Recognizing Life's Miracles

This time of year brings a lot of talk about miracles. Church talks from the pulpit speak of pioneers of the LDS faithful crossing the plains into the Salt Lake Valley amidst persecution and hardship. No doubt these people had miracles daily. However, I doubt I could be one that could have endured child birth on the trail, frigid cold temperatures, lack of food, and sleep. These topics have given me the need for my own self reflection on the miracles I have witnessed and been a part of in my life.

An Eternal Marriage

I have been blessed with an eternal marriage made possible by binding covenants in a temple of God. This one simple ordinance is a miracle given to me by a loving Heavenly Father. I entered the temple 15 years ago with my best friend. Together we have built a relationship, not without its trials, but with strength and commitment to each other. I thank God for the miracle of my husband.


Blessed in this Union

In the union of my marriage I have been blessed with two beautiful children. They are both miracles.

Ryan
When Ryan was 4 months old, Brett and I both had to give a talk in church on the law of tithing. Since we had been married, we had always paid a 10% tithe. It was never a question. The money is set aside before any other bill is paid. It is still that way today. During that time we were in the midst of having Ryan diagnosed for the first time with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome, SCID. Neither of us understood what path that diagnosis would take us down. We were young and brand-new parents.

I had been searching for a story that I could tell that would illustrate the blessings, perhaps miracles, that paying tithing would afford one who chose to follow that law. Just before sacrament meeting we were invited into the kitchen of the church building we were attending to have a prayer. During that prayer a most overwhelming feeling came over me. In an instant I knew of a story I could tell that would illustrate my point. As I stood before the congregation to teach about the law of tithing, I told the story of a young 4-month old boy who had just been diagnosed with having no immune system. That little boy was currently at home with his grandparents. His journey was just beginning and because his parents had paid their tithing, they were being blessed with a miracle. Their situation could have been, as the spirit witnessed to me, 'much worse'.

I didn't realize how 'much worse' things could have been with my son until months, perhaps years later.  I have a testimony of the law of the tithe. Because of it, the windows of heaven have been opened to my family and we have the miracle of our son.

Sydney

When Sydney was born, she had a broken mother. Looking back on the early months of her life are very painful for me. I was not the mother she needed. Through counseling and medication, I am now able to be the mother she needs and deserves. It is through miracles that I no longer need medication for which I am truly grateful.

Through the recent events in our lives, Syd and I have been able to discuss the miracles we were granted on her behalf. Two days ago Sydney was walking around with crutches. She loves the dang things and leaves them all over the house. She made the comment that she wished that she just had a broken leg instead of diabetes. I agreed. A broken leg would heal, diabetes does not. There is no cure. As I was apologizing to her for the lot that she has been given she said to me, "At least we found it before I got really sick." That is a miracle. There were 8 other patients on the floor with us at the hospital, all with Type 1 diabetes. We caught Syd's early. She recognizes the hand of God in her life. So while this disease has brought many emotions to all of us over the past three weeks, we have been granted yet more miracles.

Even More

I could likely continue to document many more miracles and make this a 10-page post, I will sum it all up with just one more. Five years ago I got a visit from my sister. I have told this story before, but it is near and dear to my heart. Brett and I had just competed in the Burley Spudman triathlon. We were on our way home when Azure and Brian called to tell us that they were coming to stay with us. When we arrived home they were here and Azure had done all of my laundry. One cannot possibly explain how much that one simple act means to me. I hate laundry. It is my most detested chore, and there she was with all of it done and folded.

Two and a half months later Azure was called home to live with our Heavenly Father. The day of her accident we were all praying for a miracle. Of course the miracle we were praying for was that she would live. We were not granted that particular miracle, but I would like to share some of the miracles we were granted during that time.

Azure's son was in the car with her. When found, the car was on its top and Eric had only received a small scratch. Having him a part of our lives still is a miracle. It is interesting to me that one can be so much like someone whom he is not around to pick up traits from. Eric is a miracle.

The night that we all saw Azure for the first time will never be forgotten. That night I realized that the plan of salvation was a tangible thing, no longer thought of as something that could possibly happen, but that was in fact real. Azure had gone home. Her mission on earth was through, and it was in and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we would all see her again one day. That knowledge that is now etched in my soul ad is in fact another miracle.

Miracles came daily in the small town of Heber, AZ. From men cleaning up a yard and filling it with firewood for the winter, to cans of formula being brought for the 5 1/2 month old baby who had just lost his mother, to never-ending meals for anyone and everyone who stopped by. All were miracles for our sweet little family. 

He is mindful

Our Heavenly Father knows us. He is mindful of our every need. He has blessed me throughout my life with miracles. I am grateful for the time I have to reflect on the blessings I receive in the form of everyday miracles.

What's On Your Menu?

July 1st was fast Sunday, a day set aside each month for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to fast. Generally members go without food for two consecutive meals and then donate a portion of money to help the poor. It is a day that spiritual needs outweigh physical needs and souls are turned to God in prayer and fasting.

Our family prayed for rain for the wild fires we have been experiencing in Utah. I also had a secret prayer that I would finally be able to have the courage to make my health a priority in my life.

I spent the following week measuring my meals. I wanted to know what I was truly taking in. I wanted to be sure I could do it for myself as well as my family.

On Saturday the kids participated in the Tour de Donut in American Fork. I ate a donut and a half and it was terrible. I had been so careful all week and I realized what sugar did to me. I didn't feel well at all for the rest of the day.



Fast forward to Monday and I was running all day. Not running as in slip on the running shoes and head out the door, but running as in trip to the water park, Salt Lake City, orthodontist, and then pediatrician.

I had taken Syd to the pediatrician because she was having trouble at night time keeping her bed dry. I was washing sheets multiple times a week. On Sunday morning I found her in the bathroom sobbing because she had soiled two beds. My heart ached for her and I wanted to get some help for her. My worst fear was that she had been somehow abused and it was manifesting itself at night.

We made it to the Dr and Sydney gave a urine sample. After waiting in the room for about a half hour we met with our pediatrician and discussed what could be going on with Syd. We agreed that it was probably the change in sleeping patterns that she's had since school got out. The Dr requested a height on Syd so he called his assistant to take her and measure her height. As she left the room, Dr Bennett turned to me and said, "Deni, this isn't good. She has sugar in her urine, we will need blood work." I knew immediately what the diagnosis was, but I secretly hoped my intuition was wrong. Dead wrong.

Over the course of the next half hour, Syd's finger was poked and a diagnosis was confirmed. She has type one diabetes. We were instructed to go to the hospital as soon as we could get there. Do not eat the dinner that had been prepared, just leave and get there. Her blood sugar was so high it was off the charts. meters were not reading it and an actual blood draw was ordered. They want her blood levels to be in between 80 and 150. Her blood sugar was 680.

Syd is a champ

Our lives have changed in an instant. The days of eating whatever we want without answering to anyone or anything are over. Everything will have to be monitored. Because I don't believe it is fair for Syd to do this alone, we will all be making changes.

I am constantly amazed at how God works. I have no doubt that over the past couple of weeks I have been prepared to help Sydney succeed. We will be measuring our food and testing everything. Of course she can still have whatever food she wants, she just has to have insulin to replace what her body isn't making. We will do this together, and once again I will become an expert in the medical field. This time -- type one diabetes.

What's on your menu?