"Struggle= Strength"

Why is it when you feel like you are being faithful, obedient, serving, selfless and just doing all you can to be the best you can be...Adversity comes along in many different forms!

WHY... I think, we need to struggle to grow!

As I study this I still question certain things BUT... I know I have come to an understanding that this world is painful BUT... we have been given tools to get through these difficult times!

Adversary comes in many different forms. Such as a wayward child, health issues, all kinds of addictions, a trauma of some sort, financial issue, spiritual issues, and the list could go on! But the thing I have found out is "Where there is Pain there is a Purpose"... "Where there is Struggle there is Strength' if we choose to look at it in this way!

I am sure you are wondering ... What is going on in Tamy's life that I would write this post! I can tell you what is going on.... Joy and Happiness! I could not be more thankful for all I have in my life! It is full of joy!

I had a training meeting a few weeks ago where we (agency representative for family services...ARs) were trained by a area Seventy, Elder D. LeSeuer. I have to say he rode us pretty hard in our calling as ARs! He talked to us about our roll from the churches standpoint and even though I have had this calling for eight years....I learned so much! Elder LeSeuer answered so many questions in my mind and confirmed so many things that I questioned in my life! Elder LeSeuer has been a huge tool in mine and our family's lives over the years!

I would say in the last year I have felt more mentally and spiritually healthy than I have ever felt! I have felt a clarity in my heart that I have never felt before! For once in my life I feel good about me in my role as a woman and a daughter of God!

In my calling I see SO MUCH pain BUT... I also see so much happiness when people decide to surrender their life to their Heavenly Father and their Savior and take the pain that they are going through and realize the purpose of their pain and struggling! You don't always realize the whys and the whats at the time but then you can look back and see the answers. Sometimes you will never get the answers and you have to rely on your Heavenly Father and just except things the way they are! I do know at some point in your life whether it is in mortality or in the Eternities you will have an answer to ALL of your whys and whats!

I received a call last night at around 11:30 pm from a family that was in need of help! It was a single mom and her children. By the time I arrive to help the police came shortly after I arrived and I did not get this family home until 12:30am. The reason why I am talking about this is because this family has been given much help and tools BUT YET... this mom chooses to not use the tools and help they have been given! This is difficult to watch! If was not for the kids I would in a loving way say to this mom... "We all love you and we and the Lord have given you many tools and help and since you do not want to use them and move pass your addiction and your past we can no longer help you. How long can we play the victim card?

I know everyone in this world either has a family member or it has been them self that has struggled in some sort a way. THIS IS LIFE!!!

We are in charge of ONLY OUR OWN SALVATION AND CHOICES! It is sad when A mother and or a father chooses thing that make their children lives so hard! I have seen addict parents that would step in front of a train to save her child BUT... Won't save her self or himself for her kids! Tom and I have talked a lot about this! We can love the person and not the problem, and some times you just have to do this and continue to pray for that person!

There is a missionary in Posey's ward who I met when I went to visit Posey a few weeks ago! He is a kind, sweet, big handsome Elder and has been in the field about nine weeks! I enjoyed my visit with him. A week or so after I came home.... Posey called me to tell me that Elder Fife was hit by a car from behind and never saw it coming! He has now had two brain surgeries another surgery to try and rebuild his leg along with many big lacerations and severe road rash everywhere! He is finally coming out of his coma and he starting to breath on his own somewhat and is now motioning to different parts of his body trying to ask what happened! Through this HUGE trauma as his parents have sat by his bed 24/7 except to came share their testimony at church.... Never once has Brother and Sister Fife asked WHY! They have just continued to ask for prayers and they have shared that they have clearly witnessed Heavenly Father and the Savior's hands in this entire journey they are on. It has now been a little over two weeks since this happened and.... Elder Fife's parents have also said as of last night he has started trying to console them now! He will motion for his mom or dad to come closer and he will put his big arm around their backs and gentle pat their backs! They have said they just need to get Elder Fife back up and running so he can finish his mission! This is called EXTREME FAITH and STRENGTH like I rarely witnessed! Not sure how I would handle this one?

Elder LeSeuer said to us sometimes we need to be careful in our calling with people we try to help because..."Sometimes when you help the needy you make them poor, and sometimes when you help the poor you make them needy! Enabling people is not what we need to do! We need to love them and again give tools to them so they can help them self!

I will say I was worried about Rhett as he left on his mission! I was not sure how he would handle the MTC and the language and being home sick. I am so thankful for every letter we have received! Never once has he murmured! He has only sent letters of joy and happiness and thankfulness! He spirit is amazing! I know it is hard to learn a language and then when you think you are catching on you get in to the field and you realize you don't know the language and the people speak so fast you don't understand anything! But this is okay because.... Rhett continues to tell us that he knows it will all come just fine because Heavenly Father will continue to give him the tools to learn the language and he has been promised if he does what he has been called to do and be obedient he has nothing to worry about!

I know I will have days that are hard because this is life!! I know I will have down days! But I will try to use my tools! I will try not ask the whys and whats of life! I will remember I am powerless with out my Savior and my Heavenly Father! There is nothing the Atonement cannot make right! I am thank for the Atonement! Unfortunately I use it often! It is a big part of my life!

Rhett shared a scripture with Posey, and Posey shared it with me and it has really stuck with me over the past week or so! It reads..

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders,that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as a witnesses for me hereafter,and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God do visit my people in their afflictions.

And it came to pass that the burdens that were laid upon his brethren were made light: Yea: the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

So I will continue to try and pick my stumbling stones up and gather them together, and try to make building blocks out of them!

I could not be more thankful for all I have!