The pit of my day was at the very beginning of my day. Lilly just turned four month and thus it was time for a well check. When you baby is so young well checks are fun because you get to see how much they have grown, but they are actually horrible because that also means your sweet little baby will be getting shots. Lilly in particular breaks my heart. The boys would get their shots and be fine as soon as I picked them up. Sometimes they wouldn't even cry until the 2nd shot and other times I wondered if they were more made someone was holding their leg down. Lilly on the other hand is not like that. Shots are the end of the world she cries from the very beginning and for a few seconds after. It was absolutely heart breaking. Even the boys were so sad. On a side not Lilly is doing great just a little skinny. Also when Lilly was getting her shots the boys were very concerned and tried very hard to be supportive for her.
I often catch myself thinking how very very lucky I am to have married into such a wonderful family. I love all my in laws and I love Linda and Cecil like a mother and father. The Ash's are excellent parents. Jacob says his parents are always teaching him to show him how much they love him. (he says that's one of the love languages left out of the book 5 language of love) Any way as I was getting into my bed I heard my phone get an e-mail I saw Cecil had sent an e-mail out to all of us. This e-mail was absolutely fabulous and I really enjoyed it. I hope he doesn't mind my putting it here, but the e-mail read...
Kids,
I just got
home from high council meeting. I
am very impressed with the men with whom I serve. I want to say something to
you all.
When Elder Packer (as an Assistant to the Twelve) came to
the France Mission in 1969 or so, I remember him referring to Pres. Marion G.
Romney, who was then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Packer said of then Elder
Romney, "He's a man among the
men he's among!" I remember
thinking, "and he's in a pretty significant group of men."
Well, tonight I want to tell you about my stake president (of
the YSA stake). His name is Barry
Smith. And he is a man among the
men he's among. He was released in
2011 as the Dallas, TX mission president.
Before his mission, he was in private equities, but mostly in the
medical field (administration -- not physician). A couple weeks ago at a stake priesthood meeting, he was
speaking about being with us (on a Sunday night), and the previous Thursday and
Friday evenings he had spent with the Governors of the 50 states at
banquets. (The point he was making
was that he enjoyed us just as much, and had as much or more respect for us.)
I told your mom that evening, "he was at some kind
of
meeting in Washington, DC, but I don't know what is was." Tonight I
learned that he is the CEO of
Magellen Health Services, Inc.
They are the principal provider of mental health and pharmaceutical
services for the Medicaid population in 26 states. His home is in
Paradise Valley, but his office is in Avon,
CT. He flies there in the company
jet each Monday, spends two or three days on the east coast, flies all
over the
country, etc. But comes home to be
the stake president on the weekends, and is generally (but not always)
here
every 2nd and 4th Thursday for high council. Tomorrow he's on the west
coast. He's a man (like Romney) of extraordinary capabilities and
charisma). He did not campaign to
be CEO, but was on Magellan's board, and was asked by the board to take
over
January 1.
I believe he would tell you, as I tell you, that the
foundation of his success in life is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For my children who ever waver in your
convictions about the Church, I want you to remember that there are some very,
very outstanding people of supernal talent who are convinced of the
truthfulness of the gospel, who have the intellect, the integrity, and the
capability to discern a sham if they see one, and this Church is true beyond
any doubt. I've heard some
Catholic bishops speak (at the UN) who are great intellectuals, and some
protestant ministers who are very talented, who have tremendous testimonies of
Jesus Christ. I love them for
their contributions to the faith of so many. But it is not the same as knowing that the Church of Jesus
Christ has been restored to the earth, and is here being led by a prophet and
twelve apostles.
However, my second thought this evening was this: I'm 64 and I believe I will leave this
life having sold myself short. I
will not have accomplished all that I might have done. You are still young enough to not limit
yourselves. I want you all to
become "men (or women) among the men (or women) you're among." Do not limit yourselves. I know that you have the talent and
abilities to be all that the Lord designed you to be. You will need to be four things -- as I've told you
before: (1) honest, (2) hard
working, (3) kind, and (4) obedient.
But the foundation of everything is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope you all read Elder Callister's
article that Daniel sent to us.
The world needs to know that single, undeniable truth. But each of us needs to live by that
truth. It will propel us to be
greater than we've ever conceived.
I love you all.
We pray for you every day.
Live to be great. Live to
your potential. Love the
truth. One of my favorite
scriptures over the last several years,
Job 13:15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
him."
Love,
Dad
I never want to forget the lessons that come from my parents (all of them). I am so lucky to have such loving smart people around me pushing me to be what I have the potential to be.
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