I spent a nice Christmas Eve with Kelly eating the traditional Christmas Eve dinner, playing games and watching TV and when I got home I decided to read this book before retiring.
Jonelle gave it to me in 2000. I like reading it at Christmastime.
Dickens wrote: " He was always merciful and tender. And because He did such good, and taught people how to love God, He was called Our Saviour." J said she hoped in Eternity I would see how far-reaching and valuable my testimony, prayers, faith and loving hard work have truly been. I reflected on these past six years and how blessed
I have been by people who
"love God" and show that love by their love of His children
; how thankful I am for the unspeakable gift of having them in my life.
Parents: I have been blessed with an idyllic childhood because of these two wonderful people.They are a constant source of love and acceptance of me...even the reclusive me. How blessed I am to have them in my life still! My greatest blessing....
Sisters: These two angels have been unwavering in their love and emotional support; listening and advising in turn. I'm thankful for our spiritual as well as physical proximity. They are the BEST!
Children: Well, I don't know where to start when I think about the privilege of being a mother. My quiver is full of them (9) and thus my cup runneth over with joy. Motherhood is truly a partnership with God; I think there is no better way to become like Him than by being willing to, literally, give your life in providing bodies for and nurturing His spirit children. I don't have to wait for Eternity to discover the far-reaching effects of motherhood...I thrill each time I see my children teaching and living the gospel. It is just comfortable to spend time with these children who are amazing adults. I gave motherhood my very best effort; I'm comfortable with that knowledge.
Grands: These 13 are truly everything that is good about my life. The Adamic language is needed to express the way I feel about them. They have been my little saviors these past 6 years. I may not be the Granna who can lavish material gifts upon them but I have tried to share my testimony of the gospel, my love of the scriptures, my love of reading, my passion for America, my sense of wonderment of nature (the beach, mountains etc). It will be a great blessing to live near these little angels and be able to spend more time with them...because time and love is all I really have to give them.
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| Sigh... |
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| Tending Maya: precious memory |
Nieces & Nephews: There are 15 who have been an added level of love and encouragement over the past 6 years. They have counseled me, invited me into their homes, included me in their important events and just plain made me feel SO LOVED. I have 26 Grand nieces and nephews who have blessed with their sweet hugs, kisses and company.
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| I tried to bow out of Dylan's big day but Katie wouldn't hear of it. |
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| Cassandra invites us to Mom's days and Christmas'. Here is a woman with a Godly walk. |
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Tobey & co stopped by Halloweens and shared the girls with me often.
What joy these girls have given me! |
Friends: "A friend loveth at all times." Again, words cannot express my gratitude for so many angel-friends. We have eaten, talked, cried, counseled, vacationed and rejoiced together. God has SO blessed me with reconnections with friends from high school, college, church as well as new dear folk these past 6 years. An incredible tender mercy! Yoshiko, Linda, Carol, Linda, Margie, Karen, Linda, K Lynn, Dana, Joyce, Nancy, Marilee, Phyllis, Marti, Sheri, Melinda, Kathy,Mary Anne, Gene, Carolyn, Sharon, Koleen, John, Peggy, Ginny, Rosemary, Kris, Steve, Suzie, Glenna Rae. You have been a great, great comfort!
Students: At the most fortuitous moments, God has blessed me with a reconnection with some of my former students. Jesse has called me several times out of the blue and even invited me to his high school graduation party which brought a smile to my heart. Mike McKinnon (I was his 16-yr-old Primary teacher), Elena Lamb (I was her 22 yr-old Laurel advisor) and others have sent me friend requests with notes of appreciation for our former association. Also, I have to acknowledge the gift of work that I love as I continue to associate and try to lift and bless youth.
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| My sweet kindergartner Jesse Amarant has graduated! |
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| How can I not love my work? |
Jimmy Lee: I saved this sweet love in my life for last. This good man is a delight and a wonder (I wonder what I did to deserve his love and friendship). We are a 'For the Strength of Youth' couple which means that we live the standards of virtue taught by our prophets. We work on discussing & developing the
true aspects of intimacy (Initiative, Presence, Completion, Vulnerability, Nurturing and Honesty); we can spend 90 minutes studying 4 verses of scripture on the phone and he tells me, "I feel so close to you, I love you so much... I just want to hug you right now!"; he treats me as a beloved daughter of God. I pray for each of my granddaughters and nieces to have this kind of relationship with the men they date; that they will never settle for anything less.
My heart is filled with the love of God as I continually reflect on His tender mercies. How can one girl be so blessed with all this love in her life? There have been sorrows and trials over the past six years but they are always swallowed up when I focus on gratitude for those who love and are beloved by me. Life is beautiful!
