Poem to my Son-Blake

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Poem to my Son-Blake

Today is Blake's 23rd birthday--I just sent through email this poem I wrote for him--I've never written a poem and don't know that I ever will again-but. This is how I really feel. I don't like to use the word PROUD, but I am. This boy is now a man; knowing he was out serving helped me get through some really tough days and months--


When you turned nineteen and decided not to go
my heart ached for what you didn't know.


Times were rough, and thoughts weren't clear
deep inside, I was glad you were still here.


Dad and I raised you in the Church, saying,
"where will you go?"
your answer to us was "NO."


I prayed morning and night, wanting
everything to be just right.


I'll never forget the day of your call
it was such a shock to us all,
seems you, too, had been praying and preparing.


Tears of joy filled my eyes, for now, I knew
and could empathize-


You would go out and tell
of Heavenly Father's Plan
and how Adam fell.


When my diagnosis returned positive for cancer
I cried, "no, this can't be."
I wanted a different answer.


You were given a blessing saying,

If you are obedient, 
"Your mom will be here."
then I begged the Lord to take away your fear.


The day I hugged you goodbye,
I wasn't quite sure how I'd get by.


As I felt my heart explode in my chest,
I knew it was time to let the Lord do the rest.


Every letter, Christmas and Mother's day
there was so much to say,
you were serving the Lord, and it made me glad

to hear you so happy for good days and bad


Now those two years have gone so fast,
soon you will be home with us at last.


Our family has been so blessed; you have
served with honor and done your best.


When people ask me, "How did you survive your fight?"
I look at them and say, "because I have a son who chose
to share HIS light."


I love you, Elder Blake Williams-Happy Birthday.

XOXO Mama

Heaven - 9/11 Tribute - 10 years

From Boy To Man

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

From Boy to Man

Blake wrote this letter to us recently. Eric and I were really touched by how much he has sacrificed. It's hard as a mother to know some of the conditions Blake has lived in; however, hearing him speak about how much he loves the Dominican people and how much he will miss them makes me happy. Before he left, Blake was rough around the edges, but after reading his letters and seeing the refining, he has done is a blessing.

Mom & Dad

I've been thinking about the time I have left here in this country. It has really come to be part of me. I mean, I really consider myself a Dominican. I love these people, and I will miss them so much, even those who don't want to listen to us, the dogs that always chase and bark at us, or the random drunk man that's is always interesting to talk to. Even the things I don't like, I will miss so much. Like when there is no light in the whole town for 24 hours, having to go to sleep drowning in your own sweat being eaten by mosquitoes when there's no water to shower in before you leave the house, or no light to iron your shirt before church or when, no one is in their homes the whole day not even the members to give you some water or juice, and then it starts to pour down rain, these are the things I really am going to miss, I love this country. I will always say it is MY country...

I am so grateful to be in the best mission in the world, with the best mission president in the world.

Things have been a little different this week after the hurricane; it took out a hotel right on the beach here and ruined this street. The place got flooded here, which is crazy because it never rains. It's like a desert here; it's the first area I have been in. It reminds me of home because there are cacti here, haha.

This week has been pretty good. I think I gave my last talk in the mission this last week, so it was 830 in the morning on Sunday, and we were preparing ourselves to leave and go pick up this investigator, and the branch president called and told me to prepare a talk for church, and I said that its fine ill do it cuz I thought at. First, it was for the next week but then like 15 minutes later, it got to me, so I called him and asked if it was for this Sunday or the next, and he said this Sunday, and said to make sure it was long cuz my mission president was going to be there, so he tells me 30 minutes before church when I'm already in the street to church that I have to talk, but its OK that's just another thing that I really am going to miss it went really well they told us that the chapel is going to be remodeled and that we will be moving into a little house for 5 or 6 months. We are going to baptize this guy named Avelino in a few weeks. He has 8 years with the missionaries, and his wife is a member that has her endowments. She tried and tried, and so have the missionaries, so we have been working hard with him, and we put a date for him, so we will be baptizing him a week or so before I get home. I cant wait to see the look on his face. His wife's face when he gets baptized. This is one of the things I am going to miss the most is seeing the lives of people change.

con mucho amor
ELDERblakeWILLIAMS

Elder Williams Itinerary

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Elder Williams Itinerary

Saying Goodbye was so hard Sept 23rd 2009

I wish I could bottle up this feeling I have right now---I'm in Mexico I opened up my email and had gotten a little itinerary from Salt Lake City saying--Elder Blake Williams will be home in the US of A sky harbor airport on September 28th at 5:25 pm--not only did I do a little dance by myself in my kitchen--I smiled from ear to ear and even let out a few "oh yeah's he's finally coming home" with my hands in he air...I know this is bitter sweet for him, but it's ALL SWEET to me.... I miss him so much and I literally dream of that first hug, nothing I can write will even come close to explaining the feelings in my heart---I think it's time for some SUGAR--

Hurricane Irene

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011

Hurricane Irene

I have been back to work at US AIRWAYS now for a couple of months....I think I'm  inally  getting some of my memory back, it helps to have notes next to my desk..... Just in time for Hurricane Irene to ravish the lives of so many people I met over the past couple of days.  Friday I went in the reservations center to find out I was mandated 12 hours of overtime not only Friday but Saturday Sunday and Monday...whew...I am not used to that,  it sure gave me an appreciation for my co-workers who do it day after day just to keep food on the table.  My arm was swelling up from my lymphodema I wore my sleeve to keep the swelling down, my feet were swollen up from sitting, my hip was killing me, and I had a headache by the end of each day. . . . . however,
 Just when I started to feel a little sorry for myself, I would get a phone call from someone stranded trying to get to their loved ones funeral, or wedding, a lady who's brother's remains were being sent, he died in service to our Country,  people sleeping in hostel's  or sleeping at the airport for a week because they cannot afford a hotel/motel or they were all booked to capacity, so many desperate stories of people's lives, it touched me and brought me back to reality.  I really do have so much to be grateful for.  LIVE FREE LIFE IS GOOD