{survival and blessed}

Those were the two words that automatically came to mind when thinking of the past year.  Especially when Luvpilot mentioned that in his medical reports from earlier in the year it said "aborted sudden cardiac death".  I think I missed that when I was reading through them.  Aborted sudden cardiac death.  He was certain to die if so many things hadn't happened to prevent it.  He survived.  I can't help but be reminded of all the miracles and blessings that came into play then and in those months following.

Like how we had to survive the six months of him not being able to work.  Financially we ended up being okay and that was a huge blessing!  Decisions that were made eight years ago came into play here and really helped us survive and get through.  A huge blessing.

Not only did we have to survive financially, but also emotionally and mentally.  Ever spent six months with your spouse when he can't do the thing that he loves most?  Add in that they could find no reason for his sudden issue - no blockage, no heart disease, no high cholesterol, no electrical issues, no history etc., there was literally no reason he couldn't be flying other than FAA rules.  That could've made for a very depressed husband and wife, but we survived all that togetherness and without antidepressants or heavy drinking. 

We also had to survive me being primary president.  It's actually turned into one of my favorite callings ever.  I love the children and have grown to love so many of our ward members as I've gotten to know them and serve with them - people I probably wouldn't otherwise have gotten to know as well.  I know this was the calling I needed.

I was also thinking how blessed we were that these were our only trials this year.  A recent convert to the LDS Church, who also recently moved here from Africa, spoke briefly in church right before Christmas.  He recalled how when his youngest son was born a few years earlier, they were in hiding in the jungles of Africa and didn't even know if his son would live through the diseases and mosquitoes.  Each one of us is blessed to live where we live.  Can you imagine living in the jungle with three kids and a newborn, worried for their safety?   He sang Count Your Many Blessings in his native tongue after telling his story, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one with tears in their eyes.

A lot of trials, but a lot of blessings, some of which we would not have seen if it weren't for the trials.  Funny how that works, huh?

It was a hard year, but also a good year.  I would say bring on 2012, but I'd rather say go easy on us 2012.