Going Forward with Purpose

This photo was taken at a turning point in my life. Some of my children will remember when this was taken.

I know as well as anyone, one can never go back. However, I can look back and see where I came from and recognized the challenges in my life have made me stronger and the better,( not just good, or better, but best).

This is an example of my father, he's dressed in a handsome suit and hat ready to take on his work day. He was entrepreneurial and I believe some of his spunk and zest for life rubbed off on me and my children!

This photo below was taken the last time I saw my father (in Idaho) before he had his stroke a month later. He gave a thumbs up, and his blessing to me and my children. I recorded that conversation with him knowing his time was likely coming too soon and shortly after I saw him.

This my Dad. How I loved him and was my hero all my life. Tomorrow is the fifth year anniversary that he departed this life to meet my mother on the other side. They have continued to be close by and near to me and in my heart daily. I sense their presence often and find much comfort in the promises of being together again and enjoy that sociality with them again forever.

I attended the evening meeting for our Regional Conference with my stake for Saturday night session. It was so like drinking from the fountains of pure water (knowledge) of Eternal Life. My emotions were so close to the surface and I had witness after witness of the truth of missionary work and the influence for good that we all are to one another as members, to family and friends every day.

I had the validation that I am a daughter of God and on the path to eternal life each day from the challenges I have conquered so far in my life. I am also so thankful for those experiences that are preparing me for whatever the Lord sees fit to bless me to have, whether here or in the next life to come. I leave it with faith in Him on the altar of the Lord who knows what is right for me. I know I do not stand alone.

How blessed that I am in the knowledge and testimony of my Savior, that HE LIVES! I have a testimony that he also appeared to Joseph and Sidney Rigdon in that glorious vision of the Three Degrees of Glory and stood on the breastplate of gold and we have it recorded in the Seventy-sixth section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I came away from the meeting with a hunger and thirst for more knowledge and even jotted in my notes in the meeting to begin to keep a missionary schedule and start studying/praying and up @ six a.m. for an hour, for individual study, then go exercise for half and hour to walk, dance or jog to invigorate my brain, body and spirit. It is going to take a lot of self-discipline to do it, but I KNOW I can one day at a time.