...giving back...

OH!!!! I had a great day yesterday!! Let me give a little background...........I have wanted to be able to donate blood for a very long time. I think I went once, just after I was married, and my blood count was too low. Then came the years of babies...........and after that I offered. But because of a cold sore, they turned me away. Somewhere in the last 2 to 3 years I tried again. What could stop me now??? Right?? Wrong! My count was again too low. I was quite discouraged. During those years I had taken Suzanne to receive blood and platelet transfusions so many times and had felt a deep gratitude to those people who took their time to give and I felt a real longing to be able to do the same. I knew what it meant to people who needed the help!!! Well............the Red Cross was in Delta yesterday for a blood drive. Roger had an appointment. I've kind of been trying to eat better..........well.........long story short.........I went with Roger and my count was high enough!!!!!! SO!!!! for the first time in my life I was able to give blood!!!!!!! I've been giddy with joy since she told me I could!!! And I asked about donating platelets because I learned with Suzanne that there needs to be a more consistent "flow" of platelets. They don't live as long as red cells............and you can donate platelets more often--every week, they told me!! Soooooooo, that's my desire..........to give "back".........though you know I can't really do that........... it's another "paying it forward" I suppose. Elder Scott taught us in conference last April..........talking about good health practices and personal revelation, but it can be applied here as well........"...we can improve both the quality of our service and our well-being by making careful, appropriate choices." Yes!! we can!!! I'm going to continue to take better care of myself so I can serve better! OH!!! Life is wonderful!!!! isn't it?? And yesterday was capped off with a beautiful night out, sitting outside..........the weather and temperature were perfect...........we watched the nearly full moon  rise over the mountain and then had a wonderful ride home under that same glorious moon. We stopped once.........on one of those dark lonely roads (to change drivers) and it was so still.........it felt like we were the only two in that quiet, semi-darkness, under that sky with only the bright moon and a few brave stars...............there is no way I can do it justice..............truly........a joyful day!!!!

...Joyful praise.....with tears........

OH!!!! I just have to share this with you!!! Let me preface this by telling you that I have been missing Suzanne dreadfully this morning............deep gratitude to a loving neighbor who let me sob out my grief and wet her shoulder as she held me. I am profoundly thankful for her love. So.........to help myself, I've been listening to conference as I've been working on little Hannah's blessing dress. Consider these words..........I'm going to write them in prose so you will not be tempted to pause as we so often do when we read poetry.........and I miss the meaning in the pause.....

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
Join the great throng,
Psaltery, organ, and song, Sounding in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord! Over all things he gloriously reigneth.
Borne as on eagle wings, safely his Saints he sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen how all thou needest hath been granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee.
Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who with his love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath breath, join with Abraham's seed to adore him!
Let the "amen" sum all our praises again,
Now as we worship before him.

Doesn't that just make you want to shout "hallelujah"???? and stretch and be better and be able to fall at his feet??? If songs of the righteous are prayers.......................

I wanted to share with you the choir singing this glorious hymn but I don't have the time right now to find it, etc., etc.........It was sung in conference, last April (2012), Sunday morning. Guaranteed to make you rejoice and cry, all at the same time!!!! Love to you all!!!!