Gator.

Sandy and Florida, combined together! I am sending this email to everyone I know and love so dearly. What a hectic yet so rewarding week it has been! So much is happening out here in West Jordan... I am having to strap my seat belt and hold on tight. The ride is bumpy at times, but it is so worth it!

The Lord is providing so many experiences for myself to help me become more humble and see the power and strength of the Atonement.

This is an experience that we had this week and it just touched my heart so dearly. I hope it does the same for you.

Last Saturday, the 21st, we attended a 5k and carnival for Alex "Gator" Homer. He is one of the Bishop's sons here. He is 7 years old and when he was born, he only had half of his heart. He has been in and out of surgery since he was a baby and is currently now waiting for a new heart. He is second in line. Any time now he could pass on.. And you know the sad part, it requires another little kid his age to lose his life in order for him to receive the heart. The day that I met this family, I just fell in LOVE with them. They are the sweetest, most humble people I think that I have ever met. They are so reliant on the gospel and their testimony of it. I know for some, this would bring them so low and question why this has to happen to their child. But not once have they shown their worries, any frustration, or even anger. They are completely running on faith and it's through faith that miracles are brought!

Sister Lopez and I had the blessed opportunity to be a part of setting up a fundraiser to raise money for Gator and all the medical expenses.On Saturday there was a 5k and a carnival. About 200 showed up to run the 5k and many many more came throughout the day to the carnival. Bishop Homer told Gator the morning of the big day that he would be the star of the show, the celebrity. You know what he said? He said, "Dad, what's a celebrity?" What a blessing it was to be a part of strengthening and loving their family and being there for Gator, and still it. 

Sister Lopez and I ran the 5k and you know, we are SO out of shape and it sounded so appealing to just stop and give up. But i know it was through the strength of our Savior that we and all the others were able to finish it because it was FOR Gator. And I know the Savior was right there by our side running the race. So many people came to support the Homer family and when they had a minute to say a few words to everyone there, Sister Homer said this, 

"I know that if the love that you all have toward us and especially Gator could heal anything, his heart Would be healed."

My friends and dear family, I know that our Father provides us whirlwinds and trials for a purpose. And I have never seen a family before rely so much on the Savior and His Atoning Sacrifices. It's through the trials they are facing now, the trials that we all have faced, do face, and will face, that will allow draw us closer to the Father's Beloved Son and allow us to learn of Him and become as He is. It's the trials that can allow us to turn away from Him OR towards Him. Which will you choose? I would choose the right. I would choose the Savior. He chose us, He came here for us, He suffered ALL for us, He made it possible for ALL to return to live with Him and Father again someday. That is MY heart's most sincerest desire and I know that it's Gator's heart's most sincerest desire as well. Sometimes we need to walk into the Garden and experience but a small portion of what the Savior did for us. 

I know the gospel is true and it's a blessing in my life and how grateful am I to have a living Prophet today. My testimony stands strong as a witness of Christ, of the Book of Mormon and it's testimony of the Savior! He lives!!

Thank the Father for your trials and do it in the name of Jesus Christ.

Handshakes and hugs,

Sister Garretson

Ps - Sorry for no pictures. We are emailing at a library and I can't upload them. Next week for sure! :)