Tonight, I am grateful for my daughter's testimony

I always tell my kids to "be giants." I want them to stand out in the crowd, never blending in with the hosts of people in the "great and spacious building." Because of our hectic schedules, it ended up just being Hannah and me here tonight, and I still had home teaching to do. Yes, I know, it was the last day of the month. Quit judging! Anywho, I took Hannah with me because my home teaching partner, Garrett, was playing in his 8th-grade baseball game. At the end of one of the lessons, Hannah piped in and asked, "Dad, can I tell them a story about prayer?" My first thoughts were, Why didn't I include this young lady in the lesson? She has a great testimony and she's very bright. Am I so arrogant to think that only I can teach the lesson? I quickly repented and ask her to please tell her story. She related an experience from this past weekend, when she traveled to Flagstaff with a non-member friend and the friend's family. Hannah is at a new school this year and this is a very new friendship. When she and her friend were out in the boonies on a Rhino cart, it broke down and would not start. Her friend tried to start the cart many, many times, but it was to no avail. Hannah said, "I know this is going to sound weird, but let's say a prayer." "Okay," her friend replied, pressing her flattened palms together, and bowing her head until her lips touched the tips of her fingers. "You can just fold your arms," Hannah explained, with loving instruction. As Hannah prayed, she petitioned for the cart to start so that they could get back to the cabin. After their short prayer, the friend tried to start the cart, but nothing happened. Hannah said a lightning-quick prayer: "Heavenly Father, please make the cart start - my friend needs to see that prayer works. Please help it to start. Please?" The cart started on the second attempt. "Thank you! Thank you!," Hannah prayed in her mind. "Wow!" exclaimed her friend, "That prayer really worked." Just as they were pulling up to the cabin, the cart's engine failed again.

~~~~~

Later in the day, the friend was trying to contact her biological mother on her cell phone. She really wanted to get through, but after ten attempts, her efforts seemed hopeless; her mother was not answering her phone. "Let's say a prayer," Hannah suggested. This time, the friend folded her arms and followed Hannah to reverently-bowed heads and closed eyes. In this prayer, Hannah explained that her friend really wanted to talk to her mother, and asked Heavenly Father if he would please make sure that the mother answered her phone. As before, on the second attempt immediately after the prayer, the girl's mother answered the phone. Once again, the girl was amazed that their prayer brought to pass such a result.

~~~~~

As Hannah told this story tonight, my eyes filled with tears for 2 reasons: 1) the Spirit testified quite strongly to the truthfulness of her account; and 2) I realized how strong the spirits are in these, the last days. I am so proud and blessed to be the father of such a strong young woman. What a missionary! What a faithful daughter of a merciful God! I don't know that I would have done that as a child, or right now, given the circumstances (non-member friend, budding friendship). I want to be just like Hannah when I grow up. Does Heavenly Father care if a Rhino starts, or if a phone gets answered? He does if two of his daughters are displaying great faith, and one is praying that their petition is heard and granted in an effort to show the other how to communicate with her creator. What a wonderful thing.

~~~~~

Matthew 6:8 ...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

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D&C 88:63-64:
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
64 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;

Summer at 31 Weeks

Well, Summer has about 8 weeks to go. She's both anxious and excited. Due to her spinal fusion she can't have an epidural, so it will be like giving birth out on the prairie (except there will be a gift shop).

On Monday, My Sodium Intake Will Increase 700%

Yep, the Pei Wei in Surprise opens this Monday and I will be the first, second and third in line. I will leave there on a gurney.

Lilee's 3-D ultrasound

Summer had a 3-D ultrasound this week. The placenta and cord were all in her face, so the images are a bit distorted. I was happy to see those chubby cheeks. We're getting really excited!

Rye Flower

In 1967 my mother lost her 15-month-old baby girl. My mother was so distraught and had many questions, especially Why would God take my baby? At the funeral, her great-aunt leaned over and whispered these profound words: "Sometimes even God stops to pick a flower." Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my baby nephew, Porter Jackson Haught, at our family cemetery in Rye. One would think that during such an event, insurmountable grief would fill the air. Amazingly, this was offset by an unlikely source of strength, Porter's parents, Blue & Kelly. My brother, Blue, and his wonderful wife, Kelly, spoke at the graveside and reassured those in attendance that they would live their lives in such a manner that they would be worthy to see Porter again. The spirit of their message was so promising, so uplifting and powerful, and full of light, hope and joy. While they delivered their beautiful messages very tearfully, the Atonement was their theme, and their testimonies of the restored Gospel and the sealing powers of the temple resonated throughout their tender tribute to the little Rye flower, Porter Jackson Haught.

20 Things for which I'm Thankful

In no particular order:

Krispy Kreme Donuts returning to the Valley

Krispy Kreme Donuts being 50 miles away (otherwise I'd be a B cup)

Summer, our kids and my entire family!!

The Atonement and the Restoration

The example of faith & strength exhibited by my brother, Blue, and his amazing wife, Kelly

My desire to study the scriptures every day. I LOVE them!

Being raised on a ranch, in simpler times

Being able to laugh at myself despite having a billion faults & problems

Our awesome ward! Our awesome stake! Our awesome friends in the ward!

My friend, Sal, and his decision to get baptized next Saturday.

The Wellman's (FYI: don't call them between 5:00 pm & noon - they're sleeping)

The recipes that Jaime Pressley gave us (however, now I can't wear 3 of my suits)

The infrequency of my interaction with the deadly, omnivorous Praying Mantis.

Ibuprofen and days on which my back doesn't kill me

President Nally always having the answer whenever I have a question about doctrine

Ice-cold Tang

40 trouble-free years of Raspberry Zingers. However, as of 6 weeks ago, I can never eat them again (it's a horrific tale involving 10 Zingers, a 2-pack of enemas, followed by 3 days of Desitin).

The Andy Griffith Show

The miracle of forgiveness

Sarah Palin - she saved the election