2013- the best year yet in so very many ways!!!
January: I expounded on how blessings are hard work and that difficult never equates to impossible!
And I do KNOW, as President Baer stated, "Through the atonement of Christ, we are able to do things beyond our abilities."
February: On the 6th, so discouraged while waiting to hear from the First Presidency about when Luke and I could be married... On the 7th! the timing was definitely a miracle in so many ways!
Feb. 9, 2013- best day of my life so far!
Not only was I married to the man of my dreams, but I was sealed to him for time and all eternity!
Yes, my life is so good!
March: What a difference in life just one short month
can make!
And we celebrated!
And when life got challenging... I just had to remember all of the happy moments:
And a preview of April! So exciting!!!
April: the 9th- best anniversary of one long short year!
And because I have the best family EVER...
the 20th was the most beautiful wedding for the most beautiful bride! I love you, Charly!
May: I still think life would be easier without so many rocks.
But Mother's Day makes me so grateful to have mothers!
June: the month of the graduations!
So proud of both of these young men!
July: So much fun!!!
And the BEST vacation yet!
So many memories, so many smiles!!!
August: The start of Charly & Ben's 20 date challenge- if you haven't tried it, you really should!
September: I discovered that I too had married a Disney prince!
See:
Love this man!!!
And Abby became Sister Call! Life is great-ish! And she is a great missionary!
October: Finally finished the road trip posts... And Luke and I had a terrific Halloween!
November: My little boy grew up some more...
I got the best gift from Luke...
And wrote of 13 things I am thankful for in 2013!
December: I have now been a mother for 24 years...
a blessing for which I am forever thankful!
My baby girl grew up some more...
And we celebrated Christ as a family and all month long!
As I begin 2014, I can look back at all of the very many blessings in my life! There are some major challenges ahead- challenges that may mean some heartache and struggles... Luke's health, though improving, will continue to be one such challenge.
But I have hope in my Father in Heaven and in His Son.
My nephew, Jeremy, recently returned from a mission to Finland and has this to say about having hope when life is beyond challenging: "Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. It doesn't mean that everything will be easy or even that we won't fall time and time again but when we trust God things will work out in the end because He is there."
Jeremy, you are so right! 2014 will be another year full of blessings!
