The tree that never had to fight

for sun and sky and air and light,

but stood out in the open plain

and always had its share of rain,

never became a forest king

but lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to fight

who never had to win his share

of sun and sky and air and light

never became a manly man

but lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow in ease,

the stronger the wind,

the tougher the trees.

(author unknown)

This was such a great poem and it made me think of the times we are living in now. If you recall Elder Dallin Oaks talk in the last conference. He began his talk with "These are the perilous times that Paul spoke of..." I know there are perilous times for each of us. More sacrifices, more opportunties to stand tall in a world that believes that "good is bad and bad is good".

Yesterday, I had a class at the hospital on "Open Heart surgeries and after." It was very intriguing learning about the hemodynamics of the medications given and how they change blood pressure, heart rate and urine output. I learned about this a little bit in school. Its fun to refresh the brain again on all the heart stuff that's easily forgotten when its not used daily. The heart is the most amazing muscular organ. Later....