We have a family tradition that we have continued for over 30 years. We have delivered the 12 days of Christmas to a hand picked family on each of the 12 days before Christmas, ending on Christmas Eve. This year, because we had spent so much time at Primary Children’s Hospital, we decided to forgo this tradition of the 12 days of Christmas and made 12 baby quilts and donated them to the hospital. This was the only year that we did not do the 12 days of Christmas. Mom loved Christmas stories and treats. We would plan specific stories, games and gifts for each night of the 12 days of Christmas. We always took “The Last Straw” story with a manger and straw. On the final night, we would deliver a baby Jesus for the manger, gifts for family, a picture of the Savior and a Christmas meal. Some of our favorite memories are trying to get away without being caught. We had to hide a few times in bushes while they were trying to discover who these secret messengers were. We had family planning meetings to strategically plan the best delivery routes and times to hopefully throw the families off our trail. We have continued this tradition and love planning who we are going to serve, one year we decided to do a family that had a missionary in the MTC so mom decided we needed to do the 12 days for her also, and one year we even did two families because we couldn’t decide which one needed it more. That was a lot of work!! For the last 10 years, Mom has prepared everything and it’s been up to Dad and Skylar to deliver all the gifts. Dad is pretty sure he can’t continue this tradition, the year Skylar had his knee surgery was evidence that he needs a good runner to deliver all the gifts and keep it a secret. As a family, we have decided that we will dedicate this final 12 days of Christmas to our angel mother, we have made 19 fleece quilts with your help, and we added patches to the corners in memory of her, we will deliver them as a family to the Revere Health Infusion Center where mom received her chemotherapy. We are also printing pillowcases to deliver to the Oncology floor at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center to give to surviving cancer patients. We know that this tradition has changed the way we view Christmas and the birth of our Savior.
We went to Dr. Bott's office and the hospital on Tuesday afternoon. It was such an honor to give something back to those who worked so hard to save mom's life. We know that we didn't get the outcome that we wanted, but we know that the Dr.s did everything they could and it was her time to go. We are so grateful for their love, support and medical expertise in her behalf.
When we went to the hospital, this sweet nurse came running up to me and gave me a huge hug. Her name is Jen and she was the sweetest, more caring and compassionate nurse. {mom had a TON of great nurses, but I immediately connected and loved Jen}. She told me that she needed to share something with me. She told me that her mom had died 5 years ago from ovarian cancer and that they had fought for 2 years and that she knew exactly what I was going through. It was just another witness from our Heavenly Father that he is aware of me, that he knows, that He put people in our lives at very specific times to help us. I am so grateful for this knowledge, for this blessing and most especially for her love and compassion for me. Thank you Jen!
We have been blessed for so many years by serving. My mama taught us how to serve and how to love. She is the greatest example I could ever have of reaching out to those in need and of helping anyone and everyone. I am a better person because of her. I love you mamma! I miss you every minutes of everyday!
I love you more!!
No comments:
Post a Comment