Another quote...

Since Emmet has been sick this last week, I finally decided not to procrastinate some important projects I have been needing to start.   I began by going through and reading all of the letters and cards people sent me after Sam's death.  I have really enjoyed reading them and compiling them into books for my kids.  I still found much comfort and strength from what family and friends wrote.  I am so thankful for the stories that were sent and if anyone hasn't written a story or thought about Sam, PLEASE do.  The more the better, especially for Emmet and Emery.  There was one quote a friend sent me that stuck out and I thought I would share it.

"Surely those who have passed beyond, can see more clearly through the veil back here to us than it is possible for us to see to them from our sphere of action.  I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings.  We are not separated from them.  We are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors, to our friends and associates and co-laborers who have preceded us into the spirit world.  They can see us better than we can see them--that they know us better than we know them.  I claim that we live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever.  For now they see the dangers that beset us; they can comprehend better than ever before, the weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths.  They see the temptations and the evils that beset us in life, and the proneness of mortal beings to yield to temptation and to wrong doing; hence their solicitude for us and their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.  --Joseph F. Smith

Inspiring Story

My aunt sent me this story and I absolutely loved it and wanted to share it. I assume we've all felt this way at times.  This story is from the book, Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman by Emily Watts.  I haven't read it, if you have let me know if you recommend it.

"Agnes Caldwell and her family traveled with the Willie handcart company and suffered terrible hardships with the others.  When the rescue wagons came, they took on all the infirm and those who could walk no farther, but the able-bodied still had to press forward on foot.  Nine-year-old Agnes and some of the other children decided to try to keep up with the wagons in hopes of being offered a ride.  Sure enough, after a time one of the drivers asked her if she'd like to ride with him, an invitation she gratefully accepted.  As she tells the story:

"At this he reached over, taking my hand, clucking to his horses to make me run, with legs that seemed to me could run no farther.  On we went, to what to me seemed miles.  What went through my head at that time was the he was the meanest man that ever lived or that I had ever hear of.  Just as what seemed the breaking point, he stopped.  Taking a blanket, he wrapped me up and lay me in the bottom of the wagon, warm and comfortable.  Here I had time to change my mind, as I surely did knowing full well by doing this he saved me from freezing when taken into the wagon."

"I have thought of this story many times when I find myself or my friends in what I would call "running-beside-the-wagon" moments.  I have wondered if, at such times, when we have given all we have to give, relying on the promise that the Lord will lift us up, when we are questioning why he doesn't pull us into the wagon, when we are about to collapse from the sheet exhaustion of it all--what if we stopped and listened to the Spirit?  Perhaps we might hear him saying, "Wait.  Wait just a little longer.  You don't know what I'm trying to save here."  Maybe the message would even be, "You don't know who I'm trying to save here.  You don't know whose life might be eternally affected by your willingness to hang on for one more moment, to keep taking step after step.  I promise I won't leave you to drop.  I know what you can bear, and your trials will not exceed your capacity."  I have to trust that the Lord knows what he is doing with my life, even in those hard moments when I can't possibly see what he has in mind."

WooHoo we SURVIVED the holidays!

I must admit that I enjoyed all of the anticipation and preparation for Christmas. It was fun decorating the house and actually Christmas shopping for the kids. But, I think I can do without Christmas day. I'm thinking eventually a fun trip!! We did have a nice time with family. It was fun having my entire family here.

We started Christmas Eve off with the highly anticipated cookie decorating party. The kids get together with all of their Hawkins cousins and decorate cookies for Santa.

Don't those cookies look yummy. I'm sure santa loved those cookies!!

Emery was Mary this year for the annual nativity. She was so good. She loved wearing her shiny costume and enjoyed holding baby Jesus. Emmet always a shepherd boy, fortunately he didn't do any crazy dances during the nativity this year. In the past he's been a brake dancing shepherd.


We spent Christmas Even night at my parents home. I didn't want to wake up at my home with just the three of us. It would have been too quiet. The kids loved Christmas morning. Emery loved it so much that she kept asking for more presents. She was quite unsatisfied with only opening her own presents that she helped everyone open theirs.

I think for the next few years, New Year's Eve will be a non holiday in my home. So nothing to report about New Years, except I'm excited for 2008. I'm hoping it will be a good year, full of fun times with my kids. I've resolved to no longer look back, but to look forward with anticipation of what may come our way! Happy New Year!!