December 16, 2010 - I haven't heard yet exactly when Brandon and Kassi will be coming home, other than we are hoping it will be sometime today. I wanted everyone to line the streets or have a big dinner celebration, but I was out-voted. It's hard to contain my excitement! However, I'm sure you'll all run into Brandon and Kassi and little Branson soon enough. We can barely go a day without going to Wal-Mart, so I'm sure we'll see a few of you there. It's going to take some time for all of them to re-adjust back into life and work.
It's been kind of nice to have the blog and we've been able to keep in touch with so many of our family and friends; so for those of you who would like to continue to check up on us now and then, I will keep the blog going for an undetermined period of time. I will write an entry every Sunday and keep you posted on the continued progress.
As many of you know, Kuhlmanns are generally pretty self-sufficient and it's not really in our nature to be on the receiving end of good deeds; we have much more fun giving than receiving. However, there have been some rumors of a fund raiser, if it should become necessary. So check back now and then and we will keep you up-dated.
I attended the annual Fire Dept. Christmas dinner last night. What a great group of truly caring people who have dedicated their lives to helping and serving others! I know Tom has felt very confident while he's been gone that they could handle anything they were faced with. Thank you for taking over so that Tom could be with Brandon when he needed him the most. You are all wonderful!
The first night after the accident, Tyler (our 5th child) insisted that he stay home alone that night because he wanted to "pray and read his scriptures". He shared a couple scriptures that touched his heart with me and I'd like to share one of them with you. It's in D&C 24:8. "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endue them, for, lo I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days" What comforting words from a loving Savior to reassure us that he is there, and that everything will work out as it should.
We had Young Women's on Tuesday night and the theme for the year has been, "Be Strong and of Good Courage" which comes from Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and of a good courage, for the Lord thy God will be with thee withersoever thou goest." Brother Strom, (One of the Councilors in our Bishopric) shared a story with us from a book called "Defined by Christ" by Toni Sorenson. The story was about a time Toni was young and found a gosling egg that had been separated from its nest. She took the egg and kept it warm and rolled it and loved it and talked to it. Then one day the gosling began to peck its way through the hard shell. She watched as it would peck for awhile and then rest and then peck again. She felt so bad for the little thing that she gently helped by removing the remaining shell of the egg. Then as she held the tiny gosling in her hand, she watched as it took a breath and then another and then died in her hand. She was heartbroken. You see, she realized that without the struggle of emerging from the egg itself, the gosling would not be strong enough to survive.
How difficult it must by for our Heavenly Father to know we must have these challenges in our lives, and yet he allows them because he knows they will make us stronger. We are not being punished, we are being given a trial of our faith. Faith to know that He is there, and that He loves us, and that his hand is in all things! And faith to see the miracles along the way. I hope that our family has been faithful in this "bump" along our journey of life. And of course we haven't forgotten that when Heavenly Father needs something done, he usually uses someone else to accomplish it for him. Thank you, all you angels out there, that have helped us through a difficult time!
I am reminded of a quote from Howard W. Hunter's talk titled "The Real Christmas" in the Dec. 2005 Ensign- "If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees--alone or with loved ones--give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments. He will take you by the hand and His promises will be kept." These are difficult times that we live in, but I hope that we can remember that our Savior came into this world to take upon himself our sins and how sad it must make him to see that even after he has suffered so much, that we still have a hard time forgiving eachother. Forgiveness would be a wonderful Christmas gift to give to HIM this year.
My Love to all,
Leanne
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