A little bit of catch-up and a story about prayer

So I've basically spent the last few days in a drugged stupor--another one of my teeth abcessed and so I have been on some heavy drugs waiting for the infection to clear out. Today is the first day I have felt half-way human since Wednesday evening. I know others in the family are having some not-fun with pain, and I am really praying for you.

Tonight we went to feed the ducks at Salem Pond. I'd heard about Salem Pond, but we'd never been there, so when we saw how beautiful it is we were stunned. It is gorgeous. I'm going to take my camera next time and take lots of pictures. Ezra had so much fun with the ducks.

My favorite Easter candy is probably lemon drops or those candy-outside- marshmellow-stuff-inside ones that Jen was talking about. Yum, except not with a bum tooth.

I've been giving some thought to answers to prayer, Amy. I really have been blessed in my life by answers to prayers. A specific one that came to mind when you asked was the time we hiked the Virgin Narrows. I was in ninth grade, and everyone came to Zion except LaDale, who had pneumonia. But Mema and Telima didn't hike it with us. Before we went, everyone was repeatedly warned about flash floods, and of course it was not a hot, dry day. Oh, no, it was an overcast, gloomy, drippy day. So of course my overactive imagination went haywire. I was almost scared sick (I can now recognize the signs of a panic attack, but I didn't have a clue then). But I prayed and prayed, and we even prayed as a group, and lo and behold--it didn't immediately clear up. In fact, I think it stayed gloomy for quite a while. But I felt so much better. In fact, I felt cheerful and happy and just fine. It was a very meaningful experience for me. I realized that God doesn't always calm the elements or stop the storm--sometimes he calms the child within the storm.

I would be very interested in hearing about others' experiences with prayer, too. Amy, thanks for bringing it up.