i can't believe how time flies.
this is a photo from our christmas card a few years ago. at the time this photo was taken, we were in the middle of trying to figure out what to do with our little family. bear lake just blew up in our face, samoa wasn't working out, dave had dengue fever and even though we had much to be grateful for, we were living at my parents' house, jobless, and a lot of life seemed like a question mark.
this year we have pondered the christmas star and for family night, we talked about this quote by elder maxwell (whom max is named after. i told the kids that elder maxwell was known for being really smart and max immediately said, "and i'm super smart too!")
"The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well."
i like the thought that we each have our own orbit and plan.
i can look back and see heavenly father's hand in my little family's orbit. i'm so grateful for those experiences that taught me and gave me that knowledge!! i also love the principle that we can illuminate our lives if we WILL. choose light. just like our family theme, "so it continued both day and night." i want to help my kids realize that we can choose, with heavenly father's help, to illuminate our landscape even when things are hard. this little family photo reminds me that things got better. we had heaven's help for our little family. i always tell my kids, you do what's right. we do our part and then heavenly father can do his. i really believe that!
and that is my soapbox for the day:)
