So Many Blessings

Kirby left this afternoon to go back to his job in Iraq.  We had a great 2 weeks together with our family at home.  It was bitter cold outside, but inside we were full of warmth and cheer.  Just a few of the highlights of the time we spent are: Christmas shopping and mission shopping, shooting guns, Christmas Eve with our nativity program and Secret Santa gifts and Christmas Day with pictures, Bethany's farewell speech and open house with so many family and friends, proxy temple sealings with our kids, freezing rain, more shooting, more shopping, and lots of good food.

I just look back on the last month or so and count all of the blessings in our lives, and I have to acknowledge and thank my Father in Heaven for his bounteous blessings to us.  Everyone is progressing in their lives with God's guidance so clearly in evidence as  jobs are acquired, lessons are learned, children and puppies are welcomed into the family,  missions are prepared for, faith is increased, and testimonies are forged.  I have to wonder and feel awe at the magnitude of the blessings we receive each and every day.

We have our challenges and our ups and downs like everyone does, but if you look at where we have been, and where we are now, and the direction everyone is headed towards, one must believe that God is in our lives taking an interest in us and clearing a way before us.

People often express their surprise, or sympathy, when they hear about the lifestyle Kirby and I have--living apart most of the time-- but I have to say that we have learned something about perspective over the time that we have been married. We have learned something about patience, and something about trust.  We have learned to be grateful for the things that are good in our lives, and to worry less about the things we go through that may be somewhat different from the things others may be going through.  We all have our stuff. . .some good stuff, some bad stuff.  We can learn from all of these experiences.  Then, it can all be good stuff.

Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Joshua 1

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.