Neal A Maxwell

On May 19, 1989 I had an operation called a rhizotomy on my back. My Grandpa asked Neal A. Maxwell to give me a blessing for the operation. This is my Aunt Rosemary's account of that visit.

"Yesterday was another wonderful experience for me. Elder Maxwell is truly an Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I feel that so strongly every time I am in his presence. He made us feel so welcome and loved. He asked Leslie many questions concerning the surgery and the extent thereof. He wanted to know if Nicole was familiar with the doctor and if she had met him herself and was comfortable with him.
"Elder Maxwell took Nicole by the hand and led her around his office, pointing out a statue of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He showed her a picture of Jesus on his wall. In a wooden cabinet, he has a bust of Jesus, and he pointed that out to her. Then he took her over to a corner where he has a very large butterfly mounted in a glass case on the wall. Nicole was interested in all of this and she chatted with him and asked questions about what she was seeing.
"Then, Elder Maxwell sat Nicole on Leslie's lap and he proceeded to give her a very beautiful blessing. He talked to our Heavenly Father in her behalf as if our Heavenly Father was there in the room. He blessed her with the health and strength to come through the surgery well and to be strong; that her recuperation would be fast; and that she would respond to the treatments the medical staff would use. Through Nicole, he blessed the doctors and nurses who will perform the surgery and he guided them to do their best on her. He blessed her that she would respond well to therapy and to the medication to make her strong and her recovery rapid.
"Elder Maxwell told Nicole that she is a special daughter of her Heavenly Father and that she is much loved by her family and extended family. He promised her that many prayers would be offered in her behalf. He also stated that she always brings sunshine to all she meets. Elder Maxwell sealed theses blessings with his Apostolic powers which are vested in him and bestowed upon her every blessing Heavenly Father has for her (a special blessing in and of itself).
"After the blessing, Elder Maxwell said that he would put Nicole's name on the Twelve's prayer roll for three weeks. Only a few names go on that roll at any one time and only two are on longer than that - President Benson's and Elder Haight's. He gave her a dollar to buy some candy. She told him thank you. It was very touching as she went around his desk and gave him a hug."


I share this story because I can. I am here and alive. I am so happy to have had this wonderful experience in my life. I looked up to Neal A. Maxwell throughout my youth and even to this day. I had the amazing opportunity to speak with Elder Maxwell when I was in the 9th grade and Thank him for what he did for me and my family. 

I am so grateful to have my own little family and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

Cancer Sucks

I was thinking about our struggle 13 

years ago. My Dad was diagnosed with

 leukemia in October of 1999,

he was given a 10% chance to live. I couldn't

 imagine my life without my Daddy. I

 know we are so blessed to have him

 with us today. Because of my Uncle

 Kerry donating bone marrow to his twin

 brother, my dad was able to see me

 get married, walk me down the aisle,

,

 dance with me and be at the hospital

 when Jackson was born. I love you

 Daddy more than you will ever know.

Kodiak Bear

We had a funeral for Kodie and buried him up at our family cabin. This is what I said as my father and brother placed dirt over his small homemade casket.

He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another woman. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my hurt. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have.

He wasn't just my dog, we was my best friend, my first baby and my companion for the last 6 years. I will always miss you Kodie and you will always be remembered.

I love you, my baby, Kodie!

Rockstar

These past two months have been super crazy. I made a decision that changed me and my whole world. I know it sounds crazy but when I was at my old job, I just felt trapped. When I first started there I loved it and things were great. After a little while I just started hating everything I was doing, I took out my anger and depression out on my friend/co-workers. I would get upset over the littlest of things. So I made a choice that I probably should have done a long time ago, I asked myself what I wanted. I asked what is best for Nicole, not Tom, not Jackson. I felt selfish but I needed to be happy with what I did and have confidence in myself because I sure didn't where I was at. So in February I applied to D, I used to work at D, I know how they operate. I liked the structure I had at D and the feeling that they want me to improve.  

I got the job offer and started on March 11th. When I got there I felt like I had a good background in student loans and I knew what I was talking about. I had a confidence that I haven't felt in a long time. D has a great system for grading your calls, it makes me feel empowered when I am doing better than someone else in my call scores. You can get a score of 2 up to 6, which is great. My first month out of training I got a 6 on one of my calls. I was so happy! I never had a 6 score before, I struggled before with my scores. But now I am doing great. My coach even nominated it for Rockstar. Which is a big deal to me, I have to admit when I first started at D back in 2011 a good friend of mine PS got Ultimate Rockstar, and I was super jealous. I thought I could never reach that level of greatness. I think when I was working there in 2011 I didn't do well because I had a lot going on in my personal life. I found out I was pregnant at D and during my pregnancy I was super sick all the time. Plus I was really stressed out. There was some tension in my family and I just wanted people to be happy for me because I was happy. Any whooo I am rambling.... 

So tomorrow is Rockstar luncheon, I get to wear my awesome Rockstar purple shirt and that is where they'll announce who gets Ultimate Rockstar and Department Rockstar. Now I am a little nervous because I am really just honored to even be apart of that group. I would like to get chosen for either one of those but if I don't I am okay that. I am so happy that I really like where I am working, I like how things are in my life at this moment. 

1/1/2013

2012 was a year full of ups and downs for me. I got married to my best friend, started a wonderful job and Jackson turned 1 year old. I also lost my best friend, my "baby", Kodie. I miss him so much. I know 2013 will be a year of new adventures. We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

I have a few New Year resolutions: become debt free, lose some more weight, do my first half marathon, and make sure to take care of myself (inside and out). I know this year will be a great one. I know there will be speed bumps along the way but I have a great husband, son and family for support. Can't wait to see where this year will take us and what surprises it will bring.