Glad I FOLLOWED!

I work at a hearing aid clinic. Is it the most fulfilling job? No, but days like today give me the opportunity to be SO GRATEFUL to interact with some people!

A man came in today asking about hearing aids for his wife. I started to tell him about our company, the audiologist, and different technology. Then our audiologist came out and asked about his hearing, not knowing he was asking for his wife, and he started to cry. He told us that he just came to take care of her since he was given 6 months to live due to liver cancer. He had been cancer free for over two years after a transplant, but just yesterday he found out it came back.

I wanted to cry. I could see the heartache, the devotion, the love, the humility, and the strength this man had, and I loved him for it. I wanted to stop talking about hearing aids and tell him that I would pray for him and for his wife. I wanted to tell him that Heavenly Father has a plan and while his body may be feable now, it WILL be resurrected and PERFECT one day! And that all the sadness he feels and his wife is going to feel, will be made up! Not sure what the most professional thing to do was....we finshed up our conversation about hearing aids and he left.

The Spirit tugged at my heart, "Go tell him all those things!" He was in his car, the reverse lights on. In a flash, I thought about "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" and about President Thomas S. Monson forever regretting not getting to that man in the hospital before he died. I ran! He rolled down his window and I said, "I don't know what you believe, but you and your wife will be in my prayers! I'm not completely sure how, but I know it will be okay!" He and I both cried. He said, "Thank you. We are LDS, and I know those things, but they are very hard to chew and swallow. The doctors said a maximum of 6 months, but it could be 2 or 3." He eyes had tears waiting to fall as he spoke and his lip quivered as he opened up to me. I responded, "I know I'm a stranger, but I am so sorry for this experience you're having. Like I said, I don't know exactly how, but it will work out and your wife will be taken care of. Thank you for sharing and thank you for touching my heart today! You've really impacted my day!" He wiped away his tears, smiled, and said, "Thank you. It will be okay. It will be good." And he drove away.

I can't explain the tender mercy that was or how my heart swelled with joy! I truly believe that the Lord is mindful of this man, and with the burden of cancer and fear.....BLESSINGS await in the eternities. God DOES live! Jesus Christ is His son, and through Him we can have happiness in times of trial, adventures admists of affliction, and triumphs over problems.

 

I May Not Be A Mommy Blogger....

Oh the joys of parenthood! The babies, the tears, the laughter, the diapers, the spit ups, yadda yadda! I've nannied enough to have a love/hate relationship with all of those. I'm an aunt and adore my niece, but had a little practice before she was born to be an aunt of my best friend's kids! So my blog isn't about how I balance home, laundry, kids, soccer, my husband, his job, dance lessons, piano, my husband's promotions, a terrible ordeal we've been through, or our sweet family vacations. But even as a styling single Mormon, my blog can be entertaining with the travails of life.

A dog pooped in my shoe. Like literally inside my shoe (see below). This poor, 12 year old pup is dying of cancer and at first you might think, "She's losing control of her bowels," but as was pointed out...."That takes control." Alas, I did not keep the shoes and will buy more flats. Besides...I got them from DI and they were from my mission. #itwastimetoletgo

I might have been offered $100 to stick my foot in it, but I was already dry heaving with just the thought of picking them up to throw them away.

ENJOY

Gathering of Israel!

Just last night I had the missionaries in my home with some friends! I love hearing them teach about the restored gospel and how, through it, we can find greater strength, hope, and peace! It was great to see a young woman recognize God's place in her life and although she's had many trials, He has never abandoned her! God lives and I know His Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world!

--Don't worry, I got their permission before I posted this! God is GOOD!

A Desire to Share & to Blog!

Many months have passed since I last posted on my blog. To be honest, I was ready to give it up because of fear and not wanting to be out in the open for some. But those who live in fear, don't achieve much! I don't just want to share memories and experiences of my mission, I want to share the gospel and so a new standard I want to live by, "Would the prophet 'like' my post?"

What an incredible 18 months it has been to be thrust into the real world after the simple, dedicated life of a missionary. Something Sheri Dew said in Women's Conference just last weekend was, "It is much easier to be a disciple of Christ...than not to be." When I heard that I thought of struggles to defend my faith, live it, convert in it, sacrifice for it, share it, and wondered what she meant by "easier". Then this comparison came to my mind.... being a missionary can be hard, YES, but it's so much easier to live with rules, structure, and study than to work, pay bills, wonder, search, study, struggle, fail, repent, try again, and feel like you're still doing God's will. When I thought of different struggles I've had, I saw the fun, laughter, joy, and immense blessings I've had that are far more than the struggle! What Sheri Dew said is TRUE! I wouldn't trade any of it because I'd be lost otherwise!Knowing that....I want to be a better disciple of Christ. It's easier than not being one!

So here I am! I'm back to share, explore, search, ponder, and blog!

Here are a few things that have inspired me to get back into this, and I couldn't feel more blessed! Women's Conference was an intimate meeting of 15,000 women gathered together to be strengthened! I went with a #cherishedfriend and she is a joy to share and talk about the gospel with! We went to #sodalicious in Provo and their missionary donation box literally #warmedmyheart! I was able to participate in the Nauvoo Pageant last summer, and that experience changed my life and really made me feel like a pioneer! Let us answer the call of the Prophet and share the gospel, "till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (#standardoftruth) I want to flood the earth with my testimony that I know God lives and answers prayers!

If you know me (or don't!) and want to know how I ended up becoming a Latter-day Saint, I'd be happy to tell you!

Memory of the Week: El Presidente

I've decided to try and be better about updating my blog since it's been a while. The time has come to run through some mission memories and I'm excited.... just embrace it. :)

This is President and Sister Miller at my departing interview. This was a hard day, but a GOOD day. It started out with Sister Wilson and I singing in two different wards, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". The last ward we sang in, Sis. Teresa Craig from another ward came and after we finished she said, "I'll go warm up the car, since your fan fare is going to come." I laughed and said, "Don't worry, no one knows that I'm leaving in this ward, it'll be good." Then our pianist, Marshall McDonald, the EQP, and last speaker opened with, "What an honor it is to have these sisters with us. For those of you who don't know this is Sister Piton's last Sunday in the mission field *audible gasp from congregation* and....wow we couldn't have planned better sisters to be together to sing! They must have an "in" with their mission president." YEAH!

Teresa took us to my departing interview, therefore we were at her house just before we left and I realized that I had a B.O. situation in just one arm. I got it worked out and my interview went quite well. Oh how I absolutely LOVE President and Sister Miller. Was I sent to the Salt Lake South mission? Absolutely. But I know I was sent to Bruce E. Miller, as well.

The entertaining kicker to this story is that...the blazer was my companion, Sister Wilson's. I had the B.O sitch, but I just hung it back up in her closet.... :) I found out (after I left the mission) that she was singing for the entire mission on New Years Eve and was wearing said blazer. "I was on the stand and smelled some B.O., and I freaked thinking it was me. I put my arm up, and slyly went to smell, and about threw up! I looked up to the heavens and thought, 'Darn you, Sister Piton!!! You didn't wash this from your interview! SICK!'" Oh...entertaining.

I am BACK.

I am back from the great Salt Lake! New blogs and stories to come...

Well, it's Official!

I'm done with school! I turned in my last final last night and will officially graduate on Saturday! Lookin' forward to it.