A sister shared how before her daughter's baby blessing she struggled with if she should have another child. Her daughter had colic & it was a struggle. She said as her baby was blessed she got this huge prompting & heard a voice in her head as clear as day that said, "You need to have more children."
It made me think of when we blessed Amelia, when she was a baby, & how when Chris was in the middle of her blessing he paused for what felt like a minute and he said, "Avoid the temptations of Satan." I felt this surge flow through me that made me think...what are we going to have to deal with with this child? We need to teach her the right. It was the most incredible strong feeling that I have had at a baby blessing. When Chris sat back down he asked me, "You know how I paused & then said "Avoid the temptations of Satan?" I said, "Yeah." He said, "I had the strongest feeling when I said that." I let him know that I felt the same way! It makes me want to cry it was so amazing!! I made sure and wrote down all of the blessing (I actually make a scrapbook pages for my baby's so they can remember how they were blessed.) I shared that experience on the back of Amelia's recorded blessing so that she knows what we felt & how we love her so much.
In the lesson Sister Spjute mentioned that we need to record our inspirations from God. That when we get a prompting to record it. I always am willing to share the experiences I have felt, but now that she mentioned it I haven't done that!! When I die those that didn't know me will never know of those special experiences. So that is why I am here today. To share the most special promptings that I have had & have recognized that the feelings that I have felt were not my own but from God. Also something I thought that was interesting that Sister Spjute mentioned was that the spirits in Heaven are the ones that whisper to us...God uses them as a tool to talk to us...they are help to the Holy Ghost (at least that is what I think she was saying & I can see that.). She shared about how she asked once & her sister that she had never met, that died when she was a baby, said it was her. Sister Spjute wrote it down & when she wants to feel closer to her sister she reads that experience.
I am not sure if I have put on here how I met my husband & how I knew he was Heaven sent, so I am going to copy from another website the experience that I shared there:
How I met my husband (married August 25, 2001):
I am going to start with the year 2000 to show how I was truly blessed for the decisions I made and how I know that my husband was truly heaven sent! :o):
February 2000 (now I am guessing it was Feb LOL I know it was around this time...I was over 21 years old...girls can go on missions when they are 21.): My friend was preparing to go on a mission for our church & she was having an open house...I went & saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time...they all were like, "When are you going to go on a mission & or get married etc...blah blah blah. 
March 2000: I get a phone call from my mother telling me to stay home because I was to receive something in the mail that I needed to sign for. Then she told me that it was money from my grandfather (who had passed away & I didn't know him well...only met him once in my life...he owned a house in San Francisco & an Vineyard in Napa Valley...so he was well off...he was a painter.). My mom told me that it was going to be a lot of money! So as I was waiting at home for this I was thinking...how much could it be?? I imagined maybe $1000 cause my mom told me it would be a lot of money & to me that was a lot of money LOL. The doorbell rings & I answer it & it is the mail man. I accept the letter & sign for it.
I open it up & right in front of my eyes is a check for...$20,000!!! Yeah talk about winning the lottery! I mean that was my yearly salary! My dad tried to pressure all of his 5 kids to put the money in stocks & I didn't feel good about that. I sat on the money for a month trying to contemplate what to do with it. Then there was a lesson at church one Sunday that REALLY spoke to me! Someone had brought up in the lesson about money management & then someone started saying that if it doesn't feel right & if you don't know much about something (like stock..and that was used as an example...no one knew I was going through this mind you...)don't do it. There was my sign...don't do it! Then there was a question in my mind as to if I should pay tithing on this money...tithing is 10% ($2,000). It was a gift right? Then I went to a friends house (and I hadn't been to this friends house in a long time!) Her father was a Bishop & I respected his opinions...so I pulled him aside & I asked him, "Do I pay tithing on a gift or inheritance given to me?" His reply was, "Any increase on your income." And that was it! I paid my tithing. I trusted that it was in my best interest to do so.
So I prepared to go on a mission...the rest of the summer seemed to go as planned...I was reading my scriptures daily, praying morning & night, attending church regularly, going to church classes (institute), etc. I was living as I should...I even received answers to my prayers almost instantly & even received that intuition when things weren't right...that leads me into the next part of my story...
August 2000 (and events leading up to August :o)): My friend Scott went on a mission in Jan (he had a crush on me forever & I was not attracted to red heads...he knew that. He asked my roommate & I before he went on his mission if someone didn't go on a mission if we would marry them...I replied...Yes I would, but I wouldn't marry you. Yes that sounds like a witchy thing to say, but I just didn't care for him like that. I wanted him to understand that.) Well he went on his mission & by August he had been out 8 months...(I wrote to him & sent cookies all the time). On Father's Day 2000 I went to his parents house when he called & he asked me to marry him (he may have been joking??). I said yes! Can you believe that? By writing to him weekly & him going to France (that is another story LOL) I fell in love with him and it no longer mattered his hair color.
August came & I got a phone call from his mother telling me that I could come to the airport cause Scott was coming home early! Guys are to stay on their missions for 2 years. My mind started racing & I thought....WAS IT ME? Oh nooooo! When he got off the plane I went to shake his hand (I didn't know what to do)...Well my birthday came & my friends & I (along with him) went to dinner & had a great time...we were pretty much engaged by then. (I bought the ring...I was a stupid desperate girl wanting to get married right away! My advice NEVER do that!) His cousin & I were great friends too. I asked his cousin why he was home from his mission. His cousin was getting annoyed with me asking him every 5 min & so he said to me, "It has to do with his family...and maybe future family." Something like that. I had that going through my mind for a whole day! I worked at Pitney Bowes call center & while I was at work I kept thinking about it...then it hit me! I had the answer to why he was home. (Also I prayed to Heavenly Father to tell me why he was home I had to know!) So I called Scott after I got off work & I told him that I knew why he was home & who it was concerning...Here is what I said,"You got a girl pregnant & (I forget her name now) this is her name...and so yeah." Then he says, "Who told you??" Amazing right? How God told me everything? Scott or anyone else didn't have to tell me a thing other than family. The reason why I knew who the girl was is because he dated her a while back & she was a little hoocy girl. So yes she had a baby & he was waiting for the paternity test to come back to know for sure. :o( I was sad for him. But I told him that I still wanted to marry him. Well while we were dating we got pretty physical (not totally sex, but close)...We went to the Bishop about it & we started the repentance process. It went well...then we slipped up again & went through the process again...and that was the last time...he broke it off with me probably for more than one reason, but yeah. I was broken hearted & hated guys! One of the reasons I believe (he never said) was I kept bad mouthing the girl that had his baby (yes the results came back & she had his baby). I didn't like her...she had 3 children with 3 different dads...I just felt she did that because she wanted to not work again & live off child support. I hated her....I think he didn't want his future wife to hate his daughters mother that much & so he broke it off.
(I was stuck with this wedding ring I bought & I still have it & would like to sell it...) Having kids now I understand his reason! I wouldn't want a step mother to my children (not that they would have one ever!) hate their mother.
then he moved to Alaska in January 2001 & I lost a friend.
May 2001: My friend Matt (not Matt C LOL) was coming home from his mission at the beginning of the month. He was Scott's best friend. So I thought ohhh I might get to see Scott (I still cared for him.) Yeah I saw Scott at the airport...he didn't talk to me or acknowledge me at all...I was hurt BIG TIME! Then the group went back to Matt's house (Scott told him he would see him later & didn't come...again I was hurt). Matt started to tell us about his mission & about the things he brought home. He pulled out this picture of this half naked girl ... then he told us how everyone in Jamaica watches porn (he sounded proud)...how they would walk in the house & the people would have porn on & how they would have to tell them to turn it off etc. I was really disappointed in guys in general that night. I mean I knew Matt could be a perv (I actually liked that before he went on his mission, but it just was different now...I had found my spiritual self...& she didn't like it :os).
A week later I went to a CES Broadcast (something our church has to watch that is educational...) & I was gonna be in this CES Broadcast in the choir. I was in Moscow, ID & so I stayed at my friends house that night in Endicott, WA (1/2 hour away). That night I was in my own room & I started writing this poem...now I can't remember the poem, but I do remember that I wrote that all guys were gay! I was bitter & angry! (oh & I forgot to mention because of the thing with Scott I had to wait until January 2002 to go on a mission now...).
Then I broke down & cried! I cried very hard & so sad! And the thought came to me to pray...(like my back surgery experience which I will also post later....). So I prayed & I told my Father in Heaven that I didn't want to feel that way about guys! I didn't want to feel this pain anymore! I wanted someone to love me & want to be with me ALL the time (Scott would rather play basketball with buddies & take naps then be with me)! I wanted someone who would treat me like a princess....I felt better when I got done praying & I fell asleep with my eyes & pillow wet with tears. I felt that burden of caring for Scott gone. I didn't hate guys really anymore...
A week later I went to Holly's house (a friend at the time) & we were practicing for a play we were in (with some of the other people in the cast). And she shows us all a picture of her brother & says, "My brother is coming home from school this week..." And I said, "Hook a sister up! LOL" Then she said, "Well we are gonna hook him up with Jenny." I was like ok whatever... Didn't think anything of it! Then that same week I get this prompting that I wasn't going to go on a mission. Immediately I thought what? Yes I was back working on going on a mission....so I went right to my room & I knelt down & I prayed & said very directly to Heavenly Father, "If you don't want me to go on a mission you better send me my husband NOW!"
Friday 5-18-01 comes & I was an activity coordinator for the singles ward in my church so I was at the Spokane Falls Community College Game Night that we plan every year. I was bowling with Jenny & having a good time. I had curled my hair in ringlets (it takes me 2 hours, but everyone tells me they love it!)and I felt confident that night in myself. Then this hot guy sits across from me & I loved his smile...he knew Jenny & she introduced us. It was Holly's brother, Chris. We talked like we knew each other forever. Then I invited him to come to the dance after in Rathdrum, ID. I LOVE their dances because they play a lot of hip hop & I like it :o). He said yeah that he would go with me. Then I offered to drive...because I loved to drive. I also gave a ride to some other guys too. My car was full...this guy, Patrick, that I didn't really like sat in front (and I wanted Chris to). Anyway I told Patrick that Chris was Holly's brother...Patrick dated Holly. Then Patrick starts going on & on about how much he loved Holly etc etc & I could tell that Chris was gagging in the back LOL! So I changed the subject & I could see relief come over him :o). We get to the dance & he asked me to slow dance & so we did. Then I got this strong prompting to ask him to the parade tomorrow...and I told that voice in my head...I am NOT going to THAT parade tomorrow NO WAY! The whole night that prompting was strong & came to me a lot! Then we danced again & I felt that surge to ask him...didn't do it. Then by the end of the dance I felt the prompting so strong that I said to myself...fine I will ask him! I couldn't find him anywhere! I was like where is he??? Nuts! Then he found me & asked me to dance the last half of the last slow song of the night...I was about ready to ask him to go with me to the parade (and I mean I was about to open my mouth) when he says to me, "Do you want to go to the parade with me tomorrow?" I said, "YES!" Right there I knew that God wasn't going to wait for me to ask him LOL! I was old fashioned & I wanted the guy to ask me! I hated always having to ask guys out!
Parade Day 5-19-01: I was anxious & so I went & helped clean the church & then I went to a friends house to play the piano cause I didn't want to have to wait for Chris to call me...I didn't want to sit & wait around for a phone call! When I got home from my friends house I had a message...it was Chris! YAY! I called him back & he told me when he would come pick me up & all. (He later told me that he thought I was ditching him when I wasn't home to answer the call LOL...I guess he didn't date much which REALLY shocked me cause he is HAWT :o)).
He got to my house & I chose to wear a hat that night (another look people told me was hot on me LOL). (He later told me he thought it was hot :o)). We park by my work & we walked downtown by the river walk. We got downtown & it was crazy busy! We walked for what seemed like forever & then we found a spot right in front of a postal box (so we had a back it was nice...) I had this thought to hold his hand, but I didn't know how to go about it. Then I acted cold & he took the blanket he brought & started to wrap it around us & I put my hand close to where I thought he would put his hand when he put it back down...I did it! I held his hand the rest of the night :o). When it was over we walked around looking for a place to eat & no one was open! So we walked back along the river walk & we stopped at a look out at the river & just stood there. Then he leaned in & kissed me (just a peck on the lips & he didn't feel me up like I was used to LOL yeah I was a bit knotty LOL)! Then I said, "It was about time!" Then I giggled :o) Then we got to the car & decided to get a pizza & snacks & then go back to his parents house to watch a movie (this is the longest date I had ever had :o)). I found out that I was his 1st kiss awwwww! Yeah I wanted to make out with this guy & teach him some things LOL (not like I was an expert, but I had at least kissed 5 guys LOL) His parents were gone for the weekend...:o) The whole time we were watching the movie I thought...when should I jump on him LOL! When the movie was over he kissed me again & yes we made out :o) He pretty much ate my face & I wasn't too into how he kissed, but I liked that he liked me :o). He was a beginner & I was ok with that :o). I kept trying to get him to feel me up & he wouldn't. He told me he wanted to respect me & that it wasn't something he was comfortable with doing. The date was the best date I had ever been on in my life! (sorry if that is TMI LOL)
Sunday 5-20-01: He came to my ward & then came over after church. We hung out & I started to get cramps & I told him my tummy hurt & so he let me lay my head in his lap & he held my stomach & I felt instant relief. I like to call his hands healing hands!
Another experience I had with feeling the spirit was when I had back surgery when I was 14 years old. Here is that experience:
1st off I want to say how thankful I am to Shriner's Hospital for all that they have done for me in giving me a chance to continue in this life & to be able to live past my 15th birthday..... My family didn't have to pay a penny for my surgery or the services they provided me from 11-21 years old! If there was any charity I would give to it would be Shriners as well as the Ronald McDonald House!
I want to say to those that need assistance if your child is disabled and needs help I would recommend Shriner's completely! Check out these links & donate if you can!
Volunteer Now at Shriner's near you...
Need Referral For Disabled Child And Contact Information For Shriner's Hospital
Just a background...I had to wear a back brace from age 11-15...I had a stupid kid in Jr High that said I stuffed my bra & stupid stuff, but he was in the younger grade at my school...the people in my grade always were really nice to me & I found that amazing & great! I LOVE Spokane, WA for the wonderful people that live there! I also had really great church & non church friends that helped me pull through it all! So here is my experience...
January 16, 1992. Shriners hospital decided when I was 14 that it was time I had surgery on my back. My scoliosis came to a 72 degree curve which if it would have gotten any worse it could have collapsed my lungs. They didn't want to wait for me to reach my full growth due to the severity of the curve. I could have died if I didn't live in a day & age where there was something that could have been done to help. Here is my story:
The night before I went into surgery I was desperately waiting for this cute boy, that I really liked, to call! I was nervous, but then he called & I was so excited. It really cheered me up to know he cared! He even sent me flowers while I was in the hospital. Anyway the next morning I went to the knock out room (where they put you under) & mom and dad thought I was being really silly after I had, had the drugs. I thought this stuff is not going to work it won't put me under! I was fighting it. I wanted to be tough. (I am glad I went under :o)) Anyway I told the doctor that he had 2 heads & some other silly things. The doctor had me count down from 10 & I was out. The next thing I remember was I woke up all dreary & things were fuzzy. I didn't really hurt, but I was weak. I don't remember when the problem I had happened, but I am going to go into that part of the story now. I had fallen asleep & then I woke up at night & I remember pushing the morphine button every time it beeped (Even though I didn't hurt that bad, & even though the doctor warned me to not do it unless I needed it). The next time I woke up mom & dad were sitting by my bed all nervous & that kind of freaked me out & I asked what was going on. I also noticed that there was air blowing into my nose & so I started pulling at the cord that was blowing the air & I was trying to rip it out of my nose! I was frustrated. The next thing that I remember is people running around my room. They started to hold my hands down & rushed me onto a gurney! I thought what is going on?? They were rushing me down the hall towards the Deaconess hospital (they were connected by a sky walk (which I later found was major lucky!) Shriners Hospital used to be 5-10 miles away from the main downtown hospitals. When I had surgery they had their new hospital built & I was one of the 1st surgeries!) I was looking at the ceiling & I saw one of those safety mirrors that places have so you don't run into people walking down the hall. I saw my face & I was bloated! I thought whoa! They got me to the baby area of the Deaconess, & they put a tube into my nose through my throat & into my lungs to get the fluids out. It was gross & hard to let someone stick a thing like that into my nose & through my throat. It made me gag! Anyway I found out later that the morphine closed my throat up & I stopped breathing. I almost died & if I had my surgery at the old hospital I could have died on the way to the Deaconess. I was so thankful for the people who responded to me so quickly. Well so there I was in THE BABY SECTION of the hospital. I capitalize that part because I was upset & felt like they thought I was a baby! I was 14 for goodness sakes :o)! They also tried Demerol for pain killing & it made me throw up, so I was frustrated! So one night in THE BABY SECTION, I was lonely & I heard babies crying. I also heard some nurses talking & I needed someone to talk to. I started quietly saying help, Help, HELP. The nurses were not as friendly as the ones at Shriners. They just ignored me & maybe they didn't hear me. After this next experience I was grateful they didn't talk to me, because what I experienced was so precious. I had a prompting to pray to my father in heaven. I thought but I am a bad kid I am not worthy to ask for his help (I used to swear a lot LOL)! Then I started praying. I said Heavenly Father I know I am a bad kid, but I need your help. (of course I was crying big time!) I said I want you to make me like Joseph Smith where he didn't need any drugs while he had his surgery. I need comfort! I don't want to depend on the drugs to help me. I need someone to help me! & I can't remember all of my prayer, but that was the main part. After I was done praying I felt like someone wrapped a warm blanket around me, was holding me & rocking me to sleep. I felt the comfort I had asked for. After a week I went back to Shriners & I was so happy. I remember a nurse coming in with some drugs for me to take & I said, "I don't want those!" She didn't make me take them. I didn't need them I felt good! Also the nurses were secretly sitting me up & letting me stand up. The doctor wanted me to be in the bed for another 2 weeks. The doctors were amazed how quickly I healed & how strong I was. I am thankful for those nurses and God! Anyway I got out of the hospital & I came home without any medication & I felt great! I had even grown 2 inches because they straightened my back that much! It was weird to go into surgery short & coming out a little taller :o)(I am still really short LOL)! Now that it has been years after surgery I feel like a normal person; even though I have rods in my back keeping it straight. My back still has a 30 degree curve, but it isn't too bad. I just have to get everything I wear altered. I have a slight humped back. So it throws off things I wear & they don't fit right. But I live with it & it doesn't really bother me. I don't get everything altered, but business jackets always bunch in the back.
Well to end I want to share what this experience taught me! This experience has let me know that my Heavenly Father loves me & he will always be there for anyone no matter how bad they are! I feel a closer bond with Him because of it too. Even though I know I am not perfect in any way! Well I love you all & I hope this experience will help you to remember He loves us!!
Comments from my family about this piece of my history:
My Sister:
wow sis, i never knew what you went through. that was an amazing experience!! you are truly a very spiritual person!! thank you for sharing that experience!!
My Mom:
Dear Birdeena, Thank you for sharing your story with us all. I too am thankful for Shriners and what they did for you. I am also thankful for our Heavenly Father. I know he hears and answers prayers. I am thankful that you were comforted at that time.
One of my brothers (the one 2 years older than I am):
I knew bits and pieces of this story back when it was all happening...But only the things about the cute boy coming to visit...It has been indeed very inspiring to the hear the depths of the story...Thank you
**Oh & an update the boy I thought was cute is now gay...awww nuts! (I am married btw haha) :o) No wonder he was so sweet! :o)**
Another experience I had was when I was 8 months pregnant with Amelia and we lived in Logan, UT. Chris took Benjamin to Boise, ID and I was unpacking our apartment, so we had a ton of boxes. I got tired of the boxes so I figured with no kids or hubby that I would clean up. Nesting I think people call it ;o). Anyway I was getting ready to go outside to take some boxes down to our Pathfinder & I got this prompting to take my keys. I thought for a minute & then figured I was being silly & I set the keys down & thought...it's too bulky & I will just be outside & back upstairs. I swear I left the door a little open, but when I got upstairs the door was shut TIGHT! I all of a sudden felt fear & shame! I realized I hadn't listened to the spirit! I forgot to mention it was midnight. I tried knocking on my neighbor's doors & they wouldn't answer (they all spoke Spanish). So I went to some members house that lived by us & they didn't answer. I felt alone! I had this rush of anger with myself! And I felt relieved that Benjamin wasn't home! He would have been sleeping & I was outside helpless. I then decided to just walk down the street & see if anyone had lights on. So I stopped at a house that looked nice & the lights were on...an Asian lady answered & she barely spoke English. She didn't understand why a pregnant girl in my condition was out & about at midnight! I asked her if I could use her phone and she kept looking at me weird. I tried a locksmith & they didn't answer. I had to go to work the next day too... Taking the boxes to the car was the last thing on my list that night & then bed. Well I was up until 2 AM that night. When I got the phone I couldn't think of who to call! All of a sudden I thought of this couple that I remembered from the 1st ward that we lived in. (we had moved 5 times since this moment so 5 or 6 wards we had been in & I remembered them). Anyway they came to my rescue & they took me to a gas station to call a locksmith. I finally got a hold of one & so I made arrangements for them to come open the door. (oh this couple tried to open it before I called the locksmith). We sat in their car for an hour. I felt so bad that I asked them, but at the same time I felt this feeling of...they are being blessed for helping you. The locksmith came & it took him 5 seconds to get the door open. I felt like an idiot...paid him $50 and he gave me a coupon for 2 free keys LOL. Had I listened to the spirit I wouldn't have been in that situation & out $50!
Just Friday night I woke up from my sleep & I had this prompting that we should start leaving a house key in our bedroom. It was strange that I thought of that, because why? It seems silly. I put more thought into it & I think maybe it's because our water heater & furnace separate us from our kids. Their bedroom is on one side & ours is on the other. We have a door in our room & my thought was we would have a key & can run around the house & unlock the front door should there be an emergency. Plus we always leave our keys by the front door & I know I would feel helpless if we couldn't kick the door down or the kids window...we would have a key. My husband thought I was silly, but humored me to put his keys on the nightstand. I don't know why I had that prompting & I really hope nothing bad happens!
I have had many times of feeling the spirit & fighting with Him that as I write this stuff down I need to pay attention. I need to follow what He says & do those things. You NEVER know! To top the meeting at church off Danicia Christensen picked the Hymn, "Let the Holy Spirit Guide." I sang it firm through the 1st verse and even towards the middle of the 2nd verse & then the spirit hit me! So strong that I burst into tears...and I noticed at the same exact time Danicia broke into tears too! I am tearing up writing this!! I felt the spirit so strong!! Here are the words to the Hymn:
Let the Holy Spirit guide; Let him teach us what is true. He will testify of Christ, Light our minds with heaven's view.
Let the Holy Spirit guard; Let his whisper govern choice. He will lead us safely home If we listen to his voice. (I broke into tears as well as Danicia)
Let the spirit heal our hearts Thru this queit, gentle pow'r. May we purify our lives To recieve him hour by hour.
I know that my thoughts on the 2nd verse were...this would be a beautiful funeral song. And then the spirit hit WHAM!
Please share your personal revelations if you want. I understand the very personal ones and that is ok...but feel free to share what you have experienced.
3 comments:
Wow! Amazing post! Church has a way of stirring up feelings of love, and remembering to be grateful for what we have! :)
I'll tell you the one thing I kept thinking about while reading your post (other than my own iffy past and my wonderful, loving, tolerant and understanding husband) was paying tithing. I can not begin to tell you how many times we've been blessed for paying our tithing. It would be so simple to just spend that extra money each month on bills, but somehow our money stretches every month to make ends meet. All because of our faithfulness in paying our tithing.
Thanks for the incredible post tonight! Just the lift I needed!
Wow, that must have taken a LONG time to type! I have always appreciated that you are open and don't look down on others . . . who, ahem, might not be so perfect themselves.
You are amazing Birdy! Thanks for sharing!
liz
That was a very inspirational post. It's nice to get to know you on a deeper level.
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