This is how grace looks every morning when she wakes up
It was my 1 year anniversary of my bowel surgeries on October 19th. I think I am going to celebrate on October 30th the day that I was finally released from the hospital. From the moment that I had my surgery to now I feel like a different person. I think that i took a lot of the simple things for granted. My parents were always telling me to slow down and smell the roses. With a baby and a job I don't know if you ever really get to stop and slow down, but I have been enjoying every minute that I have had with them.
The other night I was at work and a coworker said Haili are you always this happy? does nothing in your life ever go wrong? is your world just a perfect happy place or what? (She wasn't being rude) I didn't know how to respond at the time, but now I think I do. There are so many terrible things that happen that are out of our control. One thing that I can control is my outlook on life. a year ago this was me.
(viewing is optional--last time it spooked some people)
That isn't me anymore and I hope it never will be again.I am completely better with no lingering problems. I am still so grateful for all of the kindness and generosity shown to me and my family during this time. Thank you so so much. I learned so much from this experience that I wouldn't have been otherwise able to. I am at the point in my life where I can say that I am grateful for the trials I was given last year, they have gotten me to where I am at now. I cannot say that I am perfect or even close to that, in fact I am farther away then most. But I have hope to one day be better. One of my favorite talks is from Elder Uchtdorf called The Infinite Power of hope. Here are a couple of my favorite parts
The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk.
They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow.
Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when
the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the
divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us
until, once again, we walk in the light......
Faith, hope, and charity complement each other, and as one increases,
the others grow as well. Hope comes of faith, for without faith, there
is no hope. In like manner faith comes of hope, for faith is “the substance
of things hoped for.”
Hope is critical to both faith and charity.
When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there
to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces
our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward.
The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our
charity.
The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to
charity. The three qualities—faith, hope, and charity —working together, grounded
on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us to abound in
good works.
Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when
all seems dark around us.
I love life.
