HAPPY THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING AT THE STOREHOUSE

Our feet are sore and our bodies ache after working at the Storehouse this week.  My husband and I both worked 19 hours in three days and helped 274 families.  We had a lot of volunteers that came in to help and we were glad to have their assistance and their companionship.  We have a lot of fun working with each other as well as with the patrons, and since we also bring a little refreshments, make it a bit of a party.  It's more like a grab and go party since we're grabbing a bite here and there between orders.  It's nice to know so many families will have a nice Thanksgiving next week.

INFLUENCE

I've been reading the Old Testament.  Right now I'm in Isaiah, which since this is about my 3rd or 4th time reading the Old Testament, is not as mysterious as it used to be and I'm understanding it more.  About a week or so ago when I was starting Isaiah, I decided to get some additional reading supplements so I turned to the Old Testament Institute Manual, which is one of my favorite places to turn first when I am wanting explanation on a scripture I'm reading.  After reading several pages I came across this quote.  I can't remember why the quote was inserted where it was, but this quote has stuck with me and caused me to contemplate it a lot.  The quote is by David O. McKay, who was prophet of our church when I was a little girl growing up.

"Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil.  It is not what he says alone; it is not alone what he does.  It is what he is.  Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is...It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us.

"As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts.  We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations.  We shall radiate them if we do.  If we think noble thoughts; if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them."

Think about that...without even saying a word or doing an action of any kind, we radiate who we are.  I guess that's why I really like the quote by Gordon B. Hinckley under the title in my blog: " Try a little harder to be a little better."  I need to give a little more thought to what I am radiating....

Last Monday I got a call from Gilbert Girl telling me she was on her way to the hospital with her almost 5 year old boy and she wanted me to leave immediately to go to her house to be with the rest of her kids.  That afternoon while she was picking up her 8 year old, the almost 5 boy said to his older sister,
He -  "Guess what I did today?"
She - "What?"
 He said, "I swallowed my Hexbug battery."  (Like a watch battery - a lithium battery)
 She - "When did you do this?"
He - "This morning."
She -"Did you tell Mom?"
He - "No."
So the second her mom got home she told her what he'd done and Gilbert Girl called the doctor who told her to go to the emergency room.  In the emergency room they told her it would be a 2-3 hour wait - that is until they asked her what the emergency was - then they took them straight back.

They took an x-ray and could see it in his stomach.  He ended up spending the night in the hospital.  Both his parents stayed with him while I stayed overnight with the rest of the kids.  The doctor told them that they would do another x-ray at 7 am to see if it had moved into his intestines, but if it didn't move then they would have to go in and get it.  At 7 am the x-ray showed that it had moved, so he was released and sent home with stool softeners.  The doctor told them he had until the next night to pass it and if he didn't then they would go in through the other end to retrieve it.

 The next day after lunch, Gilbert Girl texted me a picture of the battery, with the caption, "Got it!"  We were all very relieved that this episode turned out ok.  It was pretty scary for awhile.   Here's a picture of what the hexbugs look like: