Pioneers

Pioneer history is a big deal in my family.

When Andrew got sick and life got harder, my mom would say "this is like pulling a handcart. You just have to keep going."

Many if not all of you have heard of the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. They gave their all for what they knew was true. They gave up fingers and toes, their family members, and their very lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder James E. Faust shared the feeling of one company member:

“‘Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.

“‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have gone on [to some point I thought I could never reach, only to feel that] the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.”

I testify that those angels have pushed me before. When I have been in my deepest pain and sorrow, and felt as though I could not make it another step in this life, there have been angels pushing me onward.

Around my neck I wear a little silver handcart. It's a reminder to me that I can keep going. I can be strong like the pioneers. I can wade through the icy rivers and withstand the stinging blizzards of this life. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And I can raise my voice with those who have gone before and shout "All is well, All is well!"

On the Road

I'm on the road to Becoming.

That's such a beautiful, powerful word full of promise. It's a hopeful word. It's a leader word, because so many different words can follow it.

Becoming...older
becoming....wiser
becoming....thinner

Here is the list of what I am on the road to becoming, or hope to become, and here is the place I've chosen to document it, so that it can be shared and hopefully help you on your own road to Becoming.

I'm becoming

• a nurse
• a little kinder
• more patient
• a positive person
• a good cook
• a better student
• empathetic
• a Scripture master
• a better musician
• taller (ok, that one isn't going to happen, but its a hope)

In a nutshell, I'm becoming the person the Lord needs me to be, and I find great joy in that journey.

What are you becoming?

True Love

I get to see true love, truer than any Hollywood movie and deeper than Stephenie Meyer could ever create.

There is a woman who lives in the facility where I work. She has MS. She cannot feed herself, dress herself, put her own chapstick on or change the TV channel. She cannot even control her own power chair. Yet, she is one of the happiest, most pleasant residents that lives there. She inspires me.

And then there is Ron*, her husband. Ron is in perfect health. He works for BYU and spends every Friday working in the Draper Temple. He comes every single night, without fail, to see his wife. He walks in with a big smile on his face, and when he sees me he says "There is The Bethany! Good to see you." He picks up her dinner tray and a clothing protector (the adult term for 'bib') and goes to feed her dinner. Then he wheels her power chair outside for a walk, and later puts her in a nightgown and calls me in to help get her in bed.
Every night, I watch him walk out of the building alone, leaving his sweetheart and the love of his life behind for me to watch over. It never fails to move me, this great love he has for his wife and the complete patience and happiness he cares for her with.
When I'm finished helping tuck her in to bed and I'm removing my gloves, he always stops me by quietly saying "Bethany?" I look up as he looks straight into my eyes and says "Thanks for your kindness."
No, thank you.


*name has been changed