Reflecting...

I've been thinking for the last week that it's time for a blog post...as I've been neglecting my blog lately...lol! As I've been thinking about it, I've also been reading a fabulous book (hhmmm, maybe that's why my blog's been neglected!), anyway...the book is called, "These is My Words - The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901" by Nancy E. Turner. The other day, I came across something in the book that got me to stop and think...in fact, I think that I read the passage 10 times! To lead up to it, the character was getting ready to move her family into town so that they could be with her husband...sound familiar??? But back then, "town" was a good day's ride from where they lived. The place where she lived bordered her brother's "land" and her parent's "land"....so her whole family was close. Anyway, it said this, "Mostly tonight I feel sort of lost and alone, like now I am up on a windy hill and looking toward a new direction where the wind never blew before. I am afraid to leave all that I know, nothing familiar will be nearby to keep me going. I will have to stand on the hill alone."

This hit so close to home for me. But...as I sat here and thought more about it, I recognized a few differences. Upon arriving here in Florida, I didn't have to "stand on the hill alone". We really are never alone...we just have to recognize Heavenly Father in our lives...and know that He is willing and waiting to help us! How grateful I am that we had family here, waiting for us with open arms. We also have our church family, and everyone has truly been so good to us!

And yes, I was "afraid to leave all that I knew" and I didn't have "everything familiar to keep me going"...but how blessed we've been!!! Because of these things (leaving what we knew and what was familiar), our family has grown in ways that I never could have imagined or hoped for! Trent and I are closer than we've ever been. I never thought I could love him more...but I do! My kids have also grown (and not just physically...lol). Karlee is a different girl than she was just 1 year ago. She isn't quite so shy and afraid to try new things. Having to leave all that was familiar has truly made us all stronger, better people! Our testimonies of a loving Heavenly Father and caring brother, Jesus Christ has increased 100 fold.

We've never doubted that we were supposed to come here...that Heavenly Father sent us here for a reason. But it is becoming more and more clear that there are MANY reasons why He sent us here...and probably many that we haven't discovered yet. I remember feeling this so strongly and then feeling the Spirit whisper to me that Heavenly Father has blessed us by bringing us here. And...this was months ago...when we were living off the good graces of Mike and Annette, worrying about our home in Utah selling, fighting homesickness...but I knew it as sure as I know anything...that we were being blessed by a loving Heavenly Father by Him making it possible for us to come here. And now, just a few months later, I can already see it. I can see that we are better, stronger, more loving...towards each other and all those around us!

And, I hope that there are other reasons for our being here. I hope that we were sent here to bless others, to serve others and to hopefully make someone or many someone's life better.

So...there's my reflection for today :) I will always miss my family and friends in Utah...and Utah will always be my first home. But, I know that Florida is our home now...and I truly am thankful for that!


"Everything you are learning is preparing you for something else."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley