To Jesus

 As I put Christmas decorations away on Saturday, I cleaned too--dusted, vacuumed, mopped. With Kent's help, we also pulled out the desk and reorganized all the electrical cords. I cleared off the desk, dumping everything on the library table, just to get it off the flat surface to dust and sort. The sorting part happened today. 

While throwing away papers and cards and paper stuff, I came upon a card addressed To Jesus. It was a card I wrote some time away, like years. I opened it and found my testimony inside. I want what I wrote to be available to posterity, and as this will eventually get into our family yearbook, I'm going to include it here. 

Dear Jesus,

My paltry words will be inadequate to express the gratitude I feel for all I enjoy from you. I am so imperfect, so far from being worthy to return to the presence of God, and yet the possibility is there through the atonement. Every day I fall short, but I can repent and obtain glory and return home, because of you. You are patient, loving, and willing to forgive every time I ask. Because of you, I get to be resurrected and be with those I love again. I can think of no greater gift--the sting of death swallowed up in a glorious reunion. Your example of loving and nurturing helps me want to be better, helps me see that I can do more and be more and hope for more. I know your atoning sacrifice made all that, and more, possible. Thank you for the beautiful world, my beautiful family, and a truly beautiful life.

Your sister in faith and hope,

Katherine 

Come Follow Me, For Individuals and Families

The Church has instigated a new way of study that focuses gospel learning as a home-centered, Church supported program.  With church now being held for only two hours on a Sunday, we've got an extra hour to study at home, as well as working on making gospel learning a regular, daily activity, even as a family.  We've got a great manual and have been encouraged to study with our children.

So far, our (Kent and mine) efforts have been met with resistance, outright ignoring, or general apathy.  One of our children whines and fusses and thrashes about emotionally every time we ask that the child join us for scripture study, while the other comes willingly with scriptures in hand, then spends the whole time asking questions that are irrelevant to the topic or making statements that also doing have anything to do with anything.

It has been fairly frustrating.  I frequently come to the end of our study time, barely refraining from shaking one or the other of the children.  And the eye rolling! I've got to get that under control.  But in spite of the resistance we are facing, we will persevere!  We are not faint-hearted.  We are strong and resolute and have firm testimonies that scripture study and gospel learning is critical for our spiritual survival.  And we hope to bring the children along to that realization, too.