Continue in Faith

FAITH... a 5 letter word that means so many things. Over the last 6 weeks I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. I drew on my Faith when I received the call from my mom saying she had a heart attack and was in the hospital. I again held to Faith as she had a quadruple bypass the following night. Faith sustained me through as she spent a week in the ICU, on and off the heart pump. Faith gave me hope as she was moved from ICU to the step down unit and again when she was transferred to rehab. Faith gave me direction and perspective as I spent hours holding her hand and speaking with her. Faith increased my Love. My love for Her and for My Heavenly Father who is so very aware of me. There are times in our lives when the veil between Heaven and Earth is so thin. How special and completely sacred are those times when we are graced, touched and lifted from those who love us so much on the other side. I have spent many days crying, remembering and giving thanks for the abundance of blessings that have poured down upon me and my family in the last 6 weeks. Tomorrow it will be 4 weeks since my mom went to be with my dad and sister. oh how my heart breaks to have them here with me. My tears and words cant truly express how full my heart is of Love for them and how thankful I am to have the blessings of the Temple in my life.
This has also been hard for our kids. They really miss grandma. Emily is often saying to me "sometimes this just stinks!" i couldn't agree more!. Tyson has said "I wish grandmas heart would have kept working". Even though she is gone her heart is still working, I can feel her love and I am sure they can too.
2 weeks ago I was asked to speak in sacrament on "being an example"... serious. Of all the things to talk on! all i could think was serious?! I felt as though I have been learning a whole bunch of lessons all at once and to think that the Lord felt I needed to talk. I couldn't say no. I spent the whole week thinking about the topic, reading the talks in the conference issue. Then it came to me. I paralleled the example I had growing up to the talk by sister Mary N. Cook. I was able to reflect and share the examples that my parents were to me. The most profound example I shared was their example of blessings from the Temple and being worthy to hold a recommend. Over that week I found every Temple recommend my parents had from April of 1974 when they were married to the current recommend they held in their wallets when they passed away. I also found recommends from my dads mission! what an example of Faith they are. Faith it is what strengthens us continually, heals us daily and brings us closer to our Father in Heaven. It is upon my Faith that I make it through each day with laughter and tears. Faith, my compass that brings me to the Temple, gives me direction and opens my heart and mind to blessings from Him.
I am eternally grateful for the Love of my Heavenly Father that sent me here and gave me a loving home, a wonderful husband and children. His promises are sure and true.
I dont know what the Lord has planned for us in Rhode Island. But, I do know He has prepared the way and as we continue in Faith we will be His hands here on Earth.