Courage

- Mom & her dog sitting on the edge of her cot -

I love calendars that have inspirational thoughts on them.  I hang mine in my bathroom where I can look at it and ponder while I'm blow drying my hair.  When I turned the page on my calender to July, I found this thought - "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin


Yesterday was my mom's birthday and, as I thought of her, I thought of this quote.  When my mom was about five months pregnant with me, she developed appendicitis.  At that time there were no laproscopic techniques in place that would have enabled them to operate on my mom and preserve the pregnancy.  Faced with the possibility of her own death and on the advice of her doctors, it was suggested that she agree to abort the pregnancy and have surgery.  With great courage and substantial risk to her own life, she asked if they would treat her with antibiotics and see if that would resolve her appendicitis.  The doctor was willing to try this but reminded her that if that failed, there would be no choice but to end the pregnancy.  The advances in neonatal care were years down the road and so there was no chance of me surviving at five months gestation.

Obviously, the course of antibiotics combined with tremendous faith and prayers allowed my mom to recover, deliver a full-term baby (me) and live long enough to see her seven children raised and 28 grandchildren born.

- Four Generations -

The story surrounding my birth would in and of itself be considered miraculous but the overlying miracle to all seven of our births was that my mom was told that she would never bear children.  She contracted rheumatic fever as a child and was literally bedridden for a full year, unable to even put her legs over the side of the bed.  The doctors told my grandmother that my mother's heart was not strong enough to carry a pregnancy and survived the strain of birth.  My mother received numerous priesthood blessings of health and strength and was able to have seven children.  After my oldest brother, John, was born, the doctor told mom that she should not have any more children.  Her mother (my Grandma Adamson) marched in with her at the next appointment and told him very directly that God had promised her strength and the ability to be a mother in Zion and that he would preserve her to that end.  She told him that it was not his place to question God's blessings and that his place was to give my mom the best medical care available.  (I'm sure the doctor was just watching out for my mom's health, he just hadn't met my grandma yet!)  I have been blessed by my mother's courage and her willingness to trust in the Lord.

Throughout my life I have witnessed great courage.  I also recognize that many battles are fought in private and that great courage can sometimes be overlooked because we are unaware of the challenge hard fought. 

- My courageous neighbors - Joan is currently battling

a serious strep eye infection &

Christina is on a South African adventure

with her husband & five boys for a year. -

For my mom it was the courage to have children.  For my father, it was choosing church activity while growing up in an inactive home.  Yesterday we celebrated our twin grandsons birthday.  I was humbled at the courage shown by Jason and Kelli with their decision to start a family in uncertain economic times.  

- Cousins checking out the binky - 

- Bradley & Jensen's Birthday Party - July 10, 2010 -

I have witnessed the courage shown by sisters who have been willing to right a wrong, bear the burden of depression, battle addiction, return to gospel fellowship, visiting teach, purchase a modest prom dress, turn off an inappropriate TV show, serve in 'high' and 'low' profile callings, bless a ward in South Africa by modeling open-heartedness, fill a cannery assignment, refuse to gossip, befriend new ward members, commit to church attendance regardless of their spouses activity, teach a difficult Primary class, influence a struggling teenager, serve a mission, accept a calling, choose to not take offense and so many other things.  The strength of sisterhood is directly affected by the courage of it's sisters.  You have proven to be courageous and fierce in your defense of the gospel.

- Some of the sweet RS sisters of the 4th Ward -

I am better for having been taught by the sisters of this ward.  I love you and thank you for all of your support and love.

Love,  Nancy

* My farewell email dated July 11, 2010 to the Relief Society sisters in my ward on the day of my release as Relief Society President after serving for 3 1/2 years.*