sacred days

Mar 28, 2016

Joy of joys and heartwrenching pain all at the same time. This holy week has combined so many sacred events, celebrations, and memories into eight short days. Palm Sunday, Gethsemane, the crucifixion, and resurrection of our Savior, combined this year with Purim, the celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from wicked Haman, the 4th anniversary of my priesthood blessing in which I was asked to find my ancestors and do their temple work, a big sealing session at the temple to commemorate, and our annual spring family reunion. On top of all these absolutely tender and wonderful celebrations has been a lot of worry and heartache for family members who are in a world of pain and sorrow right now. Finally on Sunday evening, our ward (church congregation) boundaries were changed and many of our dearest friends will no longer be attending church with us.

What a week of tears and laughter and rejoicing and prayers. There really are no words to describe it all. But I want to remember.

• Sharing the events the last days of Christ’s life on earth with our children.
• Making Purim cookies with my darling, little Liberty Girls
• Spending most of Wednesday crying in pain…pain in my injured hand and pain in my hurting heart for my family members.
• Spending several hours in the temple on Wednesday evening with twenty of my dear friends performing sealings for my ancestors. Oh my goodness, the tears of absolute joy! My hand was wrapped up in ice packs the whole time and many mishaps happened, but by the end of the night we were able to seal 112 children and 40 couples. Joy of joys!
• The joy of cousins playing in the snow for hours on end.
• Spending three days with my husband – such a rare and wonderful event!
• Attending Easter services and drinking in the miracle of the resurrection of our Lord.
• Having a special family gathering where Richard’s dad shared his tenderest thoughts about the Savior, family, covenants, the atonement, and the resurrection.
• Hearing his mom pray with her whole soul. And praying for our Blythe. Oh, my the tears.
• My little Fisher talking about repentance.
• My little Annesley talking about returning to live with Heavenly Father.
• Holding Richard’s hand while we all cried over the beauty and majesty of Easter and the hope it fills our souls with.
• Attending the meeting that changed our ward dramatically and crying my eyes out over all the people we will miss so dearly.

Sacred days and tender feelings. Because He lives, I can live again. Because He lives, I can love deeply and permanently. Because He lives, I have hope and answers and peace. Because He lives is everything. Hallelujah!