So I realized that it has been like a year since I wrote on the blog. I guess I should write a few things. The past few days I have been doing a lot of reflection. I think that is a positive thing. Yesterday, Kris, her parents and I attended the funeral of her great uncle. He lived just 45 minutes north of Logan. He and his wife were always so good about coming down to special events like weddings and baby blessings. He died at the ripe young age of 96. As I attended his funeral and listened to his 7 surviving children speak, I was overwhelmed with the desire to be a better father and husband. Again that is a good thing. I also thought about how out of a marriage, came such a large posterity. It was amazing to realize that the majority of the chapel was filled with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Here was the true legacy of the man.
I am reminded of the teachings of our Savior when he talked about the real treasures of our life. Its not all the material things, but its the eternal things, like our family that matters most. Yet in life we get caught up in all the material aspects. Keeping our jobs, paying our mortgage, having food on the table etc. It is easy to forget or neglect the most important items, our family. In recent months I have been following the life of a young girl that is the niece of an old high school friend. This young girl was only 3 and diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of cancer. Her last few months was spent with her parents enjoying the last precious moments. There is a hope of eternal reuniting . As I have read the facebook posts, watched the tribute videos and witnessed a community come together to give her and her family joy in a very hard time, I am thankful for the knowledge that I possess of the eternal nature of families. Because of that knowledge, death I know is just a stage of eternal progression. I have also recently witnessed that with my own family as my brother-in-law lost his mother to cancer. Again the knowledge that I now have brings me some peace while others may seek but haven't found it quite yet.
With that said, today I am reminded of my beginnings down the path that has led me to where I am today. It was a path that began being born of goodly parents. These two parents, showed me great love and patience. They were witnesses to me of true love that was shared between two individuals. They loved and still do love each other much more than I probably can fathom. They were kind and patient with me. They allowed me to grow up free of doubt and fear of the future. They showed me and my sister what it was like to be parents.
It was a path that took me to my senior year of high school, with confidence and surety of a bright future. It was a path that led me to question who I was, and what I truly believed in. It was path that brought me into contact with individuals that would teach me about a loving Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ. A God that loved all, and had prepared a plan so that all men may be saved if they will just believe. It was this plan that touched my heart as I began to see that our Father in Heaven, will give us many chances to come unto him and most importantly there are many mansions. The hell that I had heard about, wasn't an eternal damnation, but those in my family that I loved but had passed on, could still find eternal peace. It was a path that led me to the waters of baptism, committing myself to serve Him who saved me. It was a path that led me through mists of darkness yet I held onto the rod and survived my first year of college committed to serve him where ever he would send me.
It was a path that led me to give up everything for two years and serve the people of the Dominican Republic. It was there, that I saw firsthand the power of God in healing, blessing and changing people's lives. It was there that I saw once again the patience of my two loving mortal parents as they lost dear ones and I was unable to come home to be with them. It was a path that led me home after two years with the ability and confidence to face all challenges and trials and that would lead me to my eternal love, my beautiful Kristina.
Now 14 years later this path continues to lead straight ahead. I know not what mortal trials we will face, but I do know that the path leads to one place. That path is back home to my Father in Heaven, but with me, will be all those that helped me along the way. With me will be my family, my friends and all those that accept the truths of the restored gospel. But also the path will be kind to those that choose another direction. For in the fathers kingdom there are many mansions and may I add different kingdoms of glory. And so as I reflect this day, I am thankful for the path I have followed and for the friends I have met. I am thankful for my beautiful six children, who continue to insist that they have birthdays. But probably today, I am more thankful for my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. I know He lives. He is my Redeemer, my Savior. He is who I can go to regardless of what is happening in my life. He is always there.
