listen..

When I first got the "call" to start this blog on service and friendship I had an experience that I felt needed to be shared.

I was leaving the gym early one morning in a rush  to get home to send my kids of to school when I saw someones car lights on.  I got in my car quickly and started my engine, reminding myself that it would be ok if I didn't run back in the gym and find the driver of the vehicle.  I came up with every excuse out there.  Right as I turned to leave, I slammed on the breaks when I felt the words in my heart, "Auna, if I can't trust you with this, then what can I trust you with?"  Simple, but a punch in the gut and with a sharp left turn and up straight through to my heart.  I put it in park, ran in and asked the first person at the desk if she had a minivan with its lights on and of course it was.  This experience reminded me in a simple way that I need to follow the promptings of the spirit no matter how small or  inconsequential we may think it is.  We never know. 

I was headed home from Costco during the summer when  I saw a 15 passenger bus that was pulled over on the side of the road with flashing lights.  I again reasoned with myself that they were fine.  We live in the cell phone age, where paramedics could be there in 5 min. flat.   Yet, I couldn't shake that nagging feeling, so I wheeled the car around and pulled up behind them.  I met two bell choir directors and ten of their crew.  One boy had gotten ill.  They had been traveling for a day and still had one more day til they arrived at their competition.    I grabbed my first box of Creamies I have ever purchased at Costco and handed out popsicles.  It was divine intervention, because I was going to buy ice cream that day.  A Popsicle miracle! ;-)

When I was due, I mean overly due, with my last baby, I was sitting at home with my 3 youngest kidos.  They were watching cartoons and I was practicing my relaxation/mediation for delivery she, POP, I mean literally I heard and felt a pop and all of a sudden I felt like I had peed my pants.  I went to change and realized my water had broke.  Immediately my phone starting ringing, it was my dear friend and visiting teacher ( women who look after women), Mindy, calling to check on me.  She asked how I was, I said, "Great!"  She asked then, "What can I do?"  I said, "Well I am pretty sure my water just broke and I am alone with my kids.  Can you come over?"  She sped over in ten minutes and pulled in just as my husband arrived.  I thanked her repeatedly for following the inspiration and she said it was nothing, but it was.  I think too many times we get a thought to help someone and push it aside as nothing of importance but it may be.  This reminds me of a story told by President Thomas S. Monson:

My brothers and sisters, the Lord’s purposes are often accomplished as we pay heed to the guidance of the Spirit. I believe that the more we act upon the inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us His errands.

I have learned, as I have mentioned in previous messages, never to postpone a prompting. On one occasion many years ago, I was swimming laps at the old Deseret Gym in Salt Lake City when I felt the inspiration to go to the University Hospital to visit a good friend of mine who had lost the use of his lower limbs because of a malignancy and the surgery which followed. I immediately left the pool, dressed, and was soon on my way to see this good man.

When I arrived at his room, I found that it was empty. Upon inquiry I learned I would probably find him in the swimming pool area of the hospital, an area which was used for physical therapy. Such turned out to be the case. He had guided himself there in his wheelchair and was the only occupant of the room. He was on the far side of the pool, near the deep end. I called to him, and he maneuvered his wheelchair over to greet me. We had an enjoyable visit, and I accompanied him back to his hospital room, where I gave him a blessing.

I learned later from my friend that he had been utterly despondent that day and had been contemplating taking his own life. He had prayed for relief but began to feel that his prayers had gone unanswered. He went to the pool with the thought that this would be a way to end his misery—by guiding his wheelchair into the deep end of the pool. I had arrived at a critical moment, in response to what I know was inspiration from on high.

My friend was able to live many more years—years filled with happiness and gratitude. How pleased I am to have been an instrument in the Lord’s hands on that critical day at the swimming pool.

We all have been given the gift of agency, the freedom to choose.  Living in America, we are given more freedoms than most of the world.  Everyone on earth has been given the Light of Christ that shines within us.  The Light of Christ has been said to be our conscience.  We all inherently know right from wrong and we have agency to choose to do the right thing…but do we?  How many times have we chosen to go against our moral code?  I know for myself, too many times to consider.  I am far from perfect; I struggle with anger management;  I find it difficult to love myself;  I please others before God;  I have yet to return silver wear from a church function.  Okay, the last one is true but  I am sounding like a Narcissist here, so I will try to ver back on track.

Throughout our lives we will have thousands of opportunities to listen to the promptings God sends our way through the Holy Ghost.  We have the gift to use our agency for good; to better the lives around us and within us.  Pray to recognize the spirit and immediately follow the council.

Be kind.  Listen to the Light within and follow His mission.  For when we are following the Lord's mission, we will find it is our mission.

chicken noodle soup

A few years back my older sister went through some serious finical troubles.  The economy went down real fast.  Building jobs shut down almost over night.  My amazing brother-in-law was in over his head, with too many specs not moving.  They tried everything from selling big ticket items to working for pennies.  Before they knew it they had to foreclose on their gorgeous home that sat on two acres.  It was a rough year on their family.  Many tender mercies and growing experiences, but there is one I choose to share.

With little time to find another home in the middle of the school year a kind neighbor offered them an old farm house they could rent for free, if they helped clean up the place.  It was old, mice infested, but it had character and gosh darn it, my sister LOVED it!  When I heard about the mice, I called her in a panic, but she played it off and said, "I took care of it.  I yelled, "Ty, grab your bb gun." and I layed on top of my bed, waiting for him to show.  Then "POP!"  I shot him!  One hit to the head!"  I giggled then and still think it's hilarious.  Jennifer always knows how to make lemonade with lemons.

During this trial Jennifer had a dear friend pass away.  Jennifer would spend hours a day there, multiple times a week and sometimes a couple of times a day.  She would wash dishes, do laundry, change her sheets, massage her feet and one night she even brought in a bottle of wine, which is against our religious beliefs, and said with a giggle, "Are you sure there's not one more thing you wanna try?"  Jennifer brought in meals, helped her dress and would spend hours simply talking.  A few weeks before her passing she told Jennifer, "When I get to heaven I am going to send you another little girl, a fiery one, to keep you on your toes!"  Jennifer who had no plans on having anymore kids said, "Leigh don't you dare!"

Well, within 3 months and without even ovulating Jennifer was pregnant.  She spent most of the time hung over her toilet puking all her innards out.  She was put on an IV at 6 weeks.  Still she couldn't keep anything down.  One night was extremely bad.   My mom called to check in on her, "How ya doing Sis?"  My sister replied, "Not good mom, I feel like hell."  Inside Mom felt torn, she knew she had to be somewhere early the next day that would require her there all day, that she committed to months before.  That night as Mom went to bed she prayed to God, "Heavenly Father, I know you are there and can make anything happen.  All Jennifer needs is just a good home cooked meal.  Please Lord can you make this happen."

The next day about mid afternoon on a Saturday there was a knock on my sisters door.  There stood the lady who now lived in her million dollar home holding homemade chicken noodle soup with mashed potatoes, my sisters favorite.  My sister was gracious and thankful and deeply touched by this woman's kind heart.  Soon my moms phone was ringing, "Mom, you'll never believe who was at my door and what she brought!!?"  My sister related the story and my mom's heart was full of gratitude as she thanked the Lord for hearing and answering a mother's plea.

The best part of the story continues when nine months later Portia Leigh was born and true to Leigh's word she was a fiery one!  My sister was now living in Mesa, AZ.  My mom grabbed a box of Krispy Kreams and drove over to my sisters old gorgeous home and knocked on the door.  The kind lady answered and my mom said, "I know you don't know me from the man on the moon, but not too long ago you took a meal over to my daughter who used to live here. I just wanted you to know you were literally an answer to my prayer.   I just want to thank you for doing something outside your comfort zone."  The lady started crying, "Thank you for coming and telling me the whole story.  I have always wondered how my service was viewed.  I didn't feel like a meal would be sufficient owning their old home they were forced to leave."

Prayers are answered through our tiny hands.  In the Book of Mormon, in the Book of Mosiah 23:10, "…the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands…"  The Lord knows us, listens to our every prayer; he weeps when we weep.  When trials are burying you, try to pray and listen for his reply.  When you feel a thought to help someone out, do it!  This is the Lord's lifeline; he is reaching out to you.  He blesses us thru others.  This life is about looking out for others that need your help.  You will never regret serving others.

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer,

Auna Leigh

rekindle...

I am really excited about this post.  I have been wanting to talk more about my relationship with my dreamy Mr. C, but I had to wait for the right moment.  He is my best friend, soul mate, companion forever and the father of my children.  He is incredibly sexy, has the perfect body from head to toe.  My favorite is his eyes and smile.  He is ridiculously smart, funny and talented in just about every area of life.  Which drives me nuts with envy sometimes but, makes me adore him even more.   I love how giving, kind and dedicated he is.  He has a heart of gold, the wisdom of an owl and body of a god.  And he's mine, all mine.

I love watching old married people, walking hand in hand, grocery shopping together, kissing, etc.  I could watch them all day long.  Might freak them out a bit, but I just LOVE the elderly.  When Mr. C and I were dating he asked once, "When we're ninety do you think we'll still french kiss?" I replied quickly "Heck ya!"

This summer we have been traveling a ton and "discussing" a lot as well.  We've had our highs of highs and lows of lows in a short six week time period.  It's been one roller coaster after another.  Without airing dirty laundry I'd like to think we have a typical marriage with struggles like anyone else.   As of this moment we are soaring high above the clouds, with feelings of newly weds.  I am giddy as a school girl and constantly miss him while he is at work.  While the highs feel amazing and feel like they are but a brief moment, how do we even know they are a high without feeling the lows that feel like they drag on forever?

Marriage is the most important friendship to work on and to enjoy.  This last vacation we were in Washington staying along the beach.  It was beautiful and breathtaking.  On the drive up he hid my books I was planning on reading and asked to just talk all 10 hours.  I thought it might be hard to keep conversation for that long, but we did and on top of that, we enjoyed it.  This was his way of showing love for me, because conversation is a large LOVE language for me.  

 When we arrived we looked over our family reunion agenda and the first in the mornings was yoga.  I got excited, because it is my new found love for exercise.  I told Mr. C.  His response was what I was expecting, "Well you and your sisters will have fun."  I could fell the tension building, but before the wall could be built I asked, "Why don't we go together instead.  We could walk the beach and then go to yoga."  That sealed the deal and I could see a little bounce in his step, however small.  All that week, I tried to choose him over everyone else.  I wasn't perfect, but I tried.   And guess what happened?  He started feeling loved and appreciated.  Then all of a sudden it hit me, I married my best friend. 

We have spent time mostly around water this summer, which has helped keep us grounded.  Spending time enjoying God's creations has kept us rooted.  We have unplugged the TV and iPads and instead enjoyed God's entertainment and conversations with one another.  From walking the beach, to paddle boarding Lake Powell, to fire works over Lake Payett we have bonding.  All it takes is choosing to be with each other.  My challenge for myself and anyone out there who's up for it is to choose your spouse.  When you get all the kids into bed, instead of getting cozy and curling up to a good book, choose him.  When getting ready for lunch with a friend, cancel and surprise him.  Wake him up early and take him on a morning walk.  Might Want to buy him a donut to save your bacon if he's not a morning person.  Just choose him.  

Our marriage hasn't been perfect, for which I am grateful, because of our trials we have grown closer as a unit.  I married him because I knew that whatever was in our future we'd face it together.  People say you fall in and out of love with your spouse periodically.  I have to disagree.  I think being selfish overrides the love of others and hides it away.  But like every other thing we want badly we have to work for it.   You want a great looking body, you gotta hit the gym 6 days a week and diet constantly.  You want a million dollar enterprise, you have to work your butt off and take risks.  You want a marriage that is amazing you have to constantly be working on it; putting one another first. 

 I know this isn't a band aid that heals all marriages.  There is a lot of hurt and bitterness and betrayal.  Sometimes it is heavily one sided.  I know it sucks, but you are not alone.  Lean upon the Savior and he will heal your wounds.  He has descended below all, to feel our pain.  He atoned for everyone, those who have sinned and those sinned upon.  Lean on Him and continue to reach out to your spouse.  Be patient; from what I hear the grass ain't greener on the other side.  

I love Mr. C for all his strengths and weaknesses.  He's not perfect, but he's perfect for me.  I want forever with this man.  So I am starting by enjoying today with him.