How to catch up?

Wow! So much has happened in my life in the last while...I don't even know where to start. My friend Shannon says it feels like a chore to do her blog but she does it to document her life right now. Oh, that made me feel a little guilty. It does feel like a chore to me too, but it's also fun.

My sweet husband spent/is spending New Year's weekend in Missouri so that he can get our house ready to put on the market. I can never get over how talented he is...he can fix ANYTHING! He made our home there very beautiful. I was watching the screensaver slideshow on our computer this evening and the tears started to come.

Babies, 1st birthdays, more birthdays, fireworks, neighbors, leaf piles, crawling babies grabbing Christmas tree ornaments, kids in trees, children holding smaller children, Easter egg dying, homeschool at the kitchen table, projects, library outings.

And then, all of a sudden, we get a new job and off we go....

I love my mom and dad, and Jon's parents. I love my brothers and sisters, their spouses, their sweet children. What an incredible joy it has been to see them so much. They are such neat people. I love to be with them, I love who they are, and who they are becoming. So why do I feel so sad about leaving Missouri?

I really shouldn't blog in the middle of the night when my husband is out of town and I'm feeling a little down.

Our little 7 year old nephew, Jared, passed away on Mary's birthday at the end of November. His parents, Andrew (Jon's brother) and Jaime spoke at his funeral. There words were comforting and beautiful and made the veil between our world and the spirit world seem very thin. Jared will always help me remember that this life is a temporary part of an eternal progression...or standstill. I want to progress. I want to be sealed to my family forever. I want to live with and serve my Father in Heaven.

"Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you"

Our former home and way of life isn't all- important, though I will always have precious memories of it. What is important is that I recognize the Lord's hand throughout my life. He has watched over me, protected me. He has lifted me up when I was weighed down by grief. He has given me a husband who I want to be with forever. He has given me precious children to be part of my family. He has blessed me with faith, which becomes more important to me as I grow.

He has forgiven me.
Only through Jesus Christ is it even possible that I can have the peace to hold my head up and be happy.