Gifts, Miracles, and Thanks!

As mentioned before, I love this time of year! Yesterday we started out our Thanksgiving festivities with a good game of Turkey Bowl! The plan was to have James and I watch Russell play...

And we did...

 well kinda... 

Except I couldn't keep James sitting still enough or happy enough to watch much of anything. I tried to leave a few times, but he would get even more upset. My darling husband came over and picked James up and starting carrying him onto the field. I will never forget the excitement and joy that followed as a huge smile BURST from James' face!

And together, the boys played. Yes Russell would throw and catch and run with sweet baby James, and from clear across the field you could see his bright smile saying: "LOOK! I get to be just like Daddy!"

This time of the year is a time when our eyes are opened to all of the gifts and miracles of God that surround us, and I join in the voice of giving Thanks! 

I am thankful for my FOREVER FAMILY

for SCRIPTURE

for PROPHETS

for PRAYER

for MUSIC

for this FREE COUNTRY

for the HEALING POWER

of the ATONEMENT

and for our TRIALS which bring us CLOSER TO GOD

Since May I have been passing out anywhere from 8 times a day to 2 times a week. The average is twice a day. We have been to doctor after doctor after doctor and have not been able to be healed of any.

But since November 2, I have not passed out once. 

I thought I knew what faith was and I thought I knew the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. But through the loving guidance of Priesthood leaders I was told that when I had great enough faith that things would work out. I pondered and prayed and searched for what more the Lord expected me to do. I turned to the story of the woman with the issue of blood who was healed through faith in Jesus when she touched His robes (Matthew 5:25-35). I continued to ponder these things, but still did not find any answers or guidance. The next day, while in prayer, I suddenly felt like I had been healed. But I felt unsure, I was worried I was making it up because I wanted it so badly. I continued to study and pray. I began studying words that spoke of the power of the atonement and the ability for us to STAND BLAMELESS before God because of what Christ has done if we are faithful. Although I had read this many times before, I suddenly felt great anguish

.

I AM NOT BLAMELESS! I cannot stand before God!

Immediately a very powerful and peaceful feeling came over me and I could almost hear the words:

"Just as I have TAKEN AWAY your SICKNESS, I can TAKE AWAY your SINS!"

In that moment, I realized if it would have taken me 12 years to be healed, like the woman in the Bible, it would have been WORTH IT! For I came to understand, FAITH, the LOVE of my SAVIOR, and the POWER of the ATONEMENT like I never had before.

Since that day, I have not passed out once.

I bear firm testimony, that Jesus is the Christ- The Savior of the World. He loves us, and that love has given Him the power that is His. It is only through Christ that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and that we can live with our families forever. I owe everything to Him, and yet, I know that all I can give will never be enough to pay him back. Despite this tremendous gap, the Love and sacrifice of the Savior fills the entire gap and makes the way possible for us. I am grateful for my Redeemer and I know that it is though Him that I have been healed and through Him that I will one day become Whole. And just like my son, one day, I will be able to say: "Look, I get to be just like Daddy!"

What a perfect lesson for the Lord to teach me as the Christmas season rolls in. And may we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate Christ- His humble birth, His miraculous life, and His saving sacrifice.

Holiday Season Kickoff

Fall time is one of my favorite times of the year. Even though Halloween isn't my most favorite holiday, it does start off the Winter/Fall holiday season. I love this time of year because it is a time of remembering, a time for family, and a time for love. It is a time of remembering all that we have been given and it is a time of remembering our greatest gift of all: Christ. We need all of these things all year round, but I think it is wonderful that we have holidays to remind us.

Halloween was pretty fun this year with a little 15 month old. James loved being a dog for Halloween. He would even bark while wearing the costume, it was SUPER cute!

 We went trick or treating at the historic downtown shops during the day with a group of other children and their mom's from the ward. We had a good time. It took James a little bit to get a hang of but he finally got caught on. I will never forget the way he looked at me, with the first time someone dropped a piece of candy in his bag, with his huge, excited puppy dog eyes!

 And of course we had our Annual Ivie Halloween party. James had his first experience mini-golfing, and loved it!

 James has a great mentor, not only for golf, but for life. Russell is such a wonderful dad and is such a great example to him.

Another exciting thing to note is that I have finished all of my classes!! The last class I had to take was on-line and go at your own pace and I finished mid-october, except for all the paper work to process, I am graduated!! Yay! I graduated with a bachelor of arts, with cum-laude honors, in Liberal Arts. It has been a big accomplishment for me with everything going on in our lives right now.