as I waited in the waiting room of the surgical center, I started to become anxious again but the phrase from my blessing came into mind.  Peace was restored and the anxious feelings were no longer there.  As they prepped me for surgery the thoughts of those Heavenly Messengers—whoever they are--were intriguing.  They opted to not give me the valium that they were planning on and they proceeded with the surgery. 

 

WHAT?  SERIOUSLY?!   

At one point, Dr. Wilkinson said that I was going to feel intense pain (seriously, it was like a million needles stabbing the inside of my eye) and that it would only last a few seconds.  Let me tell you that a few seconds felt like eternity.  When the pain increased, I felt myself being surrounded by this amazing powerful peace.  I FELT those Heavenly friends as they reached out and comforted me.  How do I describe that feeling?  I am not sure that I can describe it.  It was like…I can’t even put into words how I felt.  It was…indescribable.  It was powerful.  I felt my entire body relax and remained relaxed throughout the rest of the surgery.  I felt so much comfort.  So much peace.  It was powerful.  I know that it sounds funny to people who do not have a glimpse of what the other side is like but it was so real.   

Each day, I have felt the healing powers of the priesthood.  I am so grateful for the comfort that I felt that day and continue to feel throughout this healing period.  I know that there are angels that are sent to comfort us and help with the tender mercies from the Lord.  I can never deny that.  NEVER!  I know that it is true.  I have had so many powerful priesthood blessings—blessings that reiterate that I am supposed to be here at this time and that my life has been sparred many times.  I know that my our Heavenly Father is real.  He knows us--individually and wants us to know and feel of His love and His comfort.  

 

 

I am grateful for living angels in my life.  I stayed at my parent’s home and was wonderfully spoiled while I regained sight in my eye.  I had plenty of sweet friends that called or stopped by.  My dear friend, Vieve, dropped by this basket filled with delicious treats!!!  Aw…I was spoiled and definitely blessed.

 

~Michelle

a bittersweet day!

Day 74...

Today I spent most of the day being with this friend of mine.  She will be soon entering the Mission Training Center to serve an LDS mission in the faraway land of Poland.  Two days to be exact. There are so many emotions that I am feeling right now that I cannot even describe.  I am so excited for her have this incredible adventure but on the other hand, I am going to miss her terribly.  We have had our ups and downs and a lot of those downs have been horrible but over the past few weeks, a lot of those downs have been replaced with forgiveness and a genuine change of heart.  We have been friends for so long—we laugh, we argue, we cry, we tease, we watch movies together, we ask each other questions that make us think, we giggle, we talk deeply about the gospel, and sometimes when we are together, we just don’t say anything.  I am going to miss her more than I want to.  I just love her to pieces.  Good luck Ash in that faraway land!!!  I will be praying for you each and every day!!!

 

Love ya!!

~Michelle

Oreo Cupcakes!!

 

Day 58…

I am grateful for amazing friends in my life. One of them in particular always is willing to help me out when I am in a bind. Earlier this week, I needed 48 cupcakes and I didn’t have any time to make them. I had thought about dropping by Sweet Tooth Fairy or Cocoa Bean and purchasing them but I really didn’t have time for that either. I had so much going on and my day seemed to get crazier than ever. SO…my dear friend, Vieve, came to the rescue. She made 48 delicious Oreo cookie cupcakes and they were scrumptious. Thank you dear friend for helping me out when I was in a bind. I am so grateful for your friendship and so grateful for you amazing help!!!

~Michelle

Adventures that warm my heart!

What brings warm fuzzies into my heart?  Well, let me tell you. I get warm fuzzies when I am invited to events by special people in my life.  I love it.  I love the feeling of being thought of…important…does that make sense?  So, when I received an invitation to attend The Sounds of Stadium at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, I knew that I wanted to attend. 

So, Dalene, Nash and I drove two and half hours in a horrible rain storm to watch this girl…Oh my goodness, it was awesome!! She is incredibly talented.  I loved it!!  Also…just to let everyone know…this was MY VERY FIRST BAND CONCERT…EVER!!  Juleea, thanks so much for inviting me.  It truly warmed my heart.

On the way home, we drove past a few LDS temples.  Nash and I decided that we wanted take pictures of these lovely buildings.  At each temple, we jumped out of car, braved the cold  and took pictures of these incredible buildings. 

Logan LDS Temple

Brigham City LDS Temple

Across from the Brigham City Temple, is the Brigham City Tabernacle. 

Aren’t these buildings spectacular?  I think so!!  I had a lot of fun tonight.  This adventure was entertaining and incredible!  I wonder what our next adventure will be.  I know it will be awesome!!

~Michelle

P.S.  Today…I am grateful for fun adventures that make us laugh until we cry!!  Yes, we did laugh until we cried tonight!!  It was awesome.  I really needed this adventure.

It was definitely a feast!

Today, I had the privilege and opportunity to spend most of the day with some of my amazing friends.  I love them so much and we always have such a great time together.  We laugh. We cry. We vent. We talk.  We comfort one another.  We pray and fast for one another. We have so much fun together.  Who are these friends?  They are SUPER-DUPER-FANTASTIC!  They are friends that I am blessed to know.  I treasure their friendship.  These amazing people are my stake and ward young women leaders.    I love them all!  They are so precious.

Bright and early this morning, we gathered together listen to Sister Elaine Dalton, LDS General Young Women’s President. She was full of energy as she spoke about the young women and testified of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  She is incredible.  Her talk was so powerful.  She loves her calling and it radiates all around her.  I was so pumped after her talk that I felt that I could conquer the world.  I was spiritually fed.  I did not want her to stop talking.  The Spirit was present and I didn’t want it to leave.  It was an delightful morning. 

After being spiritually filled to the brim, a few of us headed to Cafe Rio to be physically fed.  Fun. Laughter. Deliciousness.  Aw…what a delightful day!! I love these kind of days where there is so much laughter and genuine happiness.  I am so grateful for my calling and the opportunity to serve with amazing friends!!!

~Michelle

Balto!

I have been wanting to watch the movie Balto for quite sometime. It had been recommended to me by a friend of mine.  The thing is…I didn’t own a copy of this movie nor did I know of anyone who owned it.  I had told Gabby that I really wanted to watch this movie but I wasn’t having any luck locating a copy. 

Guess what?  Gabby found me a copy!  Yahoo!!

If you haven’t watched this movie…I recommend it.  It is inspiring.  It is based on a true story about a dog named Balto.  He truly with touch your heart. 

I love it!

I am grateful for the amazing friends in my life that go out of their way to brighten my day.  Thanks Gabby!!  You are an amazing friend!  t hat I have in my life that bring plenty of sunshine.

 

What are you grateful for today?

~Michelle

 

P.S.  I am grateful for inspiring movies that tug at my heartstrings.

Laughter is the best medicine!

It is Thanksgiving week.   YAHOO!!  I love Thanksgiving.  There are so many wonderful things to be grateful for and so many reasons to take time to celebrate our many blessings.  I know that I have many blessings to celebrate!  I am so grateful for all that I have.  If I took a moment to make a list of all the things I am grateful for and blessed with..my list would never be complete.  I would always have one more thing to jot down.  There are so many wonderful things to celebrate.  Now that it is Thanksgiving time…what are you grateful for?

 

I am grateful for the comedy act that Dirk and Gabby perform for me every single day.  I try not to encourage them but they are hysterical.

 

If you want an explanation of what happened in this picture…check here.

Laughter is the best medicine!

~Michelle