Yes, that was me 18 years ago. I know. Yikes. The crazy, curly, poofy hair, the clothes, the beaded necklaces, wait.... that would still be me. (even the ice cream part.)
My aunt LaVona sent me this picture. It was taken in Thrify's, back in the day when there were Thrifty's Drug Stores and Thrifty's ice cream. Instead of hand scooping the ice cream with a traditional scooper they used a cylindrical shaped one. It was very cool (no pun intended) because it was so novel and what was even cooler (lol) was that the frozen flavors were super cheap.
My parents were out of town and Mason & I were staying with my Uncle Barry and Aunt La Vona. They took us to get some ice cream at Thrifty's. This was a rather normal event and all then of the sudden, LaVona put the candle on my double scoop cone, (I think it was mint chocolate chip and chocolate malt crunch) lit it and then sang Happy Birthday to me in the store. It was great to ring in my teens and one of those fun memories that always puts a smile on my face. Thanks Uncle Barry & Aunt La Vona.
Hans and I recently paid tithing. Then within a few days after I gave the tithing envelope to the Bishop a car repair bill came due, a bill for a conference that Hans attended, a doctor bill and student loans seem to flood our mail box. Hans and I (him more than I) try to be frugal and stay on top of things, but it seemed that I had not kept track of all the bills, and I was worried. I had the thought, “Maybe I can call the Bishop back.”
My thoughts raced with doubt. “We only have enough money for another month and then that’s it. How are we going to make it another month? I have to pay rent next month and buy groceries and gas and etc. I can’t ask my family or Hans’ family for money, they don’t have much extra either. I should have waited to pay tithing until after Hans received his next stipend. When does he receive his next stipend? We aren’t going to be able to do it.”
My anxiety level was making me sick to the point of tears. I then cried a quiet prayer, “How are we going to do this Heavenly Father?” As I my heart started pounding harder and faster, my thoughts then turned to my patriarchal blessing and scriptures. Malachi 3:10 kept repeating in my mind “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse… and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
My next thought was, “Call Hans and ask when the stipend will come.” After talking with Hans, my heart rate went back to normal speed; we would have enough for our needs, just like God had promised in the scriptures (even if I never balance the checkbook).
I know that God will bless us for paying a full tithing because I have seen His helping hand in my life when I have kept this commandment. I have a testimony of tithing because I do it. In John 7:16-17, “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
We can only gain a testimony of tithing by paying a full tithe. And with that testimony, our troubled hearts will be calmed and God will do as he says and pour out His blessings to all of us.
10 days ago, Riley had a Benign Rolandic Epileptic Seizure. No, seizures don't run in our family, he didn't have a fever, he wasn't hit on the head and the day was anything but traumatic.We joke the Riley has a bladder the size of a walnut because when we travel he has to "go" more often than anyone else. Also to insure a "dry night", Hans or I take him to the bathroom around 11 every night. Riley is also a very deep sleeper and when we take him to the can, he never wakes up and doesn't remember anything about his nightly bathroom run the next day. We've been to the pediatrician and Riley checks out as a pretty normal kid when it comes to small bladders & deep sleeping. We are waiting anxiously for everything to mature and have just made this part of our nightly ritual.
I tell you this not to embarrass my sweet son, but because of this habit, Thursday night around 11:50, Hans took Riley to the bathroom and noticed he was drooling a lot. Hans woke me up to check it out and I noticed white foam accompanied the drooling and instead of a sleepy Riley with mumbling with half opened eyes, his eyes were wide open and unresponsive. Maybe a minute later his right hand and head started twitching rhythmically. I remember looking at Hans and his face expressed what I was thinking, "Oh no, this cannot be happening. He's having a seizure."
I then took Riley off the toilet (pulled up his underwear) and laid him on his side. I was screaming his name pleading with him to wake up. I looked up again and Hans was on the phone. He then scooped Riley up and told me he was taking him to the street so the paramedics could get too him sooner. Riley's body become more tense and he was still twitching.
I ran after Hans and almost the moment he got to the sidewalk, a police car drove up and within a minute later, the paramedics came. They took Riley into the ambulance and in a couple of minutes they closed the door.The ambulance then drove off and we followed them in the police man's car.
By the time we got to the hospital, they paramedics told us that Riley had calmed down and also told us that he had vomited and stopped breathing for 2 minutes. I'm thinking, "What does that mean? Is he going to be okay?"
In the emergency room at Hennepin County Medical Center (it's a learning hospital), Riley was the only patient, but there were at least 6 medical personal ranging from nurses, fellows, & residents. By then, Riley was asleep, but crying as they put in IV's, drew blood and stuck heart monitors all over his chest. He then calmed in to a deep sleep and they were able to run tests on him without him moving.
After Riley was transported to the Pediatric ICU, he woke up around 2 a.m. drowsy but normal. (I even quizzed him on his times tables and he was alright in the head.) Hans, with the help of Bishop Matthews, gave him a blessing and then he went to the bathroom, answered a few more routine questions from the nurse and fell back asleep.
Thankfully all of the results from the MRI, CT scan & EEG came back normal. The Neurologist was kind but confident that he would be fine and even went so far as to say he should get a check up in December, before she discharged him at 7 p.m. that same day.
We were told that he may or may not have another seizure and if he does and it last over 3 minutes we give him a Valium suppository. (no kidding, that should be fun, bleck!) If it goes longer than 15 minutes then we call 911. (I know, 15 minutes?) He will most likely out grow them when he hits his teen years and until then he must ride his bike with a helmet (oops), he can only take showers (no more relaxing baths), and he has to be watched when swimming.(thank heavens for lifeguards.)
I am so grateful he's alright. The whole time he was seizing and up until he woke up I was praying silently and verbally that God would help him to be okay and he is just fine. My sweet little Riley.
I just got this picture today of my little brother Mason, who just arrived in San Antonio, Texas. He will be serving his Spanish speaking mission there for 22 month. He definitely looks the part. Way to go bro!
Yes, that was me 18 years ago. I know. Yikes. The crazy, curly, poofy hair, the clothes, the beaded necklaces, wait.... that would still be me. (even the ice cream part.)
