"Fear not, I am with thee"

"Expect the unexpected."

Is anyone out there good at this? Do any of you expect life to throw you really unexpected twists and turns?

I'm not. And I don't.

It's hard to think that way isn't it?

Yet, this is the thought that has found its way across my mind many times in the last few weeks- "expect the unexpected."

3 weeks ago, on Tuesday, August 24th at 5:47 PM, our sweet little baby boy was born, ten weeks early, weighing 2 lbs 10 oz and 14 1/2 inches long. I had severe pre-eclampsia and as my body got more and more sick the doctors decided that our baby was no longer safe to stay inside me, not to mention, I wasn't safe with him inside me either. 

Keaton Justin Norman

I have never had such a unexpected week in my whole life. 

While in the hospital, after Keaton was born, I would wake up in the middle of the night not knowing where I was, or why I wasn't pregnant anymore. I would then realize I was in the hospital and not remember why. It all felt like a bad dream- a nightmare really. It didn't feel real. NOTHING felt real. It's hard to explain exactly what all the horrible thoughts were like and how they felt, but my life felt like it had fallen apart.

As the days passed, and I came home from the hospital, leaving our baby boy there to be taken care of, the reality of what happened started to sink in and my emotions struggled to know how I should feel. I worried about our baby, cried a lot, and didn't know how I was going to get through the day, let alone the week, the next few months...until Keaton can come home to us. 

One morning, just a few days after I got home from the hospital, Justin turned on a church CD in the family room and while I was lying in bed I could hear the sound of the hymns playing. I stayed in bed for a long time that morning, even after Justin had left for school, and just listened to the music while in and out of sleep. But one of the songs stuck in my head and stayed in my head throughout the day...

"I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand... upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand." (How Firm a Foundation, Hymn #85- verse 3)

But it was these lines from the song that really affected me,

"As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand, as thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be." (How Firm a Foundation, Hymn #85- verse 2)

And suddenly, after these words repeating themselves over and over again inside my head, I realized that they were the answer to my prayers. And they became my comfort as I realized that although what I am going through is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life, and that it isn't going to be over anytime soon I realized that my Savior will be with me to "succor" me "as [my] days may demand." For as long as I need Him he will be here for me- he will always be here for me "to strengthen [me], help [me], and cause [me] to stand." 

And I just knew that this is what I need,

                                                                         my Savior. 

We all do.

service

President Eyring has told us that our Savior considers us all to be his friends.

DC 84:77- "And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power."

As we serve others for Him, we become His friend. This is an intimate and special title. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of what it means to be a friend and we must follow that example if we are to draw closer unto Him. 

Everyday, all around us, there are people longing for the kind of comfort, guidance, and protection that only a true friend can offer. With the Spirit as our companion we can be that friend.

Pray for opportunities to be the kind of friend Christ needs us to be and then watch for those opportunities daily. Let you heart be open to making new friends through your service to them, or to serving old friends, ones you have known and felt close to throughout your whole life. The Spirit will speak to you. Prepare- through daily prayer and scriptures study- yourself to hear the still small voice and be ready to respond.

President Eyring expresses in his first presidency message for the month of July that, "Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden."

We simply never know who's prayer we could be an answer to.

(based on President Henry B. Eyring's first presidency message "Faithful Friends" July 2010 Ensign)

a mom's divine role

Jesus loved the little children.

As I come closer to the day that I will become a mother I can't help but pray for the guidance and direction that will lead me to become the kind of mother that I long to be. Daily, I pray for this guidance, never really expecting it to come all at once, or even for it to come at all before the arrival of our little one. But, last night while listening to Elder L. Tom Perry's talk from this month's General Conference this prayer was answered and the exact guidance and direction I have been asking for was given.

Elder L. Tom Perry speaks of his mother and her role as a Relief Society instructor and most importantly her role as a teacher in her home. He says, "I believe it is [even] safe to say that while my mother was an enormously effective teacher among the sisters at Relief Society, her best teaching occurred with her children in the home... she prepared so thoroughly, first, to be an example to her children of diligent Church service and, second, because she recognized that what she learned from preparing her lessons could be used repeatedly for a higher purpose—teaching her sons and her daughters."

And suddenly I have a new reason to study and learn.


Elder L. Tom Perry continues, "I am not using my mother as a role model for parents in today’s world. Times are very different today, but while times may change, a parent’s teaching must never be devalued."

When we look to our future as parents, as we gain educations, start careers, and serve in church callings, we need to remind ourselves who we will someday be teaching- or who we are already teaching- our children.


"Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility."

I am so grateful for this most important and divine role.

(based on Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home" General Conference April 2010)

a pearl of great price

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

The title for the book The Pearl of Great Price comes from Matthew 13: 45-46,
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

this one pearl spoken of in the above scripture is symbolic of the gospel of Jesus Christ

And this pearl is of such great value that it is worth it to give up everything in order to possess it in our lives.
When I think of pearls, I think of the beautiful bracelet that my husband gave to me as a gift for our first anniversary. How special it is to me! It is one of my most valued gifts that he has given me- one that I will always treasure.
 
Today I started reading a book called The Old Testament Made Easier by David J. Ridges, and as I read the Introduction about The Pearl of Great Price I came across this "parable of the pearl" and it made me think of my bracelet of beautiful, glittery, white pearls. And then I thought of the gospel and how it is by far my most precious pearl. And I would give up anything for it.
 
And I would give anything to share this goodly pearl with all I know. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is our responsibility to share this "Pearl of Great Price" with all those we know and come in contact with, so that they may also share the wealth of this one most precious pearl.

(based on the "Introduction" to The Old Testament Made Easier by David J. Ridges)

the CUTEST book covers

Need a new scripture cover? A girl in my ward makes these ones and they are super cute and a super good price! Plus, if your scriptures are a different size than the average quad you can give her measurements and she can make one that fits your scriptures- or any book for that matter! Click HERE to check out Lauren's etsy shop and see the cute materials she has to pick from! Lauren also makes some super cute flower headbands with interchangeable flowers!
AND, just for fun (since I'm not sure anyone even looks at this little blog of mine) I will give the first person who comments on this post a scripture cover for FREE! You can choose the material and make it a scripture cover or book cover, your choice, and I will buy it for you! :) Sound like a good deal? I think it sounds like a lot of fun! Seriously, I love my new scripture cover so much (aren't the lemons so super cute!) and I can't wait to get some book covers made! Check out her shop and I hope to hear from you soon!