One REAL Friend Is Worth More Than 1000 Relatives

We had a really good weekend. On Friday we took the girls to see Rio, on Saturday we did some necessary running around (I even got some sun), and Sunday we went to church and then had dinner with some dear friends. While we didn't go anywhere for Spring Break, we enjoyed our time together as a family.

Dinner with our dear friends tonight was a walk down memory lane. There was recognition of the real love we share with these people as we talked about everything we have been through together. We have been there with each other through literally, EVERYTHING. Our weddings, vacations to San Francisco and Lake Powell, first home buying, child births, fights with our spouses, Priesthood conferences, fixing cars and pouring concrete, fights with our parents, many Christmas's and birthdays, deaths of our fathers, and now this life altering challenge. We have been there for each other. We love each other. Water is sometimes thicker than blood. And to quote one of my other dear friends, "One REAL friend is worth more than 1000 relatives." And that's what we have together. REAL friendship. And I, for one, couldn't have survived this without them.

There were people who saw Mark over the weekend who hadn't seen him for a couple of weeks or so, and they were astonished at his progress. It really wasn't too long ago when I was talking about his affect being flat. Well it's not flat anymore. It's very lively. He's been cracking jokes, smiling and laughing, and been EXTREMELY sarcastic, as of late. Everyday he becomes more and more like himself. So much so that I even asked his brother, after one of Mark's particularly sarcastic (and dirty) comments, "Why was I praying for him to get better?" It's so good to see my husband again. He's been gone for WAY too long.

I talked last Sunday about the lesson we had in Relief Society on the Atonement. I was moved to sobbing tears in that lesson, feeling my Savior's love for me and our little family. The lesson talked about how the Atonement is for so much more than just sin. It is for any hurt, wrong, pain, worry, sorrow or INJUSTICE we suffer in this life. We need only partake of the mercy given to us by Him to heal our wounded hearts and souls. The teacher played a song called Mercy River. I don't know who the artist was that sang it, but it spoke to me. I knew my Father in Heaven was talking directly to me, pleading for me to come to Him and give my sorrow and pain over to Him. As Mark and I talked about our lives this weekend, and talked about what may or may not happen in the next few months, we've decided now is the time to draw the line in the sand. We are moving forward, as best we can, and no matter what happens, we're putting it all behind us and starting over. Does that mean we don't still hurt...no. Does that mean that future events won't hurt us...no. It just means that we're not dwelling on it anymore...not letting it consume us anymore...we're picking ourselves up and, saying goodbye to hurtful things and people, and moving forward with the Lord on and by our sides. And it feels really good.

Blessing of the Day: friends