"An intelligent being, in the image of God, possesses every organ, attribute, sense, sympathy, affection, of will, wisdom, love, power and gift, which is possessed by God himself. But these are possessed by man in his rudimental state in a subordinate sense of the word. Or, in other words, these attributes are in embryo, and are to be gradually developed. They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into bloom, and then, by progress, produces the mature fruit after its own kind."
– Parley P. Pratt
For some reason this just clicked in my mind. I have had several church lessons on individual worth, not to mention all the young women lessons growing up, but for some reason, this sank into my heart and made it all the more clear.
Man was made in the image of God.
Since I have been married, I have noticed that I am very similar to my parents in their characteristics and attributes etc. while my husband is very similar to his parents. So WE are similar to our Father in Heaven.
That means that I have all the same attributes as my Heavenly Father, I just need to develop them.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
A quick little update...
We started school-both Matt and I are going full time. We both work part time. We miss the Dixon family. (luckily we see the Dennis fam often!) We want to go to Vegas. We bought a car this summer. Matt translated for General Conference.
My brother came home!
My Birthday!
My surprise b-day present from Matt!
Built by Matt. BYU Games! Go Cougs!
My closet fell apart! It was a lovely mess, but my handy husband fixed it.
We took a quick trip to Powell for my brother since he has missed out for the past 2 years. Our apartment has a phantom puddle of water that appears in the middle of the kitchen floor. Come to find out, that phantom puddle is also in our bedroom and closet. We are sleeping on a mattress in living room while our carpet is torn up and drying.
So there you have it, a quick update from the Dixon's!
When … holding on with two hands clenched in a tight squeeze around the rope handle, straight elbows, wrists in place, fingers interlocking, gloves, jaw clenched, life jacket, no shorts, legs bent in a sitting position, back straight, everybody in the Front of the boat, and my father pulling me as gently as he could over and over again with no success … when all of that wasn’t enough to do what I loved, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. It was at Lake Powell when I realized that IT wasn’t just weakness or Carpel Tunnel. (Yes it was the same Lake Powell trip that I opened my Mission Call.) Something was wrong and I needed to find out quickly before I left for Russia on September 12th.
One MRI, a few ECGs, a few Nerve Conduction studies, lots of blood, some urine, a Spinal Tap, several phone calls, many doctors, plus visits, and many tears later I found out that I had CIDP. Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.
Well needless to say, I didn’t end up going to Russia. I’ll spare you the details. It’s a whole other story. But I will say this. The whole thing ended up being one of the greatest blessings in my life.
The next couple of months were very interesting. There were many experiences that I will never forget. At one point I could barely walk without support. Walking up the stairs hunched over like an 80 year old man was all I could do to reach the top. I began to realize that I had taken for granted the every day things I use to do with my hands and feet.
I didn’t dare go visit my friends. I could barely turn the key to the car with both hands. The few times I did venture to Provo, I was sore and shaky by the time I got there. And worst of all I couldn’t even do up the button on my pants. What if I had to go to the Bathroom? Thanks to ever persistent friendships of the ones who cared to get me out of the hole I was in and get me out to be social again. Those were the ones who helped a poor friend button up her pants.
I was a scared, nervous 16 year old girl again when it came to going on dates. I felt like I’d forgotten how to talk to a boy. I had little confidence. I walked like Ronald McDonald because I could not hold my toes up; they just flopped on the ground. No wonder I rarely if ever went on anything but first dates during that first 6 months. One date in particular consisted of going to Salt Lake for a concert at the Conference Center. Afterwords the group wanted to WALK to Olive Garden for dinner. Mind you, this was in the middle of December and I do not do so well in the extreme cold. It was all I could do to keep my shoes on (they weren’t even heal, they were flats!). My poor date offered to give me a piggy back ride the few blocks left, I refused. Number 1. because I was in a skirt and number 2. my pride would not let me. I was determined. With numb feet, legs, and hands, we reached Olive Garden just in time to follow the group to our table. ...Luckily my date was sensible enough to ask the driver to go get the car 10 blocks or so away while the rest of the group stayed warm in Olive Garden, because HE was cold. Bless that boy.
I eventually moved back to Provo and went back to school at BYU. I lived just south of campus. I walked up the hill to class every day. I remember the first time I passed someone up while walking up the hill. I was thrilled! I called my mother to tell her about it. lol
Anyways, a lot has happened since and I have been very extremely blessed. I am now married to a wonderful husbandwho has so much love and patience for me. I have been blessed with wonderful friends. I have the most superb family, and married into the most amazing family. All of which have offered many prayers in my behalf. It is truly humbling. (I can not express my thanks enough to all of you for your many thoughtful prayers)
Nearly 50 IV treatments, over 100 needles, a few sharps containers, a few BOTTLES of Advil Tylenol and Benadryl, a few months of Methotrexate (a chemo drug), lots of sleep, some FABULOUS nurses and many Dr. visits, probably 100,000 if not over a million Prayers later … I feel stronger & better now than I have felt in the last two years!!!! Progress!!
I am so excited that I can jog with my husband! Even if it’s more like half jogging, mostly walking. I have been able to jog EIGHT days in the last two weeks! And the week before that, I was able to WATERSKI at Lake Powell FOUR days in a row!!! (I didn't even get sore that week at Lake Powell, Kinda nice! lol --- because I was numb. )
You know, over the past two years I have grown so much as a person that I would never trade this for anything else in the world. I have grown so close to my husband, my family, my Heavenly Father, and my Savior. Nothing can replace that.
CIDP has been the greatest blessing! If I have learned anything from this experience, it is that Heavenly Father lives and His Son Jesus Christ lives. They know me. Heavenly Father has His hand in my life. Prayer is real. The Priesthood is real. The Holy Ghost is real. And my Testimony is real.
Thank you for all your continued prayers and support! They are felt and deeply appreciated. We love you!
We have had the most glorious summer. A Bailey family reunion up at Bridger Lake. A weekend at the cabin near Panguitch with the Dixon family. A weekend with the Dennis family up at the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. A whole week at Lake Powell!
And SO MUCH FUN!!!!!
It was a bit cold and rainy, but hopefully I did not ruin my Husband's will to go camping with me.
Angela, Maurielle, Mom, & Me @ Bridger Lake
Uncle Matt and Baby Drew
More baby Drew
The cutest Nephews! Jordan, Jackson, Matthew, Kaden, and Max.
Here are a few pics of us shooting Steve's guns. Thanks Steve!
We hiked up to Stewart Falls! :)
While camping near the Grand Teton Mountains, we took a little trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming!
My cute husband and his tired wife. (I apologize)
We saw some beautiful waterfalls because it rained. :)
I absolutely LOVE to Water ski and I am SO EXCITED that I have enough strength to do so!!! I haven't skied like that in 2 or 3 years!!!!
Relaxing on top of the house boat waiting for the storm to end.
Back when Matt and I first started dating our freshman year, we went up to Salt Lake one night with a group of friends to see the new Joseph Smith video at the Joseph Smith Memorial building. It was fun to get out of Provo for a few hours. We went to temple square and walked around, but didn't walk around TOO much because it was January. (The Vegas boys didn't do well in the cold ;) Anyways, it was a memorable date. I can't remember if we held hands or not during the video, but I CAN tell you that I felt so close to the spirit at that time. I KNEW that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet and restored the gospel in this dispensation. Not only did I know, but I could tell that Matt KNEW and had a powerful testimony of the truth that Joseph Smith restored. It was the first time I had seen him cry or get teary-eyed. And to be quite honest.... THAT was what attracted me most; His Testimony. Well for Family Home Evening the other night, Matt decided to take me to the movie again. This time just the two of us. We stopped and ate dinner at Crown Burger before hand (which is one of my parent favorite restaurants in Salt Lake that they started going to when they were first married). Yummy! Then headed over to the memorial building. The video still tugs on my heart each time as I think of the sacrifices and hardship Joseph & Emma endured. I left teary-eyed again with a renewed testimony of the Restoration.
Afterwords we walked around temple square a bit and took a few pictures. Sorry they aren't the best. The video, Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration, is an amazing video if you have not yet had a chance to see it.
Matt and I are busy working for the summer. I'm still at the OB/GYN and Matt works for BlueHost.com. We have enjoyed married life for 6 months now. Occasionally it feels like we are still playing house. Matt has been home from his mission a little over a year now, and had I gone I would have been home 3 months now! I know time flies when you are having fun. We absolutely LOVE having time to spend with each other when we are not working. It is so wonderful to not have homework possesing our every minute! We are so extremely blessed! We couldn't be happier! We are so very excited to spend time with our families at the Cabin and Lake Powell. I'm loving the summer so far. Boating, camping, visiting family, cabins, Lake Powell, fireworks, summer nights, swimming, receptions, BBQs, being outside, ... I love it all!
At Lance Smith's reception His wife looked so beautiful!
OK JUST FOR FUN!!!!!
10 things about Matt!
Loves his wife very much!
Misses his nieces & nephews and the rest of his family
Enjoys Popsicle & Otter pops
He Loves steak and A1!
Frequently checks ESPN.com {no TV :( }
Likes to work out at the gym
Loves to watch movies with his wife!
Really likes warm weather
Favorite sport is Basketball
Loves his wonderful family
Snuggling on our nice little couch after FHE one night!
10 things about Nanny! (Matt gave me this nick name when we first started dating)
1. Loves her Matt! 2. Can't get enough of her nieces and Nephews! 3. Favorite Candy is Reeses Pieces 4. LOVES ice cream (matt said to me the other day... I hope just for you, they have ice cream in heaven) 5. Loves to Work Out & wishes she could more often 6. In love w/ Purses & Shoes! 7. Has the best calling.... Primary Pres. (lol w/only nursery) 8. Is so excited for Lake Powell this summer! 9. Can't wait for Elder Nate to be home 10. Not only is blessed with the best family ever, she married into the most wonderful family of all time!
I Dip, you dip, We Dip! I must say Matt is getting better at these.
Not quite sure what my arm is doing... I look dead!
Anyways, we are having the time of our lives! We are so in love. We can't wait to see what life has to offer us. We are so so very blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel in our lives and such wonderful families and friends. We love and thank you all!
