My family

These last three months have been a huge blur. Right now I'm reading this memoir by Stephanie Nielson. She is a women who was burned over 80% of her body in an airplane crash. The beginning of the book I wasn't the fondest of because no ones life is that perfect. Now I am reading about the journey she went through to recovery. It is difficult, painful, and spiritual. Michael's is very similar. She was very close to death several times. Right now in the book her siblings go to the hospital and stay the night with her. Michael had this experience but doesn't remember any of it. I do. During this whole trauma I know my family and Michael's family both were given strength to help me endure all of this. Each one of them played a huge part in comforting me or the boys. Anna (my mother in law), came in the beginning after the initial surgery, she stayed with Michael and prayed a lot, she's a very spiritual person and I know that from a lot of her prayers came people who have already passed to comfort me when I would be in the room with Michael. Aaron, (BUBBA, Michael's brother) came the same time Anna came, he is an amazing man, strong, kind, sweet, sensitive, and most of all comforting. Michael and him are close so it was a comfort to Michael to see Bubba when he finally came to. Aaron was so comforting to hug, talk to, and did whatever he could to make me smile. I'm grateful for that. And his hugs were a plus. Tracie (Michael's sister) she came out when Michael coded the first time, she is also a very spiritual person, she is always close to the spirit and whatever she would say and do was exactly what I would need. She also has such a sweet motherly spirit especially to Michael and when I wasn't at the hospital she would be there taking care of Michael, I never had to worry. Matt (Michaels youngest brother), he came after Tracie, he is calm, strong, spiritual, faithful and sensitive. He came when Michael was having multiple organ failure. Michael was in and out of sedation so he was really messed up mentally. I watched Matt be so good and patient to his brother. Matt knew what to say and do to comfort me, my faith wavered quite a bit and it was nice to feel comfort from Matt's words. Hank, (Michael's oldest brother) came when Michael was sedated the whole time. I was sad Michael didn't know Hank came, for Michael and him have a special bond. It was so sweet to see Hank comforting Michael with sweet words even though Michael didn't know he was there. All three brothers would come to my house in the evenings and help me put the boys to bed, tell them stories, give them piggy back rides, everything Michael would do. Tera (Michael's sister) came out just recently, I'm so grateful for her, she is so sweet, kind, funny, and knew exactly what to do to help me. We grew closer and I'm grateful for that time I had with her, it was so perfect. Tana, (Michaels sister) wasn't able to come out but sent multiple packages to comfort me and the boys. Tanise (Michael's oldest sister) wasn't able to come out but continued to call me and offer me words of wisdom, and in Tanise's case it is very wise wisdom for she is very smart and very spiritual, a lot like Michael. I have grown closer to each one of Michael's siblings, I will be ever grateful for their friendship and love, I can never call them in laws, they aren't, they are my siblings. I'm the blessed one to have 7 more amazing siblings. My family have been my saving grace this whole time. My parents came to my side every time I needed it when it was so bad. They cried with me, felt sad with me, and most of all gave me lots of love. I'll never forget when my dad and I came the day after the surgery when we both just sat there and cried together. I don't remember what we said, I just remember feeling so grateful he was there. I could see the love my dad has for Michael and I am ever grateful that I could witness that. My dad was also such a comfort to the boys. They love their popi and couldn't have gotten through the trauma without him. I continue to feel and see what amazing things my dad continues to do for us. He is such a good man, strong, loving, sensitive, kind, and does whatever he can to fill in where Michael can't. I'm a lucky person to have him for a dad. My mom played a HUGE part also. She is so sensitive, kind, loving, thoughtful, and has the most amazing motherhood skills. She can multi task like the rest of them and has a lot of energy that takes her a long way. I remember several times when I was at the hospital and felt like I couldn't be there by myself and I could text her or call her and she would come immediately. It was the biggest comfort to know she was there. My three sisters were also incredibly amazing. I believe that they were blessed with a lot of strength and endurance for they helped me take care of my kids and their kids too. Alissa, my oldest sister is strong, thoughtful, and selfless. She would come even in the middle of the night. She would do whatever was needed and did it like a champ. Heather is very thoughtful, kind and selfless person too, she would bring my boys and I dinner, take the boys when I needed it, and also go and visit Michael when she could. She also did a lot for our anniversary, sacrificing her own (which is on the same day) to make mine special, I love her for that. My sister Lindsay, who I miss terribly lives in Florida. She is pregnant with her fourth, but said forget about my sick pregnant body, packed up her family and came to Cincinnati for a weekend when it was really bad. She is strong, loving, kind, and has wonderful motherly skills and did whatever she could to make my burden lighter. Even though I didn't see her a lot, her and her hubby Dan were a HUGE comfort to me and to the boys when I didn't think Michael would make it through. Each day I wake up feeling so blessed and so grateful for the things that I have. Stephanie Nielson wrote in her book about tender mercies. Tender mercies are defined best by President David Bednar "the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.” I believe that Michael and I along with our boys have received so many tender mercies even beyond our capacity to comprehend these last few months. I sit next to Michael and talk to him and am in such awe as to why I am the lucky one to have such an amazing blessing of an incredible miracle in front of me. I hope that I can live out each one of my days showing my Heavenly Father how grateful I am for this amazing miracle and strength he has given me. I love my family and extended family more than words can describe. I'm such a lucky person. Even though it has been a really rough and traumatic last few months, I can say I am more than grateful for the life I have and for the people I am blessed with.