Last Saturday we had a wonderful experience. As I have mentioned in past blogs, my husband had an extended stay in the hospital, five-and-a-half weeks to be exact. So many friends and family were with us daily, supporting us, loving us and encouraging us through roughest of times. There were days when my husband’s life hung in the balance and I was unsure whether that night would be the last time I would see him. My faith is strong, my understanding of the Plan of Salvation is strong. But nevertheless, my heart quailed at the thought of continuing my mortal journey alone, so soon.
My husband came through the multiple surgeries, procedures, staph infections, pneumonia, multiple bleeding (or should I say exploding) ulcers, wounded bladders, excruciating back pain and is now home and getting healthier by the minute. While in the hospital we decided we wanted to have a BBQ for our friends and family, at the park, in the sunshine with trees, grass and fresh air around us. So this last Saturday we did that very thing.
They came from everywhere, our friends and family. We renewed relationships, both friendship and familial. We enjoyed the comradery, the beautiful music (our ward members brought guitars and sang the most beautiful songs for going on three hours), the sunshine, the fresh air – all of it. As Alvin and I went home that night, we felt so filled with love for all who surround us. We have been strengthened by them in ways they will never be able to know.
There is such strength and eternal connections in friends and family. They should be treated as a precious treasure, even a gift, from the heavens above. Our Father in Heaven put us into family units patterned after our eternal family. And I thank Him, thank Him most profusely with all the love in my heart. Because life is so rich when you are surrounded by the finest of people, and we are. I wish each of them many blessings poured out upon them – thank you to all across the globe who have prayed for us, fasted for us and simply loved us. May God bless you all.