Happy Easter!

We got home from our vacation Saturday night and the next morning was Easter Sunday.  The kids were excited to find their baskets and candy.  We also opened our special Easter eggs that have things inside that tell us the story of Christ's last week and then his death and resurrection.

 Here is our Ellie Jelly Bean!

Searching for eggs

Of course our favorite part of Easter is remembering our Savior Jesus Christ who lived and died for us.  Because of Him, we can return to live with God and Christ and have life eternal with our families forever.

I love to See the (Mesa) Temple!

After the Science Center we headed to the Mesa Temple grounds.  We had fun looking at all of the cacti.

I am grateful for temples around the world to seal families together forever!

Gratitude: Part 1

I am too lucky! I have so many blessings given from heaven I couldn't possibly list them all, but here's a start:
1. Knowing I am a daughter of God, He loves me and has a plan for me.
2. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lived for others. His atonement overcomes all troubles, all shortcomings, all sins, all illness, and makes it possible to live happily in this life and eternally.
3. My family; I have the most amazing husband, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, grandparents, and other extended family.
4. Motherhood. I love my children so dearly. They require so much hard work and patience, but they bring such happiness to our home. Teaching them helps me become better.
5. Incredible friends. So many wonderful people have and continue to influence me for good.
6. The freedom to choose. Agency to live my life as I feel is best.
7. The Holy Ghost to guide and direct and help me recognize the truth.
8. This beautiful world. The colorful sunsets, majestic mountains, beautiful beaches and other breathtaking landscapes. The fragrant flowers and tall trees. The diverse animals, the warm sun and the starry nights.
9. My body. I may not always feel beautiful, but I am always amazed at how incredible it is that the human body can often heal itself. My body allows me to explore, move and live.
10. Sight. I can see the beauty around me. I'm grateful for glasses and contacts to clear up my vision.
11. Listening to happy voices and inspiring music.
12. To touch and be touched.
13. The smells of rain, fall leaves and fresh bread.
14. Delicious foods that give us energy and taste so good!
15. Prophets, from the scriptures and modern-day, to help us understand the will of God.
16. Priestood authority that leads Christ's church, blesses us and allows families to be together forever.
17. Our home. It protects us from bad weather and bad influences. Many happy memories have been created in our cozy home.
18. Brad. He is dedicated to God, a hardworking provider, a supporter to others, our kids' hero and fun to be around. (I mentioned family, but I'd like to be more specific.)
19. Elise. She has velvet-soft skin and a contageous smile. I love to cuddle her, breathe in her sweetness and enjoy her sweet spirit.
20. Liesel. I love my little "helper". She is our ray of sunshine that scatters joy with her laughter. We love our little princess!
21. Jason. He helps me appreciate everything with his enthusiasm and zest for life. He gives the best snuggles and hugs.
22. Parker. He is responsible and such a smartie, he understands things well beyond his years. He loves art and science projects and loves to share what he learns.
23. Parents. My mom and dad are so kind and generous! They are always serving me, my children and anyone else who needs help.
24. In-laws. Brad's parents are so strong in the gospel. They are supportive and quick to praise. My sister-in-laws and their husbands are some of my best friends!
25. Grandparents. Brad and I are lucky to have some grandparents that are still alive. They, and our grandpas who have passed on, are amazing! They are thoughtful and good examples of what I'd like to be.

Brigham City Temple

We were able to go up to the Brigham City Temple open house.  Until the Ogden Temple reopens, it is our closest temple.  We met my parents, Angie and Grandma Ipson there to go on the tour together.

The kids enjoyed the bus ride that shuttled us from the parking to the temple.

It's a beautiful temple and we felt the spirit as we toured through it.  I know the temple is the house of God and where we can be sealed together as families forever.

We attended the dedication last Sunday and are excited to attend the temple there soon!

What's in a Name?... Answered Prayers and Tender Mercies

Our little Elise Faith has a very special name.  I have loved the name Elise since I was a teenager.  Before I had each of my children, I thought, "If the baby is a girl, I'll name her Elise."  We went to the hospital with Liesel deciding between the two names.  I am so glad we were blessed with another little girl so we could have our Elise!

 I love virtue names.  Liesel's middle name is Grace.  Faith was one of the names we were considering while expecting Elise, but with how many answered prayers and tender mercies we received in connection with her healthy birth, Faith was the perfect name.

We had originally planned on waiting until next spring to have a fourth child, but felt unmistakeably prompted to try for one sooner.  This photo was taken a couple weeks after we started trying for baby #4.  Liesel had turned one the month before.)

I was not feeling entirely ready for another child, but knew that we needed to follow the guidance that had been given to us.  Right from the beginning she was coming into this world through faith.  Here is an excerpt from my journal from early October 2011.
"I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my children and really look forward to having more. I just hadn't thought it would be quite so soon. I'm worried that I won't be able to give my best to my children. I'm worried that having them so close might make it too hard to be the mother I want to be for them. Despite my worries, I am putting my faith in the Lord that He knows best. I want to be available to have as many children as God would like to send to our family. I don't know what is in store for us...maybe something that would make it difficult to have more children later. I do know that Heavenly Father loves us and will provide a way for us. My children are so rewarding and I am very excited to have another sweet spirit enter our family."

If you've been reading the past few months, you know that starting at 32 weeks, this pregnancy landed me in the hospital for four full weeks. There have been many answered prayers and blessings related to these challenges.

On Tuesday, July 31, I woke up at about 4:30 a.m. to use the restroom.  I stood up and saw a puddle of blood on the bed.  I immediately feared the worst that the baby was dead or in grave danger.  I woke up Brad and he piled the kids in the car to head to the hospital.  Before we left I asked Brad to give me a Priesthood blessing.  He blessed me and the baby that we would be okay and that everything would work out as it should.  Parker and Jason each said a prayer as well as we drove to the hospital.  Moments later, I felt the baby kick (Answered prayer #1).

I was admitted into the hospital, given steroid shots to develop the baby's lungs and taken for ultrasounds to check on the baby and I.  I was only 32 weeks pregnant, so we were really praying that she could stay inside and grow longer.  The ultrasounds showed that I definitely had placenta previa, but that the baby was doing great.  I stopped bleeding (Answered prayer #2).

On my third morning in the hospital, I finished breakfast and stood to walk the three steps to the restroom.  I felt some blood and when I sat on the toilet blood poured out of me.  It scared me!  I pulled on the emergency cord and the nurses rushed in to help me back to bed.  The blood had been pouring out of me for a few minutes already by the time they got me back to bed.  I called Brad and he rushed over from work.  He and a hospital employee gave me a Priesthood blessing.  I was only 32 1/2 weeks and we didn't want our little girl to have to go to the NICU.  Thanks to the power of the Priesthood, the bleeding stopped again (Answered prayer #3).

I was supposed to be up a Bear Lake at that time.  We had our bags packed to leave the day I ended up in the hospital.  If I would have been up at Bear Lake, farther away from medical care, I am not sure what would have happened.  (Tender Mercy #1).

I mentioned some tender mercies in this post, but I want to mention them and a few others.  

The condition that landed me in the hospital is called placenta previa.  The umbilical cord was attached directly over the baby's pathway out.  I would almost surely have died if I lived in a time or place without access to modern medicine to perform the necessary c-section. (Tender Mercy #2).

It was hard to be away from my three sweet children for nearly a month, but it was such a comfort to have their grandparents step in so generously.  Three young kids can be a big handful, but the kids were able to spend all of the time with either my parents or Brad's, except one night they were able to sleep over at my Aunt Amber's.  We are so grateful for their sacrifice. (Tender Mercy #3).

Brad normally works late a lot.  He has bishopric meetings and tries to attend youth activities as well.  He is also preparing for the CPA exams.  He is very busy.  Everyone was very kind and accommodating and he was able to spend a lot of time with me.  (Tender Mercy #4).  He was such a support to me, as he always is.  Here is a quote from a facebook post I wrote after two weeks in the hospital,

"I have the sweetest, kindest, most handsome husband! He's my hero! He's had to take care of packing the kids, laundry and taking care of everything else at home. It's pretty boring on bed rest at the hospital, but Brad stlll comes everyday at lunch and after dinner. He's usually here four hours a day, plus about ten hours on Satudays; I'm sure he's spent well over 70 hours here already! Now that's true love!"

Staying in the hospital is expensive.  The hospital bill alone was $40,000, but because of our high-deductible insurance, we only had to pay $4,000 and everything else was 100% covered.  We had been depositing money in our Health Savings Account all year, so we already had it.  There are additional bills with the obstetricians, anesthesiologists, ultrasounds, etc.  It would be a nightmare if we owed all that money. (Tender Mercy #5).

I was in danger of bleeding to the point of hemorrhage and needing a blood transfusion, which is why I had to stay at the hospital.  It was rather disconcerting.  We prayed that I would be safe and healthy.  When I bled again at 36 weeks, it was enough to send me to the OR for an emergency c-section, but I didn't end up needing the extra blood they had on hand for me (Answered Prayer #4).

If ever the bleeding couldn't be stopped, they would have rushed me in for an emergency delivery.  32 weeks is two months early and she would surely have to spend quite a while in the Newborn Intensive Care.  We prayed constantly that she could stay in long enough to be able to come home with us.  She was born at 36 weeks.  I had already been in the hospital nearly 4 weeks.  She could have come at any time, but luckily held off.  She was born nearly a month early, but was 6 pounds 10 ounces and was healthy! (Answered prayer #5)

We have had so many wonderful family and friends praying for us throughout this whole experience.  We have been given meals and had many acts of service in our behalf.  There have been more than just the ten answered prayers and tender mercies that I mentioned; these are just some of the major ones.
We are so happy to have Elise Faith in our family!...Our family of six!!!
(My sister-in-law Jackie took all of these great photos, except the two on the green blanket, which I took.)

Tender Mercies

When Brad came to visit me yesterday, I asked him about church.  I knew it had been his turn to conduct fast and testimony meeting and asked him about the testimony he shared.  He said he was grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord.  He was thankful that I was already in the hospital when the emergency came.  When we requested an LDS elder at the hospital to come help Brad give me a blessing, it ended up being the brother of one of Brad's coworkers.  Brad testified that small things can be a reminder of God's love and watchful care.

The phrase "tender mercies" comes frome the Book of Mormon.  In 1 Nephi 1:20 it reads, "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."
Ever since Apostle David A. Bednar gave his talk on tender mercies, I have loved that scripture.

Here is a short clip:



Throughout this hospital expeience I have been overwhelmed when I. think of how fortunate we are.  Here is a list of some of the things I've been considering:

• I am so grateful to live in a time and place with advanced medical care.  If I lived long ago, or in a third world country, I most likely would die in chilbirth and the baby might too.  Isn't that a sobering thought?
• Brad and I are thankful to have great insurance and a high deductible plan.  We would be paying the same $4,000 saved in our HSA if I had a regular delivery or if I spend a month in the hospital and have a newborn in the NICU.  Can you imagine having to weigh the risks of possibly hemorrhaging at home to save money or staying in the hospital and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars?
• I am grateful that I was over 32 weeks when the bleeding started and am now about 33 1/2 weeks.  If she were to be born now she'd probably still spend time in the NICU, but she should be okay. Women with Placenta Previa can occasionally bleed as early as 24 weeks.  Spending three months on bed rest in the hospital would be awful, but would be so much better than having a baby so premature.
• Most of the time my family and I have excellent health.  Other than my zero complications baby deliveries, I haven't ever spent time in the hospital.  Parker missed one day of kindergarten due to illness and that is pretty typical of our family.  When we do get colds, they're usually mild and we recover quickly.  Even now on my 7th day in the hospital I feel pretty good, but it does help me better appreciate the health challenges of so many.
• Our children are staying with their grandparents who love them dearly. We have kind neighbors who have offered to help out too.  I can't imagine what would happen if you didn't have anyone to care for them.  I miss them  terribly, but know they're in good hands!

There are so many things that I could mention, but that gives you the idea. I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord.

What good boys!

I checked in on the boys to make sure they were sleeping.  I found them snuggled up on one bed reading scriptures. Parker read from the Book of Mormon and then pointed to Jason when it was his turn to say, "it came to pass" like we do in family study. What a precious moment!

Women's Conference

 Last week our stake had a women's conference.  It was absolutely wonderful!  It was based around the book Daughters in My Kingdom.  Each speaker was asked to speak about what chapter they would add to the book.  As I listened to their comments, I laughed, cried and was motivated to become a better mother, friend, daughter, visiting teacher, and child of God. 

Some of my friends and visiting teachees were unable to attend, so I took my notes and looked up the quotes and scriptures so that I can more easily share what I had learned.

 One of the most heart-breaking, but poignant stories for me was told by Sister Jolley.  It was nearly her daughter Natalie's 24th birthday, but instead of gathering for ice cream and cake, she'd be taking flowers to the cemetery.  When her daughter was 18, she'd started getting crippling back pain.  It took the doctors a few months to diagnose it, but they eventually found it was a tumor in her spine.  When the doctor left the hospital room after giving them the news, Natalie turned to her mother with tears in her eyes, "Mom, am I going to die?"  Her mother (the speaker, Sister Jolley) had no idea what to say, but she felt the Holy Ghost teaching both of them as she was given the words, "I don't know, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for your life."  It was a very difficult three years going through chemotherapy and spending so much time sick and in the hospital.  Whenever they had a setback or got bad news, Natalie would cry, but then square her shoulders and start smiling and laughing through life.  People would ask how she could possibly have such a good attitude.  She said, "I don't have a choice about whether or not to go through this.  My only choice is about how I handle it."  Her daughter died, but through this whole experience, her mother gained such a great understanding of the power of the atonement.  It's so much more than just saving us from sin.  It is what gave them the strength to go on when everything was too much to deal with.   It is what allows us to be together forever as families.  Because of the atonement, Natalie is healed, happy and her family's forever.

My life's challenges are not nearly as difficult to face as Natalie's and her family's, but just like Natalie, I can always choose with what attitude to face my challenges,  I'm determined to be better.

 The last speaker has six young children.  Sometimes she is so consumed with raising her children, she only has time to do "insignificant things" like fulfill her twice a month activity days calling and pray for her nephews.  She has realized, however, than Heavenly Father knows us and our needs and circumstances well.  He inspires us to do the things He knows we can do to influence others for good.  At different times in our lives, our contributions may seem greater or smaller, but nothing is insignificant.  In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma teaches his son Helaman "Now you may suppose that this is foolishness in me, but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.  And the Lord doth work by means to bring to pass His great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." (Alma 37:6-7)  

Sometimes I feel a little like the speaker.  I am sometimes overwhelmed by the fact that I can't even keep my house organized and sometimes I wonder if I should be doing more to help others.  It may be true that I could do more, but God understands my circumstances and can inspire how to best spend my time and efforts.

During the conference, the choir sang a song I remember from my days in young womens "Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God".  I really love the lyrics.

The Living Christ

For Christmas Brad's parents gave us a calendar that has photos of Christ and "The Living Christ" divided up so that each month has about a paragraph.  We've been learning it together as a family.  Here are the boys saying the first two month's portions.  They don't have it fully memorized, but I'm amazed at how much they know.  The first few sentences Jason can say independently and Parker can say the first paragraph without much help.

We've enjoyed the experience so much already.  Brad and I are really looking forward to memorizing it all.  I seriously wouldn't be surprised if both my boys learn it all too.

Beautiful

There is something so beautiful about the creation of a new family. I love weddings! Brad and I have had three gorgeous cousins get married in the last month and a half. Marriage is such a happy event; two people who have chosen to share their lives and dreams together.

Lauren and James were married the beginning of September. It was beautiful and we are so happy for them!

My cousin Ann Marie got married to Joseph two weeks later.

I really wish a I had a better photo of them on their wedding day. Here they are at the Bountiful Temple. I am so grateful that we were able to be there to witness the joyful occasion!

Katie and TJ are so beautiful they should be models, don't you think?

Here they are leaving the Salt Lake Temple radiating the happiness they feel after being sealed together.

As I mentioned, I love weddings. I love seeing the happy couple and feeling the excitement of beginning their lives together. I love remembering my own lovely wedding. One thing that stings at civil ceremonies, however, is the dreaded "until death do you part". What if something happens and one of them dies in the next month? ...If they could live another century or even two, it is still tragic to imagine the end of something so beautiful as a happy marriage.

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father loves us enough to allow us to be together forever. Inside His holy temples, we can be sealed together for eternity. God loves all His children and wishes that blessing for all of us. All who are prepared can enter the temple and make covenants with Him. We really can be together forever! What a comforting and beautiful doctrine!

Forget Not

Last night was the General Relief Society Meeting for the women of the LDS Church. I was lucky enough to get tickets to attend there in the Conference Center. It is such a sweet feeling to be in the same room as the prophet of God! The meeting was wonderful!

Julie B. Beck spoke about the things that she would like to have her granddaughters know about Relief Society. She reminded us that the purpose of Relief Society is to increase faith and personal righteousness and to care for the poor and the needy. It is to prepare us to make and keep temple covenants and to minister to others like the Savior.

Silvia H. Allred spoke about charity, or the pure love of Christ. She focused on ways we could increase charity: desire, prayer, scripture study and service to our fellowmen.

Barbara Thompson spoke about the joy, peace and protection that come through honoring your covenants.

After the Relief Society General Presidency speaks, a President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke. In the seven years since he was called as an apostle, he has become one of my very favorite speakers. He talked about the tiny forget-me-not flower. President Uchdorf reminded us of five things that we should "forget not":

1- Forget not to be patient with ourselves. Don't compare yourself to others. Our weaknesses can be overcome, but this is a long-term goal and we should celebrate the small successes along the way.

2-Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice. Sometimes we commit too much of our time and energy to things that are unimportant. They are not worth the sacrifice. Other things are, of course, worth the sacrifice. Discern carefully what things will be most worth your efforts.

3-Forget not to be happy now. He talked about the children's story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. When the people heard about the golden tickets, they were so anxious to get one that even a candy bar became a disappointment if it didn't contain a golden ticket. Sometimes we wait for our "golden ticket", the key to the happiness they always dreamed about. There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings, but we should not put our happiness on hold while we wait for that "golden ticket". Don't fail to notice the blessings and be grateful for them now.

4-Forget not the why of the gospel.

"My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.

While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.” When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet.

Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The “what” and “how” of obedience marks the way, yes, and it keeps us on the right path. But the “why” of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration."

5-Never forget that God loves you. Your Heavenly Father will never forget you. He loves you. You are the daughters of His kingdom. Even when you feel lonely or make mistakes, God loves you. You are closer to heaven than you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness. Continue to seek out and help others who need your and the Lord's help.

Here is a clip of the end of his talk:

If you missed the meeting, or want to watch it again, look here. Next weekend the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It only happens twice a year and is a marvelous opportunity to listen to the prophet and others called of God to help us know His will for us. I can't wait!

Family Mission Statement

A few months ago Brad and I decided to come up with a family mission statement. We brainstormed individually and as a family. We spend two family nights teaching about mission statements and coming up with our ideas. Then Brad and I revised it and came up with this final document. That was back in June. I have been hoping to make our statement on wood, but it hasn't happened (yet). In the meantime, I decided to use Photoshop to print out something nice to frame on our living room wall. Here it is:

Now, we've just got to live it!

Beautiful to Him

My friend had this posted on her blog. It is such a great reminder of whose approval we should seek. He already loves us unconditionally, but it is sure a wonderful feeling to feel like He trusts us too.

Book of Mormon Fun

We finished the Book of Mormon Stories a few weeks ago and had another Book of Mormon party for Family Night. They boys took turns acting out different characters and parts. Here is Parker as Samuel the Lamanite prophesying the birth of Jesus while Jason acted like the wicked Nephites and "shot arrows" at him.

The boys were tied up like Nephi and then broke free by the power of God.

Parker used his Liahona to guide him to Christ.

Liesel spent most of Family Night cuddled up with Daddy. She's missing her bow because of this.

We also acted out Lehi's vision of the tree of life. The boys took turns holding on to the iron rod and mocking from the great and spacious building (a.k.a. the sofa).

Parker had created our beautiful tree and the fruit. It was fun to see how excited the boys were to get to the tree, "taste" of the fruit and feel of the Love of God.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true and brings the Spirit into my life. I try to read from it daily. Now I'm reading it in 100 Days with the Relief Society of our ward. The boys, especially Parker, sometime asks me to read it out loud. We try to read it as a family, but this has helped Parker listen to it a lot more. I'm glad that he enjoys learning from this sacred book. We're also reading the Old Testament Stories with the boys. Parker is already anticipating the games we'll play when we finish!

Life and Death

My cousin Spencer died in a car accident over the weekend and today I went to his funeral. Spencer was a very young father of two: his little boy is two and his baby girl is only five months old. His young wife, Mickell, is now a widow and single mother at twenty.

I definitely believe in life after death. I know that Spence is in a happier place now. My heart just aches for Mickell. She is so young and has to be strong for her two little children who need her. Luckily she has a lot of family who love her and will help fill in where we can.

His death has really made me ponder about a lot of things. I haven't really had time to sort it all out. My thoughts aren't organized well, so I'll just make a list.

• I would like to have "Families Can Be Together Forever" sung at my funeral. I am so very grateful that those lyrics are true.
• I want to take more family pictures and videos, especially with Brad and I. If something were to happen to one of us, our kids are young enough that they wouldn't remember well. I want to be sure my kids have those pictures and videos to help them remember how much we love them and how much fun we have together.
• We have life insurance, but I think we should get even more. If Brad were to die, I would fall apart. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that would be. I certainly don't want to risk adding any financial struggles as well.
• So often when things like this happen, we don't know what to say. I want to make sure I show that I am there to support and listen to others, even if I don't have any words of comfort to impart.
• Life can change so fast. You never know when someone you love could get in an accident and die. I want to be sure to show my family and friends how much they mean to me. I don't want to procrastinate playing with my children or spending time with loved ones. I can't be sure it's not my last chance.
• Spencer's brother gave Mickell one of the best compliments I have ever heard. He said, "You really brought out the best in Spencer." I really want to live in such a way that I bring out the best in others, especially my husband and my children.
• Without omniscience, it's hard to know why bad things happen. Certainly adversity can help us improve. Often our characters are strengthened as we endure trials. Struggles help us rely on our faith in Christ and help us learn patience and empathy. Hard times bring family and friends closer together. I don't know why it Spencer's time to go when he was still so young and had such a promising future ahead of him and his young family. I love one of the scriptures the bishop used in his remarks at the funeral: "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). I don't know why Spencer's life ended so soon. I do know, however, that the scripture is true. Our Heavenly Father loves us very much. He loves Spencer and He loves Mickell. He loves their two sweet little children. He loves all of us. I think of how much a love my husband and children, yet it can't compare to how much God loves us. I know it's true; I feel it deep in my soul that it's true.
• I am so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ who made it possible to live again. Through His atonement, my cousin's little family can be together again someday. I cried a lot for my cousin's family today. I'm sure they cried and will continue to cry much more. Death is very devastating. We don't want to be parted from our loved ones. It is comforting, though, that the parting is only temporary. Thanks to the atonement "the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ" (Mosiah 16:8). I will be forever grateful for that.

Together Forever

A few days after Christmas Brad and I had the wonderful opportunity to witness a sealing. I have been to several temple marriages, but this was the first time I was able to witness the sealing of a child to his parents. My cousin Heather and her husband Mel have been foster parents to these two cute children since they were babies. About a year ago they were able to adopt Victoria and have her sealed to them in the Mesa, Arizona temple. Michael was recently adopted and we were able to witness the beautiful sealing ordinace in the Salt Lake Temple. It is such reassuring docterine to know that I am sealed to my family. Even death cannot break this relationship when sealed in the temple. This is my cousin's cute family. I love how happy they are dressed in white and newly sealed together forever.

I am so thankful for temples.

Good Things to Come

I have mentioned before that I really like the Mormon Messages that the Church produces. So often they remind me of talks that I heard, but haven't come to mind in a long time. "Good Things to Come" which features Elder Jeffrey R. Holland relating a personal experience is an example of a talk that stood out to me at the time I heard it and am so glad to be reminded of it.

Actually these days I feel like I'm enjoying good things now. It's not that everything in life is perfect. It never can be while in this life. That said, I feel like life is great. I have so many blessings for which I am thankful.

I remember my grandmother often saying that her favorite age is whatever her current age is. As much as we like to reminisce about the joys of the past or anticipate the happiness of tomorrow, there is nothing we can do to change the passage of time.

I've tried to take that wisdom to heart and make my present the best it can be. I still do remember the joys of the past with fondness and anticipate the happiness of tomorrow, but I certainly don't want to wish away my present.

Trials surely will come. I've experienced many and can't say that I've ever been problem-free. Good things, however, can come from adversity too. A few Sundays ago one of the women in my church recounted the experience of her sister, who had been suffering from a very painful and debilitating form of cancer. Her sister had said that, "Overall, this disease has been a lovely experience." That seems impossible that something that causes such pain could be "lovely", but she went on to explain that through her illness, she has come to see others grow better and kinder because of their opportunity to help her; She has come to understand that there is so much more to her than merely her physical body; Most of all she has come to know her Savior better as she has had to rely on him for strength. This illness has shown her how strong she really is and helped her recognize what is most important.

We won't all experience cancer, but we all will have trials. They may come in the form of something major like the loss of a loved one or a horrible injury or illness. It may be something just as scarring, but more private, like the inability to have children. Sometimes we experience our trials because of the poor choices of others. We might see others trapped by addictions and are burdened by their poor use of agency. Maybe we have something seemingly small, like not having a true friend, but loneliness doesn't feel "small" when you're experienceing it.

I know that our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ understand perfectly our trials. Even though they know the whole picture, I'm sure they weep with us when we are sad. Even things that aren't important in the eternal scheme of things are important in the sense that they are important to us. I know we can rely on Them in all we do and experience.

I wish that I could look back on all of my trials with the same wonderful attitude as that sister and call them all "lovely", but I'm not there yet. I can, however, look back and see that I am not the same person before and after the trials. Many have caused a Grinch-like phenomenon of my heart growing "three sizes". Through adversity I have developed my compassion, empathy and love. All of those qualities have helped me grow closer to God in that I am a little more like Him.

Still, let's be honest. I don't pray for trials. I do all I can to avoid them. When they do come, as they surely will, I like the analogy of Elder Holland. As a young man he didn't know what was in store for him, good or bad. Either way, we need to try not be discouraged. Discouragement causes us to turn inward in self-pity and halts our efforts. Instead we need to turn to our Heavenly Father and the Savior for strength and keep trying; Never give up.

Hopefully we can do more and enjoy life too!

I Love to See the Temple: An "Interior Tour"

The Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is a recognizable landmark to anyone familiar with Utah, but many have never been inside. At temple square there is a new exhibit in the South Visitor's Center on Temple Square that features a scaled down model of the temple with two walls open so that you can see all of the rooms.

Brad and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple and I have been inside many times, but there are some rooms I have never seen. In the model they have included all of the furniture and decorations so that it looks exactly like the real thing. Here is a link to KSL News video about it and you can see pictures and a video of it here.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

I love attending the temple. I feel such peace and joy every time I am near and especially when I go inside. If you'd like to learn more you can click on the links to see more photos of the outside of the Salt lake Temple or the other 152 LDS temples. Here is a video clip if you want to understand why the LDS Church builds temples.