A prayer in my heart

So, tomorrow we see another specialist for My Little Reader. This time we are seeing a different pediatric ophthalmologist. After all we went through last time, I vowed I wouldn't go back to the other one ever, ever again. A few weeks ago My Little Reader went in for a regular eye appointment. The optometrist we saw last time doesn't work at that office anymore. I wish he had been there since he had a better understanding of the condition of her left eye. But either way the optometrist she saw felt there was concern that she has developed glaucoma in her good eye. And thanks to the wonder of the internet and a quick, easy and painful search I learned that glaucoma can lead to optic nerve atrophy just like in her bad eye. Which means she could end up with 2 bad eyes. Which leads to things that I don't even want to put on paper, having them in my heart and mind is hard enough. So, once again I have a prayer in my heart and on my lips. A mantra over and over, pleading constantly that this will be ok, that she will be ok, that medicine for once can help and make a difference and preserve the eyesight she has. I pray for the doctor that he is one of the awesome ones because heaven knows we have had both awful and amazing doctors and it makes all the difference. I pray that he will have a good bedside manner and that he will know the fears of a mother and will calm them regardless of what the outcome will be.  I pray for my little girl. I pray constantly that she will be able to see whatever she wants for the rest of her life. I pray that we have already gotten through the worst of this. I pray for the doctors that are making advances every day. I pray that they will be inspired and that they will create miracles that will touch her life. But mostly I just pray for peace. I pray for the same peace I felt with the 2nd MRI and that when I wake in the morning I won't have any of the fear, terror, or nausea that plagued the first MRI. But at the end of the day all fear, nausea, hope, tears, pleading aside, I know that Heavenly Father has a plan, that his plan is perfect and just as it should be even if I can't see it yet. 

The parable of the Legos

This year I have been asked to teach the Youth Sunday School. 12-14 year olds to be specific. If I am being completely honest, I am far less confident in my ability to fulfill this calling than my Bishop is. Hopefully he is right. A big part of the new curriculum this year is to teach like the Savior did. To share and learn the important truths of the Gospel through stories. Which sounds like a great idea. Then I realize that I tell stories for 5 year olds, not pre-teen and teenagers. But last week, I felt like I stumbled upon a pearl of greatness with my Parable of the Legos. And here is how it went.

This Christmas, Sugar and Spice was gifted many, many packages of legos with varying degrees of difficulty. Most he put together with the help of his oldest sister. However, there was one special set (a Ninjago motorcycle set) that he wanted to do all on his own.  It was a really hard one. I offered to help him, to show him the directions and which pieces to use and when, but he insisted time and again that he could "do it on my own, mama." And so I let him. I bet you can guess the result. 30 minutes later he came to me in tears. He had come to a part that he couldn't do because he had made a mistake earlier on and now the pieces weren't fitting together. He needed my help and I was happy to give it to him. It struck me how similar this was to times in our life when we really need the help of our Heavenly Father. Instead, in our stubbornness we say, "no, I got this, I can do it on my own" only before we know it we have strayed too far from the directions and suddenly we realize that we really can't do it on our own. That we do need his help and his direction to get to where we really want to be. And  just as soon as we ask, he is there again to help guide and support us as we find our way back.

The lesson was a nice way to show the students how important both agency and looking to the direction of Heavenly Father are. We are blessed with our agency, our ability to choose for ourselves. However, we are even more infinitely blessed with a Heavenly Father that gives us the tools to make the best decisions that will further bless our lives. 

It sounds so great here on "paper". Hopefully it was as meaningful for the students as it was for me. :)

All who wander are not lost...

I see this quote on Pinterest all the time and it speaks to me. I have a constant desire to go and see. To explore places near and far, familiar and unfamiliar. Right now I have 3 (or 4 or 5...) trips in the works. 

The first was a complete spur of the moment deal that caught a hold and wouldn't let go. So for Spring Break we are surprising the kids with a trip to Albuquerque...on...a...plane! I am super excited. The girls took a plane ride a looong time ago when My Little Reader was just 2 1/2 and Princess in Training was only 2 1/2 months old. Sugar and Spice asks me at least twice a week when we are going to take a plane ride somewhere so when the deal flashed on my screen at work I was hooked. So away we will go and already I have my sights on some fun adventures and some yummy meals. I can't wait. 

I am also in the process of selecting our Alaskan cruise getaway for this summer. There are so many options that sometimes I feel like I am swimming in choices. Sooner or later I will get it all figured out, though it might require a spreadsheet or two. 

We are also planning a BIG road trip next summer up the west coast to a Treesort where we are going to be staying in a tree house hotel. Each of the "cabins" are actual tree house. Because this Treesort is 20+ hours away in Oregon, I am having so much fun researching and planning fun stops along the way. 

Also in our sights this year are a quick 2 day trip to Flagstaff to visit the North Pole Experience and possibly a weekend trip to the Grand Canyon this summer.  

I have the heart of a traveler. I would rather spend my money on traveling than just about anything else. :)