July 2009

Here it is coming to the end of July. I had a pretty fabulous month although it had some ups and downs and unexpected turns it was nice!

My mom had her first 2 surgerys on her kidney and they were a success she has been recovering great from them. I have loved having my mom here all month! She gets to stay up here until the middle of August. She goes in for her thyroid surgery next week we are hoping for the best with great faith and trust in our heavenly father all things are possible.

July 17th was the highlight of my year! My family went to George Strait! This is a yearly tradition we look forward to every year! He hasn't been back to Utah in 10 years so it was cool seeing him here. We usually see him in Las Vegas at the MGM. He was absolutely wonderful! He is truly the king none can compare the the King George Strait. The concert was an absolute blast. George Looks better than ever the music was amazing my voice was a little hoarse after from screaming!!!

The concert was fun my friend Katie came with us. There were some entertaining fellow concert goers with us the concert was outside and there were plenty of drunk people... glad it was them not me!! Julianne Hough and Blake Shelton opened for George. It was a blast! I can't wait for next year!

Also this month I was officially accepted to Weber State University! I'm going to be a Wild Cat! I am so excited and nervous its going to be a major change from good ol BYU-Idaho but a good one and I am excited for this new journey! I have 3 Pre reqs. for the Social Work Program then I should be able to apply for admissions into the Social Work Program after fall semester. I am so excited to become a social worker and get the chance to help people in this field. The campus is so nice and its a great environment. Here goes 2 more years of college but will be well worth it in the end!!!

To end this month I am going to Heber Utah for a family reunion it should be fun I am excited for a little getaway!

Los Angeles Temple

My mom sent this to me and It truly touched my heart and again strengthened my testimony and love of the temple and the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I wanted to share this amazing story!:

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders: My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday.

Today, I had the priviledge of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant.

After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates.

The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot.

Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone elsethought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced:

" The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".

I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only addmy own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

July 19, 1996

Today is a day filled with so many feelings, memories, a time to remember, and a time to have hope in a brighter day that will come again and a love that will last forever.

July 19th is the day my Wonderful, Loving father passed away. Still today the pain of losing him is as real as it was. Every year I I like to write a memory or something to remember him because this day every year my I remember so clearly my time with him. My dad stood for so much and was and still is one of my heroes. He loved his family more than life itself and was the happiest when he was watching us do those things that we loved doing and fulfilling our dreams.

I talk about him alot and by doing so it keeps his memory alive and I know I can always feel him nearer to me. I miss him more everyday that we are apart and wish he could share these precious moments in time with his family. I am so thankful though to know without a single doubt in my mind that everyday I am closer to being with him forever and my family can share a love that will last forever and never have to say good bye again. I am thankful to have the truth of the everlasting and true gospel in my life. I am thankful for the assurance this gives me to know that families are forever and mine is forever.

Writing is very therupedic for me and something I enjoy very much. I took a writing class while in school and for one assignment we were asked to write a poem using food as the subject. I thought of Peaches and how this related to my dad and his last day with us and a tender precious moment in time that I got to spend with him. My dad loved peach pie and peaches so I wrote this in the memory of our last time together.

My Dad also loved the King George Strait! Every year when I attend a George Strait concert I smile when I think about how much fun my dad had at his concerts and what a fan he was. To quote a George Strait song.... "Let me tell you a secret about a fathers love a secret that my daddy said was just between us.. you see Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.. "Its a Love Without End... Amen"

I love you forever.

PEACHES

Peach Pie was his favorite, In the Summer they were the best. Sweet, Plump, and Tasteful Peaches were perfect for his Pie. He brought a big case of Peaches in the house, the look on his face was as happy as a Child on Christamas Day. He made one last call to Grandma, could you make me 4 Peach Pies please? Just the way I like them!

As he made his order he sat there with a Smile, I could see the simple joy in his eyes and could imagine that in his mind he could almost taste the sweetness of his Peach Pie.He grabbed one last perfect Peach, then without a word left the house, with a smile on his gentle face. He never came back that day, he never tasted his treat, he never tasted the joy of the future with his family and those that were to come.

As Quickly as Peach season came he was chosen as the most beautiful, perfect one of all. He must of been the favored one, that big ripe delicious one, the one who was chosen first from the tree, was it his warm glow or big heart? For whatever reason may be he was picked and taken away.

Now here we are as the Peaches on the tree, the ones who are left behind. People will come and go from our tree for a time and a short season, but in the end we are forgotten and will eventually wilt away and die in others minds.

His memory and his final Peach season will forever shine bright as the sun in our hearts the ones who loved and lost him, but will set as the sunset as others say goodbye and move on. We sit at the table watching and waiting for him to come back and have Peach Pie with us. He would never forget his treat or us, the ones he loved so much.

There are tiny hands that long to hold his and hear him tell the stories of seasons passed. They will know him through pictures, memories and stories told, but won't get the chance to share his season of life during their time here. Those tiny hands will always find him in their dreams never too far away and from the stories and memories that will always live on every time we have a piece of his Peach Pie and share a memory, of his season with us. Reality sinks in time and time again and each year Peach season has come and gone, our season together is at an end. I walk away from his tree and I pick one last Peach for him and leave it near my heart for him just in case he might come back.

Written In Loving Memory Of My Father:

Douglas Kay Adams

July 19, 1996

By: Kamie Dean Adams

Adventures At The Hospital Waiting Room

Well, I am sitting here at LDS Hospital in the family surgery waiting room. My mom is her for a second surgery on her kidney. This second surgery isn't as bad as the first they got her right in this morning and they are great to keep you updated on the progress of the surgery and when they are complete. Then when the surgery is over the Doctor comes in and talks with the family then they let you see the pt they have been so good to us here. My mom has been blessed with an amazing Doctor the Lord has blessed us beyond measure we are so grateful for this.

My mom went and saw a specialist this week for her Thyroid Cancer and he was also absolutely amazing and very optimistic. This gave us great comfort. He will perform the surgery on August 4th so that she can go home for a few weeks and recover from the Kidney Surgery. He explained the procedure very throughly to us and eased our fears. They will make a small incision in her neck and remove the left half of her Thyroid and Pathology will check it to see if the cancer is Benign or Malignant and we are hoping for Benign so that only the left side will be removed.

This past week I have stepped back and have been amazed at the tender mercies of the Lord and how my testimony and my faith has been strengthened through going through this. My mom while in the hospital this past week recieved a beautiful, touching, and faithful blessing in her behalf. There was this sweet and kind service missionary and his angel wife that came by my moms room and gave her an encouraging message and asked if she would like a priesthood blessing.

I was truly humbled by this kind mans faith and the power of the priesthood through his obedience and faith as a missionary of god. What was remarkable was knowing thagt the priesthood is true and the Lord will inspire and bless those whose faith is true and strong. This man did not know anything at all about my mom or her condition or the things she was going through but when he gave her the blessing he said absolutely everything she needed to hear and expressed love and concern for the things that she was going through and facing at this time. He was truly a messenger from the Lord speaking for him and blessing and comforting my angel mother in her time of need. He blessed her with comfort and with faith in the Lord and it was a small miracle for my mom yet everything she needed to know that she was loved unconditionally and there was hope through our faith in the gospel and the atonement of our savior.

I am thankful for those dear missionaries and for their love and faith this was a beautiful thing to experience.

I am thankful for the love and faith of my mom she is truly amazing. She has everlasting faith and courage. I am thankful to have her and thank my father in heaven for sending me an angel mother.

The "C" Word... Life's Lessons... and Most Importantly Family!

Wow, what a week first off!!!! My heart is filled with so many feelings right now. This has been a week completely unexpected but lessons have been taught that the Lord needed to teach us. My mom has been having some health problems in the recent months that finally were diagnosed and planned to be treated. She found out she had a "lump" of growth on her kidney and if it wasn't treated she would lose her kidney. The doctor in St. George didn't even want to take a chance messing with it or trying to remove it its a very dangerous procedure but needed to be taken care of immediately.

So my mom was referred to the best specialist in Utah and traveled to Salt Lake City to have surgery this week. July 8th was surgery day and the surgery was at LDS Hospital. My grandma arrived with me and we were able to stay with my mom right up until they took her back for surgery. Many tears of fear and sadness were shed as we have feared the unknown of what would be happening with my mom but faith in a loving all knowing father in heaven that whatever trial or lesson it may be that his will always will be done.
Mom was scheduled for surgery at 12:30 but didn't get into the actual operation until 2:00 when they took her from us I told her I loved her and she squeezed my hand. I knew she was in the loving arms of our father in heaven now.
Patiently and worried we waited and waited the surgery was only suppose to take 2-3 hours well after 4 hours the doctors nurse called me and said they were making slow progress and there was bleeding making it difficult so after 5 hours the doctor came in and talked with my grandma and I and said they finished the surgery and my mom was fine it was a blessing and a relief. Because of the bleeding they will have to go back in on Friday and finish removing the lump on the bottom of the kidney.

My mother is an amazing woman full of strength and faith. I have been by her side and through this pain and suffering she has taught me endurance and strength through this trial and I love her even more.

Along with these health scares my mom had a biopsy on her thyroid a couple of weeks ago and the day before her surgery we were together and got an unexpected call from her Doctor in St. George... And in a single moment my mom recieved the news that many ponder what they would do if they ever recieved that news... They told her Diane there has been some growth on your thyroid and there is a 1 and 7 chance that it is Cancer..the C word..... Basically you have cancer. My heart sank when I heard this my mom grandma and I were together and tears flowed from our eyes and we thought about life and all this and had to have the faith to put this in the lords hands and trust with all of our hearts in him and what he can do not on what we can do alone....

So my mom is suppose to have an emergency surgery to have her thyroid removed hopefully in the next week before it spreads to any where else in her body... Ironically within hours of hearing this news we went with my aunt and cousins to see the film "My Sisters Keeper" and how close it hit home to us in a single moment. This caused me to reflect on this situation with my mom and at this time I will be her keeper and love her and trust in the lord through faith that he will be there for my mom. We don't have all the answers right now and probably won't but being hit with these trials all at once has been overwhelming but at the same time a test of our faith and has caused us to remember that we will never be given a trial that we cannot overcome.

I have a true testimony that Our father in heaven loves us and knows us. He wants us to be happy I have felt the closest to him when I have turned to him in my joys, my sorrows, my fears, my successes and my failures. He knows my mom and her struggles personally and he will help her overcome these and through her faith great miracles can come to pass.

During this difficult time my Uncle gave my mom a priesthood blessing and it has been a great comfort to us. He reminded my mom in the blessing that the savior has atoned for every pain and sorrow that we have ever gone through and he will take our burdens if we will allow him to. He reminded us of the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father and Savior have for us. We are so blessed to know that our family is sealed in the house of the Lord for Time and All Eternity and love lasts forever.

Sitting here at the hospital with my mom I love her and I see a beauty in her. She is an amazing woman full of love and strength and everlasting endurance. She is the rock in my life and everyday of my life I will be grateful to her for her love and example in my life.

On a happier note this week on July 8th we celebrated the 1st Birthday of my Beautiful Niece Aspen Kaylee Morgan. It has been a celebration of life and what a joy she has brought into our lives. I am so honored to have been taking care of her since she was 2 months old and to be a part of her life everyday I love you so much Aspen! You have been such a joy in our family we are so blessed to have you in our family!

This will be a long journey ahead of us filled with uncertainty sometimes but always if we have faith and hope everything that is meant to be will happen and no matter what love will go on forever. I want my angel mother to know how much I love her and how thankful I am for her in my life. I'll keep an update!