12 years ago today I got the best Christmas present of my life, I married my husband for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.    The greatest lesson I have learned in these last 12 years of marriage is that this life is made more full, more happy, and more meaningful by being a part of a family unit.    

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World the First Presidency of the church states:

“THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.”

I am so grateful for my family and especially for my husband who is devoted to me and his 3 (almost 4) children.  I pray that you and your family be blessed this holiday season and that you remember what a gift it is to be a part of a family!

This past week I was preparing a talk on service, by the end of my preparation I realized that I was focusing on service wrong.  I needed to be focused on Charity.  

Elder Marvin J. Ashton beautifully observed: “Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other.” 

I was a recipient of true charity today.  When I left church I found a gift for me on my car from an anonymous giver.  Because it was given at church I know it was from someone who has seen my weaknesses (they are apparent every Sunday when I am trying to fulfill my calling), but instead they chose to love me despite those weaknesses.  Their acceptance and love for me were apparent in the gift.  It was the beautiful painting pictured above.  Whomever painted it knows my love for reading and books.  I am so grateful for their act of Charity.  I pray that they know how much it means to me!