Hard Times, Good Times.

When you stop and look at things, it's been kinda rough around here the past few months. Aaron has dealt with heart issues and been rushed into the PICU twice in the past six months.  William's father passed away.  Joseph had his tonsils out and Michael is heading that direction.  William's mom had extensive surgery and is now recuperating in Arizona. Jonathan's wisdom teeth needed to come out, and then he developed dry socket in two spots.  My van decided to go on strike this past weekend, and no, we don't know why yet.

Now David is coming home tomorrow with a torn ACL and  needing surgery.  His one year mark for his mission will be four days later.  He needs surgery.  And this is on top of so many other issues.

So where are those blessings?  There's a common saying that "God will not give you more than you can handle."  That is just not true.  At least if you listen the unspoken rest of the sentence "on your own."  He absolutely will give you more than you can handle, alone that is.

But the beautiful part is, we were never meant to handle things on our own.  We have ministering angels, both seen and unseen that help us.  Those angels take the form of a sister who gets your car back home from one hospital while you take an ambulance to another. Your mom who spends the night and next day at the hospital while you attend to other pressing matters.  A neighbor who, out of the blue, offers to build a ramp.  A dedicated medical professional who listens, validates your feeling that one test is not necessary, and helps develop a plan for others.  A pediatrician, fresh from a traditional office, who sees things through a different lens.

It's the special needs community that responds within 28 minutes with the offer of not only one, but TWO wheelchairs, and even delivers one to your door for your older son.  It's the online friends whom you've never met in person who lift up your family in prayer.  It's a visiting teacher who drops what she's doing to run your child over to school, so you don't have to package your youngest for the trip.  It's the PICU nurse that you haven't been assigned to in over a year, and the custodian from Africa, who both tell you that they'll be praying for you and your son.

It's the neighbor who is also an orthopedic surgeon who makes house calls to see your son within hours of his return.  It's the many, many prayers offered around the world for comfort and healing.  It's the neighbor across the street that comes to snowblow your driveway because the older boys are gone, the snow is too heavy for the younger ones, and you can't go outside without taking Aaron out.

And I know there is also help from the other side as well.  That is not so easily documented, but real and felt all the same.  And this is just a touch of the blessings that have come our way.  I am overwhelmed by the goodness of God, of His love and attention to the details of our lives.  I do feel down and burdened from time to time, probably more often than I should.  Believe me, I know how to throw a pity party.  But He is there.  He has broad shoulders.  He has given His angels charge over us.  And He will bring us through.  What a blessing that is.

I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.   

1 Nephi 1:20