More than Mortal

I sang for a funeral tonight. I've done this often and I am always happy to offer this service because my faith in Heavenly Father's plan gives me peace and hope regarding life after death. Tonight I sang for the family and friends of a lovely 90 year old lady named Concepción Peña. 

I was barely acquainted with her, to be honest. To be more honest, I was happy to sing but increasingly frustrated as the week went on because there were no clear lines of communication and I was getting frequent texts from three different people to get information on the song title, accompanist, etc. These texts and calls, on top of my work load and during an emotionally draining week, really pushed a lot of buttons. 

And then I went to the funeral. I heard her daughters share their memories, stories, and love for their mother. I learned more about her life and felt the great love she had for her family and they for her. 

I sang "I Am a Child of God" and, a couple hours before the funeral, talked a friend into singing with me so we could get some harmony and make it more interesting. We decided that on the second verse I would sing alone, in Spanish. After listening to everyone's words I changed the lyrics a tiny bit:

Soy una hija de Dios, 

El me envió aquí. 

Me ha dado un hogar 

Y Familia buena para mi. 

Guíenme, enseñame la senda a seguir,

Para que algun día yo

Con él pueda vivir. 

(I am a daughter of God,

He has sent me here. 

He has given me a home 

And a great family. 

Guide me, show me the way to go,

So that one day I can live with him.)

I was trying to say what Concepción would have said if she were still with us. As I sang I could feel her family's love, her love, and I felt like I briefly touched our Heavenly Father's and our Savior's love for each of us. 

When I said it's been an emotionally draining week that's a major understatement. I won't go into details, but I will say that I am so grateful I was able to sing at Sister Peña's funeral. It was a huge blessing to me, right when I really, really needed it.

 

We are more than mortal. We are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us, knows us, and is very aware of our needs. I'm grateful to have felt His love today, and I hope you feel it in your day, too. 

Sweet Surprise

Apparently there was a lot of audience participation today in Sharing Time. I was told the kids were called up and asked to share their name and what they like. (You know: "My name is Ben and I like to play video games.") The primary pianist found me after church to tell me about Farren's comments.  I was a tad nervous to hear her report, because Ren typically acts silly and uses little boy (i.e. bathroom) humor to be funny when he's in front of people, but according to my friend, he said "My name is Farren and I like to give my mommy hugs and kisses."

I think this mommy's heart just grew three sizes bigger!

Joy in Unexpected Places

Robb and I feel very blessed that we truly enjoy each other's families. For Christmas we are in Utah with his mom and his sister (and her family), and we're having an awesome time visiting, playing (especially Ren, who adores his cousins), laughing, and generally making lots of good memories. 

We flew in (which, when you have a baby, no stroller - oops! - a husband with a severe back injury, and way too many carry on and personal items, is a story all on its own) and didn't rent a car. Not a big deal, since we're staying at Robb's sister's house and have done few things that require all five adults and five children to go somewhere at the same time. Tonight, however, we upheld the Thurmond family tradition of going out for Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner. Robb's sister and her family took their van and the four of us and Robb's mom went in her Honda CRV. Which meant someone - read, yours truly - got to sit in between the car seat and the booster seat in back. My thought going in? "Oh joy."

But you know what? It actually (surprisingly and amazingly) WAS a joy. There I was, literally crammed in between the boys' safety seats, and Farren asked if he could hold my hand. Then I decided to hold Soren's hand, too, because why not? 

I am not a warm and fuzzy mom, by any means. I don't like babies and am just starting to bond with Soren - and he just turned one. BUT, I definitely love my snuggles, and sitting between my two children, holding their hands and having them hold on to me, was one of the most joyful experiences I have had in a long time. 

Life is hard. In fact, for the last year it has seemed almost impossibly difficult. But these unexpected moments, squished in between one thing and another, are immeasurably precious and I am very grateful for them. 

Merry Christmas everyone. Give your loved ones an extra hug and may you feel a little extra joy, too. 

Bath Time!

ABCs with Ren

Ren started preschool about six weeks ago, and it's been fun (most of the time) watching how he's connecting what he already knew with what he's learning in school. For example, making the connection between letters and the sounds they make and words he knows.

Ren: "Mommy, A, A is for alligator. And Abel. (A classmate.) F, F is for Farren. P, P is for penis."
Me: "Um.....P is for peanuts, that's right."
Ren: "No, P is for penis. And pizza!"

Due to his pronunciation I can only hope that if he pulls this in class his teacher thinks he's saying peanuts. (Yikes!) Here's hoping that at some point I feel teaching him the anatomically correct names for things has a positive side to it!!!

Soren's MRI Results

We got the results back! Here's what the doctor said:

"I know you are anxiously awaiting results of Soren's MRI- so I wanted to email you an update.

It shows that the end of the cord is a bit thickened - not too much, but moderately and there is what they call an incidental cyst (very small). I have sent off the results to our specialist and am waiting to hear if he thinks there should be any follow up to this. He will review the images and let me know and I will of course let you know what he says."

I was just writing her a brief thank you note when I got another e-mail with the notes from the specialist. S/He said:

"I have reviewed the MRI; the filum is mildly thickened at 1.2mm but generally we are not concerned until the filum is 1.5mm or higher. Also he does not have a low lying conus or any fat in the filum. I consider this a negative exam. Also no need to follow up the filar cyst. Hope this helps."

I sent her another e-mail to verify whether or not we need to keep an eye out for any specific symptoms as he grows or if he's basically okay for the rest of his life. She said:

"At this point we would treat Soren just as we would anyone else- no special risk factors."

That sounds pretty positive, so...HOORAY!

One of a Kind

How many 5 month olds do YOU know who have to get a special outfit for an MRI? Not many, I bet. Isn't he beautiful?

Since I'm sure you're wondering, he's got a deep dimple on his bum. That part of the skin develops at the same time as the spinal cord, so he needs an MRI to determine whether or not his spinal cord is tethered. He went through the procedure (including sedation) like a champ, and we are awaiting the results. I'll keep you posted.