Life: The ordinary miracle

There are some things that I know to be true that have been extremely helpful at this time of change in my life. There are lessons I have learned in the past that lead me to a path of peace and confidence. 1) I know that God has a purpose and plan for my life! 2) I know that family is the most important part of life! 3) I know that God hears and answers prayers! 4) I know that faith always proceeds the miracle! 5) I know that strength comes from keeping the commandments! 5) I know that the atonement of Jesus Christ provides hope and happiness! 6) I know that this life is not the end that Jesus Christ rose again! 7) I know that Joseph Smith Saw God and Jesus Christ! 8) I know that the Book of Mormon is true! 9) I know that God places angels in our path to help us make it back to Him! 10) I know that trials give us growing pains, and growing pains help us to grow!

       A young 18 year old boy, got up and asked the question what is the worth of a soul. The question struck me very much, and today as I sat in a church building filled with family members, and many friends that I loved, I looked around me in awe. In each of these individuals I saw something profound. I saw a light, and a love in their faces. These people, many of whom I have known for several years, were finding joy in the simplest things in life. Their focus was clear. It was a focus on families. I was astounded at the impact each person in that room had made on my life over the course of the years.       There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. My hometown is not really a village, perhaps many would say it is smaller, but the work that goes on here is incredible and profound. Looking into each one of them and feeling the love I felt for them I wondered how God could possibly love them, or all of us even more than that. I real...

So for 10 days I  spent all of my time in a place and with people that changed my life. The vacation of a life time was great not because of relaxation (who has time for that?!) but because of the many people I was able to reconnect with. When I was knocking on their doors again my heart hoped they'd be inside. Seeing their progress and hearing how they were doing was just amazing. Being with them again brought such pure happiness and joy! Several of the families I have been praying for over the course of the past 5 years or so were doing incredibly well. The lay and rodriguez families were at church! The lay family had been sealed together with all of their children! The Hippos and Troutmans were still plugging along. Seeing Linda Bosh helped me feel that connection to Heaven again. In Meadville my heart was breaking because things are not going well out there. So many have stopped attending church. With three wards combining there were only 30 people at church in a small branch. ...

One day when I was 14 years old I was out at girls camp on adventures. This particular day we were repelling. I watched other girls try this journey and some of them seemed to have so much fun. Others were petrified all the way down. I was unsure how to feel as I put on the harness and began my own journey down the side of the mountain. I was cautious at first but then gained confidence in what I was doing and started to go more rapidly down the mountain. Then something happened. I lost my footing and found myself hanging upside down. As I looked around I was petrified. Still my leader at the top of the mountain could see the whole picture and assured me that it would be alright. My leader or "belayer" was at the bottom holding me sure and steady. If I would trust them I would make it to the bottom of the mountain in saftey. They told me to stay calm. I yelled that I was calm, but appeared very differently. I struggled for a while until I gave into trust and was able to get ...

As a child I played a game where we would hit each other if we were driving down the road and we say a v-w bug. Recently I was spending time with children and began playing the game again. At first I missed them, but soon with practice I began to notice them everywhere around me. Suddenly it was as though there at least one on every street, and often more. I think that spotting those punch buggies is like noticing the hand of God in our lives. At first when we look we might miss them often. But, with practice we become trained and soon we see them more and more until suddenly we get a glimpse of just how often God's hand is touching out lives. As I have tried to open my eyes it has become more and more apparent just what an active role my Heavenly Father plays in my life. I know that He is there watching, helping, and loving us always. I am thankful for His constant guidance, protection, and direction in my life!