For about 3 months I have been sick on and off with several different respiratory infections. I was put on a few rounds of antibiotics and nothing seemed to really help me kick being sick. After the third time of being in the doctors office the doctor decided to do a chest x-ray because of my nasty cough. When he returned after viewing my x-ray he asked me if I had heard of a disease called Sarcoidosis. Ironically, this is a disease that my father has. For those of you who don't know, my father was diagnosed about 6 years ago with the disease (I won't go into details about my father's condition because that is for him to share if he chooses). Hearing the word alone was something that made me feel uncomfortable. The doctor let me know that he was then referring me to a specialist. That day I called my mom to let her know what was going on and my parents decided that it would be a good idea for me to come home for the weekend.
The next day Davian and I headed up to Washington. While we were there I was able to rest up and started Prednisone. As a family we decided that it would be a good idea for Davian to stay with my parents for a little while so I could get rested and feeling better. I was thankful for the generosity of my parents and the chance that I have had to finish my medication and get rested. It was much easier to move without Davian as well. I have truly been blessed with goodly parents! So for now we wait until my appointment with the specialist in a couple more months. And as a result of being so sick these last few months I missed a lot of school and took a medical deferment until my health is better and I can resume school.
Another news includes my move and my new job. I made the decision to leave Tami's. It was a tough decision because I love all the amazing women that I worked with there but I needed to do what was best for my family. I decided that an hourly wages job would be best and I applied for one at Great Clips. While I never had the desire to work at a Great Clips it was still doing hair but at an hourly wage. I have had my first day cutting hair and I loved it. The pace is fast and the money has been good. When you do a million cuts a day you get some good tips! Of course, there will be things that I miss about the salon feel. One of those is being able to take the time with clients to make sure that everything is perfect but people that come in generally come because the service is good but quick. I am very thankful for this job and feel blessed by the Lord greatly.
Lastly, I was able to attend church at my new ward today. I was nervous about attending church alone and I took a seat in the back. That didn't last long. A brother introduced himself to me and invited me to sit with his wife and son. The Carvajal's took me under their wing introducing me to families and making me feel welcome. In Relief Society I sat by a woman named Anderea and she and I got along very well. Andrea and her husband invited me over for dinner that night and it was great. I felt so welcome and I think that I will become good friends with their family! I can't wait to get to know many other people in the ward.
I have just been feeling so blessed by my Heavenly Father and it didn't just stop at feeling welcome in my the ward. The lesson in Relief Society was just for me too. The talk was from October 2012 General Conference titled "Trial of Your Faith" given by Neil L. Andersen. The talk was about trials about trials and there were so many lines that just impressed me. They included:
"These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they
have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of
God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These
trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They
take root in our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or
in those things that matter most to us. A real but manageable test for
one can be a fiery trial for another. How do you remain “steadfast and immovable”
during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that
helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray,
you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and
you serve others. When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away
from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a
trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just
as the tornado comes into view."
"By
definition, trials will be trying. There may be anguish, confusion,
sleepless nights, and pillows wet with tears. But our trials need not be
spiritually fatal. They need not take us from our covenants or from the
household of God.
“Remember,
… it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God,
that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth
his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his
hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power
over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because
of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a
foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”"I am so very thankful for these words of comfort and the Spirit that I was able to feel today at church. I know that my Heavenly Father truly loves me and looks out for me. I have been going through a few trials lately and for the first time in my life I didn't want to go to church and in a way I blamed Heavenly Father but the lesson has reminded me that during those times of trials we need to be more faithful and really depend on the safe haven the the church offers us. I am so thankful that my parents raised me in the church and taught me the value of family. I know that I can do anything if I have faith.
Well that is it for now =)
