Grateful

Once again I was hit today with how grateful I should be to fireman, first responders, police, EMT, etc. I am taking a 26 hour CERT course. It is a volunteer corps that goes into disaster areas and does the work that first responders shouldn't do so that they can do the work they are qualified to do. In other words, CERT personnel access areas, do triage, put out small fires, turn off electrical and gas sources, evacuate, do necessary medical aid to stabilize (different than first aid - we don't do CPR cuz if they need it, it is too late for us to help them). I hold the record for putting out a house fire in 6 seconds! We used a simulator on a video screen with a fire extinguisher; wearing the safety gear with buddy back-up! It was hard to understand what our first responders really see and experience. At one point I did. I had to declare a five year old girl dead while she still had a pulse. The tears came as I realized these guys do this every time there is a disaster. What they see and have to turn away from hurts. How much can the heart hold? My mother was an EMT. She was a woman of great compassion. I am grateful.

Thoughts Following Conference

Each time I listen to President Monson, I am impressed with his life commitment to service. He has such a sensitive feeling of tenderness towards, especially, the women. I am reminded of the tenderness the Savior felt towards them. They both understood something about the sacredness of a woman's Call that all great men come to understand and appreciate. I am drawn to the leaders who give credit to their wives for their success. It does not diminish their accomplishments but rather enhances their role as men and leaders in the business community, church, world and family. It is an eternal principle that places a woman at an elevated state both for her exemplary role in creation but also for her spiritual sensitivity that is vital in the nurturing of mankind. Her role in the plan of salvation was planned and vital. Have priesthood leaders been given special knowledge of the sacredness of a woman's Call, to counterbalance the role which has been relegated to a woman for the previous centuries? Is this part of the restoration in the last days? I have been impressed with the respect shown me as I work with Priesthood. I will always hold sacred the first time I reported in Stake High Council and every man rose and waited until I was seated before resuming their seats. They rose again when I left the room and held the door open for me. I felt respected, my work acknowledged and recognition for my unique importance to the Work. I pray my daughters and daughter-in laws will experience that from their husbands.

I got to love a dog!

I had forgotten how awesome it is to hug a dog who lets you hug her. Melea and Rob got the cutest, most adorable dog. Her name is Roxy. She is Corgi and Pug: short legs, body builder chest, trim hips, floppy ears, huge bedroom eyes and the cutest little snout. Her tail is long and does a curlie-que at the end. When she is excited she waggles it back and forth so fast. She is gentle and lets you sit and hug her and kiss her face. (Not as good as Jakob). hen she is excited, she springs up and runs. She reminds me of that mini goat we had. She could just jump straight up without bending her legs at all! i got to dog-sit today. She is really attached to Rob and Melea but she sat next to me most of the time and let me pet her. It was a nice day. OH, yes, it was also Conference, so I could sit around the whole day. Wow, what a day; petting a dog, listening to Prophets and the Mormon Tab singing hymns. I would say it was a very good day.