Zach's Characteristics by Zach

Happy 12th Birthday Nate and Zach

The boys celebrated their 12th birthdays on Tuesday, December 1.  Unfortunately they spent much of their day in school and then had basketball practice that evening.   But we managed to slip in a dinner at Jason's Deli (their choice) in between their activities.  Eric joined us for dinner and then we enjoyed ice cream cake after their practice.  Nathan got a new Lego set and Batman puzzle.  Zach got a new Go Pro video camera to take to Florida on our Christmas vacation.

Grandma and Papa flew in for their Priesthood ordination, so they got to be here for the birthday party with friends on Saturday night.  We let them each choose 2 friends and they had a movie night, pizza, and "ugly" cake.  I offered to take them out to a movie but the boys wanted to stay home with their friends.

July 14, Video of Erin Laughing

When we went on our last vacation to the beach in Spain, we found this natural rock waterslide.  Someone at church had recommended it and I'm so glad because it was so much fun.  We did a short hike, had dinner, and then slid around on the rocks for hours.  I'm glad that I bought Mario a waterproof camera for his birthday because I have some wonderful pictures and videos at this park.

One of my favorite memories from that day was doing the hike.  We thought it was a loop but turns out that we were supposed to come back on the same path.  Erin thought that would be boring so she wanted to continue the loop even though there wasn't a clear path.  Everyone else said no, so I said I would go with her.  Eric was worried about his mom and sister hiking by ourselves so he went with us.  We had such a good time going over and under fallen trees and making our own path.  How glad I am that Eric and I took that opportunity to do what Erin wanted to do.  We would have certainly missed out on a fun time.  The video below is from us sliding on rocks later on.  She was trying to block me (in a fun way) from taking video of Zach sliding.  But she slipped and almost fell and then giggled.  What a treasure to have that on film just  a few days before she passed away.   Also to see her so happy is priceless.  

My Four Favorite Guys

Eric's home for the next four days.  I couldn't be happier!!!

Temple Experiences

I am so grateful to have a temple close to my home.  Friday is the only weekday that the temple is open during the day.  So I try to go every Friday morning.  Everyone knows that I go that day, so they don't invite me to do things on Friday or else they ask if they can go with me to the temple.  I love to have people go with me.  But, one Friday morning, I was at the temple alone.  I had a lot to do that day so I just went up for a sealing session by myself.  What a wonderful experience I had that day.  I felt the Spirit strongly in the temple.  I felt Heavenly Father again remind me that He had taken Erin home and that there was nothing more we could have done for her.  The most amazing part was when I went up to the altar to be a proxy for a wife to be sealed to her husband.  I had the strong feeling that Erin was with her eternal companion already and that she is happier than I can even comprehend.

That week, I had listened to Elder Wirthlin's talk, "Come What May and Love it" at least a half dozen  times.  I loved the part about the principle of compensation.  He states, "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss.  That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way.  While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."  When I listened to that talk, I thought about my tears being compensated.  I didn't even think about Erin's tears being compensated right now.  I think that is why I felt in the temple that day that Erin is happier than I can even comprehend.  So yes, I miss Erin.  But I would never choose to have her back right now.  She is now being compensated for all the wrongs that had been done to her at such a tender age.  What a blessing to me to have that knowledge.  What a blessing to have faith in Heavenly Father's plan. 

Thankful For Tender Mercies

I have a whole post on tender mercies that I have been working on.  I have received so many in the last couple years.  For that reason, it is taking me forever to get them all written down and posted on here.  But yesterday in church, I had the opportunity to share a tender mercy in each of my classes and I want to share those two for now while I keep plugging away at my other post.

During Relief Society, the teacher split us into groups to discuss six attributes that the Apostle Paul said will allow our lights to shine.  My group was assigned Faith and chose me to be the spokesperson.  I read the following quotes from President Monson's General Conference talk, "To be an example of faith means that we trust in the Lord and in His word.  Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father will influence all that we do.  Remember that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other."  I then told a personal story that happened to me a couple weeks ago.  I was having a lot of fear/doubts a couple weeks ago. I started fearing that I could lose another child (which I later found out is a very common fear amongst parents that have lost a child.)  It was so overwhelming that it was consuming me.  I thought about talking to my friend, Becky, about it when we walked the lake one morning.  But I decided not to.  When we were done with our walk and about it to get in our cars, Becky said, "Oh Terri, I wanted to tell you about a youth message on the Mormon Channel I heard recently.  It was on agency." She continued to tell me the three tools that Satan uses to take away our agency.  The first is addiction, which is obvious.  Next is blaming our circumstances, and third is fear."  The third one hit me so hard.  Satan was using fear to take away my agency!  As soon as she said that, my fears immediately stopped.  I will not let Satan have that control over my life.  I immediately went home and listened to that youth message and I was filled with gratitude that Heavenly Father had Becky tell me exactly what I needed to hear to dispel my fears.  I don't know what the near future holds for my family, but I choose to exercise faith and trust in God and His plan.  But I do not what the eternal future looks like if I exercise Faith.   I need not fear.  

The funny thing is, about a week later, Becky and I were walking the lake and she and I were talking about her uncertain future because he husband is getting out of the Air Force.  She has a lot of built up fears about her future.  Without putting that together, I began telling her about how much that talk on agency that she shared with me earlier had helped me.  Then I lightbulb went off for her.  She told me that she had been letting fear take her agency from her as well.  She was so fearful that her husband would open dental practice and it would fail.  And that's when she recognized that the fear was holding her back.  So we both benefitted from that youth message at different times.

Mario and I like to attend Gospel Principles since Mario taught that class before moving to Spain.  The teacher is a new member and an amazing teacher with a strong testimony. Yesterday we talked about gratitude and went around the room to tell what we are grateful for in our lives since it is Thanksgiving this week.  Mario began by saying how grateful he is for the Plan of Salvation.  I shared that I was thankful for tender mercies.  I then told how I felt the same as the people in the Book of Mormon who said that their burdens had been eased.  After class, Barb Scott asked me to look at a scripture.  She pulled up Mosiah 24 verse 14 on her phone.  She then read, "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witness for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."  Barb Scott then proceeded to point out the second part of that verse that talks about being a witness. She told me that I have been that witness to so many people.  What a wonderful thing to be told.  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It gives me so much hope and also peace.

 

Christmas Ornament Exchange

I received an invitation to make and exchange Christmas ornaments with a small group of women in my branch.  I reluctantly accepted the invitation because I am not crafty and I didn't want the others to be disappointed if my ornaments didn't turn out as well as their ornaments (since pretty much every other person invited is super crafty).  We were given a Pinterest page of rustic ornaments to choose from to make.  I have to admit, I didn't even have a Pinterest account.  I don't like that kind of stuff because it just reminds me of how uncrafty I am compared to others.  

I looked for the easiest ornament to make but misread the directions.  I thought I made one ornament for each person and I thought, this will be so easy.  Nope, I have to make 8 for each person. So I am super glad I chose easy.  I must make 48 of these.  Fortunately I have awesome helpers.