Thursday, January 29, 2009

Better This Year

It was a year ago today that I thought my heart would be ripped out. How I am so glad that episode is over and Cameron is living with us again in Bountiful. The opportunity presented sounded much better than the actual event, but his living in Alaska did help me gain a different perspective on family. Even though we were separated by distance for nearly 6 months, we were one. Our family grew stronger and closer than at any other period of time in our lives. Family prayer and scripture study was the highlight of each morning and so important to all of us. We began each morning united toward a common goal-drawing closer to our Heavenly Father and one another.

I'm glad that this January 29th we are not only united in heart and mind, but also living under the same household. Here's to a Happier Year - Grateful it is 2009!

Friday, January 2, 2009

2008 Spiritual Highlight!

This last year our Bishop challenged us to read the Book of Mormon. We took the challenge on as a family - starting it and ending it together. We knew this wouldn't be easy, because at the start of last year we knew that Cameron would be separated from us for a time, but wanted to do this as a family. Cameron made a huge sacrifice and would wake to our phone call at 5:00 am and read the Book of Mormon with us on speaker phone. Thank you Verizon Network!

After Cameron returned home in July we had to figure out our groove, then school started. Karina Had to be to school by 7:45 am and Karadie also had to be to her tutoring by that same time each morning. We all voted and still felt that our day went better if we read in the morning, so alarm clocks were set for 6:00 am. I have been so proud of the girls for sticking with this decision and getting up so early each morning.

The end of the year quickly approached and we pressed hard to finish. The morning that we finished the Book of Moromon, Cameron was reading Moroni chapter 10 and read Moroni's promise. I had been praying in my heart all morning that the girls would feel of the truthfulness as he read the famous versus. It was so powerful to watch their eyes and feel what their hearts were feeling. I know that the spirit testified to each of them that this incredible book is true!

We gained so much this year by taking on the Bishop's simple challenge. We grew so close as a family through the incredible dedication and challenge of setting the time to read. I listened to my children explain to each other different principals. The stories they've heard in primary came to life for them. All three daughters became much better readers. I especially watched Karadie struggle with dyslexia and impaired hearing be strengthened by her daily reading from the scriptures. I watched my children gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. My understanding and my own testimony grew so much this year. The Lord again gave me the greatest gift for Christmas...over two thousand years ago He sent the Savior, this year he gave my family a strengthened testimony!