Week started off great, made a lot of progress with wedding planning: church reserved, cake, flowers, & decorations getting narrowed down. I even felt up to cleaning out a bathroom drawer and shelves in a couple of closets, so I must be feeling better than usual! Priests & Laurels went bowling Tues night for activities, and the Sisters came by to get to know the Laurels a little better and see about going on splits with them, etc.
Anne's eczema has been flaring up BADLY with Spring in the air, and spending more time running around in the grass, etc. I scheduled her checkup for this week, hoping there might be some newer creams or things he could offer to help. Poor Dr. Walker had never seen Anne's skin before, and he thought for sure it was due to food allergies, since that what he's seen the most of as a GP. He suggested taking her to a dermatologist again, trying pro- & pre- biotics, and really acted like he still thought gluten or milk would be the culprit, and I left so full of doubt again, despite all the years of appts and exclusion diets and testing, I wondered if I needed to start over trying to figure things out and be more diligent. I was pregnant with Lucy when things started to get really horrible for her, so it was like a painful dejavu, and the effort of trying to get rid of major food groups, etc., seemed SO exhausting & overwhelming. On top of all that, he noticed a curve in her spine, and wondered if we wanted to look into scoliosis intervention. Hoo boy, I felt pretty heavy the rest of that day. I prayed hard that I'd be led to the right paths, and that above all, I wouldn't let these struggles put me back in the past of some pretty dark and anxious days; that I'd be able to remember how much the Lord has been blessing me, and that happiness, even in trials was possible.
That was the big culprit, but I also had a stye in my eye (Dad loved rhyming it all week), which wasn't at all painful, but made me look like an abuse victim--just I thought I'd lost all vanity to this growing belly. Anne also missed a flip on the tramp and gave herself a great forehead scab (the abuse was clearly familial). AND, our violin teacher told us she wouldn't be teaching nearby, and next year she'd be a 45 minute drive away!
I didn't get everything figured out, but after texting Uncle TJ, and reading tons about gut health and eczema and scoliosis therapy, I remembered that we had figured out how to help Anne, and we just needed to improve keeping up with it. I didn't give up hope in her allergy shots, which still need more time to really show if they're helping, and I WAS so grateful to find these medical issues this year, when our Insurance deductible is already being met with the baby, so it won't cost us much. I also felt comfort that seemed to be from my Dad as I struggled and tried not to be discouraged.
Dad & I went to Logan for all you can eat shrimp and sealings Friday night, and just as we pulled into the parking lot, I got a picture from Anderton's of you and them in front of the temple!
I knew THEY would be there, but I also knew how far away from TaiPei you were, and felt like it would be impossible for them to actually see you. The fact that they happened to be in a session with your mission president officiating, AND were able to find out that you were coming the next morning for a temple trip was so perfectly timed. That I got that picture just as WE were going into the temple, and as YOU were going into the temple was enough of a reminder to me that even when I don't have all the answers, God is incredibly aware of the details of our lives. He has perfect timing, and understands every little thing we are going through. I read a great article on the Widow of Nain in this month's Ensign, with the same message. Nain was a town UPhill and out of the way from where Jesus was going, but He was there at JUST the moment they were to bury this poor widow's son, and raised him from the dead in her hour of greatest need. He knows, even when we can't see the whole picture.
I love this Isaiah verse about waiting on the Lord:
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint "
It's all worth it! Love your great example of avoiding discouragement! You're amazing! Love, Mom
p.s. Breely's mom ran into Anne & Lucy in the temple waiting room last Saturday! (I went in to do initiatories after their group violin, and thought Spencer & Emily would be done w/ baptisms any minute, but they ended up waiting nearly an hour!--hopefully Shauna doesn't think we're too neglectful!)
Pictures of mine and Anne's sad faces (this was as they were getting better!), Anne getting a back x-ray, and a picture of the Bishopric in disguise from last week's "Where's Waldo" activity at the mall---they were hysterical--& VERY hard to find!!
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