In Like a Lion

The New Year arrived in the midst of a difficult time for our family. My dad was hospitalized for a couple of days which presented many concerns, stresses and heartbreaks. I’ll save details and personal emotions for a more private forum but will suffice it to say that it was very challenging.

We have started down the road to recovery. My dad is doing better every day and while the road will be much longer for both of my parents, it is a relief to be travelling toward that end. I am hopeful.

Jon has always been the calm in my storm. He has a way of smoothing my ruffled feathers while the water runs readily over his. My extended family has always loved him but his invaluable help and support through this trial has earned him hero status. There were also many small and grand ways in which I could see the hand of the Lord seeing us through. I’m grateful for these blessings and for countless answered prayers.

In addition to all the time spent assisting my parents, Jon also had to perform his first wedding and is currently preparing for his first funeral as Bishop. The wedding took place Saturday afternoon and later that same evening, he received news that a sweet sister in our ward suffered a stroke. He went quickly to the hospital, met with her children and gave her a blessing. She passed away on Tuesday.

Jon’s coworkers are astonished by all that he is able to do while keeping up with his career. His manager at work has been supportive of his calling and even expressed that he sees it as valuable experience which developments his management skills. The flexible schedule that has come with his job in recent months has been an enormous blessing. We actually found it quite humorous that Jon’s what-I-did-this-weekend conversation at the office included joining a couple as man and wife. He gave us some good laughs as he rehearsed the ceremony at home but he assures me that he didn’t (I wasn’t at the ceremony) include his famous dance moves when he performed the real thing. We needed some good laughs. Leave it to Hero Jon to provide them.

This may not be how we imagined welcoming the New Year but we will count our blessings and look forward to more tranquil months ahead. It may have come in like a lion, but I know that 2008 will have its share of lambs.