May 2, 2014

My dear Sister.

This is dedicated to my dear Sister, Dawn . Dawn is two years older than me. In her young 52 years she has had her fill of health problems. No fault of
her own, it's just the way life has been for her. 
This isn't going to be a pity party, because she would probably kill me if
she knew I was writing this. I, however feel that it needs to be said. 
Dawn, is the strongest woman that I know. 
She faces her challenges head on, doesn't ever feel sorry for herself . 
She has never worn a badge of " survivor" on the outside for everyone to see.
She just carries on and doesn't look back. I have never ever heard her
say or ask, "Why me?" 
At 33 years old she had a Brain stem tumor, and even though it wasn't cancerous,it
damaged her nerves on her left side of her face where, she lost her hearing on the left side, she lost the ability to smile or wink on the left side, she looked like
she had a stroke, but didn't. She was a mother of 5 children at the time with the 
youngest around 9 years old. 
She was thankful to be alive and pressed on. She accepted
various callings both in her ward and in the Stake.
Her next health challenge was when she was told she had 
Breast Cancer. It wasn't even two weeks from the time she was first diagnosed when
she had her Mastectomy.  She went through Radiation and Chemotherapy
and she received much support from friends and family.
I remember my younger sister and I took Dawn before her first surgery
to do Glamour Shots because we knew there would be changes in
Dawn's appearance. She accepted those changes like a champ. 
My younger sister took Dawn out wig shopping before the chemo started and they had a blast
trying on many wigs until she found a couple she really liked. Throughout these times Dawn received many Priesthood blessings, her name was put on Temple prayer rolls throughout the world, where
dear friends and family members lived. 
She again over came these challenges. Then came 2011, while Dawn was visiting her eldest
Son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren out of state, Dawn became gravely ill right before
she was to return home to California.  She had came down with Bacterial Meningitis. 
This illness almost did her in. She was in critical condition for sometime. 
At this time she was serving as her Ward's Relief Society President and once she was out of the woods,
She, like a General, was directing the troops, her counselors and sisters 
from her hospital bed two states away. She always took her RS Binder with her where ever she went.
She couldn't travel home for a month, so she did a lot of delegation until she
got home. 
Fast forward to this week, April 27, 2014, and again, she came down with
Meningitis.  I have had the privilege to serve my sister as she
has served many others while she has been in the Hospital. She shared with us, that  it
 all started with an ear ache then turning into a Headache that brought her to her knees with
a spiked fever. An Ambulance was called late Monday night with my Brother-in-law
following. I know he was so worried, I'm sure so many things went through his mind 
because of the seriousness of her condition. We got the call in the wee hours of the morning
and headed down to be with her.  I felt calm for some reason and knew that she would
be all right, but we needed to be there all the same. While we were there Dawn received
a special Priesthood blessing from her Bishop and another Brethren that happened to be in the Hospital where he was with his wife who was on the same floor as Dawn. 
I just want to say here - that it wasn't even an hour that transpired after she received her blessing that she was doing much better. From the time we got there in the morning to the time we left in the 
afternoon, she was doing a 100% better.  
Today we were with her again and she is progressing in a positive way. 
The headache is not as bad the swelling around her brain has gone down and she is coherent and still, she doesn't complain. She will have many days to convalesce and recover from this.
I don't know if I could handle the challenges the way she has. I don't know if
I could be that strong.  She is not done yet, I know there is much for her
 do here.  I love her very much and I am proud to be
her younger sister. 

She is Amazing.
 
This is her, on a very Happy Day, with her son, daughter-in-law and husband
at the LDS Sacramento Temple.


regards
"aka" georgie



 

May 1, 2014

Blah blah blah blah blah.........

Is it uncomfortable when one shows their vulnerable side? People get uncomfortable because
1. They don't know how to respond.
2. They want that person to always be strong.
3. They don't want to be around a person that they think is weak.
 
I kinda like it when one shows their vulnerable side, because to me, it shows me that
they are real and relate able in some respects.
 Not that you want them to be whiny all the time. It's refreshing
when they don't always have to be so strong and carry a stiff upper lip.
Yes, being strong is noble and all but sometimes it's okay to let 
people know you are a real person with tender feelings. 
This is just one thought I have had. 
Now if you are reading this, my thought is, are you going to read this and step away
with the thought - Wow this girl has issues and roll your eyes and leave in silence? or
will you leave a comment with your ideas and thoughts?
Comments are always welcomed even when I don't agree with them. 
I appreciate different opinions.
Another thought I have had lately and more lately than ever is:
Is it me or as women get older they become:
1. Overly sensitive and get offended easily
2. They are NOT afraid to say or speak their mind - when before when they 
were younger they would never dream of saying  such things out loud or to another
person
3. They  become mean and unkind and sometimes downright rude. 
I have noticed from our Religious Leaders that this later part has been a topic of
Concern.
They have been Asking us to be KIND, gentle and respectful, or
just be more Kind. Why is that? I know why, it's because, I have noticed
that we haven't. Why is it that we, especially women are more inclined to be
intolerant or less patient with each other? 
Where are the days of  biting ones tongue so as to not say something
that cuts like a knife into one's spirit?
I remember growing up my best friend's mom always saying, "If you can't say
anything nice, then don't say anything at all".  And this women
never did say anything unkind to another person, or at least never in my presence.
I'm not here to judge because in no way am I a saint, but...
It makes me genuinely sad when people are unkind.
I just want everyone to get along and be happy. 
I want people to be happy for each others accomplishments
and not be petty or jealous. 
I wish for people to be compassionate for others when they are down or
 in their sorrows.
I wish there to be less cattiness.
If I have lost you in my soap box of words, I am sorry.
I pray that I may show kindness and respect with no 
judgement to all. 
Someone asked me recently if I would be mad at them them for doing
something wrong? I told them, that  I wouldn't be mad, but that I would
be sad. And that's because I want the best for them and for 
everyone. I really do.  
I make no apologies for having a Pollyanna attitude.
That is me, I can't change that. I don't know how to. 
I am fun or funny and I hope that I am friendly. 

Yours truly

"aka" georgie