“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just ordinary people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey…delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” –Gordon B. Hinckley

I have been pondering that quote all week. It has been a week of jolts and long waits.

At the beginning of the week, Howard discovered a large growth on Mikaela's neck. After much testing, praying, and what seemed like endless waiting, it seems to be an infection of her lymph nodes on the side of her neck. She is now on antibiotics and seems to be doing well. Mikaela is allergic to almost every strong antibiotic, so to find an antibiotic that will kill infection, without killing her has become a challenge for her Doctor. We will be visiting the pediatrician again on Wednesday to see if there is a need for more testing, perhaps an MRI.

On Sunday, after ten years of being in a ward that hasn't been split, the ward was divided. We now have a Ward and a Branch from what was just one ward. Many have asked, "Why not leave it until we can be two full wards?" The Stake President said that with the growth that we have seen over the last few years, the Branch will soon be a ward. Change is hard. Especially when it affects the youth. Our Primary, Young Men and Young Women programs will be so small. I know we will be fine. It is so hard when your children are the only members of the church in their schools and they look forward to the associations of their friends on the weekends and during church events. We will have to try hard to keep their friendships strong. We will still keep the Seminary classes in tact, which is a good thing to help the youth cope--tender mercies....