TWENTY-FIVE YEARS!!

September 10, 1988. My wedding day. Twenty-Five years ago!

A lifetime ago! 

So much has changed in our lives over the years. Eight children. Grandchildren are beginning to join our family. But, I wonder, have I changed?

I'm twenty-five years older. I have experienced things I never wanted to experience. I have seen things that have caused me to stand in awe of all that our Creator has done for me. I have felt things deeper than I ever dreamed possible. I know things I never imagined that I could know! But I still feel like I have so much to learn. Still so much to do. 

I know I have changed. I have matured. I have had experiences that have allowed me to grow spiritually, emotionally, and (I must face the facts) physically! 

I think back on the years that have passed. Some already fading into a vapor of time forgotten. How did the children grow up so quickly? How did the time go by without me noticing?! 

Regrets? How can there not be regrets?! And yet, the sting of knowing that I could have done things better is soothed by the comfort that only the Atonement can bring. 

Together, we have remained faithful. True to the covenants we made in the House of the Lord so long ago. Promises that were made have been kept, and though we have stumbled and faltered, we stayed by each other's side and lifted, pulled and pushed each other through the difficult times. Times that would have been impossible without each other. Times that would have been meaningless without each other! 

The trials, the overwhelming pain, and sorrows that we have passed through stand in stark contrast to the blessings, the love and the immeasurable joy that we have also felt. And all these together have served but one purpose. To bring us, together as a married couple with our children, closer to Him who meekly bore all things so that we could one day be crowned with glory. His mercy. His love. His Infinite Atonement has made it all possible!

There is not room enough in my heart to hold the gratitude. There are not words adequate enough to describe the joy. I stand all amazed at the love, the mercy, the complete acceptance and unconditional love of the Savior.

Yes! I know I have changed. And with me, the Love of My Life has also changed. We have changed together and we are growing together. We are lucky. We have worked hard to get where we are. We are blessed. We are determined. We love each other more than we love ourselves. But, most importantly, we love our Savior more than we love each other. And we walk together on a path that leads back to Him. Back to where our family can be together. Forever. 

September 10, 2013. My twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. It came and went without much fanfare. But somewhere in Heaven, there are angels rejoicing and cheering us on. Onward, ever onward! Eternity is waiting and we are marching forward, hand in hand with our Savior!

A Lesson on the Principle of Repentance

I don't write much. I don't have many "followers" and I don't do a lot to promote this blog. But I still keep it because every so often, I have the need to share something with a wider audience than that which reads my journal (which consists of me). So for anyone who happens to read this, thank you!

Recently, my daughter and I went to the church to help with the cleaning assignment. We were a little late getting there and found that most of the things that are routinely done were being taken care of already. So I said that we would clean some walls. It was brought to my attention that there was some food that had gotten spilled on a wall in one of the classrooms. I went to clean it only to find that it had hardened onto the wall and I wasn't able to wipe it off easily. I sprayed the food with the cleanser and then went to find something I could scrape it with. That didn't work so well though because the razor blade I obtained was also scraping off the paint. So I sat patiently. I sprayed the food. Waited. Then wiped. It was a tedious process and it took a long time. As the food dissolved and I was able to wipe it away, little by little, I had time to ponder this process and my mind thought about the Atonement and what a great gift repentance is.

Just as it would have been easier to clean the food up when it first got spilled, so it is with our sins if we repent right away. The longer we wait, the harder it is. However, the healing power of the Atonement is like the cleanser. We must apply it and then let it soak into our souls. It may take time. More time than we would like. But the result is we are clean. The stain is removed. Applying the healing balm of the Atonement is the key. There are many in our lives who can help "wipe" the stain clean but we must first open our hearts to the Atonement and be willing to repent.