Families

I am so thankful for the time we were able to spend with family this weekend. I know that families are essential to the Lord's plan of happiness. There is nothing in my life that brings me greater joy than my family. Being a part of a family isn't always easy or fun, but it is always worth it. 

Mother's Day

The Family: A Proclamation to the World tells us that "By divine design [...] mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. We are also taught that "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." On this day I can't help but think of my own mother and the nurturing she gave me as a child and continues to give me even now that I am grown with a family of my own. She gave me a foundation built upon the teachings of my savior, Jesus Christ. She diligently taught me the principles that I needed in order to find true happiness in this life. She taught me to have faith in the Lord. She taught me how to pray and how to have faith that those prayers would be answered because my Heavenly Father loves me. She taught about repentance and forgiveness. My mom's never ending example taught me to respect, love and to have compassion for everyone, even and especially when it wasn't easy. She taught me the value of work and the importance of having fun and enjoying the simple things in life. I know this was not an easy task; I am confident there were times I made her efforts to teach me quite unpleasant. How grateful I am that she understood her sacred responsibility to nurture! I know that my happiness is this life would not be possible without her nurturing and dedication to our family. 

In regard to women and our ability to nurture Sister Neill F. Marriott said, "

Mothers literally make room in their bodies to nurture an unborn baby - and hopefully a place in their hearts as they raise them - but nurturing is not limited to bearing children. Eve was called a 'mother' before she had children. I believe that 'to mother' means 'to give life.' Think of the many ways you give life. It could mean giving emotional life to the hopeless or spiritual life to the doubter. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can create an emotionally healing place for the discriminated against, the rejected, and the stranger. In these tender yet powerful ways, we build the kingdom of God. Sisters, all of us came to earth with these life-giving, nurturing, maternal gifts because that is God's plan."

As we think about and celebrate Mothers today I am so thankful for the divine design of the Plan of Salvation. I am thankful for the sacred ability that we as women have to nurture. I am thankful for the principles taught to me by my own wonderful mother and pray that I can instill those same principles in my children. I know from experience that it is only when we base our lives on the principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work that we can find true happiness in 

this life and in the eternities to come. 

Emma's First Temple Trip

Last weekend we took Emma to the temple to do baptisms for the first time with two of her cousins. 

As we sat in the chapel waiting for our turn, I looked over at my sweet daughter and whispered, "Can you believe you're actually inside the temple?" With watery eyes she looked at me and replied, "It doesn't seem real." For the last several years Emma has been looking forward to this day. Each time we would drive by the temple she would tell how much longer she would have to wait until she could go inside. 

I am so grateful for the blessing and opportunity it was to be in the temple with my daughter. So many of the choices I have made in my life led my husband and me to that moment with or daughter. It was filled with tender and sweet emotions. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for the happiness it brings into my life. I am so grateful for the blessings of the temple. And I am immensely thankful for the opportunity I have to share those blessings with my children.