The Downside ...

To being 7,000 miles from home...

You can't be there when grandchildren (and their parents) hurt!

What grandparent doesn't want to just grab our little Jered 

and kiss his hurting away?

We're a little short on details, but we know he was at the park, fell on cement and broke his femur.  But look at all that had to happen to stabilize that femur!  A cast from his chest to his ankle on one leg and his knee on the other.  He won't be able to sit up for 6 weeks.  We can only imagine how long the full recovery will take. 

But he was given a blessing by Eric, and so Maddi sent us an email detailing it.  Here it is in her own words:

 "Eric told him that he was going to say a special prayer to help him feel better, then he put his hands on his head.  Jered was laying down in the bed and Eric knelt on the floor next to the bed (so Eric's arms were above little Jered's face). Then Jered reached up and held onto Eric's arm very gently with both hands.  It was so sweet.  As Eric gave the blessing, Jered repeated each word that Eric said in a tiny whisper! He was truly listening to each word that Eric said, I could just tell that he knew he was receiving a special blessing from his Heavenly Father.  Eric blessed him to be comfortable, not feel pain, sleep well, and that all would go well with his procedure today.  He also blessed him to heal quickly and to have no side effects of the injury later on in life.  Most importantly he blessed him to know of his Heavenly Father's love for him and of his parents' love for him.  When the blessing was over, Jered started to fall asleep."

I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who provides for the needs of His children in such a loving way.  I'm grateful for the Priesthood that gives man the power and authority to act in God's name.  And I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows and loves each and every one of His Children.