Pain like I've never felt

So I've been meaning to write this post for a few weeks now--ever since my foray into the world of the ER. Here's the story:

It was a Monday night where I first had a horrible pain in my back. I didn't know what was going on or why--all I knew was that it was killing me. Now I am new to this whole physical pain thing. I've been pretty lucky in my life to never have had any serious medical conditions or accidents or anything. Probably a good thing since I'm obviously kind of a wimp. After I took a hot bath and the pain level didn't change at all, I writhed on my bed and reconciled myself to my impending death. To my surprise, I kept my consciousness and all of a sudden, the pain just stopped. I thought that was weird. Then I went to bed.

Next morning, I was driving to my stores that were 2 hours away. An hour and a half into my drive, the pain comes back. I sped to the nearest exit, fearing I would pass out from the pain tearing into my back. Parked in front of a gas station, more writhing ensued. Once I got a handle on the pain, my first thought was to call my little sister. I reached for my phone and felt a very distinct, "call Lisa." So I instead called my older sister, Lisa, and proceeded to sob on the phone to her. She did her best to calm me down and coach me into the "neutral back" position (lying in the backseat of my car)--but that didn't help the pain. She started asking me about what I'd been eating, which I thought was weird, but then she said that she recognized my symptoms because she'd had them before. Gallstones. Kill me. So after crying on the phone with her for a good half an hour and trying to find out which of my coworkers was nearest to me so they could come pick me up, the pain again stopped. 

I eventually ended up at the ER (after going to three different clinics and crying at each one as i explained what had happened) just outside of Greensboro, North Carolina. Random, much? Yeah. They did an ultrasound, blood tests (yes, I passed out also when they drew my blood.)--the whole nine yards. Hours and hours later, the doctor came in to tell me the prognosis: one little gallstone. Luckily, there was no need for an immediate surgery or anything, so I picked myself up and drove the hour and  a half back to my hotel. It took me a while to dare to eat real food again (though in addition to my self-imposed no-sugar diet, I am now also dairy-free [which I did for about 8 months anyway, so I'm used to that] and low-fat--in an attempt to keep my gallbladder from having to work too hard and attack me again), but I haven't had any problems since. Phew!

As funny as it may seem, this whole experience was actually a blessing. I was praying hard in the days preceding the attack for help in eating better. And although this was quite an extreme answer, it is definitely forcing me to be more conscientious of what I eat. The threat of excruciating pain can do wonders for self-control.

The other thing about this experience that I learned was again, just how aware Father in Heaven is of me and my situation--though at times it seems as though He picks and chooses what prayers to answer... I digress. I am positive that it was the Spirit who prompted me to call my older sister--probably the only person I know who could've recognized my symptoms for what they were (people with gallstones don't always have pain in their back--it's more often in the abdomen, but Lisa's pain was in the exact same spot as mine). 

This experience also strengthened my testimony of the Priesthood. My friend called his friend who lives in NC, who called her brother, who called his home teaching companion to come over to my hotel room with him and give me a blessing. Talk about the Priesthood in action! It was my first experience with a complete stranger giving me a blessing, and it just made it all the more evident that the words spoken were coming straight from the Lord.

Finally, this whole gallstone debacle taught me an important lesson about the Atonement. I have read Alma 7 I don't know how many times in my life, but I have never understood the magnitude of those few verses in the middle:

11. And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 

12. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Just think about that. Often we think of the Atonement in two parts: overcoming 1) physical death, meaning we will be resurrected, and 2) spiritual death, meaning we can be forgiven of our sins. But It really isn't as cut and dry as that, and it's unbelievable to think that those two things were all that were required of our Savior, but He went above and beyond what was merely required to redeem us. He decided to forego learning about all our other trials through the Spirit and chose instead to experience all the pains of mortal life Himself. Not to save us. Not to redeem us. Not for any practical use as far as the Atonement goes. He did it so that His bowels would be filled with mercy. So that He could empathize with us in every painful situation. I just can't get over that. I can't get over the love He has for us and His willingness to suffer every affliction, every pain, so that, in my own moments of pain and affliction, I know that I can turn to Him and find the support and comfort I need. This demi-god truly descended beneath all, experiencing the full gamut of the mortal experience so that He could know according to the flesh how to succor us. He can succor us--come to our aid--not because He is God, but because He was man. What an extraordinary love. What an incomprehensible sacrifice on His part.  I am so happy to know who my Savior is. 

So all in all, I'm just totally grateful for that horrible pain I felt, if only for the lessons it taught me and the opportunity it allowed me to utilize the Atonement in a way I never have before. (That's not to say I want to go through it again, but still!)

Oh hey

Remember how I have a blog? Yeah... apparently traveling all summer and having limited down time means that I completely stop blogging. But here I am--waiting at a Sprint store--blogging. This sure has been a crazy summer--so much fun and totally worth the exhaustion I'm feeling at the moment from a late-night flight and long drive last night. Sometimes it's hard to remember what state I'm in, which gets confusing. For example, yesterday I was in Tennessee. The day before, Alabama. Today, Illinois. So crazy.

Anyway, I'm super happy that I was presented with this fun summer internship and that I felt prompted to do this instead of staying at home and working some poorly paid editing internship. This has been so worth it! I'm continually amazed at how much Father in Heaven finds ways to bless His children. I was thinking last night as I was flying over an incredibly beautiful sunset that He really does have a plan for each of us. I just wish sometimes I could get a glimpse of that plan! However, I try to have the faith the He will continue to guide my future as He has my past (as we sing). 

Let me pose this question: how do you see the assurances of the Lord in your life?

Broadway!

What trip to NYC would be complete without Broadway? I mean, come on. BROADWAY. It's like something you always dream about. I had pretty high hopes and I am delighted to say that I feel like I got some good deals and great memories out of my Broadway experiences. 

Broadway #1: Newsies

Sierra and I braved going into the city for the first time (ever! for both of us!) on a rainy Tuesday night. We had no umbrellas and pretty much got soaked, but it was oh so worth it!

Here we are on the train:

Waiting in line for the lottery tickets... which we didn't win. But you know what? At least the guy who had waited 5 times already DID. :)

Sierra's Marilyn moment:

So we didn't get the lottery tickets, but after running around in the rain looking for various other deals, we ended up getting a pretty good deal at the box office. Their only stipulation was that they didn't have two seats together. Oh well, we thought, and then proceeded to our seats. Sierra was directed up the stairs, and I was directed straight through, so we said our goodbyes and found our seats... which ended up being right in front of/behind each other! So fun :)

The best part of Newsies? "There are tap shoes!!" 

This musical was seriously incredible. I would see it a million more times. So, you know, if you need someone to go with you on your next trip to New York, just let me know!

Broadway #2: Annie

So. Annie. Pretty much one of my favorite movies ever. Could probably quote the entire thing. Love the songs. Almost makes me wish I had red hair. So naturally I had pretty high expectations here. 

I'm sorry to report that it was a bit of a letdown. Maybe it's the fact that I'm not the die-hard Jane Lynch fan that apparently other people are, but I felt like she was almost mocking her own character the whole time. It was weird. Or maybe it was the fact that we were on the front row and could see—as talented as they really were—the little girls counting out the steps in their minds. Kind of distracting. Oh well. I'll just stick to the movie from now on. Still had fun on this girls' night, though! 

Broadway #3: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Another childhood CLASSIC (I'm talking the 1965 version that we had on VHS. You had that one, too, right?). And then, of course, the Brandy version came out and it was even better and full of that Whoopi, Whitney, interracial goodness. In all, just one of my very favorites. I maybe appreciated this show a bit more because I had to go really early and sit in the heat for like 2 hours and then do a panicked idiot-run looking for an ATM when I found out they didn't accept cards. Oh, and I also maybe had to try to bribe random student-aged people on the street to come in and stand with me as I bought the tickets so I could get two. Lots of work. 

The theater was also incredible. Added to the Cinderella ambiance, for sure. 

Pretty sure you weren't supposed to take pictures inside the theater. Oops. 

In one word, this show was incredible!! I could've seen it back-to-back a hundred more times, probably. The scenery, the music, the different-from-the-movies storyline. THE COSTUME CHANGES. I'm not kidding. It was incredible. And I was so, so happy that that's how we spent our last night in New York! What a lovely night! 

So. Yeah. Broadway. I'll be back.

South street

If you've been to Philly, you know that South Street is where it's at... apparently. To me, most of it seemed filled with wildly inappropriate stores that I was embarrassed to walk past and a whole lot of other sketchy things going on, but some of the buildings weren't so bad.

One thing I noticed in Philadelphia: they love murals. Seriously. They are EVERYWHERE. And I love it.

After trying the three best-known cheesesteak places in town, I can say with confidence that Jim's is my favorite. Everything you every wanted to believe about the deliciousness of Philly cheesesteaks comes true right here in this place.

Kylee trying to decide what to get. As if there are options :)

Yes we got the first bite on film: (kind of a strange phrase to use anymore, right? Since there's no film involved... how about "Yes we captured the first bite on... my phone"? Just doesn't quite seem right.)

That's how good it was:

Rainy day

I have never seen as much rain in my life as I did the week I was in Philadelphia. At times it was a fun adventure, and there was at least once when I thought I was going to be buried alive in my car from all the rain. Haha... but seriously. 

This really creepy parking garage became even more so under the threat of drowning:

This is my "drowned rat" look. Cute, huh? Yeah, hopefully the people in the stores I visited thought so as well! Where's an umbrella when you need one??

First day in Philly

I am just only slightly obsessed with Philadelphia. I mean, it's call the city of brotherly love, so what's not to love about it? My first full day was a Sunday, and luckily church wasn't until later in the afternoon, so I had time to go scope out downtown. My first stop: the temple! Of course, it's still quite under construction (as in, it's currently just a hole in the ground), but it's being overseen by this guy:

Yeah, that statue is kitty-corner from where the temple will be built. Coincidence?

I don't know if you can see the sign in the background well, but this temple is going to be beautiful! It totally fits in with the architecture of the whole city. I'm definitely going to need to find an excuse to come back in 2015!

The hole:

This beautiful catholic cathedrale that's across the street:

Here's where my wandering began. I just love U.S. history and loved seeing it come alive in these streets. 

I especially love seeing things like this and being reminded of what the men who founded this country really believed. 

In front of Independence Hall:

Cute carriage. Don't mind my finger there...

I'm such a sucker for cobblestone.

So, yeah. If you've never been to Philly it's definitely worth the trip!

The Atlantic City buzz

Yesterday we flew from Denver to Newark. I saw the empire state building and the statue of liberty out the window--so cool! 

This was the greeting our bosses gave us at the airport-- "Welcome ZAGG-terns!" 

Cute, huh?

After getting all my bags and rental car and product and everything, I set out south--down the New Jersey turnpike. I don't know why this road has always been on my list of cool roads to drive down. Maybe they mentioned it a few times in Seinfeld, or maybe I'm just a weirdo. Either way, the drive was really pretty and green. So many trees!

 

I made the 2-hour drive down to Atlantic City. 

You may or may not know of my love for Gilmore Girls. There's one episode where Lorelei and Rory take a trip to Atlantic City for Rory's belated 21st-birthday party. They drink martinis at a blackjack table and play 21 while pretending Rory was turning 21 at midnight, win and buy 21 things with their winnings, and get 21 guys' phone numbers. Oh, and they also find Luke's cross-dressing doppelganger and see Tony Danza tap dance. 

 Now, the couple of hours that I spent in Atlantic City weren't quite as exciting as their trip, but I did my best. 

First stop: the boardwalk. Unlike Emily Gilmore's assertion, it wasn't anything like tipping an overflowing trash can onto your porch.  

There it is: THE boardwalk.

And UNDER the boardwalk:

The pier was so fun--basically a perma-carnival. 

Guys. Just pretend I didn't forget to go in and play video poker on the third machine in the second row of machines as you hit the entrance of Trump Taj Mahal, okay?

So so many seagulls there. And they were like kamikaze birds, too--flew straight at me several times. 

The entrance to the pier:

So, yeah. Ended the night inside Caesar's Palace... naturally.

Went and ordered a Shirley Temple. 

Bartender: How old are you?

Me: ... 26

Bartender: No, that's cute. 

Kill me. 

And then he gave me extra cherries. 

So what I should have realized, though, is that a Shirley Temple is just Sprite with like Grenadine syrup in it, right? More sugar than I've had in probably 9 months, right there. It kind of made me sick. Which is very Gilmore Girls-esque, though, so I'll just chalk it up to being part of the experience. 

All in all, I wish Megan had been there because I am confident that we'd have been able to get 21 guys' number without much difficulty.