It has been an eventful month. Full of the Spirit. And as anyone who has ever dwelt with the Spirit for an extended amount of time knows...it's exhausting. In a good way.
Our wonderful neighbor was baptized on the 16th. It was...unlike anything I have ever experienced. My heart was bursting with joy. It literally hurt. You know...hurt so good (name that awful band).
I asked Cohen how this all happened. I wanted to share this with family and friends because it was just so sweet.
"Well," he said, thinking hard. "One Sunday, Logan came over to play. I told him I couldn't play because we were going to church, but I asked him to ask his mom and dad if he could come with us!" And he did!
And there you have it. Logan started coming to church with us and burrowing a special place in my heart just for him. I have never felt so much love for someone elses child. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. He's like the 5 year old I never gave birth to. He comes over to hang out during the day, even when the kids aren't home yet. He's a stud muffin.
At last years Relief Society Conference, I asked C (my sweet neighbor, I won't share her name without asking her first) if she wanted to come and watch it with me. Be my buddy. Sit by me because I was friendless ;) She was gracious enough to come.
I was worried and afraid to ask her, I'll admit it. But I had a lot of support from my husband and my Heavenly Father, the latter who encouraged me with his Spirit.
After conference, we talked out in the parking lot about what we had watched. C cried through the whole thing. She pointed at the church building and said, "That. That in there is what it's all about."
Later she told me that she had been searching and searching for this feeling. She said that she had most of the story, but what she learned during the missionary discussions and attending church "finished the story."
She had a strong testimony before even knowing anything about the Gospel. I'm so impressed with how far she's come. She's an example to me in all things. I think about what she's had to give up, and the trials she's had to endure just to become a member, and it strengthens me. And now that she is a member, she's stalwart in learning all she can. She sucks it up like a sponge. Her questions are meaningful, her comments are heart felt and filled with the spirit, and I know everyone in our ward is in love with her.
So amazing. I could go on and on. But I'm crying so I won't.
When I think about moving to Arizona, I feel like it was for this purpose. I know the Lord would have sent others into C's life, but I'm so grateful we listened to the Spirit and came to Arizona. So grateful we could watch and be a part of her miraculous conversion.
"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
Therefore, oh ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work:
For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that trusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul."
After talking with C, we discovered the hand of our Heavenly Father was working to bring us together long before we even moved here. About the time my little family was praying about where we should move (and Cohen stood up and said with quite authority that the Spirit told him Árizona') C's husband had a dream that Heavenly Father told him to bring his children to Him.
It's amazing, seeing events, like dominoes, falling into place with perfection. It has strengthened my testimony like no other experience I've had yet.
I know the Gospel is true. Even if the people struggle, we are not perfect. But the Gospel is perfect. I'm grateful for this knowledge. People, friends and family comment a lot, "You're so happy. You have such happy kids. You're marriage is so strong." And while these comments aren't always the truth, I know that what they see is the Spirit that's in us. I know that's what makes me happy. I know it's what makes my husband and children happy. And for that, I'm eternally grateful.
