First of all, it's my mom's birthday. I love her. She is a wonderful woman who fiercely loves her family. She would do anything for any of us, is a perfect grandma and lovely example of motherhood.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
So twenty years ago today my family was baptized.
Growing up, my favorite auntie would take us to her church whenever we were at her house on a Sunday. I enjoyed their church but thought of it as just that: their church. But her example of a faithful follower of Jesus Christ has always stuck with me. There was *nothing* more important to her than her family and her faith. Her home was one of peace and love. She made her faith widely known but never pushed it on anyone. There was always a large picture of the Savior on her mantle, surrounded by pictures of her four children. She spoke of Jesus Christ as if He were a real person, not just some story, and her actions spoke louder than words. She sincerely endeavored to follow His example. She tried to be a good person and teach her children to be good examples. She was always, immediately available if you needed anything at all, a chat, a friend, a cry, whatever. Just a great, happy family. I'm so thankful for their example; she is still a blessing to me.
My family moved from Spokane to Seattle when I was fourteen and it was a difficult adjustment. My sister and I did not like our new school, our new home, all that awful rain...our family was not happy. So we decided that it was time to search for a church. There was a street that was referred to as "Church Row" as it had a generic Protestant church, an Episcopalian church and an LDS church one right after the other. We knew the LDS church from our auntie of course, and decided to start with that one. Good choice. The members welcomed us, the missionaries (sisters) became part of our family, and we were taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believed what they taught us, but I felt, and still do, the Spirit confirming to me that it is true.
I know that Heavenly Father loves me. And you. And His Son, Jesus Christ is my Savior. And yours. He knows me, He knows my joys and my pain. He has taken that pain many, many times in my life and left me renewed and whole and clean. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the Word of God, I know it in my heart, sincerely and wholly. I know that families are forever and we can know true happiness in this life. This solid knowledge isn't just something I feel good about; I *know* it is true, I can't explain it but you know if you've ever asked God for something and received an answer. It's concrete and final and no matter if you even wanted to, you couldn't deny it. Every single good thing in my life comes from following the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I have a lot of good things in my life.
Happy Anniversary, Mom, Dad, & Sis.
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