Love Day

Today is Love Day. It is also the end of CHD Week. Knowing this, I think of my heart. Today, I am especially grateful for the stable beating it performs. Happy Love Day, my friends. Go out and share love today. 

My hand placed upon my chest

and I feel my beating heart

This magnificent creation

beats significant inspiration

No longer of what I was

but what I am yet to be

and I am on on my way

to reaching the Divine Me

God did not give me

a second chance

just for me to throw it out the door

He has proffered me miracles

He has sent Heaven's Light

He has heard my every prayer

He has breathed life into my soul

once again

So I shall love

each day

I shall rejoice

in Him

I shall know

that I am His

and through Him

by Him

for Him

because of Him

I breathe

I live

I love

and I am made

Whole again

Mama Dragon

Love Day 2016

Milestones

Today marks the 2 year anniversary ("Heartiversary" as us heart patients call it) of my heart surgery. Two years ago, I had a failing heart. What a busy two years it has been recovering from a nearly 20-year ordeal of a slowly disfunctioning heart!! Instead of writing my story - again - I would just like to refer you to my heart blog where you can read about the miracle of my heart here.

September 12th is a 5K Run/1K Walk for our Heart Family. Although this year I am a bit tired and rundown, and will only be walking the 1K instead of running the 5K that I did last year, I will still go and participate as an adult CHD survivor. I am a Heart Warrior, grateful to God for giving me another chance at life!! Today I will celebrate that life in ways that bring me closer to Him. 

Celebrating Life,
Mama Dragon

Life.... and an Announcement

The past few days have been a bit busy and emotional and... life. Sometimes, when life happens, one tends to put blogging on hold because children need you a bit more. I will not apologize for that. I will just focus on what needs me the most at that time.

As an update to my family life, I am posting here to hopefully answer all the questions that will be coming my way. This is the "it's official, now we can publicly talk about it" announcement. I am in no way posting this because I feel we owe anyone explanations as to our decisions. I am just posting it so as things happen, I do not have to answer 101 questions over and over.

NEWS: At the end of September, our family will be relocating back to Nampa, Idaho for good. We have the opportunity to buy a home of our own, as well as wonderful employment, and we simply miss being there. It is where we were happiest. It is where we want to be.

Here are the questions we already know will be coming, so hopefully the answers suffice. 

Q: Why did you move here in the first place if you are going back? What made you decide to go? When are you going to settle down?
A: We moved to Utah because I was in heart failure. We knew I was going to die and so we decided to come be near family to help with our children. By God's grace and His miracles, I am still here, healthy and happy. This decision came after months of fasting and praying as a couple, and deciding what was best for our family. We are settling down- in Idaho.

Q: What about work? What will he do?

A: My husband has been very blessed to land a great position at a company in a new line of work that is perfect for him. He has already gone ahead to start his new job and is staying with friends.

Q: Why don't you all move right now? Isn't it better to all be together?
A: Yes, we want to be together right now. No, we cannot. We have commitments here in Utah that we cannot just walk away from. Also, there are renters in our Idaho home until about the time our lease is up here in Utah, so the timing works out wonderfully. 

Q: What about T's mission? Will he move with you?
A: This does not affect T's mission. He will leave when he is supposed to. He will help us move to Idaho, but most likely will be staying with some friends in Utah so he can leave from here. 

Q: What do the kids think?
A: The kids are delighted we are returning "home" to Idaho. They have missed it greatly, as do my husband and I. I am sure there will be some tears shed in leaving loved ones behind but we could not be happier about going and the peace from this decision is enough to confirm it is right.

Q: What about us.... your family and friends (in Utah)?
A: We love you, family and friends. We are grateful for your presence in our lives. This is about our family and what is best for us. Returning home is just that. 

Sometimes in life, we will disappoint those around us. Sometimes, we will make them cry. Ultimately, it is up to us as parents to do what is very best for our family as a whole. I wish you well on your journey's as you become Guardians of Light wherever you are!

Heading Home-
Mama Dragon

Leaving a Legacy

The past few minutes have been spent scrolling through snapshots I took at my uncle's funeral. Some of them will be edited later on to include in my own personal history. As I looked at the faces and gestures of love shared, I began to wonder how I will be remembered when I leave this mortal world. This is not the first I have thought this, as I have survived a failing heart and am now doing well. When someone dies, it is a time for re-evaluating one's life. What will the world say about me? Will anyone remember the contributions I have made? Will I have done anything important to build God's Kingdom on Earth? The pictures I am sharing bring forth these kinds of thoughts of the legacy I know my uncle has left behind, one that I hope to grow from. 

Elder L. Tom Perry was a Marine. At the end of WWII, he was one of the first occupation troops to enter Japan. This picture of them relaxing was taken after the honorable service these young men provided at the graveside. The playing of "Taps" moved many of us to tears. The final salute to my Aunt Barbara took my breath away. 

During the photo sessions, I looked up to see this lovely sight. Look carefully. Each Marine is placing his hand on his neighbor's shoulder, I imagine to signify unity and brotherhood. They offered a moment of silence to this beloved man. It was incredibly moving.

I learned that Alex Boye' is my relative. >wink< When I saw him in the family seating at the funeral services, I expressed gratitude for his support. He told me that my uncle was the one who sealed Alex and his wife in the temple, so that made us all family. This is a photo of my "cousin" and I at the graveside. 

Alex and the Marines had a few joyful minutes together. I am sure Uncle Tom was smiling at the happy memories being made in his honor. 

One sight that touched me at the viewing and the graveside was that of the flowers. Each Church Auxiliary send flowers to the family. How beautiful! 

After the burial, I went to get my car at Temple Square. Two casually dressed gentlemen were facing this flag across the grounds from them. As I passed by, I overheard one saying ".... it was an Elder Perry or something that passed away. Apparently he was a leader of some kind in their church." I paused, turned, and walked over to them. I smiled kindly at them for their curious respects they were paying. I explained I overheard them and I just just come from the funeral of the man they were discussing. Very respectfully, one man asked, "Who was he" to which I replied, "His name was L. Tom Perry and he was my uncle." They explained they were tourists and had inquired to someone why the flags were being flown at half mast. Until then, I had not even noticed. All of the flags on Temple Square were flown at half mast! How lovely! One man asked, "He was a leader in your local church here?" Suppressing a chuckle, I smiled and replied, "Yes, he was an elder, and one of head leaders in this worldwide church and he was a very good man." They offered their condolences, which I accepted, and I left, pausing to take this picture. I absolutely love that Elder Perry's legacy was already reaching people, so quickly after his passing. 

When I leave this frail existence, when I lay this mortal by
Father, Mother, may I meet You in Your royal courts on high?
[Oh My Father, by Eliza R. Snow]

I know that when I leave this frail existence, I hope people know that I had striven to live the best life I could. I want them to know that I loved serving others because it made me happy, and brought me closer to the Savior, not just because it was expected of me. I want my posterity to know that I was grateful for the gifts God blessed me with and I desired to use them for the building of His Kingdom on Earth. Most of all, I hope to be remembered for my testimony of Jesus Christ, that through His Atonement, we can find everlasting peace, that through Him we can be saved, and by His grace, and the covenants we make in the Temple, families CAN be together- forever! How grateful I am to have personally known someone to live an exemplary life! May we all strive to become more like the One perfect man to walk this earth- even Jesus Christ. 

Living a Legacy-
Mama Dragon

BANACHOS!!

Me with my Superhero,
Paul Cardall

In June 2013, I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called ARVD. During the summer, I was on strict bed rest as I awaited my pending heart surgery. Day in and day out as I had nothing else to do but read books by Jason Wright and Paul Cardall (fellow heart warrior and composer) and watch "Little House on the Prairie" I tried to mix things up a bit. I loved to cook so I researched some recipes I could try on my good days. 

One day, I had a sudden craving for nachos; yet, I wanted something sweet as well. How could I mix these two great items of goodness, I wondered. We had no chips, nor did I have the strength to make cheese sauce. However, we did have bananas and pecans. Inspired by my husband's campfire stories, I began to brainstorm. Hmmm.... This could be amazing, I thought. Against doctors orders, I dragged myself out of bed and began to create. 

First, I sliced bananas onto my plate.

Wondering what could go better with bananas than chocolate, I added some chocolate chips onto them as well. 

Wanting a little more flavor in the mix, I added a small handful of mini marshmallows and melted it all for 30 seconds in the microwave. (For this picture, I used marshmallow cream, as we were out of marshmallows. It spreads just fine after melting it.) 

Then, for the crunch, I originally added a handful of pecans, although for this picture I used sliced almonds. 

It was the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and creamy. I have since then used walnuts and sliced almonds as well. All are divine. 

Sometimes, you just need to follow your heart (pun intended) and free the Divine creativity that may be locked up inside you. For me, allowing myself to create Banachos was worth the 5 minutes I was out of bed. (They kind of make me want to put on a sombrero, grab some castanets, and yell: BANACHOS!!) To this day, it is one of my favorite sweet snacks. When we unlock our potential, we are given opportunities to share our light from within. 

Creating freely- 

Mama Dragon