Reflections of 2014

As I look back on 2014, I have to say it was a crazy year. It was a year full of the greatest excitement we've ever known and also the greatest disappointment and sorrow we've yet felt in our married lives together. It was also a year of the refiners fire for me, I've always had a testimony and I would say it's always been continually growing but there have been moments that have felt as though time has stood still.....moments that have taught me so much.

 I have learned a greater compassion for others and have connected with those who have suffered great heartache. I'm truly grateful for the knowledge that we gain from experience, it's unique and individual to each one of us....because our paths of life are all very different.

This year I've also become more attuned to those in life who are victims of circumstance. I feel more often than not, we go through things that will just happen to us completely out of our control. People like foster children who had no say in why they are where they are in their lives, war veterans who were summoned to duty and now live with the repercussions and trauma, people with illnesses or handicaps who had nothing to do with the cause of their health, people who lose dear loved ones and are left to pick up the pieces once again, the list goes on and on! And the thing that I witness the most is often times they continue on with life with smiles on their faces! It's inspiring!

I've also learned the power of HOPE. Sometimes we don't want to "get our hopes up" because dreams may just be shattered in the end anyways(I'm guilty of this).....but there is a spiritual excitement in each one of us that longs to hope, it's healthy and causes joy in our souls! It also sparks the natural desire in us to fight for what we HOPE for.

There's a whole new meaning to me, to the phrase "WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE". Our ultimate dreams are possible through Him because He is a God of miracles, but it's also possible to accept His will if that is something different than yours. It's possible to be completely happy despite our challenges. It's possible to HOPE for the righteous desires of your heart and accept the outcome and will of our Father. This life is a tiny speck in the eternities, but oh how important this tiny speck is, and how it can change the outcome of our eternal lives.

We are excited to see what 2015 will bring! We are so lucky to live in this time where the gospel is spreading throughout the earth and so many wonderful new things are taking place!  We hope that all of you will experience bounteous blessings this upcoming year! HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)