From Jessica

My fast day was a week ago today, but I haven't gotten the chance to post since then.

Because I can't physically fast from food, I planned myself a service fast. I kept my day cleared to work on Humanitarian Aid projects for as long as I would have fasted from food.

The day before my fast my Grandpa Chris had a stroke. Because I'd kept my schedule clear I was able to go down and be with family all day Friday. Instead of working on humanitarian aid projects, suddenly my service project became setting up a slide show of grandpa's life and designing a program we used yesterday for his funeral. I am so grateful I had that block of service scheduled so I could do that for him. Even my fast day turned into a blessing!

As far as other blessings, we have already seen one on our behalf. As I'm sure most of you know, I've been sick ever since I got home from my mission. I've recently felt impressed to start searching for coping methods rather than a 'cure' and braced myself for a long, annoying road of finding professionals who would actually understand my condition. (finding understanding doctors has been one of the hardest parts of all this)

A few weeks ago I met with the first one, a physical therapist, and to my complete surprise it worked! He just transferred from a clinic where he'd been working with cardiac patients and so instantly understood my condition. That never happens and certainly not on a first try- my condition is rare enough most doctors just look at me with a blank stare as I explain it to them. I'm really excited to work with someone who can help me learn how to manage my symptoms a little better.

We are still searching for doctors, specialists or coping methods to help us figure out the best quality of life I can have with my illness. (specifically a chronic fatigue specialist, POTS specialist, a dietitian or possibly someone else- Who knows! We're just kind of making this up as we go.) While we appreciate all prayers in our behalf during this fast, we would really appreciate prayers in this specific search.

Thanks for your sacrifices. I know we are fasting and praying for a large number of family members, but it's amazing how it can still feel very personal.

-Jessica

From Linda

So,

I really hope today was my day, because I fasted. I couldn't access the chart but I'm not computer savvy and it's a gradual work in progress............my computer savviness!!
It was cool to fast on a weekday when everyone is going about their weekly business. I don't do that very often. I kept thinking about all of you knowing (well if today is my day) that I'm fasting for our family welfare this day. I think that kept my hunger pains away. My fast day (if this is indeed my day) came at a time I needed to fast. I found that interesting and I am very humbled and grateful.

Several years ago when my (not so mature.............they are mature now) children would complain about fasting and how hard it was and how hungry they were, I decided to do an exercise and find all of the blessings that have been promised us when we fast. I used my scriptures. I shared them with my kids and passed them around in fast meeting during sacrament.............but lost them somewhere along the way. So, last Sunday I did the exercise again. I thought I would share them with everyone:

AWESOME BLESSINGS PROMISED TO US THROUGH THE FAST

Helamen 3:35 We can be PURIFIED and SANCTIFIED from fasting.

3 Nephi 27:1 Fasting in mighty prayer and fasting can UNITE our family.

D&C 59:13 Our JOY can be full if we have a perfect fast.

D&C 88:118 If we create a house of fasting, we will find a SANCTUARY, a TABERNACLE TO BE EDIFIED BY HOLY SPIRIT. I noticed something in this verse I haven't noticed and I like it.

Isaiah 58:THE WHOLE CHAPTER (IF YOU READ ONLY ONE THING IN MY BLOG READ THIS)
1. loose the bonds of wickedness
2. undo heavy burdens
3. burdens will become light
4. you will feed the hungry
5. your health will spring forth
6. the lord will be your reargaurd (defender)
7. the Lord will hear you when you call upon him.
8. You will be a light to those around you.
9. The Lord will guide you continually
10. The Lord will satisfy your soul in drought (hard times)
11. You shall be a spring of water whose waters fail not.

I'd say this is pretty much the coolest fast I've ever done and I thank all of you for the opportunity. I'm holding fast to the united power we can access from this Fast.

Linda

From Yvonne

I fasted last week. It was a wonderful day, but has been so busy since that I haven’t had a chance to post until now.

I felt the same connectedness that Marika had felt on her fast July 2 and I spent the day thinking of all of you. While I am do not see many of you very often, I know you include my sisters’ and brothers’ children, grandchildren and in two cases, great grandchildren. I love my brothers and sisters and find myself having the same desires for their children and grandchildren that I have for my own.

My prayer was that the Lord would be mindful of you, of your needs and righteous desires. I know that fasting and prayer is not a magic wand we wave in the expectation that all our problems will be solved and all our wishes will be granted, but I also know the Lord hears the petitions of our hearts, spoken and unspoken, public and private.

So while I know the answers sometimes come in dramatic fashion, it is more likely that they will come quietly, often in our hearts as often as before our eyes. I just know they will come.

Thanks to all of you who are fasting each day. I feel like you are doing it in my behalf as well as everyone else’s, both for me and for my children and grandchildren. It is another way in which I feel connected to you.

Yvonne Peterson

From Rulon

It is now July 9, so I am a few days late in posting this. But, just wanted to thank everyone for the guidance that lead to this amazing family effort. I am proud to be a part of this family, but I never felt closer than when I ended my fast late on July 3. What a great opportunity. I can feel the combined strength of the family both as a giver in being able to fast for the collective, and as a taker as I and my family need continued support. I promise that I will never miss a fast day or one of my individual fasts...it just is too important to me at this point. Thank you everyone for this great family effort.

Rulon

From Marika

It is a bit intimidating to write one of the first posts, however I wanted all to know I felt very connected to the family today through my fast. I thought of a lot of you today, feeling far away from the family hubs, and wondering about the worries that prompted this fast.

As soon as I downloaded the calendar form, I selfishly signed up for the first available spot. Ben just quit his job last week to start a business, and we are living on faith right now! The timing could not be much better than now to take this on-with the faith and prayers of the entire Stacey family behind us for the next three months!!!! I look forward to posting how it all worked out for us! I do have more to say, but I will wait until a few more cousins have posted. :) I love you all! A joy in my life is thinking about the wonderful family I come from. A copy of the fast form will be on our fridge, and our family will specifically pray for the needs of the person fasting. I believe in The Atonement, and I know miracles happen!
-Marika

From Loretta

As I have been looking forward to the Stacey family fast and contemplating the strength of combining our faith and prayers on behalf of this family, a story from the life of Heber J. Grant as told by Truman G. Madsen came to mind.

This experience of President Grant happened when he was an apostle and Lorenzo Snow was the prophet. At the time Pres. Grant’s family was in debt because of some bad investments. (In today’s dollars, probably around three to four million). He had calculated that it would take him at least 13 years to pay back the debts plus interest but he was committed to pay it all back. This was just at the turn of the century.
At the Thursday meeting with the brethren, Pres. Snow said that they were opening a mission in Japan and Heber J. Grant would be called to preside there if his family was able to financially. Pres. Snow asked him, “Heber, what is your situation?” Response, “Oh, I owe a few dollars.” He thought to himself that if the Lord wanted him to serve in Japan then he would be faithful and add more years to paying off his debt. He indicated to the prophet that he would need some time to get his affairs in order, but yes, he would accept the call. The meeting ended, everyone left, and Elder Grant was still stunned and was sitting in his chair. One of the brethren came back, John W. Taylor, and said: “Heber, it’s been made known to me that you made a financial sacrifice today. Comparable financially speaking to Abraham. It’s been made known to me that the Lord has accepted your willingness to go to Japan. And it’s been made known to me that the Lord will open the way and you will leave for Japan a free man financially.” Elder Grant wept and then Brother Taylor went on, “I have more to say to you. I’m going to tell you how to do it. You’re not to plan to make money, you’re to get out of bed every morning and ask the Lord to guide you that day and he will put ideas into your mind and you follow those and you will be out of debt.” Six months later he was out of debt and went to Japan.

I think that this story came to mind because I was excited to have the family start this three months of fasting, faith, and prayer. Last night I was excited to go to bed and this morning I prayed for the members of the Stacey family. Some needs I know personally, but most I do not. I believe that this family can face the challenges and trials that test us because we sustain and comfort each other and are united in asking for the blessings of heaven. The challenges and trials may not pass at this time and new ones may even come, but our fasting and prayers will bring added strength and maybe even make us more aware of the daily tender mercies of the Lord. I’m so thankful for the blessing of family. It has been a wonderful day to fast.

Loretta