Blessed

Warning: Random, Spiritual, teary-eyed Mom post ahead!!! We have had the loveliest weekend!  I just wanted to take a few minutes to write down all the feelings in my heart. This past week, our home has been filled with an abundance of the Holy Spirit. I guess you could say "Peace, like a river, attendeth my way."  It's easy to write down my sorrows or struggles or griefs.  It is also easy to overlook the peace, the calm, and even the joy which the Lord so graciously bestows upon us.  As I sat in church this morning, I felt so impressed that I ought to record the complete joy of this week and weekend.  It was not perfect.  There were sibling arguments and moments of impatience and frustration, but the Spirit of the Lord prevailed.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks and I have been overscheduled and happily helping with lots of different projects. For the past ten days or so, I have had the hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" running through my head.  Specifically the words:

 So, with that line as a melody running through my heart, last weekend was General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and we were able to hear words from the quorum of the 12 apostles and the Prophet of our Church.  My heart was well fed! It was a magnificent conference that set the tone for a wonderful week.  It was a veritable feast of spiritual strength and although I could never choose only two favorites, here are a couple of parts that stood out to me:

"When our children are little, we can sing them the lullaby of love unfeigned, and when they are obstinate and refuse to go to sleep at night, we might need to sing the lullaby of long-suffering. When they are teenagers, we can tune out the cacophony of arguments and threats and, instead, perform the beautiful music of persuasion—and perhaps sing the second verse of the lullaby of long-suffering. Parents can perform in perfect harmony the tandem attributes of gentleness and meekness. We can invite our children to sing along with us in unison as we practice kindness toward a neighbor who is in need."   -Elder Wilford W. Andersen

"I marvel to think that the Son of God would condescend to save us, as imperfect, impure, mistake-prone, and ungrateful as we often are. I have tried to understand the Savior’s Atonement with my finite mind, and the only explanation I can come up with is this: God loves us deeply, perfectly, and everlastingly. I cannot even begin to estimate “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height … [of] the love of Christ.”^7"       -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Even if we were to serve God with our whole souls, it is not enough, for we would still be “unprofitable servants.”¹² We cannot earn our way into heaven; the demands of justice stand as a barrier, which we are powerless to overcome on our own.

But all is not lost.

The grace of God is our great and everlasting hope.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the plan of mercy appeases the demands of justice¹³ “and [brings] about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.”¹⁴

Our sins, though they may be as scarlet, can become white as snow.¹⁵ Because our beloved Savior “gave himself a ransom for all,”¹⁶ an entrance into His everlasting kingdom is provided unto us.¹⁷

The gate is unlocked!

But the grace of God does not merely restore us to our previous innocent state. If salvation means only erasing our mistakes and sins, then salvation—as wonderful as it is—does not fulfill the Father’s aspirations for us. His aim is much higher: He wants His sons and daughters to become like Him."  -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

After lots of work and service and general busy-ness, we were able to spend some awesome time together this weekend.  Friday afternoon, Matt got home and we all decided to go for a walk/run/bike ride through Kays Creek Hollow near our home.  I truly wish I had a picture from that outing to share because it was sucha  gorgeous day and the mountains were breathtaking. Matt and I had planned on jogging/walking while the kids rode their bikes.  We thought we'd have fun and explore, going farther than we usually do.  Of course, while we were out, BOTH girls ended up getting flat tires, so the outing was not quite what we planned. It was, however, a lovely way to spend some time together!  As we climbed up the final hill, Victoria was really fading and struggling to continue.  I thought (more than once) that perhaps the boys should run ahead and bring back the van to rescue her tired little six year old feet.  I felt very certain, however, that we should finish this 5.6 mile walk together.  I wanted her to feel the sense of accomplishment.  So, I said, "We are going to go up this last hill and we are going to work hard and we aren't going to complain! Let's go!"  Isaac, of course, was achamp, and Daphne really surprised me with her willing attitude and hard work.  She pushed Victoria's flat bike while I gave Tori a piggy back ride up the last half of the hill.  We sang, "What Doens't Kill You Makes You Stronger"! I'd like to think that they got a little something out of it!

Matt and I went to dinner together while the kids stayed home and watched a movie.  What a blessing to have a 13 year old and to be able to leave for a quick dinner date.  We got some much needed couple time and they got a fun movie night!

Saturday, we watched Isaac's soccer game and he scored two fantastic goals, one of which was extremely impressive!  His team took a corner kick and Isaac reached his foot behind him to knock the ball right over the goalie's head and into the goal!  SO fun to watch your child succeed!

We cleaned the house together and went out to dinner together.  Then, while I painted the girls' nails and got their hair prepped for Sunday morning, Matt taught Isaac how to tie a neck tie!  I can't even believe how big they are all getting!

 Sunday morning, we finally got pictures of them in their cute Easter outfits!

There was much focus on the family in these sessions of Conference. I was so impressed at the truth that God wants to bless us with ALL that He has. His Son came not just to forgive us of our sins but to perfect us that we might, as Paul wrote, be "joint heirs with Christ". 

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present timeare not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 

Romans 8

Through His atoning sacrifice, He does this in our families.  The Family is of God and is Eternal.  His perfect and precious grace can make my beautiful weekend with my family and an abundance of the Holy Spirit be just a "foretaste of glory divine!"

I am truly humbled that, despite a "soul so rebellious and proud as mine" that He would not only justify, but glorify.  We are truly given God's Riches At Christ's Expense:

When he says that He will give us a crown, that he will exalt us on High, that we will be joint heirs with Christ, that our Families will be Forever with Him, I know that He bestows all of this through His matchless grace.  And I sit here, once again, on an average day, completely and utterly overwhelmed at His goodness, His mercy and His love, which I could never deserve or merit. 

I know that, because of Jesus Christ, my family can be together forever and live in the presence of God the Father and our Merciful and Perfect Savior Jesus Christ.

In other words, I am blessed.