Tender Mercies

I think I am officially over the winter blues for a while anyways. Man, winter is sure a depressing time of the year! It seems like life is sickness, sickness, and more sickness!

On to better things. John and I have been talking a lot lately about how blessed our family is. We are blessed in many many ways. We have had the opportunity to see several missionaries from our branch leave on missions lately. Our branch now has five missionaries out, AMAZING! We also have super AMAZING youth here that influence our lives so much. My kids have great examples and there are certain young men that Zak tries to dress like every Sunday and he stays after church to help them with their cleaning duties. The same goes for Makelle. We were with one of the girl missionaries when she opened her call. It was a great experience. That night on the way home Makelle said. I know I said I didn't want to go on a mission because I was too scared, but now I want to go on a mission but I am still a little scared. She then started to tear up. She came home and in her prayers she prayed that she wouldn't be scared to go on a mission. I am so grateful for good examples in the lives of my children. I love that they have people that they look up to that are making good choices. They want to be just like them and I have no problem with that. We think of it as a huge blessing that we are here in Indiana at this time when some of our family is struggling with making good choices. Our kids look up to these people that they love so much and when they make wrong choices they are so confused. We are grateful that Heavenly Father has provided good examples for our children and put us here where our children can look to their example. He truly loves us. My children have grown by leaps and bounds spirtually lately. Makelle got a new temple calendar and she was so excited to find her birthday on it. She then said look mom I only have to go up these three steps (squares) to get to the temple and be married. She was so excited and it was so easy for her. John then talked to her about what those steps to get to the temple would be. Then a few days ago she was sick and she walked into our room after going to bed and quietly said, "Dad, I need a blessing". John was able to lift her onto the bed and give her a blessing. She went to bed, stopped coughing and woke up better the next day. How grateful I am to have a husband who honors his priesthood who can be called upon at any time. I am grateful that my children realize the power of the priesthood and that they can call upon their dad for anything. In scripture reading Zak has been reading his own scriptures all by himself (he is such a great reader, so exciting). John talked to him about praying each night to know if the things he is reading are true. He talked about how other books are pretend and some books have educational things that are true or that sometimes change. Then he bore his testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Zak does that every night now. How amazing that I have a husband who taught Zak at young age to pray and know the truth of every single page of scripture he reads. Heavenly Father loves us and he blesses us. I am so grateful for my knowledge and testimony of the gospel and for a husband who constantly humbles me. I am grateful to be a mother to these great kids who are tomorrows future. Life is good. So even though I may have days of the winter blues I quickly get over it when I realize how blessed I am.