New chapter

So we are returning to an old, but new chapter in the MacDonald household. I have returned to my studies of midwifery today. I recently attended an occupational health appointment, to ensure I was fit to return to my course. The nurse seemed confused why I had another baby, knowing my course lasted 3 years. It is hard to explain to a stranger about promptings of the Holy Ghost and having the faith to know that we would be looked after and this is what was meant to be...in 5 minutes! But that was the reason. At the time when I felt prompted to have another baby, I was a little confused. Just a month beforehand, the thought of having another MacDonald was a scary prospect, not one I would have been happy about, thats for sure! However I was prepared by the Lord and we acted in faith, knowing that we would be taken care of.

Little did I know that shortly after becoming pregnant, my dad would take his own life. Such devastation hit our family!!!

Shortly later, my brother received a call regarding a kidney transplant. He traveled to Edinburgh from Fyvie, Aberdeenshire and had the transplant after the necessary tests had been carried out. Twenty years he has waited on this "really good" match, but after a few days, he started to become VERY unwell. He was in intensive care and eventually the kidney had to be removed. It was such an emotional rollercoaster our family had journeyed on.

I was glad to have my little Emilie though. She helped me get through each day by focusing on what was important. She needed love and nourishment, and I was blessed with the ability to give her these things whilst supporting my family. I never expected these things to happen, but because the Lord blessed me with a beautiful baby, it allowed me a little time out from studying and afforded me time with my family when they needed me most.

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Act on the promptings you have. You may not understand them at the time, but if you are faithful then your eyes will be opened, lessons will be learned and blessings will be poured out upon you.

However, the time has now come for the next chapter in our lives. I won't have the same time to do all the things I'd like to, but I will do my best. That is all that is asked of me.

And to finish off, I'd like to leave a small message for all my friends. Thank you for being there when I have needed you. You have made life more bearable when it felt like it was all getting too much. You have been absolute angels and I apologize now if I don't get to see you as much. I will miss spending as much time with you, but if you need me. I will be there for you. Forever your friend,

Gem xxx

Lost child

Had one of those horrible mummy moments today! You know those ones where your heart sinks, you feel sick with panic?? Yep, recognise it? Well my delightful 6 year old, Jacob decided that it would be better to frighten me by disappearing at the park than to tell me he had fallen over and rolled in mud (with his school clothes on.) One minute he was there, the next he was GONE!!! Emilie and Sam were on the swings, Rebekah was skipping around the park and Jacob was....GONE!! I couldnt see him anywhere. I was worried, panicked, angry, worried some more, feeling sick, concerned....sent Rebekah to the larger play park to check if he was there, but as I watched her wander and showing no signs of seeing him, I pulled the 2 children out the swings, clipped Emilie in her buggy, ran over to the large play area, looked behind me shouting Jacobs name......................................................................................................................................................


........................and there he was!!! Phew! Didnt even notice the mud!! Was just so relieved to see him.

He had been hiding behind the bin so he didnt get into trouble for being covered in mud! I think we both learned a few lessons this afternoon. However, I did get some cute pictures of Emilie (and Rebekah) laughing on the swing :)

Create...

I just LOVE this video. Whenever I'm having a rubbish day, or not feeling good about myself. I log on and watch this video. If it was meant for one person in the whole world, it would be me. It touches the bottom of my heart and reminds me of my worth and potential. If you havent seen it before, WATCH it! If you have seen it,watch it AGAIN!!! The next step is to believe it....I'm working on it!

Mummy. Money...sound similar right?

So lately we have been having a huge declutter marathon and selling all the bits and pieces that we no longer need/use. I like to get the children involved as it teaches them to recycle/re-use items rather than wasting them by throwing them in the bin, plus the takings help go towards the "new" (which really means the preloved) items that we purchase. However, whenever I take a picture of something, the children automatically ask "Are you selling that mummy?" The usual answer is "Yes", but this time I just had to laugh. I was taking a picture of 8 month old Emilie, who's current nickname is the "destroying angel." Jacob asked the usual question with a puzzled tone in his voice, but fortunately for all of us, the answer was "no" this time.

The other day in the car, after dropping off one of the sold items, Rebekah asked why we need money. We spoke about how we need to pay bills, buy food and clothing and how money allows us to have some nice things, like toys and sweets. Then we explained that although it is important to be able to do this, money is not THE most important thing in life. She then asked, "Do some people love money more than Jesus?" Darren and I just looked at each other rather surprised and I said "Yes....some people do." Then she said (in her matter of fact tone), "Well I don't. I don't need money to make me happy." My heart melted that my wise, 5 year old little girl is already learning that the greatest things in life are not things. Oh what a wonderful example she is to our family!!


The lesson goes on.....


Yesterday, I found Rebekah rather upset. Jacob had been tormenting her (nothing new there!) and she told me that she had said to Jacob that she loved mummy more than Jesus. Jacob was teasing her saying that he was going to tell me that Rebekah loved MONEY more than Jesus. But she said through her very sweet, but assertive voice, "But I don't mummy. I really don't love money more than Jesus...but I do love you!" and gave me a massive hug :-)


Often it is easy to think that through the hustle and bustle of life, our children are not listening to a word we are saying. When in fact, they are not only listening, but are accepting and changing the things they do or say to be good people. I'm so glad I have my children as a constant reminder of how I should be, they are great!

Winds!

Yesterday we traveled back from visiting my mum in Aberdeenshire. It wasn't a pleasant journey, I must add! The gusts of the wind blew the car from side to side, as the rain hammered down and the spray from the lorries caused my vision to be hazy. I had to grip the wheel very tightly and remain focused at all times in order to stay in my lane. At one point the wind was coming from all directions, it was extremely difficult to stay on my side of the road and to make it worse, I could see that I was coming up to 2 large pot holes. I had a decision to make. Do I keep going straight and hit the pot holes, but remain in control of the car, or do I try and avoid the pot holes, risking being blown off the road completely? It was actually a bit of a dilemma, as neither way was going to be great. 


Decision


So I decided to keep going straight, as to waver of course was going to be too much of a risk with how strong the wind was at this point. The pot holes werent as deep as I had originally thought and the impact on the car wasn't great. As we journeyed nearer to home, the force of the winds became less of a problem and was able to relax a little. I realised that I must have been really tense as my neck was sore and stiff. This made me think about my life. Am I "stiffnecked" when I am faced with an obstacle? Or do I use my knowledge and past experience to help me most of the way and rely upon the Lord to do the rest? Do I make the most of my trials? Or do I try to dodge them? There have been times in my life (not so long ago) where I have felt battered by the "winds and rain" and my ability to see my focus/goal has been blurred. It would have been very easy to move lanes and go off course. However by relying upon the Lord and my testimony of what I know to be true, I have remained on course. I still had to endure things that I would rather have avoided, however my Heavenly Father knows whats best for me and has given me the strength needed to complete that part of my journey in life. 


In Doctrine and Covenants 122:7, we read:

"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

I am grateful for my testimony that God loves me and knows me better than I know myself. He knows my potential and gives me experiences to grow strong and to be my best self. He will do that for you too because He loves YOU!