Sunshine After All the Rain

This is bound to be a long winded post. So for those of you who make it through, I commend you.

The sunshine of my past week:

1. Emily. This sweet little girl came into our world for only nine minutes, but her presence has changed things forever. I can honestly say that I have never felt grief like this. I haven't experienced THIS kind of emotion and THIS sense of frailty EVER in my life.

And it's not even happening directly TO me.

I'm a pretty lucky girl to have made it this far into life without experiencing this kind of thing.

But now it's happening to the person who is most like me in the entire world. My baby sister. My Biffy. My Baby Bronto. Sissy. I hurt for her.

It is strange to grieve over someone you will never know in this life. But I guess it's not Emily I grieve FOR. (Though if I think too hard I get emotional over all the wonderful earthly experiences she'll never get to have...) But that little girl has it made. Straight to the Celestial Kingdom she goes! Now all the rest of us just have to live up to that standard and get back there to be with her.

This bit of doctrine has brought peace and hope to our family these past few days. From the Teachings of Joseph F. Smith:

Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and, pointing to the mother of a lifeless child, he said to her: “You will have the joy, the pleasure, and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit.” There is restitution, there is growth, there is development, after the resurrection from death. I love this truth. It speaks volumes of happiness, of joy and gratitude to my soul. Thank the Lord he has revealed these principles to us.

Blessings, and what I see as miracles have come from this experience, and I am sure there are plenty more ahead.

In the mean time we keep living and smiling and grieving and laughing and playing and loving and serving. That's life. And I am grateful for it.

2. My home. I am SO thankful to be back in MY HOME with MY BED and MY SINK and MY DISHES, and MY GARAGE and MY STUFF. I love my house. My hubby was so nice to buy it for me.

3. SNOW!!! Even though I got stuck at a gas station in Alpine as I waited for the white-out conditions to pass, I was GIDDY with excitement over the flakes that swirled all around me! Bring on the holiday season!!!

4. I am anti- Christmas anything before Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving I have a heyday and the decorations and tree and music all come out. But before that- NO. Don't like it. I like to focus on Thanksgiving and THEN move on. ANYWAY- tonight as I was driving home, something quite strange happened. The classic "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby came on and I was REALLY happy about it! I got all warm and fuzzy inside and relished in the music. I think Christmas will come a little bit early for me this year. I need it. Biff needs it. Tomorrow I'm hauling of her Christmas stuff to her apartment and we're gonna go crazy.

5. My humidifier makes me happy.

6. The glorified boat ride was incredible and someday I will post all about it. WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK WE HAD!!!

7. It's that time of year again!!!! Peppermint ice cream and hot fudge!!! Thank you Dreyers Slow Churned.

8. I love winter coats! And gloves and scarves and boots...

9. I'm really grateful that I am a "chill" person. We got home from Orlando on Saturday night, but our luggage decided it didn't want to follow us. Awesome. Three bags lost for 24 hours. Oh well. Didn't even really phase me. Stuff like that is just REALLY not worth ranting and raving over. Life will go on and it's O.K.

1o. Target. I got some super cute clothes there a few weeks ago, and the prices can't be beat. I love it.