So Grateful

There is no way to explain the how grateful I am for my knowledge of the gospel. It has saved me. . .comforted me. . . inspired me. . . and now my children are beginning to put together the principles of the gospel too.

Today, during Sharing Time, we had a guest teach the children about the Plan of Salvation, or what we sometimes call the Plan of Happiness. When we got home from church, Josh went into Luke's room and drew this on the dry erase board.



He drew the Celestial Kingdom. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and family are there. Today we learned that this is where we want to make it to--the Celestial Kingdom-- so we can be with Heavenly Father and Christ and our families. But Josh added "L.T". . . . Luke Taylor, and a smiley face. It made my cry. This truly is our Plan of Happiness.

And like Josh said. . . we will see him at the Kingdom!

I Wonder

A blog that I stalk had a post about this picture.

I can't stop looking at it.

I wonder if this is how it is sometimes. Does Luke get to comfort me? Is he around me and I don't realize it. That thought makes me sad. I want to know when he is around me, but to be honest, I can't feel him. I hope he is there. I still talk to him sometimes, but nobody answers. It's just a crazy lady talking to the air.

I miss him. I want him here. I want his new sibling to know him.

But, reality is too strong to change any of my wondering or wanting.

Oh What a Holiday It Has Been

The holidays have been. . . what's the word. . . different, hard, heavy. . . .these last 2 years. It is hard to be excited about them. We want to be for Josh and Mike. And, at times, it seems like we can remember what it was like before. . . . the excitement, the joy, the blissfully happy moments. Ah, but then grief settles in for a nice long nap and we return to. . . well. . . to life.

But, there have been some good times and I want to share them. The holidays started off with this:





Many of you know that I bought the boys a dry erase board some time ago and it resides in Luke's room. The boys often leave him messages on it. But I just thought these were the best, don't you?

And then there was this:





So many people came to release balloons for Luke on his birthday. We surely do feel loved and supported by our wonderful friends and family!!!


And no one would want to miss this:




Christmas Day! Our boys in their new jammies, big grins on there faces, and love abounding!!

Last, but not least, this:



Most of the Butikofer grandkids. Only 2 are missing. . . the oldest grandchild, who couldn't be there, and Luke. Although this picture hurts the most, it is also the most precious. Look at all those beautiful kids. Family is EVERYTHING!!

So, that is what our holidays looked like and I think it looks pretty good.