Saturday is a Special Day

Seattle Skyline


I went to the Matt's Stake Conference for the Adult meeting tonight. I was able to take notes. It was a feast of the Spirit. I wrote in my journal about it and had some very sweet impressions told to me. The theme was Tribulation and the results of those trials that bring us peace and draw us closer to the Savior and his atonement.

Speaker after speaker bore testimony of their faith being increased and embraced the atonement through illnesses, disappointments, or separation from family through death of a loved one.

Don't we all experience these trials and find solace and comfort in drawing closer to God and Jesus Christ? I do. No doubt it has been my own refinement. I know aside from divorce, losing my parents and Grandma McIntire were my most difficult trials to go through.

I am reminded of the scripture, that unless we are visit with death, tribulations etc we cannot become sanctified in Christ, so that we will always remember him and look to for our salvation.

The thoughts brought out in these talks was that unless we go through some kind of tribulation--how are we to learn compassion for others in those same situations that we have gone past? I know that my ability help others through their problems as a therapist were some that I went through myself. Our Savior descended below them all and he was perfect! But he did it for ALL of us and so willingly.

I (came away)so thankful for my own trials after hearing about others' trials with the resilience I have gained and learned much from compassion to give as I support someone else in their own deep trial. My ability to follow the Savior is also heightened. I know there is a plan of happiness with light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. I count my blessings one by one everyday!

The gospel principle of repentance is another tool that is the answer to some of the tribulations we experience. I am reminded of Enos and his plea to Father in Heaven to know if his sins had been forgiven. It is a blessing to have another chance to rewind the tape of life and erase the imperfections and faults to go forward with a clean slate and begin again.

A companionship of the Holy Ghost is my (our)reward; what more can I or anyone ask?

I am very thankful for Matt & Beth's friend (Seth) who came to my rescue to watch the boys while I went to the Saturday evening adult meeting. Evidently the youth were tied up with a dance scheduled this same evening. Amy, his wife said she had tried to find sitters but had no luck herself. I was added upon by the richness of the spirit to bouy me up as I am handling the care for Cole and Ethan for Matt and Beth while they are in Spain.




Today the boys and I went for a drive to look for Target to pick up a prescription I needed to renew. I put the address for one store in the GPS and ended up so far out into a scenic route to a couple of yard sales!! Ethel had a ball finding some treasures. I finally did find Tarpet though. The boys liked the ride and had chicken McNuggets and chocolate milk on the drive.

Washington is a beautiful place. Too bad it is so far away from Utah! It is like driving in the mountains but everywhere there are trees and more trees, tall pine treees. I like the smell of the fresh air too! This is a perfect time of year to be here with less rain and nice sunny weather in between.

How the Lords lifts our burdens--and makes them light

I was touched by some comments made by Hank on his blog that I want to make note of and the reference made reminded me of how the Lord helped me carry past burdens.


He wrote:

"Heavenly Father continues to bless us and has made the separation sweet. I liken this to the experience of the people of Limhi who were in captivity and pleaded with the Lord for deliverance. He responded: "And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them on your backs . . . and this will I do . . . that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions" (Mosiah 24:14)"


I know that during those years that I was parenting alone, with the Lord's help He helped lift my burdens, that it was not as overwhelming as it could have been otherwise. I was amazed at how much I was able to accomplish in my school assignments, work part-time and be a full time mother.

The windows of heaven were pouring out many blessings and I bear testimony of the feelings of great joy and remembrance of every good thing. The times when I had missionaries stands out particularly. It kept me closest to the Lord and gave me an awareness of HIS awareness of me and my children as each served faithfully.

I see and look at the blessing it was to get my (a good)education as promised in my patriarchal blessing. I kept waiting for school to get overwhelming. I had no assignments that I could not do, I had so much understanding given that assisted me through many past issues that seemed to melt away and gave me courage and strength to carry on. I began my educational journey in the fall of 1994.

President Hinckley became president in May of 1995. I listened intently as he encouraged women to get their education and that it was a good investment in ourselves. I thrived on his counsel to continue to the levels that I pursued in my education.

It gave me the will and drive to persevere. I enjoyed at the same time that I got secular learning and had so much joy attending Institute and Religion classes at UVSC/BYU. I became a sponge for the information absorbed. My fellow students were very supportive and I gained such a confidence in myself to be (finally) validated.

My inner self blossomed and allowed me many experiences that influenced my own children to follow me to do the same. I am now seeing that influence in Hank as he gains confidence in his abilities as a leader and new element rubbing shoulders with the best and upper level of his military colleagues in class. Rock on Hank!!

I express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for his goodness and mercy that allowed me to be educated. It opened so many doors of opportunity to bless me and my posterity. I saw the hand of God often daily and am so thankful for all he blessed me with. My cup runneth over.