What I Have Learned the Last Few Weeks

1. It's ok to die at 94 years old. Your family will miss you but you have lived a good life and your family will understand.

2. Maybe my view of death is different from other people's because I have the fullness of the gospel and better understand what is waiting for us.

3. ALWAYS wait for your hairdresser and don't settle for substitutes.

4. Purple highlights may not be appropriate if I am following the gospel standards of modest dress and apperance, but they sure do grow on you. I like my hair (except for the cut).

5. Sometimes the doctor cannot fix you back the way you want. My aunt, about 1.5 weeks after her mother died, had her leg amputated above the knee because it was the only option.

6. Bad stuff really does come in threes. Gar died, Aunt Carol lost her leg, I cannot work as a nurse until I get my test taken. (Oh, and I got a bad haircut, but i'm not sure that counts).

7. The Lord gives us trials for a reason. Faith and Patience were only part of the lesson to be learned. I am learning that you cannot just have faith. You must act upon that faith. You must know that the Lord will bless you but that isn't enough. You still have to ask for those blessings. You have to act like the Lord doesn't know what you want. (Sorry if that doesn't make sense).

8. Humility is a great lesson, but it's better when you are not the one learning it. It stinks to be forced to learn humility. I used to think I was humble, but the Lord showed me otherwise.

9. The Lord's time is not my time. "Speedily" to the Lord does not mean today or tomorrow, like it does in my perfect world.

10. No matter what, My family and I are very, very, very blessed. We are blessed for the trials we are experiencing and we will be stronger as a family when this is over.

11. I married an exceptionally wonderful man. He has been so supportive during this whole thing. He had faith when I didn't and has allowed me (within limits) to sob and cry. I'm very lucky (although his 5 year rolling plan for what to do if I die is still in effect - I said he's wonderful, not perfect).