Mom…

Early early this morning, I received a text that one of our young woman’s mom in our stake passed away.  This little 15 year old is left without a mom or dad (her dad passed away about a year ago).  My heart broke when I heard the news.  I feel so bad and so helpless.  I have no idea what to do.  Erin,  I am so sorry you have to experience this type of pain. Even though you do not see it, our Heavenly Father loves you so much and is so aware of your pain.

(My mom & her little buddy)

Then, I started thinking about my mom.  I have an awesome mom.  I am not sure what I would do without her in my everyday life.  I love her so much.  For the past two weeks, we have had a bit of a scare.  Mom’s health hasn’t been the greatest lately.  Two weeks ago, the doctor ordered some tests.  The first set of tests included a colonoscopy.  During this test, the doctor removed a pre-cancerous polyp. He told mom that she was really lucky that her regular doctor ordered this test.  He said that if she waited much longer, it could have been cancerous.  He also noticed a large mass that looked abnormal and not quite right.  He ordered another set of tests.  He was not hopeful that these tests would turn out in my mom’s favor.  When I heard this…I immediately called the temple and placed my mom’s name upon the prayer roll.  I have such a strong testimony of prayer.

This past Friday, Mom went in for some more tests. Meanwhile, Mom’s name has been placed on the temple prayer rolls and lots and lots of people are praying for her.

Today…Mom received a phone call from her doctor.  EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE!!!  No need to worry anymore.  I am so grateful.  I know that my mom is ok due to the power of prayer!!!  I truly believe in the miracle of prayer.  I really do!!

I love you Mom!!!

Michelle

Cleansing power of the atonement

“Remember, it is the cleansing power of the Atonement that makes it possible for us to be virtuous. We all make mistakes, but “because the Savior loves you and has given His life for you, you can repent. Repentance is an act of faith in Jesus Christ. . . . The Savior’s atoning sacrifice has made it possible for you to be forgiven of your sins. . . . Determine to partake worthily of the sacrament each week and fill your life with virtuous activities that will bring spiritual power. As you do this, you will grow stronger in your ability to resist temptation, keep the commandments [remain clean], and become more like Jesus Christ”

(Young Women Personal Progress [insert, 2009], 3).

Daily habits of righteous behavior will also help you to continually hold fast to the rod. “

(Mary N. Cook, General Young Women Meeting, March 2009)

I love  how it says that we all make mistakes but because the Savior loves us and has given His life for each one of us…we have the opportunity and privilege to repent. The cleansing power of the Atonement is amazing!!!

Michelle

Eye drops…my forever friend!!

 

I love my eyes.  I love the color of my eyes.  No, I am not being vain…I just love my eyes.  Let me share what I learned about my eyes…ok, my right eye to be specific.

On Wednesday, Vieve and I were reading a piece of paper.  She turned to look at me and said, “What is wrong with your eye?”  Sometimes I get little bubbles in my eyes but they pop and then they go away.  It really isn’t a big deal.  Usually, they aren’t that noticeable.  Anyway, I did not think anything of it.  I thought that I had a little bubble in my eye.  No big deal!!!  Right? Umm…No!

The next morning, I was getting ready for work and noticed my eye…it looked as if it had some sort of growth on the edge of the iris. My heart sunk….I am so sick of doctors. I am sick of being poked and prodded.  I have gone through so much in the past two months with doctors.  I just was not in the mood to visit one more.  I love my eye doctor…but I just did not want to call him.

I received a strong impression to make the phone call. So, I did.  I explained to the receptionist that I had this weird growth thingy growing on the iris of my eye. She told me that she needed to get me in that very day. She asked if I could be there at 2:20 pm.  Hmmm…usually, it takes a couple of weeks to get into see him. I kind of had a panic feeling inside.  Oh, I dislike those types of feelings!

Finally…the time approached.  They ran through a bunch of tests on my eyes and then, Dr. Nielson says, “Michelle, you have Salzmann’s Nodular Degeneration of the Cornea disease.” I am thinking to myself, “Umm…excuse me…what is that?” Then, the next comment made me laugh.  He said, “Well, it is common…ok…not real common.” So, is it common or is it not?  Why do I always end up with the weird diagnosis?  Maybe to keep me humble.  Ha Ha!!  Life is good.

For the rest of entire life…UGH!!…I get to lubricate my eye 4 to 5 times a day.  Oh, I am so excited!  No, I am not!!  So, this new adventure starts…one drop at a time.  It has been quite comical to watch me try and put the drops in my eyes. I have never ever done this before.  It is quite the sight to see.  Hopefully, I will get the knack of it soon…if not, I am going to own stock in tissues!!  Wish me luck on my new adventure!!

Have a great day!!!  If you need a laugh, come over and watch me try to put eye drops in my eye. It is comical!

Michelle

…a little taste of heaven

So…there is this cutest little place that has most delicious treats on earth…cupcakes.  Now I am not one for a cupcake nor any type of cake…but, these delicious gourmet cupcakes is almost like tasting a lit bit of heaven.  Vieve found this place (The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe)  and now…it has become the most blessed place to visit.  We do something awesome…we visit the cupcake place.  We need a pick-me-up…we visit the cupcake place.We need to cheer someone up…we visit the cupcake place.  It is the coolest place alive.  

So, tonight…we decided that someone needed us to add little bit of cheer into his/her life (I don’t want to disclose too much information)…so we visited the cupcake place.  We found the perfect delectable cupcake—Luscious Lemon Raspberry cupcake.  We took our little box of goodness and headed to a house where the not-so-cheerful person lived and scoped it out.  Ok…I can’t go into any more details…I don’t want to give our adventure away…but…let me add, it was hysterical!!  What a great day to be alive!!!

Michelle

Oh…what a delightful day!!!

It was one of those fantastic days that you want to relive each moment.  I woke up to a phone call from my parents singing “Happy Birthday” to me.  It was great!!!  Yes, today is my birthday!!!

I arrived at work…look at my desk!!!  Craziness but so great!!  Thanks Vieve for completely spoiling me.

Diet coke on ice.  HA HA!!

 

Flowers from my Mom!!!  Mom…you are the greatest!!!

Breakfast was served.  Dirk made the most delicious Scotch eggs.  Oh, so delicious!!!

As I was leaving for a fabulous lunch with some of my friends, Sariah & Mesa were decorating my car. I caught them in the act!!!  Thanks Sariah and Mesa!!!  You guys are awesome!!!

Treats later in the day consisted of ice cream and cheesecake!!!  Interesting combination….deliciousness!!

 

I arrived home to find “half-circles” covering the entrance to my condo.  Yes, half-circles…they make me laugh. 

I even received “half cupcakes”.  HA HA  Gerb, Miki, Marilyn, Lauralie, Angela and Diane….you guys are the greatest!!!! 

Visits from friends and family…oh what a delight. 

  Later on…the doorbell rang…I was sung to by some of my young women and then….KIDNAPPED!!!!  My sweet young woman, Katie, planned a SURPRISE party for me.  It was the greatest!!!  Oh my goodness!!!  I was completely surprised!!!  Katie, Mckell, Melaina, Amber, Carissa, Juleea, Marilyn, Lauralie, and Miki…you guys made my night!!!!  Thanks so much!!!!  I love you so much!! You are the greatest!!

Oh!!  What a delightful day!!!  I was spoiled all day long.  It was great to be surrounded by friends and family!!!  Thank you for making my day the greatest day ever!!!

Michelle

 

It is time to do the happy dance—no cancer!!

It has been a long…very long two weeks.  I think that I have had every kind of emotion that is possible.  A couple of weeks ago, I woke up with an ache in my chest on the left side.  Then, it turned into a horrible pain.  I knew that it was time to visit with the doctor...something was not right.  They took my vitals-normal.  They ran an EKG-normal. He sent me to the hospital to have a three different tests on my heart-normal.  The pain and the ache continued. 

Early last week, I received a phone call for more tests.  I was scheduled for a CT scan on Thursday where they would check for cancer cells from my neck to my waist.  When I heard the nurse say that dreaded word-CANCER.  My heart literally took a nose dive.  Are you serious?  Then, I remembered the words from a priesthood blessing that I had previous the first set of heart tests.  He said, “This is in the Lord’s hands.  If He wants you continue serving and promoting the Lord’s work upon this earth, you will be healed.”  I found a great amount of peace.  Don’t miss read that...I did have peace–but, I was scared at what the peace might bring.  I could not even say that ugly word.  I told my parents that I was scared.  I did not want to know if I have cancer.  My mom said that everything would be okay...but, I knew it from her voice...she was scared too!  I thought long and hard what it would mean if I did have it.  How would I deal with it?  One fear came that if I did have it, I was nervous that they would release me from my calling.  The young women in our stake bring me such happiness and a hope for life. 

It had already been a couple of weeks of sleeplessness...I knew that it would continue. 

The night before the scan, I was really restless.  A friend dropped by to see me and I shared everything with her.  I told her that I was scared–I have never been scared like this before in my entire life.  When I said that ugly word that night…it was so difficult to keep composure.  I am so glad for her sweetness that night as she just listened.  Yes, just listened to all my fears!!  I needed that.  I was scared!!  Thank you so much!!

The morning of my scan, I received a phone call from my mom.  She was scared!!  I could tell it from her voice.  Then, the call came from my Dad.  He reassured me that everything would be okay.  I started to cry and did not stop.  I love my parents. They are such great examples to me and such great deal of strength.  I have had to rely on them a lot lately.  They have such amazing faith.  I am grateful that they are my parents.

Mom went with me to the scan.  She waited patiently in the waiting room (patience…is not one of my mom’s strengths).  But, she waited. 

I am thankful for the sweetest radiology tech.  She was so kind and gentle.  We talked about cancer and what would happen if I had it.  She was just so sweet.  The CT scan was pretty cool.  Definitely nothing that I would ever want again...but it was interesting.  After the scan, she said that she would rush the results through.  She said I should know in 48 hours.  She said that she could tell that I was really nervous and sad.  She would do all she could to rush them through. 

On the way out the door, everything hit me...emotionally and physically.  I was so sick.  I was so nauseous. I was so scared.  I am thankful for a sweet mom...who kept trying to cheer me up.   I came home and slept for hours.  (I am thankful for understanding people at work–who have been so patient with me not being there). 

Then, the call came...I looked at the number and started shaking.  I was so scared.  The first words out of the nurses mouth was...”There is NO sign of cancer.”  I took a deep breath.  She said, “Isn’t that the greatest news?”  Yes, it is!!! 

When I called my mom...she took a deep breath...I knew that she had been waiting for the results.  Then, I called Dad...the same!!  I do not have cancer.  I have never been so grateful to say that!!! I am doing the happy dance and will continue doing it over and over again.  It has been a rough week.  I have so much to be grateful for...yes, I do!!

When I arrived to work later that day, Vieve saw me coming down the hall.  I yelled, “No Cancer”.  She rushed to me and gave me the hugest hug.  She would not let go.  I know that those that I work with kept me in their prayers.  In fact, I know that I was in a lot of prayers and have been for these past two weeks.  I know that these results are from those prayers.  Thank you…every single one of you…for your prayers in my behalf!! I am so grateful!!!

I am still tired, exhausted and in pain...but, I can handle anything.  I do have the strength to do so.  I have amazing parents.  I have amazing friends. I know the strength that prayer brings!!

I do not have cancer!!!  I love those words!!!  Oh, it is a great day to be alive!!!

Michelle

…just can’t get enough of it!

 

On Christmas eve, I watched  Julie & Julia for the first time.  Since that night, I have watched this movie 5 times.  (Yes, I know, it has only been 5 days). I love it.  I am not sure why I love it…I just do!!  I can’t seem to get enough of it. It is one of those feel good movies that just make you smile.  Movies that bring happiness to the heart are the best!!!  If you want to watch this movie, you can borrow mine. (I think I need to lend it out so that I don’t keep watching it.) HA HA!!