Hope

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog. It's been hard. We lost a friend the last week of September, which has hit really close to home. With his passing, he left his wife and 18-month-old boy behind. It's been hard to separate ourselves from this, not only because of losing our friend, but because of the ache we feel for Holly and Preston in losing their husband and dad. Being in such a similar situation as they were, it's been hard for us to deal with because we can imagine what it would be like. We think about them everyday. I am very grateful for the gospel and the testimony that I have. I am so grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ, that He took the sting of death away and made it possible for us to live again. I know that Heavenly Father knows us each individually and loves us so much and will never leave us alone during our trials. I am thankful for the Holy Ghost and the comfort that only he can bring, which is stronger than any earthly comfort. I am so grateful for the sealing power of families that the temple gives us. What a blessing to have that promise to be together forever.

Although it has been a few weeks, I have felt guilty anytime we celebrate things in our life because I know my friend is now trying to fill a huge void in hers. I can't help but ache for her. I wish I could take away her pain. I was reminded last night of another time when I was overwhelmed with sorrow and sadness for all the problems and sufferings that a few of my friends had to endure. I was so discouraged and wanted to take all their pains away. I started thinking about our Heavenly Father and wondered how He did it. How does He handle all the pain, sorrow, and heartache of His children? As I prayed that afternoon, I asked Him and a thought clearly came to me - that Heavenly Father knows all things. He knows the beginning and the end. He sees the whole picture. He sorrows and hurts with us, but He can also see the end of our pain. He knows that our suffering is only for a moment. He also knows the joy and peace that can come. I'm so grateful to a Heavenly Father who knows all, that can see the end to the trials that we think will never end, yet still sorrows and cries with us. What a loving Father! This helped give me comfort and hope and I am leaning on that today.

We miss our friends and think about them everyday. We are grateful we had the opportunity to know Shane. He was a great guy and wonderful father - a good example to us. We also are thankful for our friends Holly and Preston. They are amazing and we really enjoyed being neighbors. We appreciate their friendship. We sure miss our pals. Things aren't the same here in Virginia without them.

What cuties!