One Saturday we received a late night phone call that let us know our family land and current home of our trailer was threatened by fire. Evacuation orders were put in place before we were able to go get our trailer. We anxiously waited and fervently searched for every little bit of information we could get. We soon learned the fire had swept through our land and we were pretty sure we had lost it all. It was a blessed peace of mind when we came across this photo on the internet.
Talk about being too close for comfort.
As we shared this news with friends and family many remarked, you must be paying your tithing.
About a week after the fire, we were able to go up and personally inspect the damage. While most of the land was burned and we did loose some minor things we were overwhelmed at the miracle that had taken place. While many neighbors lost it all ours, for some reason, was spared. The land and trees right up to our pavilion and trailer were burned yet these items were untouched. There was a little cosmetic damage to the outside of the trailer, but it was still usable. As we were cleaning out our trailer from the ash, I went to go clean off the mattress on one of the lower bunk beds. There was a fairly large piece of ash that had burned a hole in the sheet and about a quarter of inch into the mattress. Why the whole thing didn't catch on fire is beyond me.
As mentioned in my previous post, our 6 year old was recently diagnosed with Lyme Disease. We were truly guided in this process as well. Initially we were told that she just had hives. Most likely something viral as we couldn't come up with anything as a probable cause. Hives can sometimes last up to three weeks. After about 10 days of her symptoms we just felt like something wasn't right. That same day, while doing some random searching on the internet, my husband came across a picture that someone had posted in hopes of finding out what their child had. The rash looked identical to our daughters. The posted comments where that it was what the systemic form of Lyme Disease looked like. It was just what we needed to see. We felt it was best to take her back into the doctors and maybe see what they thought. Within a few days her symptoms cleared up; which is what Lyme's disease often does. It then later effects the joints, heart and the neurological system if left untreated. If we had just continued to wait things out, thinking it was hives, it could have been a major problem down the road.
Just this past week my husband's brother was reported as missing. There was a lot of suspicious things related to his disappearance. In our prayers we asked for things to be resolved quickly. He was found within two days. As it turns out he went out, in the middle of the night, to listen to some music in his car. He remembers opening the car door and then can't remember anything else for about 48 hours. On the morning he was found he vaguely remembers awakening in some sort of a bush in a wooded area. He remembers seeing a bright light and walking towards this. He ended up in the parking lot of Safeway and then called the police. Truly scary! Since then he has had some blood work done and they have determined he has diabetes. If this was a reason for him blacking out it is amazing he even awoke at all on his own.
The professional musician uncle.
Christmas just wouldn't be the same without him
In a recent lesson we read this quote in regards to tithing, "The payment of tithing is a commandment, a commandment with a promise. If we obey this commandment, we are promised that we will 'prosper in the land.' This prosperity consists of more than material goods-it may include enjoying good health and vigor of mind. It included family solidarity and spiritual increase." (President Tanner in Conference Report, Oct. 199; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 81)
No wonder so many were quick to respond with comments on tithing. I guess you could say our testimony on tithing has been strengthened as well.
