Silent Night... Holy Night

To my baby sister and hero Tiffany-

Although the youngest of 6, in some things I think she is the wisest of us all. She has been blessed with a unique set of trials in this life that has carved her into one of the Lord's choice warriors. Who would have guessed that she would be the first one to hit 5 kids! Earlier this year when she had a newborn, trying to sell her house, trying to pack and move, dealing with a split family and figuring out custody, I asked Tiffany how she was doing and she said, "I'm exhausted". I wished in that moment that I lived closer so that I could help babysit or pack her house. Maybe even help her paint a room. Or I wished that I could take her sweet kids on a fun sleep over so that she could have a night to herself or with her husband... just to sleep if she wanted to. 

Often times I feel overwhelmed by how blessed I am. I strive daily not take it for granted that my life is extremely blessed. I often think about D&C 82:3 that reads "For of him unto whom much is given much is required". It is clear, and sometimes daunting, to think of how extremely blessed I have been so the Lord must need to be doing a lot. I love my family. They are all healthy. I am crazy about my husband.  I have a beautiful home. I run a company that I absolutely love. I have occasional work trips that although I miss my kids, it allows me to get away every few months to focus on learning for 3 days straight (which I LOVE) and sleep in a hotel on my own schedule, not on mommy schedule. Although exhausted after these trips, I come home a bit more rejuvenated and excited to be a mommy because I missed my kids, even if it was just one night. 

Now for my service...

When I was pregnant with Hunter, I was visiting teaching another working mom that was pregnant and due at the same time as me. We were both pregnant with our 4th, or so we thought. She soon found out she was having twins. It was quite a surprise for her. I can't imagine how busy and tired she was when her twins arrived for a total of 5 young boys. 

When Hunter was 7 weeks old and AJ was diagnosed with cancer, during our long day in the Emergency Room, her sweet husband stopped by to see how we were doing. It was so sweet of him to take time from his busy life to come and sit with us for a bit in our ER room to see how we were doing. He headed home to his family to find that his oldest had taken a bad fall and so he loaded him in the car and headed right back to the ER that he had just finished visiting us in (he was even assigned to our same ER room!) right as we headed out to find out he had double broken arms in multiple places. This family is constantly busy with their 5 young boys!

Fast forward 2 years. We had moved into a new house, new ward, and I hadn't talked to her for a while. AJ was healthy and life for us was pretty much to a very happy blessed normal. I was at a small group meeting for moms with kids with chronic illnesses and there she was! We went around the room and each shared our stories. 

As I usually feel in these situations, I felt an overwhelming guilt. How is my life so blessed when these other women are constantly battling with their children's chronic illnesses. It is a daily battle...for LIFE! Cancer is often seen as this big thing, a sexy illness that gets a lot of attention. All of the other women in this room were fighting DAILY with their child's illness. It amazed me. 

When it got to my friend's turn, I assumed she was there for one of her 5 boys that struggled with autism or aspergers. Which she mentioned in her turn but it was a brief introduction to the issues in her home. Within the past 6 months her and her husband have also taken in 2 other boys (total of 7 boys--> 5 under 5) long term. They both struggle with severe neglect. Their issues are constant and daily and therapy will be a weekly part of their life for many years to come. 

At one point she looked around at the group of women and said, "Wouldn't it just be nice to have one night to yourself. JUST to SLEEP! I'm exhausted."

Then popped to my mind a perfect service. I had heard those words from someone else, someone I love and admire deeply and wish that I could help take a portion of their exhaustion away. I sat there for the next few minutes as she continued talking thinking about how I could help give this awesome mommy of 7 young boys a night off. 

Due to me planning a large Christmas Party at a local hotel, they had offered me a free night's stay the night of the event. Although I love a fun little hotel getaway, I realized there was someone that needed this night away much more then I did. 

I contacted this woman's husband and asked if there was any way we could get her to take our hotel room for the night. I explained that it was free and I didn't want to use it but I thought they, or at least she, should take it. He was cute and responded "we will make it happen!" 

He kept it a secret until the day of when she refused to leave all of her responsibilities and had to tell her. I contacted him once again to find out some of her favorites so that she could enjoy her night of rest and relaxation. 

After setting up for my event, I snuck upstairs to use the room to change real quick and drop off her basket of goodies. I realized again how blessed I am. I love hotel rooms. I get to stay in them just the right amount. Not too much that I dread them, not too sparse that I feel like I am missing out. But sometimes a night away in a clean hotel room that you don't have to clean or make food or change diapers just hits the spot! I said a little prayer that her night would be a relaxing one and rewarding for the many nights she spends up at night as a righteous mother. 

I headed back down to our party ballroom and then to take one last load out to my car. I was kind of hoping not to run into her because I wasn't sure if she knew I was involved. But there she was. She wasn't even carrying a suitcase. Just wearing sweats and with tired eyes explained how excited she was to just go and sleep. 

So Tiff, in honor of you, I tried to give another righteous mommy and one of the Lord's chosen warriors that fights unique battles, a night of rest and relaxation for one silent night. Although I wish I lived closer and could do it for you too, for now I hope this will do. 

I love you little sister! Merry Christmas!