I was diagnosed with ALS on July 21, 2011. On August 21,2011 it was announced that researchers discovered the cause of ALS. I think that's pretty amazing! And now we hope that those same researchers find a drug that can cure/reverse ALS.
The other evening we had a visit from two of our wonderful missionaries, who married each other! Adam Heder and Diana McArthur Heder. (We have four sets of couples who were both missionaries in our mission, and subsequently got married!) We had a wonderful visit and even went out for Korean food together.
July 17-18 we took a quick trip to Spokane to hear our nephew August Rife speak in church prior to leaving on his mission to Brazil. (It would be his farewell, if we still had those :) We had a great time visiting Roger and Sheri and their family. Monday morning Reggie and Sheri and Augie took us to a famous old hotel that has been refurbished for brunch. We had a lovely time. Since Augie didn't get his visa to go to Brazil, he came to the Provo MTC. Rich was able to pick him up at the airport and we took him to Cafe Rio (his choice) for his last lunch. Then we dropped him off at the MTC. It was amazing that one of his hosts was an elder from his home stake also going to Brazil. It made it easier for Augie to leave with a smile on his face.
I have been working on reading the May Conference Ensign and so I got behind on June, July and August Ensign magazines. I'm trying to catch up. Today I picked up the June Ensign and read the article entitled, "He Carried My Sorrows." It was perfect for what I needed to hear today.
Elder Scott:
"When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding and compassion, which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching and that generally entails discomfort and pain." (Ensign, Nov 1995)
Like the author, Jane Bleak, I have felt these same blessings in my life:
"He has blessed me with hope in the future, helped me to heal my heavy heart, heightened my awareness of the goodness around me, given me opportunities to serve, deepened my compassion for others, and magnified my love for family and friends.
"Through it all I have gained a testimony that our challenge is to surrender our will to our Heavenly Father because only then can we personally be refined and polished in the was He has specifically designed for each of us."
"I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." D&C 84:88
Comfort has come to me in the form of family, friends, and members of our ward and stake who have lovingly visited me and brought gifts. I am so blessed to live among such angels who have come to mourn with me and to share their love with me. Thank you for your love and prayers and fasting and visits and gifts.