[Update – they are both doing well.  Jackie returned to work this week (driving again, hooray) and hopes be able to lose a few restrictions after her appointment this Friday.  Greg has very little pain and is healing ahead of schedule – just not lifting or using that left side of his body too much.]

It was a great day!  Obviously I love walking and hiking.  I was so pleased that we didn’t hear a single word of complaint from any of the girls.  I was especially pleased over the next few days when I learned of how miserable some of them really were… one young woman was wearing shoes that were too small and took days to recover, Natalie ended up with large blisters on two of her toes (we tended to them at the halfway point and she continued on), another young woman is now undergoing physical therapy for some issues with her hips (not caused by the hike, but the hike was painful)… One of the women now has a black, bruised toenail… our leader is well into her 70’s and we did need to slow down those last few miles… Still, no complaining – just pleasant company the whole day.  (Truth be told – perhaps the only whining came from myself, Greg, Natalie and Kimberly – we were still covered with mosquito bites from the hike two days previous!)

The hike was enjoyable, but it was not easy.  My thighs were feeling rather fatigued during that last mile or two.  Everybody was ready to sit down by the time we reached the visitors center.  What a joy it was to me that the most readily available benches sat facing the Christus.    While we sat resting, we listened to a recording of Christ’s words from the scriptures, declaring his Divinity, etc.  I was struck by the thought that because of His suffering, we need not suffer.  We were so tired, and here we were resting at the feet of the Master.  I thought of how it would be as we each complete our time here on earth… so tired, so weary – and we find rest with our Savior.

That rest is also available to us while here in our earthly life.  I think that most of us know this – or want to know this, but don’t know how to access this gift.  As I walked yesterday I was thinking about it.  It really comes down to having a relationship with the Lord.  How does that happen?  How does any relationship happen?  To have really close friend is something that takes a good deal of effort.  This effort is usually quite enjoyable – spending time together, getting to know each other, sharing thoughts, serving one another, etc.  My best friends are people that I admire and I learn from them.  I am a better person because of trying to be like those friends.  How much effort do I put into my relationship with my Savior?

Many years ago I attended a one-night class on interior decorating.  They taught us that you can tell what is important to someone by the way that they decorate their home.  I was happy to come home and tell my young children to look around – see all the pictures of themselves – and know that they are important to their parents.  We also have several pictures of Christ, I hope my children have also learned how important He is to their parents.

I have been so grateful this year that I have a relationship with my Savior.  I wish that I put more effort into it – but whatever I do seems to be reciprocated ten-fold.  Prayer, scripture study, family time and service to others – these are the things that help me draw closer to him.  I also like to find myself in places that I can feel his presence… warm family times, uplifting entertainment, nature – especially away from the crowds, quiet time alone and reverent church services where I can feel those inner stirrings deep in my soul – these are all times that I really know who I am and what is important.   Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Keeping his commandments helps me understand what it means to be like him.  This gives me strength.  I need this strength always – but particularly this past year – needed it through what has seemed a continual string of medical trials.  I am deeply grateful.  I wish so much to be able to share my experiences and lessons learned with fellow sufferers – not just cancer families, but everyone – we all have so many trials, we all know what it is to be weary.  Such a variety of trials, and one grand solution.  He who suffered so that we would not have to.
This week Natalie went into deep cleaning mode (I love that mode).  She sat in her room and went through many of her things.  She brought me a little notebook that she found – the only thing in it was a poem that she had written several years ago (13 yrs old??).  She doesn’t remember the circumstance, but we both enjoyed the words that she had penned, and I am sharing it with her permission: