The Past Month

This is hard to finally write but my mother passed away a little over three weeks ago. I'm sure almost everyone who is reading this was already aware but I want to share a couple things with all of you.

First of all, I can't express enough how supportive and loving everyone has been to my family. People who I barely know have given us the most amazing support, love, and kindness that I have seen in a long time. Everyone always wants to talk about how horrible the world is, but after what I have witnessed in the past few weeks that is hard for me to believe. Everyone close to me has been amazing as well. I truly appreciate your love, prayers, and support more than you can ever imagine.

Second, my family and I are doing amazingly well. We still laugh together, love one another and more importantly, love our Heavenly Father. There are times when I get sad enough to get to tears, but those are brief and getting longer in between. My dad is doing okay as well. He is doing the best he can to look to the future with hope. As I sit back and look at the whole situation and how many consider it tragic a few things come to mind. My mother was a wonderful, loving, spiritual, caring person and that is what is most comforting to us. I know she is spreading her love and joy to everyone she is meeting on the other side. I know that the covenants that bind her to my family are eternal, we will all see her again. Also, she made me and my family strong and her strength isn't something that departed with her death. She has left us with everything we need to continue.

Third, I know Heavenly Father's plan is eternal. It is often hard to look past this life. But through all of this I find it much easier to feel the love of Heavenly Father and feel gratitude for His Son, who makes it possible for us all to live forever with our families. A couple of months ago I read the Chronicles of Narnia the end of the last book made me realize how glorious and amazing it will be to see all the works and plans of our Heavenly Father be fulfilled. When we are all together again with everyone we love, friends and family, in the wondrous realms above we will look back to times like these and smile. Knowing that the Plan has made us into what we needed to become.

I hope someday I will be able to help you as much as you have helped me.