Emma's Blessing

Emma’s Blessing

Taken from Harmony’s journal September 11, 2009

It is canning season here in Alton. Heather and I and whomever else wants to (in the family, community or among our friends) has been mass canning/preserving at my house. I bet, easy, we have done over 600 jars of fruit, jams, and veggies. All the kids play together while the adults work in the kitchen. The kids were entertaining ten month old Emma. Orrin brought her into the great room and asked Angelique to watch her. Angelique didn’t hear him and Emma fell off the couch onto the hard wood floor. I heard the bonk, followed by a cry. I immediately went in there. Angelique had picked her up. I took her from Ango and held her on my shoulder waiting for “the next big cry.” It never came. I kept waiting. I moved her in front of me so I could look at her face. Nothing. That was it, NOTHING! She wasn’t breathing, seeing, responding. Nothing! I took her into the kitchen. Heather asked if she was ok and in a panicked voice I said, “Heather, she is not breathing!” I kept saying Emma’s name. I yelled for Dustin and proceeded to try and open her mouth. Still nothing! Heather yelled for someone to call 911. I screamed for Dustin again and Heather and I took Emma to the office where Dustin had finally heard my cry and was coming out the French doors. Heather told him to call 911. He tried numerous times to get the phone to turn on and couldn’t. The whole time while he was trying in the back of my mind I was thinking. “ What can 911 do. By the time they get here it will be too late. Twenty minutes minimum and probably longer to get here. It will be too late.” I looked at Emma. Her eyes were glazed over and very hallow. It was as if you were looking at only her mortal body. Like her spirit had left. She was gone! I don’t know how exactly to describe it except the my Emma wasn’t here anymore. It was at that point that Dustin stopped trying to turn the phone on and said, “she needs a blessing.” He handed Emma to Heather and began. He said her name and then stated the priesthood power. At that very moment Emma began to take a very shallow breath, followed by a little cry. Dustin finished the blessing and she slowly little by little cried louder and louder. It was honestly the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood! And for a husband who is worth to use it at a moment’s notice. I am thankful for the power of prayer! I have never prayed so hard in my life than at that moment. I am sure Heather and the kids were praying too. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is so mindful of me and the precious children he has entrusted to our care.

I am grateful for a loving sister. I think the experience was hard on her, a little to close to home, as just last month her son Jeff passed away. She and Jim and their kids are amazing! They are such an inspiration to us. They are so faithful and understand that it was Jeff’s time to go. I appreciate their testimonies. We miss Jeff.