The Russells: October 2013

This past month I have reflected on my choices that I do on a daily basis... The month of September was an emotional roller coaster for me. As it was getting closer to take my oldest son to college at BYU-Idaho, news came that my dad was not doing well at the same time. Lucky for me my parents live in the same town as where BYU-Idaho is. On August 26th, 2013 my father was ambulanced from his home to Madison Memorial Hospital. The past two months he was having trouble with his lungs and has been on oxygen 24/7. Two weeks prior to this date he went to see a doctor in Salt Lake City and the doctor gave him no hope. He was up front and told my dad that he had ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). On a level from 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest the doc said he was at a 7. The news let the wind out of my dads sails. He was placed with a feeding tube and found that he had pneumonia. When dad was in the hospital his lungs cleared up with pneumonia, but found himself slipping and he knew that he wasn't going to make it alive out of the hospital. With much care, love, and concern from his children we stayed with him 24/7 until September 6th, 2013, when he left this earth and met his parents and sister on the other side. I think of that precious time I was able to visit with him and how I cherish it day by day. During this time, I not only had to say goodbye to my dad but goodbye to Brock for a little while.

I have not spoken this to hardly anyone but have held it dear to my heart. The most tender mercy moment for me, when I knew that the Holy Ghost was comforting me was through this whole month but especially the day my father left this earth. I dropped my daughter off to school and as I was heading to work I was thinking about my dad and knowing that he would soon meet his parents and sister soon. The feeling in the car, came to me letting me know that they were coming to get him that day. I cried like I had never cried before... for joy and sadness at the same time. Another time during that day is while I'm at work, I was in my co-taught math class. I never text during class but I felt prompted to text Brock (while he was there helping my mother out the whole time and experiencing the intense emotions going on). There is an hour difference and at 1:21 pm I texted saying, "I just heard the news. How you holding up?" (I hadn't heard any news at all except for that morning with my brother texting, "someone be with mother"). Brock texted me at 1:22 pm back and said, "He's gone mom. I'm so sorry." The death certificate said that the official time of death was 2:22pm (remember we were an hour difference and I'm 1000 miles away). You can't tell me that the Holy Ghost is not real, for it is! The comforter has been by my side the whole time as I have felt God's love during this difficult time.

On a high note: The latest great grandchild was born the same time my dad was in the hospital on August 31st. She was such a joy and a high to welcome into the world! My neice brought her down to have dad see her and he said, "Our pathways are crossing".... what a tender mercy moment!

On September 27th 2013, my sons mission call came into the mail in Arizona. We mailed it to him overnight and on October 1, 2013 at my mom's home with some friends at college he opened up the mail while we were on the phone, and he is going to South Carolina, Columbia mission! He will report to the MTC on February 4th! My heart is full of gratitude and love!

The title of why I'm honored... I'm honored to have had a wonderful dad be a huge example in my life as I looked up to him. He loved serving the Lord, he loved his family, he loved working as a masonry, and was an excellent green thumb! There are many talents about him. Makes me wonder, what would my kids say about me when I pass away?

I'm also honored to be a mother to a great son, who has made the right choice in serving a mission, and being an obedient son! I almost lost him when he was two and the house does feel a little empty without him. We miss him but looking forward to spending Christmas before he goes on his mission! I'm in a new stage of life. I never thought the day would come, and I think of how time goes by so quickly! Here are pictures of my loved ones.