They Who Are With Us

One week ago, we started 'battening down the hatches' because when we woke up Sunday 4 out of the 6 of us were sick, and shortly after that we added yet one more.  Surprise, surprise, we decided that we wouldn't spread that kind of love to the rest of our ward so we all stayed home in the hopes that we'd all get better that much faster.  Unfortunately, here we are 1 week later with only 3 of us healthy enough to go to church (and that is NOT including the parents who are both feeling like we've been run over by a Mach truck then thrown into the trash compactor).  So we're hanging out at the house instead of going to church yet again, though at least this week the oldest two kids are going to Primary?

While we're hanging out here, trying to rest up, we've been listening to a local radio station who broadcasts the Sounds for Sundays (on Q92 here in Utah, if you want to look it up).  This is a pre-programmed series of songs and such that runs from 5am to 7pm every Sunday which is specifically geared towards the valley's Christian/LDS audience.  It is really great for us, especially given that LDS music is often very different from mainstream Christian music.  One other benefit that we enjoy from the programming is that there are bit-narratives that are included with the music which shares some insights into different scriptural stories along with uplifting personal stories.

The narrative that caught my attention today was about when Elisha the prophet's servant received a bit of a shock one morning.  The Assyrian king was severely frustrated because Elisha kept anticipating his moves (when he was attacking Israel) and telling the Israelite king about things such that the Assyrians were unable to succeed in their intended goals.  So he decided to lay claim to Elisha so that he was unable to render such aid any longer, and sent an army to cut him off.  One morning, Elisha's servant went to go and fetch water from the well to be surprised and frightened by the oncoming crowd of armed soldiers, chariots, etc.  He ran to give warning to his master who came and looked calmly.  When the servant asked, "What are we to do?" knowing that it was just he and Elisha against all of those soldiers, Elisha calmly answered "They who are with us are more than they who are with them."  He then prayed that his servant's eyes would be opened (which they were) to behold the heavenly host poised and ready to defend them against their attackers.

I was laying here, feeling a bit miserable and frustrated (after all, I have more to do than just be so sick so much of the time which has been dragging us down), and was thinking about what I would see if I asked for such.  Then came suddenly to my minds eye a running visual scan of so many loved one's faces: my friend Dani who has been doing so much to help boost my efforts with the business lately, Kelley giving me the opportunity to teach crochet classes at the local high-end yarn shop, Casey and Mariah picking up their kids, Casey fixing our van's brakes just before we lost the brakes entirely (and likely would've crashed), Brittany's smiling face whenever she's popped out to help us jump our van when it was cold(er), the way I'll have a student run up to me yelling "Mrs. Martin!" to give me a hug at the store, the voices of my parents over the phone as we share info about what has happened during the week, the loves, giggles, and cuddles from 4 little imps at the dinner table every day,....I could go on and on.  And that is just in my life and what is immediately in front of my eye as I see so many beloved family faces, dear friends, friendly community members, fellow brothers and sisters from church, and amazing people I meet online.

There are times, especially during an age where we send our loved ones away to war or to protect, when we need that fiery heavenly host armed for battle against a host armed with weapons intending physical harm.  Yet during this modern age and for those of us more mundane people in our homes, there are often even more times when we need that same host sent to protect us, even though they come only armed with jokes, hugs, plates of treats, requests for help, babysitting offers, 2x4 poles of inspiration, spiritual promptings, and so much more than even they realize.

I'll never stop being thankful for that amazing heavenly host.  Each and every one.  Nor, with a heart overflowing and eyes spilling over, for the One who sends them.  That heavenly host truly glows when your "eyes are opened to see", let me tell you.  It is quite enough to take your breath away.  Or to give breath when it couldn't be found before.

Veteran's Day 2011

So, this is a day that has been incredibly full....so much so that I can't come close to listing it as just a line or two, so I'm going to post an entire blog post (no one pass out from shock, you aren't allowed! lol).  But they all boil down to three main points:

1: Today is Veteran's Day, as well as being the 11 day (you know, 11-11-11?).  This is a special day for history's sake as well as being a special remembrance day as Nov 11th is the day the peace treaty was signed after WWI as well as America's (and Britain's too?) Veteran's Day....a day set apart for Americans to give special honor to all of our military service men/women as well as all of our military veterans (and, at least in my opinion, their families as well).  I was so incredibly happy that Hillcrest Elementary (the school that I work at part time as a literacy aide) was having a special assembly....though in truth I had thought this was a normal thing for all schools to do as this was the point of setting the second Tues in Nov. as Veteran's Day to begin with.  In preparing for the assembly, stars on paper were handed out for people to put in the information of who they are, who the military service members are/were, the relationship, the applicable war(s), commendations, etc.  They then included some ribbons to each of them, and posted them along the wall of the lunchroom.  They also asked that if possible the applicable veterans/service members would come to the assembly the school was holding.  During the assembly itself (which started at 11 am...not very surprisingly), the did some pretty basic things to pretty much make it more obvious and meaningful to the children (especially the littlest ones) what we were really doing in honoring those present....and especially those not present.  I still get tears in my eyes when I think of how respectfully the kids treated everything.  After a final applause was given to honor the veterans present (which included a full standing ovation, which took a bit for the kids to understand but surprisingly enough even the adults were hesitant though willing to follow after 5 or so of us stood up), a great surprise came when one of the veterans asked to applaud the kids as being the ones who would eventually take their places.  It really was very emotional all the way around, and something that made me very proud of the amazing men and women who have sacrificed and served either themselves or by supporting their own loved ones who served so actively in my family and life.

2: Imagine my surprise when during dinner after I asked my own children about their day and what happened I found out that their school didn't do anything at all for Veteran's Day.  I was extraordinarily shocked and appalled to learn that my own kids were not even taught openly about such an important thing as honoring the men and women who put their lives, health, and sanity on the line to protect all of us (as well as their own loved ones who are forced to live so far separated from the, always fearing that dreaded knock to tell them of a loss or missing report, and carrying the weight of their family without the aid of child, parent, or sibling).  It was left to the individual teachers who (thankfully) did include activities, but I couldn't believe that a school which I otherwise have been very glad for didn't publicly and openly acknowledge the entire point of Veteran's Day.  How sad is it that these kids didn't get the opportunity to know that this is Their claim of pride and humility, that this is Their opportunity to give that respect and honor to another.  How severely disappointing is it that the kids in one school have such a marvelous, personal experience...and the kids just across the city were only exposed to the details of the holiday...

3: This is the really, truly amazing part of our day.  For months...ok, for years...we have been struggling severely to find good ways to make ends meet.  Several times over the last few years, we have had miracles happen, love and charities given....but today has really started to top it all.  My very last, high stress bill for the month was due today....and I had to find a miracle way to come up with the last miserable dozen to be able to meet it in full.  The reason for this was because this is (of course) Veteran's Day, which means...wait for it...the banks are closed.  Smart of me, I know, but I hadn't thought about the fact that the banks close for federal holidays even though the rest of the country doesn't (including the bills I was required to pay).  So as my friend and I were scrabbling through our bags for change, my miracle occurred...as I opened my wallet to search out the coin purse, I found, to my amazement, a whole series of bills which I still can not find their source.  Enough so that we were not only able to make the required payment, but so that my son's birthday party tomorrow is not as much of a worry since we'll be able to do a few things to help show him how important he is to us as well as meeting other demands on us which have been put off several times over.  My head is still reeling from it, but more than anything else it has brought home to me (especially after looking up all of the accounts) how much we are truly being looked after from on High!

How does that sit for you for a day to remember those who truly give us what we need? :D