Can I Run Slowly?

Monday, Sept. 21st, I went down to Julie's to watch the kids while Lily happily flitted off to have tonsil/adenoid surgery! I didn't get to see her before Julie left but apparently she was ecstatic at the prospects of getting those tonsils out! That is our little Lily Love--just a bright outlook on life in general! While waiting for Julie to call, it was fun to see Chloe off to school. She looks so grown-up slipping on her little backpack and bouncing out the door, looking both ways before she crosses the street. The school is a hop, skip, and jump away, across the street and through the field. Cannon was just happy to play with Brig and me until his nap and then Brig and I had quiet time and played Mr. Potato Head and read books.

We are glad that things went smoothly and that Lily is through the worst of the pain. She was quite pale as the pictures show and was content to lay and watch TV and wanted to follow doctor's orders exactly! Once, however, she came out and asked if she could "run slowly" (as opposed to "walking slowly" which she must have been advised to do). Julie asked her for a demonstration. I wish I had a little video of it! Very cute. That's all there is to it, just cute!

Grandma and Grandpa love you, Lily!

Brigham and the Miracle of Boston

These pictures were taken last Saturday. You can tell he lost a little weight but he looks great, doesn't he?

These are all pictures taken the Friday before they left for Boston.
Such a precious little person!

Both because I was busy taking care of Chloe and Lily and because I couldn't seem to gather my thoughts, I did not post about Brigham's heart surgery until now. I need to get some impressions and feelings down in writing. This has all been such a whirlwind that in some ways it now seems like a dream. Julie expressed this to me when we went to visit them in Logan last Saturday. Did it all really happen? Oh, YES, it did! And our sweet little Brig is back home with his brother and sisters and looking as if nothing out of the ordinary even happened...unless you look at the scar on his chest which though it is healing so beautifully is a very constant reminder of the last few weeks. I have learned so many things through this experience. I know with even greater assurance that Heavenly Father knows each of us and has a personal plan for us. We just need to trust Him and have faith that whatever happens is for our best good and also for the best good of those around us. I believe that Brig's heart problem happened for the purpose of teaching all who love him more about that trust and acceptance of God's will that we need to have. But I also was reminded again of the power of the combined prayers of many, many people and that Heavenly Father listens to those prayers and is willing to grant what we ask when in accordance to His plan. It is sometimes hard to say "Thy will be done" and mean it. But as Elder Neil Maxwell said, our will is the only thing that is really our own to offer. We are grateful that at least for now that plan for Brigham is to remain with us here on earth! Our hearts are so full of gratitude and awe of the way all of this has unfolded. The miracle of the whole situation is, as Julie said, that they ended up at Childrens Hospital Boston with the most experienced and best qualified surgeon in the world to perform this very intricate surgery. Heavenly Father truly is Omniscient! Julie and Stanton have been given strength beyond their capabilities to deal with all this. The promised strength, peace and comfort of the Holy Ghost is real! We have all experienced it in times of trial. You look back on an event and wonder how you got through it...and you know. I am thankful that Julie kept such a wonderful journal of events including pictures and videos so that none of us forget this incredible journey from a "broken" to a healed heart. Through the infinite Atonement all of our hearts no matter how they are "broken" can be healed. Each moment spent with Brigham will be even that much more precious because of what he and his family have experienced and what we have all learned. We love you, Brig!