For two years before the pandemic began, I served in a Relief Society presidency with three of the most amazing women I know. Part of our calling took us to visit with new friends who moved into the neighborhood and/or ward. On one of these visits, I met K (for her privacy, I'll just use the letter K.)
I adored her immediately. While visiting, her husband walked in. It was as if the room grew darker. The spirit of discernment warned me that this was maybe not a good person. I don't often get those feelings, but it was strong then.
Over the next few months, I came to understand more about the Spirits prompting. Eventually, K had to leave, and it was an immediate situation. I called Brett and said, "K is moving in with us. She's bringing the kids." His response was one I'll never forget. "This is the Lords house. Of course she can move in."
A very special woman and her son came and helped me clean out K's room in our house (a small den downstairs). We moved our three boys into one room, and our two girls into another, and put her three kids in the third room.
We were a full house, but a full house of love. Over the next 9 or so months, we watched as blessings rained down on K. Her trials had not been removed (the Lord frowns upon murder, but I sure wished a lightning bolt would've taken out the ex). In fact, her life seemed to spiral ever downward. But her faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and her love of her Savior was inspiring. She needed $5,000 for a lawyer. She got the exact amount from some fraud perpetrated by her ex, and the company was buying her silence (basically). This is just one example.
She needed a job. She prayed, went to the temple, and when we got out, she knew exactly what she was to do. She got a phone call 20 minutes after we left the temple, with a job offer.
She needed a place to live, and she found one, where she was surrounded by a group of people who offered her support and friendship.
In our own lives, we found peace in a hectic life. We learned to love children who weren't ours biologically. We got to give service, and we received so much in return. Our home was filled with peace (not the quiet kind, remember, 8 kids and 3 adults!) We were so blessed! I miss those days.
Sometimes those feelings of "this is right where we should be" are hard to express. I want to remember dinner time when our dining table was at its max, and there was yelling and talking and laughing.
I want to remember family prayers. Doing yoga with little kids. Swimming in the pool with everyone. All the imaginative games Chloe and K's daughter would create. Bath time and combing out little 3-year-old curls. Being called Aunt Kelly. Crying and holding K and feeling the love of the Savior surround us.
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