JEL FAMILY

Building a Family of Faith
Faith in our family begins with trusting our Heavenly Father and His promises. We press forward despite challenges, never giving up on ourselves or our children. We teach our family to have faith in Christ by living what we know to be true. Our children learn their most powerful lessons from our faithfulness.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Unpacking What Matters Most

There will always be work to do. Cleaning my home, packing up "stuff", and all the things involved with shutting down a company, but this shouldn't stop me from taking time for what matters most. While there are some spiritually uplifting things to read and post to facebook, it really is a waste of time, especially if it is being placed ahead of things that are more important and have a greater eternal purpose. The same can be said for TV and games. I see the time growing short, not just the time that I have here in Evansville, but the time that I have my "children" in my home. With a daughter who is 21 and a son shortly turning 23 I know that before I can blink they will be moving on with families and lives of their own. I MUST make sure that my priorities are always in line with what the Savior would want.
This journey to Utah isn't really my big picture. It is just a step, albeit a large and critical one toward my eternal goals for myself and my children.
So, as I pack books, winter clothes, decorations, and extra blankets, I will be unpacking quality time, faith building experiences, laughter, long talks, and quiet moments. Those things should never be packed away for another day. They should be sitting out and being used, daily. They are things that never go out of style and always hold great importance. It is during the use of those things that matter most, the greatest joys come to pass.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Wrenches

I realized this weekend that there will be wrenches in this whole process. Being sick the last few days is what really brought this thought process on. I admit that I can make the best plans possible, but there are going to be times that something happens and I can't avoid it. I didn't have any moving type plans this weekend but being so ill and not being able to choose any differently was emotionally painful to live through. Life would be so much easier if we were never sick, hurt, or challenged in any negative way. But then, how would we recognize the good that comes if there was never any bad? (I still think I would like to try a life without the negatives.) But that's not why we were put here on this earth. So I will push through the hard parts and try to stay as unruffled as possible.
I used to joke that Brigham Young's wife, upon seeing the mountains, gently pulled him aside and said something like, "Dear, you want to stop again and ask for directions?" In reality though I admire the women who faithfully followed their testimonies across the plains and over/through the mountains. Their journey is amazing and inspiring. What they could have done with what I have to make the same journey puts my efforts to shame. 
So as I sit home this Sabbath day, recovering from my small "wrench" I will try to remember that this journey has been done before and through much more challenges than mine. I will continue to do what I know is right for me and my family. I will exercise faith in all things. And when I stumble I will turn to the Lord.