This morning, as I was working on memorizing The Living Christ, I couldn't help but think on my family.  I feel overcome often with emotion as I think on them throughout my busy days and take the time to let my heart feel over and over again how incredibly grateful I am for each one of them.  My heart is over-filled with love for these eight people in my life.  I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.  There would be an impossible void if one were to not be with us any longer.

I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for His infinite atonement.  I'm so thankful that because of Him, that we have a way to return to our Heavenly home...and that in God's Holy Temples and through sacred Priesthood power, that we are sealed together as a family forever, for all eternity.  I know that never will any of my children be lost to me, as Andy and I continue to keep our temple covenants and to live the covenant path, that we will always have our children.

Last October, our Prophet, President Russel M. Nelson, challenged the women of the church to join with him in gathering Israel and gave us 4 goals to work on.  I am happy to say that as I have followed his challenge and engaged in the work of these goals, that I have felt an increase of spiritual strength in my life, and have felt more priesthood power and peace in my home.  One of the challenges was to attend the temple more regularly.  Andy and I already went once or twice a month but I asked Andy if he would be willing to try for an every single week temple attendance with me.  I know that one of God's laws is the law of the harvest.  That only after working to plant, and take care of the seeds and then the plants, do we reap the fall harvest.  Attending the temple each week for the past four months has taken faith and diligence.  We have had to rearrange schedules, sacrifice different activities, and put forth a very conscious effort in order to be successful in this goal.  However, I have come to look forward with anxious joy at the thought of once again being in the Lord's house each week, and most week's I wish I could be there every single day.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, yet that He also knows and loves me...little me.  I know that He knows and loves my husband, and each of our children.  I know that when we pray individually and as a family that our prayers are heard and answered.  I know that as I live worthily that I can literally call down the power of Heaven to protect my children.  I have felt power in my prayers as I have done this, calling down special blessings and protection during different times and I have felt the Spirit acknowledge and seal my prayer.  I know that this confidence and power comes from following the covenant path and from returning to the temple each week to renew and remember those sacred covenants I have made with God the Father.  I know that the Savior's work is the Father's work...bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man...and to me that means eternal families living in their presence.  I am so thankful to be the wife and mother of this wonderful family, and I'm so thankful that we will be together forever.

Matthew Receives the Aaronic Priesthood!

What an exciting year it has been already, and we haven't even made it through January yet!  Matthew turns 12 in March, and was excited to be able to enter the Temple to do baptisms, and also to hold the Aaronic Priesthood...but President Nelson and the First Presidency made yet another monumental change to church procedures.  Starting this year, the youth advance in their classes and Priesthood quorums according to the year, not the month of their birthdays.  So if you turn 12 during the year then in January you are able to advance to the next class or quorum.  So, on the 13th of January, Matthew was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood by his dad, and everyone was there to watch and support, even Taylor made the trip home from BYUI so that he could attend. 

We took Matthew to the Boise Temple on Saturday the 19th to do baptisms.  He was baptized for 5 family names, and Andy did the baptizing.  Rachel and Brooklynn were also there with us.  It was a great morning in the temple.  Matthew is growing up so much.  He's getting so tall, nearly as tall as I am...but its more than that.  He is maturing into such a fine boy.  He's a great friend to others, and he is so smart and loves to learn.  I love how he wants to share with me what he has read about in science or social studies.  Social Studies is his favorite class this year.  He has learned about India, China, Egypt, and absolutely loves his teacher who brings all of it to life.  When they were learning about India and the caste system, poor Matthew was one of the unlucky ones in the classroom to be placed into the lowest caste, and to be an "untouchable" for one week.  I think it really opened up his eyes to how terrible it is to treat others unfairly.  We had some interesting dinner conversations that week. 

Matthew is also in concert band this year!  He plays the French Horn, and has worked really hard and plays 1st chair!  He really likes the French Horn, and he polishes his horn at night and takes really good care of it.  We thoroughly enjoyed his first two concerts this year, so fun to see him learning and engaging.  Another thing he did that took me by surprise was that he joined a book club!  I love that Matthew is not afraid to do his own thing and to explore his interests. 

I feel so blessed to have him in our family.  Something that Matthew has always done is to come up to me and give me hugs.  He also calls when I'm not home just to check in and see where I'm at and when I'll be home.  I love how he makes me feel special just from those little things.  It's going to be a great year!