A Grateful Heart

I said it best in a letter I wrote to our Relief Society sisters so I'll just include that here. It honestly can apply to my entire family, my neighbors, my friends.

Dear Sisters,

I have no words. I really don't. Trying to put in to a few words how grateful I have felt over
 these past few months seems impossible. And like I said it hasn't been WEEKS….It's been
MONTHS.  Months of unconditional love and service towards me and my family. So much
that I haven't been able to keep up on thank you notes and so I'm praying all who have reached
 out will hear this letter and know of my deep love and appreciation.  There have been
countless meals brought in to my family both before I was in the hospital, while I was away,
 and since I've been home. What a burden was lifted for my family.  So many have been
watching my kids for me, picking them up to and from school, and bringing them lunch or
getting them out of the house when I wasn't able to. Thank you. The young women came to
my rescue on numerous occasions with babysitting and playing with my children and getting
 them outdoors again when I wasn't physically able to. Thank you. The care package that was
 brought up to me at the hospital brought me to tears. I cried as I read the letters and cards
from everyone.  It meant the world to me to know that each individual item that was in the bag
 was given with so much love and thoughtfulness. And then my mom cried as I read them to
 her on the phone. She said "I've never known a ward to be as giving and SPECIAL and all over
 INCREDIBLE as yours is." I couldn't agree more. That package lifted my spirits and brought
 me so much joy when I was feeling so very down and discouraged.  Thank you. And then
there's all of the phone calls and texts that came in from so many daily. I felt so loved and
thought of and that made it easier to stay positive during a difficult time.. Thank you for all
of this and for all the prayers offered in my family's behalf. I can testify to you that they were
answered! They were answered in the delivery of an amazing little boy that I love with all of
my heart. He was SO worth it. We couldn't have done it without you and I want everyone to
know how much it has meant to me. Your service will NEVER be forgotten. I can't repay you
all in the way I would want to but was hoping I could at least offer "A HUG and KISS" and tell
 you thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all. 

Even after I wrote this letter the love kept on coming. These pictures are from when we
 received a care package from my dear friend Amberlee. This girl is one in a million. I can 
NOT believe the time that she spend preparing all these things for us. Each member in my
 family got a special gift from her. Something that they loved like bubble guppies sticker, 
superhero craft, American girl doll journal, and then she made each of us darling little
 homemade bags to keep our treasures in. Toby got a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch
 and she gave me a darling bag with nail polish and lotion in it. Then the best of all...a 
homemade doll for Kemp that had Grandpa Todd's old vintage BYU jersey on it. Are you
 kidding me?! The hours she must have put into all of that just to let us know that we were 
loved and thought of. I will NEVER forget it. I cried and cried. Such Christ-like service. I'm 
grateful for the examples around me. I'm blown away. I know even better the type of 
person I want to be.