A Casket Far Too Small

This morning I attended a funeral. At the front sat a casket which was far too small. Inside lay a ten year old boy, the little brother of friends. He was an adorable boy and, though I didn't see him often, he was constantly smiling when I did see him. I couldn't help but think what a cute boy he was going to be, what a cute boy he was.
I know his sister. I was her leader at church camps for many years and she is one of the sweetest young women I have ever had the chance to be around.
I know his brother. He is such a cute guy and an incredibly fun dance partner. A couple of summers ago we had a whole Grease cast chosen and we planned on recording our own version of the classic. We have yet to do that. Like his little brother, my friend is always smiling, even today. As his sister told me though, she didn't really know what else to do.
 They all smiled. They are such a strong family. I'm so grateful to know where their strength comes from: the knowledge that they will be able to see their brother/son again. I'm so thankful for the knowledge that families can be together, not just for this life, but for eternity. Forever.
Throughout the service I was blessed with the chance to feel and learn more of the personality of this special boy.  As I sat there I thought, "He truly was an incredible child." Almost immediately after another thought crossed my mind, "Of course he is. He is the child of our Heavenly Father. All children are special."
How humbling that was. I deal with children on a daily basis and I love them with all of my heart. I am so blessed to be able to hold our Father's choice spirits. What an amazing opportunity it will be to someday be able to be the permanent guardian of some of His children.
I am so grateful for the tender mercies I am blessed with daily: prayer, songs, scriptures, others' kindness, hugs, smiles, family, children. '

The Search is Over + I Seriously LOVE President Hinckley

When I was 14 years old, back in the summer of 2006, I went to EFY. It was an amazing experience! While there I sang in the choir and every day we had practice while everyone else had free time because, towards the end of the week, we were going to have a program. Well in the middle of this program there was going to be bit of an intermission from our singing during which a clip of President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking to the youth would be played. The last few days of practice we played the clip so we could get a feel for how long it would be. Every day I heard it, it made me cry all over again. I distinctly remember watching in on the laptop in our choir room. I loved it. The night of the program was no different except for, instead of a single practice room, the spirit filled the entire auditorium, washing over hundreds of teens, mostly LDS but not completely. As President Hinckley told us how much he loved us I knew he was telling the truth. Then, after his adamant statement that we didn't have to succumb to the pressures of the world, we didn't have to make those wrong decisions...it hit me. I didn't have to. I had power over me and what I did and I didn't have to do anything that I knew to be wrong. Since then I have made wrong decisions, as we all do, but I still know, I don't have to do that. I don't have to stay down. The atonement is there for a reason. I can be forgiven when I mess up and I can, someday, return to my Heavenly Father. Anyway, that talk had a profound impact on me and it was that talk that gave me an even stronger, more intense love for President Hinckley. A love all of the prophets, but I feel as if he is my prophet. Because of that talk. So, as you could imagine, I wanted it. I wanted it bad. So I looked for the video everywhere but I could not find it! It wasn't on the EFY website or on lds.org. I didn't even know what to look for besides EFY 2006. So my search continued. And finally, after 5 years of looking, I found it last night!! It was 2am but I watched it over and over and over again and let me tell you, it was glorious. Sitting alone in the dark with my laptop listening to Gordon B. Hinckleys words, the spirit filled our little apartment just as it had that auditorium. I felt tingly all over and it was as if I was hearing it for the very first time. I cannot even describe to you how ecstatic I am to finally have this. Please allow me to share this wonderful find with you. If you want to read along go here.