March 18, 2018

It has been a fun week here in Seattle.  Sarah is tolerating the treatment really well so far.  We go into the clinic about the same time each week day.  She can't have anything to drink for a couple hours before treatment because they have to put her to sleep before treatment, that's probably the hardest part for her because her "mimi" (bottle) is a huge comfort to her right now.

We get to the clinic and they take her vitals while an anesthesiologist comes to meet with us and makes sure Sarah is ready to go.  I carry her with me across the hall to the treatment room and hold her while she falls asleep, (it takes effect really fast).  After she is asleep I wait in the lobby with Grandpa and Camden or play Mario with Camden in the playroom. They come to get me when she is waking up and we are done for the day.  She is happy and well and we are able to go on some fun adventures with Grandpa or Daddy.

Nathan and Hannah flew in Thursday night and we were able to spend the weekend together.  Today was our first time going to church as a family in six months.  It was a heavenly feeling to be there together.  I have missed it so much.  I've realized I took so many things for granted, like going to church together or being able to go to the park or take the kids on a long walk.  I always planned on tomorrows, on being a better mom or a better wife "someday" when life wasn't so busy with school or building the house.  I look back and regret every second I put off for "someday".  I am living life today and cherishing every minute.  Be grateful for your life, especially the people in it.

 "The family proclamation helps us understand much of the love the Savior     referred to when He told us we must “love one another.”8 He gave us the supreme example of love when He declared, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”9 He later atoned for all our sins and finally gave His life for all of us.

We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them—giving of our time; always being present in their lives; serving them; being courteous, affectionate, and showing true love for those of our family and to all men—as the Savior taught.

We don’t know what could happen to us tomorrow, and that is why today is the time to start showing your love through small acts such as a hug and an “I love you” to your spouse and children and those around you." Claudio R. M. Costa

             

If I knew this would be the last time I would watch you sleep,

I would hug you tighter. I would plead with the Lord to protect you.

If I knew this would be the last time I saw you walk out the door,

I would hug and kiss you and call you back to hug and kiss you one more time.

If I knew this would be the last time I would hear your voice in prayer,

I would record every gesture, every look, every smile, every one of your words,

So that I could listen to it later, day after day.

If I knew this would be the last time,

I would spend an extra minute or two to tell you, “I love you,” instead of assuming you already knew it.

If I knew this would be our last time, our last moment,

I would be by your side, spending the day with you instead of thinking,

“Well, I’m sure other opportunities will come, so I can let this day go by.”

Of course there will be a day to revise things,

And we would have a second chance to do things right.

Oh, of course there will be another day for us to say, “I love you.”

And certainly there will be another chance to tell each other, “Can I help with anything?”

But in my case, there isn’t one!

I don’t have you here with me, and today is the last day we have—our farewell.

Therefore I would like to say how much I love you,

And I hope you never forget it.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old.

Today might be your last chance to hold tight to the hand of the one you love and show all you feel.

If you are waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?

Because if tomorrow never comes, you certainly will regret for the rest of your life

Not having spent some extra time for a smile, a conversation, a hug, a kiss,

Because you were too busy to give that person what ended up being their last wish.

Then hug tight today the one you love, your friends, your family, and whisper in their ears how much you love them and want them close to you.

Use your time to say,

“I’m sorry,”

“Please,”

“Forgive me,”

“Thank you,”

Or even,

“That was nothing,”

“It’s all right,”

Because if tomorrow never comes, you will not have to regret today.

The past doesn’t come back, and the future might not come!

Norma Cornett Marek