I was up first, so I did my morning things, woke the three children (I jest) and we all got ready with no cross words exchanged (maybe the first time ever, mornings are fun anyway, but with 4 of us to get ready and 2 to feed (Valerie is still not the best at fasting quite yet, but she is getting better), it makes for certain challenges, but we left on-time and happy this morning. I even gave everyone high fives in the car for the lovely morning.
At church, our Young Women president bore her testimony, then our girls got up one after the other and I felt compelled to get up so I asked Matt to move his legs so I could. He did and I sat there for a minute, and the 2nd of our twins got up. They were raised in an orphanage in Russia till they were either 6 or 8. They speak the language of my heart. I love those girls, so then Matt whispered "go!" and I did. It was a pleasure to testify of some of the things I know to be true. The most-humbling is that I have a father in heaven who loves me. That has always brought me a strange, tenuous joy because I don't even know what it is like to have a father on earth who loves me, but certain moments in my life, and tender mercies during my days have shown me throughout my life, my Heavenly Father has given me people to love me and to be loved by me, a family of my own, experiences I would have never dreamed of and for the most part, great peace. That is an assurance to me that yes, I am loved by my Father in Heaven.
As I closed, I noticed the screaming baby, was in fact, Asher, so I went to him and took him to the foyer and after circling the chapel twice and admiring the other babies in the foyer, I came back in to sit. That is when Matt told me Valerie had gotten up to bear her testimony too! I could not believe I missed it and I could not ask what she said, so I reached over and pet her for a while, grateful for that experience for her (her first time EVER to do that) and that I have been able to raise her in the knowledge of the most-important things on this earth.
In young women, we closed with testimonies and since many had already borne the things they know to be true, we got to hear more about these precious girls' knowledge and... Valerie got up again to say she knows the Church is true, that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel, that Jesus died for her and that she can be with her family forever and that if my brother and his wife so choose, they can be reunited with Gavin again. That just... I can't explain it. I am so grateful Valerie has a knowledge of those things and to all of you parents, I thank you on behalf of your children for being an example to them and letting them grow and develop their own testimonies. That is the most-precious gift above all. Sometimes, parenting really is so amazingly rewarding.
5 comments:
I love fast and testimony meetings. Our wards was especially great today. Yesterday we were able to go to the temple to see an older couple from our ward, that joined the church a little over a year ago, sealed. So it has been a couple of really good days.
Oh, how I love the temple. I have this crazy idea that I will be alive when my mom gets to go through. I have had that impression a couple times. Talk about joy. I can scarcely imagine how that will feel. What I do know is that she LOVES going with me to temple grounds and that while she was here, we had some amazing conversations about the church and the Book of Mormon.
On a less reverent note, as the Young Women's president was teaching today, Valerie's phone suddenly says "911 what's your emergency?!" I am not sure what was going on there, but that was certainly interesting. Sigh. I told her no phone in church anymore. I did not even know she had it with her. It does not even occur to me that that would be a good idea (to bring it in) with how annoyed I get when peoples' go off... Once a lady across from me ANSWERED hers. In sacrament. So, that was fun ;-)
Thanks for sharing Crystal. When I was visiting you guys, I could feel the goodness of your ward. I'm glad you're happy there, and that Valerie is flourishing. That's what the young women's program is all about.
A couple of weeks ago I went visiting teaching, and met with a less-active sister for the first time. She has a crazy work schedule and never really makes it to church. She has two teenage girls (15 & 13), and an 11 year old son. We offered to take her kids to church, and she accepted. The 2 girls ended up going with us and stayed for all 3 hours. This Sunday, I didn't pick them up, because I was packing and trying to get ready to leave town immediately after church. (Shame on me!) But when we got to church the 15 year-old was there! It's amazing to me...and I really think it's thanks to the other great youth in our ward who fellowshipped her. Kids will do the right thing if they're supported and allowed to feel the influence of the spirit.
it would be so wonderful for your mom to join the church and go to the temple. i am sure she felt the spirit while she was at your home. we'll keep praying too. oh, i changed the color, or i thought i was...it was really hard for me to read. debby
Never ever give up hope. Your mom is worth every prayer that is said in her behalf. Our children never gave up on us --so miracles do happen. Our fast sunday was special also, grandpa bore his testimony as he does every fast sunday and the depth of his feelings and his "one on one" relationship to our Father in Heaven, was really apparent. It made me weep.We will keep your mom in our prayers.
Love to all,
Gram
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