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February has been a tough month.
Week 1: My Aunt M was involved in a multiple car/motorcycle accident in CA. Extended family spent an anxious two days waiting for tests to finalize what we all internally knew was inevitable.
Aunt M was taken off life support. She has joined her sister, Aunt R (who died 19 years ago after a head-on collision and discontinued life support (yeah, way too eerily similar for comfort!)), and her dad, my grandpa (who passed away 3 months after Aunt R).
Week 2: Ray's dad had a stroke this morning. So we are once again anxiously waiting for news. The latest update is that he is okay for now, but they are monitoring him closely for a possible second stroke within 48 hours. Once they know he is past the possible secondary stroke, they will treat the symptoms. So far, Mom D is holding up all right.
I really am not looking forward to Week 3 and 4 of this month. I'm dreading what other medical emergencies there could be for our extended family. There are a lot of possibilities! I'm glad February is a short month. Already, I can't wait for it to end!
However, I might have a post in the making about how to deal with the uncertainty of life. (Trying to look for a positive…)
Please pray for my family.
Pray for Mom D to handle this situation well. Pray for us to have the courage to accept Heavenly Father's will. Pray for us to be strong and faithful. Pray for what is best for Dad and Mom D. Pray for my extended family to come together and support one another during a time of heartache and sorrow. Aunt M's upcoming funeral will be difficult for many. Pray for us to feel the love and peace of our Savior.
It could be a very long month.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
Michelle – I will be praying for all of you. My heart goes out to you and yours. Can I just say – that was really a beautiful post, in spite of the sadness.
This is one of the tremendous opportunities in times of uncertainty to turn TO the Savior and not away. This really is a beautiful, beautiful request. One of the most influential memories of my childhood was when we found out our neighbor and dear friend had just suffered a massive heart attack. We were somewhere in town and my brother and I were waiting in the car for mom while she ran into some place or another. She got back in the car and she was crying and told us that Mac had a heart attack and it was really bad. She told us immediately that we had to pray and we did. Mac did not get better and passed very quickly and that prayer was just a moment, but it has stayed with me for more than 20 years. My mother really taught me then where it is we turn in moments of sorrow and crisis and you are teaching your family that now.
Thanks, Jenny. Death is hard, even when it is expected. Tragedy really gives one a chance to contemplate. For me personally, my faith and hope in a literal resurrection is one of the main things keeping me going this month…
Michelle, Jenny is absolutely right about your post. The part she highlighted beautifully outlines what we believe and what we can do to receive comfort and strength. I’m grateful that you have these beliefs, this faith and hope, and I’ll pray for you and the rest of your family. I’m very sorry for your loss and the stress of this month. Keep yourself in His light and he’ll heal you and yours.Thank you for giving us the chance to offer support to you.
Michelle,
I am praying for you, and your family. Sorry to hear that you are having these trials right now! I am not going to throw any cliches at you, i am sure you have heard them all. Just know that we love you, and are thinking about you.
Here’s to a better week 3 and 4!
sorry about your hard times.
Michelle, I swear I commented on this and then it disappeared into the ether! What?
Anyway, I’m really sorry for the difficulty you are having. We love you!
Update, FYI:
February Week 3: Aunt M’s funeral in UT and Dad D’s surgery. Hard stuff. It is difficult not being able to be there in person.
But there are some wonderful positives:
Week 4 passed uneventfully!
Even more important, Dad D is improving and will be released from the hospital this week. He faces a lot of time and effort in rehab, but there is a lot of hope for a nearly-complete recovery!
Hello, March. You look wonderful!