Hello everyone!
It's been too long since I've written. I know I always say that, but it's true every time. I don't like writing something unless it'll be meaningful and help others in some sort of way.
It's been almost a year since we've been in Houston, and in a week, it'll be a year since we left Utah. Where did the time go? We have had all sorts of adventures since embarking being in Houston!
I could go on for hours about all the adventures we have ventured, but I wanted to talk about something that has been on my mind for a little while. It's about making the effort to make our lives everything we want them to be.
With my husbands job come many blessings, and also their own trials. One of the main trials we face is that he works on Sundays, preventing him to go to church in our ward. That has been a struggle for us, because we know it is important to attend our church meetings, not only individually, but as a couple. We thrive when we feast on the words of the Gospel. It has definitely been a struggle.
We started going to random wards that fit with his work schedule so that he could take the sacrament. Because we did this, I stopped going to my own ward. I hated the thought of going alone, and so I justified it by telling myself, "I went to church today, so I'm good."
We met up with the bishop earlier this year to renew our temple recommends. We explained our situation. He turned to me and asked, "Why aren't you going to our ward if you are able?" I told him I didn't like going alone. He then proceeded to explain how I need to represent our family and that I would bring tremendous blessings to us by doing so. I agreed. I started to go alone. I still struggle with it, going without Kyle breaks my heart, but I know I am where I am supposed to be.
I was reading the ensign, the April issue, and there is an article that talks about the 100th anniversary of the introduction of Family Home Evening. Here is a link to that article:
I then thought about having Family Home Evening. I know we could have them at home on his days off in the middle of the week, but I wanted it to be on Monday. I came up with the idea to visit him on his lunch hour, have dinner together, and share a spiritual message. Not only would it be a great start to the week, but a boost for both him to get him through his shift, and be able to be a light in his surroundings.
It's been an amazing experience. We both look forward to Mondays now, a time we can focus on the Gospel and how we can make ours and other peoples lives better.
We all have to make the effort to do the small things in this life. It is through the small things that make the big things that much more enjoyable, and the hardships endurable. How we react to circumstances in our lives are a choice. We have the choice to let it effect us negatively, or we can choose our Savior. We can put our burdens on Him, and be able to carry on. We have to make the effort. We must make the effort. People depend on us to be a beacon, a source of light in their darkness. God has a plan for His children to bring everyone home to Him. We must make the effort. We must act, in everything we do. We must unite as Christians, put aside our differences and rejoice in our similarities and be a beacon in the dark.
Start small. Bring yourself up through Christ, so you can buoy others up with you. That is what this life is all about. Service. Charity is the pure love of Christ. Religion is not just on Sundays. It is a way of life. It is every single day. It is an action. It is an effort. We must make the effort. When we fail, which we will, we have the Atonement. Repent, and try again. He is waiting for us.
With Love,
Katie B.
