The miracle of the lost box...

Originally Posted on Thursday, March 5, 2009Prayer works: By Stacey Catton

I'm not the spiritual talker at all.
I don't post about this. I rarely talk about it.
It's a very personal thing for me, 
my testimony of Jesus Christ.
I get little reminders every once
in awhile that keep me strong. 

One month ago...

I received two small packages from my mom.
I was supposed to receive three.
The third was missing. The biggest one. 

That third package never showed.

Never showed.

Never showed.

We got worried a little.
I went around to my post offices to check.
They didn't have any idea.

Sort of forgot about it for about a month.
My mom called to see if I had received
that third box yet. Nope! I was bothered.
I wanted that package. My mom said she
 couldn't remember what she put in that
third box but she did remember that she
put some cute red shoes in that didn't
fit her anymore. I love shoes. And mom
has cute style. I was excited. It bugged
her that she couldn't remember what else.

Today...

Mom called. She finally remembered what
was in the box. She collected ALL of my
childhood photos and mailed them to me in
that THIRD box! So somewhere there was a
box with my childhood inside.
She felt horrible.

So I decided to go check the post offices
again. I got in my car and
felt like I should pray. 

I said a short prayer for that box. 

As I drove over there my thoughts
were trying to remember all the pictures
that could have been in the box.  

I went in, talked to the guy.
He said FAT CHANCE.
The box was basically gone.
I asked if there was some pile
of boxes in the back that had the
address missing. He assured me that
there was no such thing. After pleading
with this guy he gave me a HUMPF!
He was so mad that I wouldn't leave
him alone. He finally went to the back
and in thirty seconds he came back with
my box!!  He was more shocked then I was.
He said he had no idea why that box was there.
He said that he had not seen this box at all today.
His eyes were bigger than mine!

My third box was in my hands.
I smiled all the way home.
It was fun to go through my pictures. 

The box had been quite smushed.
But It was finally here.

Sometimes it's the
little things that keep my faith going. 
This was one of those.
I was prompted to say a prayer in my car.
I pleaded for that silly box.
I felt the spirit all the way to
the post office and I didn't take no
for an answer because I knew it had to be there.

The END.

Heather and Meg Ride Tandem

(This is a picture of the Orlando, Fl temple, taken from my old flip phone. I think it is an amazing shot. - Amy)

It was early in November, 2009. My husband, Dave and I were out for our usual Friday night "date night." Our children, Steve, Colin and Heather and some of their friends were out on a bike ride along with Colin's friend, Megan.

The group was headed to a park to meet up with more of their friends to play bike polo.  The group approached an intersection and decided to use the crosswalk, which was unusual for them since all are avid cyclists and prefer to travel with the flow of traffic. The signal flashed "WALK" and they began to ride across the intersection one after the other.

Most of the group had finished crossing as Heather and Megan, who were riding a tandem bike, entered the crosswalk. They passed the first stopped car and began to pass the second, when all of a sudden, the driver; a teenager with a full carload of noisy teens, decided it was time to go.

The driver must not have noticed Heather and Megan, nor the very long tandem bike, because he decided to "punch it" right after the front half of the bike had passed him. Megan was on the back of the bike which put her in the direct path of this car.

The car slammed into the back of the bike. Megan immediately jumped forward onto the hood of the car. The driver stopped. When all was said and done,the car had more damage than the bike or the girls. Heather was completely unharmed and Megan sustained only a minor injury to the knee.

When Dave and I arrived home that evening, our kids told us what had happened. I was so thankful and very surprised that they had not been injured.

How was it that the car sustained damage but the girls did not?
I truly believe that Heather and Megan were protected by angels that day.

As Latter Day Saints, we have been promised that when we attend the temple, our families will be watched over. I had attended the temple that very morning. As the girls told of their experience, the spirit bore witness to me that they had been protected as a blessing of my temple attendance.

I testify to you that the Lord does bless and watch over us.  He will perform miracles on our behalf as we willing serve in His temple.
Sincerely,
Amy Wallwork Kinross

Kelly's card to Shelly

This message was sent to Kristin (Hughes), Collette (Cowley)and Robert Peterson via Facebook from Amy Wallwork Kinross (sister of Shelly Wallwork Catton). (I edited it a little from the original)

I just wanted to share with you how amazing your brother Kelly is and how much he meant to my sister, Shelly. This past July, Shelly was diagnosed with acute mylogenious leukemia (AML). Shelly's diagnosis came when she was admitted to the hospital with a severe and life-threatening case of diverticulitis, which we later learned was a result of her compromised immune system from the AML. Shelly was extremely ill and consequently spent 5 weeks in the hospital.

During her time in the hospital, Shelly was very ill and in a lot of pain. She underwent intensive chemotherapy (which I now believe her body never should have tolerated) along with battling an already life threatening infection.

I know that Shelly was in shock about her diagnosis as AML is an aggressive cancer with a high mortality rate. I remember visiting Shelly several times as she lay in her hospital bed. At one time she told me that she thought that if she were to die, that she would not really be missed by anyone other than her family. I assured her this was not true but I don't think she really believed me until she received a card from your brother, Kelly Peterson.

Shelly treasured the card she received from Kelly and read it to several of our family members . She was so comforted by his words.

The card read as follows:
“July 20, 2010
Dear Shelly, My mom told me the very unfortunate news and I want to express my deepest sympathy for you and your family. It seems as we all get older, we hear of many of our peers suffering one tragedy or another, but never suspect it would ever happen to ourselves.
It has, of course, been many years since our childhood and teenage days in San Jose, but many great and lasting memories were created that occupy my thoughts with some frequency. Roadshows, plays, school, family vacations and outings at beaches and lakes, camping trips - all foundations of who we are today.
Most important is our foundation in the Gospel and the wonderful blessing of knowing the greater eternal plan and the glorious peace that awaits us through our faithful endurance in this life - even when it appears it may be cut short. But remember, as I'm sure you do, that our days are numbered to God, not to us and that as some have said, "no righteous man (or woman) is taken before their time."
While I am not familiar with all the details, nor your family circumstances, I do know that you were born into a righteous family and the bonds of the sealing power will carry you through and past your trials and into the arms of a loving Heavenly Father.
May God bless you as you endure this most severe of trials and that your burden will be lifted and that you will feel the arms of the Savior embrace you and hold you and stregthen you, and that your example will touch the lives of many, now and into the future.
Please say hello to your parents and family.
With love and best regards, Kelly Peterson and Family. (He drew a smile).”

As I stated earlier, Shelly read Kelly's card to several of our family members as we individually visited her in the hospital. She marveled at the great spiritual growth Kelly exhibited in this card. She was comforted by his words and felt loved by him.

Now here's "The Rest of the Story:"

November 1, 2010, The Monday evening before Shelly's funeral, family and friends, including your parents, Larry and Rita Peterson, met at my parent's home (Lanny and LoRane Wallwork). I was talking with Rita and told her how much Shelly appreciated the card Kelly had sent her. Rita said that she would love to read the card. I told her I would find it.

I went and asked my mom where Shelly's cards were (as I knew she had cleaned out the room Shelly was living in). My mom said that she had thrown away all of the cards and papers from Shelly's room. The two of us rushed out to her garbage. When we opened the garbage can there were two bags, both of which came from Shelly's room. We took them out of the garbage and put them in my car.

Later that evening, as I wrote Shelly's Eulogy, my cousin, Lorna Meiners Brower, sorted through Shelly's stuff. One of the bags held all of Shelly's cards. Lorna did not find the card from Kelly among them. Lorna continued sorting through medical papers and basically, garbage from the hospital room. Tucked between two medical reports, Lorna discovered a card with sepia style sand dollars on the front, Kelly's card! We were so excited to find it. We also wondered why it was not with the other cards.

The next day, I was talking with my sister, Karen, and I told her about how we rescued Kelly's card from the garbage can just hours before the garbage was to be picked up.  I told her that the card had not been with the other cards but was with some medical papers.

Karen then told me that she remembered seeing the card as we gathered Shelly's belongings from her hospital room the morning of October 28, the day she died.

We then realized that Shelly had taken that card (Kelly’s card from July 20, 2010) back with her to the hospital when she was admitted on October 11, 2010.  Anyone who knows Shelly also knows that Shelly does not like "stuff." The fact that Shelly took Kelly's card with her to the hospital shows just how meaningful that card was to her.

Our family is so grateful to Kelly for writing that card to Shelly. Because of Kelly's letter, Shelly was reminded of the deep ties she had to friends from the past and also that she did make a difference and was loved by many.

I wanted you to know how special Kelly's card is to our family and what an amazing brother you have (I'm sure you already knew that).

Love you all,
Amy Wallwork Kinross
PS please pass this on to your mom and dad or send me their email so I can.

Replies:
Kristin Peterson Hughes November 8 at 9:11am

Reply• ReportWow. teary eyed so early in the day:) I’m in awe that it was so special to her, Kelly will be touched. it is so amazing, the bonds we all have from our good ol' san jo days. names come up in remembering those good times that we haven't mentioned in years but we still hold close to our hearts. Like Kelly said...we are of the age that we hear of our loved ones (parents, siblings) passing...and it just won't stop! but the thought of returning to our Heavenly Father gives me great peace. Thank you for sharing this. i will pass this along. give your parents hugs from us:) xoxox Kristin

Kristi's Miracle

I had an experience today that I'm extremely grateful for.

As a college student, I rely on grants and subsidized loans from the government to pay for my education. I recently applied and was accepted to the Fast Grad program at BYU-Idaho, this means that I can attend school year round. While this is an incredible opportunity, money has been a little bit tighter than usual. Each student is only given a certain amount of federal aid for the year, so now I have to split that money up for 3 semesters instead of just 2.

I got a little crazy last weekend and went shopping with some friends. Everyone needs a black dress right!?!? Anyway, long story short I've been feeling a little sick about money and being uber careful about how I spend it. Yesterday, I had tithing settlement with my bishop and we were talking.

He asked me to look over my tithing statement for the year, just to double check the figures.

I responded, " That's right, I just don't make that much money these days," I said in reference to the small figure totaled at the bottom.

He said, " You know, that's okay. Tithing isn't about paying a lot of money. Paying tithing blesses you. That doesn't mean that money will just fall in your lap, but often times a way will open up for you to work for a little extra money."

I pondered that, and knew it to be true.

My family has always been big about paying tithing and other offerings, and have been a great example to me.

I got a call today from my dad asking me if I wanted to work for some family friends for some desperately needed cash while I'm home next week for Thanksgiving. While it's all phone work, which I hate, and scares me a little, it's a job, and I'm so grateful. The Lord loves me, and I know that I am being blessed for paying my tithing. Heavenly Father will always take care of us if we are obedient and do His will. My life seems to be one miracle and revelation after the other. And I am so grateful.

Thanks!


Kristi

The Miracle of Hymns by Shelly Catton

I love the hymns! Ever since I learned to play my first hymn, I Stand All Amazed, I have enjoyed playing the hymns for myself, my family, and many choirs and congregations. There aren't very many hymns in the LDS hymn book that I'm not at least familiar with the melody.

Every time I pray I always ask for a few things that my family and I are in need of. Among these things are temporal and spiritual well-being as well as protection. In the scriptures we are cautioned to avoid vain repetitions in our prayers, so sometimes I have wondered if always asking for the same things kind of strays into the territory of vain repetition even if I really need these things.

A few weeks ago I was just waking up, I hadn't even opened my eyes yet, when in my mind I heard the melody to the hymn, The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare. I thought to myself, "This is kind of weird. I wonder why I'm thinking of this hymn?" As I concentrated on remembering the words, it became quite clear to me that this hymn was an answer to my oft said prayer.

The Lord my pasture will prepare - The Lord will help us and take care of us and if we will trust in Him he will guide our lives in the way they should go.

And feed me with a shepherd's care - At first I thought the word was "lead", but then I looked at my hymn book and the word is "feed". That sure gives me comfort to know that the Lord will feed me both body and spirit.

His presence will my wants supply - As well as providing our temporal needs, if we are close to the Lord and feel His presence, we won't have the need for "things" to make us feel good.

And guard me with a watchful eye - It makes me feel comforted that the Lord guards me from both physical and spiritual danger and that he knows me and watches over me.

My noon-day walks he will attend - Whatever I am doing throughout the day He is there with me.

And all my silent midnight hours defend - I had forgotten this last line until I looked at the hymn book. This line really touched me because I always ask for protection while we sleep and I really felt the Lord re-assure me that He is there and knows my needs and wants.

I am very grateful for this experience and love to recognize miracles in my life.