Sam's Talk

Sam gave a talk in Primary yesterday, we wrote it during the 2nd hour, thankful that he didn't have to share his talk until the later portion of the 3rd hour.  GR tried to help him write it out Saturday night, but Sam had spent the entire day at an airshow and was so tired he couldn't pull together any sentences.  I got home late Saturday night and remember GR mentioning something to the effect that he hadn't gotten Sam's talk written ... 

His topic, My love for Jesus Christ Grows when I Pray.   He shared two different experiences from this year where his prayers were answered, helping him gain a testimony that Jesus Christ is real, He loves us and our prayers are heard and answered. 

"My Aunt Barbara served a mission in California.  Earlier this year, while on her mission, she lost her wallet.  She looked everywhere for it and could not find it.  It had everything she needed in it.  She was really worried.  our family prayed everyday for two weeks for her to find her wallet.  Finally, someone walked into the mission home and gave them Aunt Barb's wallet.  Our prayers were answered.  Nothing was missing and Aunt Barb was able to continue spending all her time teaching people the gospel."

"This summer Aunt Barb came home early from her mission because there was something growing in her body that shouldn't be there.  As soon as our family knew Aunt Barb was coming home to have surgery, we prayed that she would be healed.  Grandpa Art and my dad gave her a priesthood blessing.  Her surgery went very well.  Her body is whole and she was healed."   

I am so grateful my children have had experiences like these that I can use to help them see their Father in Heaven's love for them, and for our family. 

A few more details about the experiences Sam shared, for the family history record... 

The Wallet Story:: The big concern, other than her wallet seriously containing every possible card/id she owned, was that Barbara would need to get a CA drivers license, which would nearly guarantee her jury duty - something she simply didn't have the time to do as a full time missionary.  Right as all the adults in the house had all but given up hope of the wallet being found, someone walks into the recently relocated mission home and drops off the wallet ... amazing.  We have no idea who the individual was, or how they found the mission home. 

Surgery (aka a good part of our summer):: We got word on July 11th, that Barb was coming home and would need surgery.  We knew no details.  She had a softball size mass on her ovary that needed to come out asap, and they wanted her to be with family for the procedure and recovery process.  We met up with her in StL for Sam's birthday on the 15th ... and stayed with her through her surgery two weeks later.  What was thought to be the size of a softball or grapefruit turned out to be more the size of a cantaloupe.  The surgery took only 45 minutes - the best possible time! - and they were able to take just the cyst, without anything else being damaged.  A miracle.  Her 8 week recovery has been phenomenal and complete, and we are so grateful!