Lily Ann

Gemma and Lily Ann

Our Little Princesses

My heart is full, even while it is hurting.  Our family has experienced many mercies from a loving Father in Heaven in the days following the passing of our darling niece, Lily Ann.  I feel an urgency and desire to record some of the little miracles, while acknowledging that many surrounding this event are very sacred and private.  Over the course of the past few days, our family and Lily's family have felt the outpouring of love, compassion, and comfort of many who are on the errand of angels.  This morning, while watching the morning session of General Conference, we as a family once again knew that our Father in Heaven is watching over us as we listened to the beautiful Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing "Consider the Lilies," the song that Soni will sing tomorrow for Lily.  It didn't escape our notice, either, that the women of the choir were dressed in pink...the color that all of us are going to wear in honor of Lily at her funeral service.

Birthday Boy

My patriarchal blessing states that I will have "sons and daughters," and so after three girls I held out for one more chance at a son.  When my baby Ashley arrived in all of her unmistakable feminine glory, I had a revelation:  someone else was raising my sons, and I would know and love them when they married my four beautiful daughters.  Happy Birthday to son #1--I admire and love you for many different reasons, Covey, but most of all because you love my daughter.  Thank you for taking such good care of her. We love you!

Modern Day Warriors

This morning I woke up my new friend, who greeted the day with a big smile.  I helped her put on her shoes, do the necessary things in the bathroom, and helped her gather together her temple clothing.  Today was her temple day.  I brought her a tray of food for breakfast, and then made the rounds to check in on some of my other new friends.  A while later, I looked up to see several other women, all dressed in white, walking down the hallway to the front room of the care center.  I followed them in to wish them well, and was meet by a room full of others dressed in their temple whites.  They were smiling and happy and excited for their excursion to the temple.  As I walked away, I have to admit that I was a little overcome with emotion at the humble show of power and strength in that little living room, being exhibited by some of God's greatest warriors who have gracefully and gratefully "endured many things, and will endure many more things."  They are showing me how it's done, how to serve and endure and do what's right, until I have "finished my work on the earth."