Hope

Well, I slept in till noon today, and only woke up then because the phone rang. I was shocked when I looked at the clock, what in the world is wrong with me? I never sleep 12 hours and then still feel this tired. It was all I could do to take a shower at 5:00 p.m. and then have dinner and cake, to celebrate our oldest daughter Amy's birthday. Her birthday is actually tomorrow, but we celebrated it today.

I think she had a good time and I tried to stay alert and awake, still I am so very tired. I have to push myself to get anything done. I am thinking now that it isn't a cold coming on, but not sure what else it could be. I sorta felt like this when I had Mono, I pray that I don't have that back.

Anyway as you can tell, the last few days I have been pretty down, and also worried  why my body isn't staying healthy any more. I was on such a good healthy path, not sure how I fell off? Of course, whether I like it or not some of my old worries come back and haunt me a bit. But I realize I just can't go there. I was reading an article today about Hope and thought ...that is where I need to stay. There was a cute story and a few quotes that I need to put on my mirror to remember, that is what I will share (part of with you) tonight...mostly for my benefit! :)

   "Our family grew up in the high desert country of southern Utah. Rain is rare, and hope abounds that there will be sufficient moisture for the coming heat of the summer. Then, as now, we hoped for rain, we prayed for rain, and in dire times, we fasted for rain.
   The story is told there of the grandfather who took his five-year-old grandson for a walk around town. Ultimately, they found themselves at a small grocery store on Main Street where they stopped for a cold soda pop. A car from out of state pulled up and the driver approached the old-timer. Pointing to a small cloud in the sky, the stranger asked, "Do you think it's going to rain?"
   "I certainly hope so," replied the old man, "if not for my sake, for the boy's. I've seen it rain."

   Hope is an emotion which brings richness to our everyday lives. it is defined as " the feeling that ...events will turn out for the best." When we exercise hope, we "look forward...with desire and reasonable confidence". As such , hope brings a certain calming influence to our lives as we confidently look forward to future events.

   We should never let hope be displaced by despair. The exercise of hope enriches our lives and helps us look forward to the future."  ~ Steven E. Snow  May 2011 Ensign

This was the perfect story for me tonight. I just need to remember like the grandfather said, I have seen rain but the boy hasn't .  Like him, I have seen miracles, I have seen tragedy end up into a blessing. I have seen the Tender Mercies of the Lord in my own life, but I need to now... remember to stay hopeful and strong, so that I can help my granddaughters see it too, in their lives. I know things happen for a reason, I know that my Heavenly Father is well aware of my life, my hopes and my dreams. He knows what I have yet to accomplish here on earth, I just need to focus my energies in the right place! Thanks for  your concerns, thoughts and prayers!
Good night dear friends!