Dear Sister Kathy I will certainly be keeping you in my prayers. It is hard to say goodbye to someone we love so dearly but as you have said you will be with him again and having that knowledge and understanding is such a great blessing. We miss them and I feel they know that and miss us too. Take care and I to feel your Father will be there to help you know what to prepare for his eulogy and history. God Bless and keep in touch Alfreda

Not sure what to title this post...lol. So I guess the moral of this story is the spirit is always there with us and guides us in direction that we don't always want to go...... I don't always know what I should title a post....so here goes it... Last Friday my husband and I bought a new van. My last one was slowly dying and with over 130,000 miles it was time for something else. Today I had to go to Madison. I had taken a water bottle and a protein bar with me. It's around noon and I'm hungry. This doesn't happen very often and I usually don't eat. So I thought I would go out for lunch - even though by myself. I have been in kind of a funk lately and so being by myself sounded kind of good at the moment. Along with this "funk" I have been in nothing has sounded good, tasted good and quite frankly I have just not really ate - protein bars 2-3 a day and that is it. I was driving by this area where I 'knew' there was a restraunt called "Low Carb Market". I have never been there but thought well, I'll go to this new place because I think they should cater pretty good to my diet. So I drive around this little area and I can't find the dang place. I know dang well it is there. But I can't find it. So ticked off I took off across the road to Target. I decided I didn't want to get out of my car. So I drove back over to where I knew this other place was and went threw the drive threw at Taco Bell. I ordered an ice water and side order of grilled chicken. And was on my way. As I was paying a fire truck, ambulance and few cop cars come flying by. Since I was already in kind of an off mood I thought "great here they are and now I'm not going to be able to get threw this intersection because there is an accident or something. I said a little prayer that they wouldn't be in my way and everything would be okay for whomever it was that was in trouble".... So about I go....Low and behold smoke everywhere in the sky. I'm thinking "well one of those construction sites must have a fire". I go around the corner -- And what do I see -- the "Low Carb Market" and TWO cars engulfed in flames in their parking lot!! I am so greatful and yet humble that I didn't "find" the Market like I wanted to. That I didn't go there. Who is to say my new '05 Van wouldn't be in flames along with the other cars! I knew that restraunt was right there on that corner. But for the life of me when I drove around that lot the 2nd time I thought "well, I must be crazy it is somewhere else in this town".... BTW...the chicken was yucky!!! I wasn't big on taco bell before. And I really am not now. Gala

My deepest condolences on the passing of your father. I am so sorry. You go and take care of your mother and the rest of the family and come back when you feel up to it. As for keeping your family in our prayers, that goes without saying. Love, Donna

What a wonderful feeling for you this must have been. Great Job!!! You are doing wonderful!!!! Love, Gala

That's a tough one Saralan. My sister is an alcoholic and is now living with me so in one very small way I can feel what you are going through. It's hard to know how to help someone when they don't want any help. I hate that my young children are being subjected to my sister's influence. I hate that my sister has to live with these demons and doesn't want to change. I find comfort in knowing that at least my sister isn't homeless. I find comfort knowing that at least I know where my sister is and that she's safe. I know this post is about your sister but I just thought I would add my two cents so you would know that this thing happens in many good LDS homes. Satan is soooo evil and has far too much control. I don't know what kind of advice to give you. It sounds like you're doing the best you can. Your sister may become really, really ugly and hateful while she's coming off her drugs. But you're going to have to hide everything from her that you can. Hide all the meds in your house, both prescription and over the counter things. It just might save her life. Good luck with dealing with this. - Melody