Thoughts on family . . .

“You are the guardians of the hearth,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) as he introduced “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in the general Relief Society meeting in 1995. “You are the bearers of the children. You are they who nurture them and establish within them the habits of their lives. No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God.”

One thing that each of us has here on earth, is a family. It may be a large one, or a small one. It might be just yourself and a much beloved pet, or friend. (Friends are family we get to choose for ourselves, after all.) They might be close to hand, or they live thousands of miles away. Family are those people, friends, pets that we love on this earth more than anything, and who we would do anything for . . . the ones that we just cannot imagine living our lives without them playing some part in it, however small or large . . . 

I have a really large family composed of the Toddster, Mitzie, and family I have made for myself over here in the UK, my family back in Canada, and of course, friends that I cherish dearly.

"Heaven is a place, but it is also a condition; it is home and family. It is understanding and kindness. It is interdependance and it is selfless activity. It is quiet, sane living; personal sacrifice, and it is genuine hospitality, wholesome concern for others. It is living the commandments of God without ostentation or hypocrisy. It is a sweet glimpse of heaven, or a little bit of heaven on earth." ~Spencer W Kimball

Home is where you hang your heart and where reside the things which matter most to you. For me, my home is where Todd is. He is the love of my life, that special person which I waited a whole lifetime to find and share my life with. I like to think of our home as that little piece of heaven here on earth. I know that behind our front door, and within these walls there resides a special peace . . . love lives here . . . and I hope that anyone who walks through our front door is able to feel it too.  

But, I also have another home. It is thousands of miles away and scattered into many pieces . . . just like that part of my heart which belongs to my children and grandchildren . . . there are pieces in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. It is a journey that began almost 45 years ago when I held my first and oldest son in my arms and became a mother for the first time. All my growing up years I wanted nothing more than to be a mother. I was not a perfect mom . . . Lord knows I have made my mistakes through the years . . . but I have loved my children with all that I am and all that I have . . . and I feel the same way about my grandchildren. They are the apples of my eye.

"Children being pure and holy, teach us something of our heavenly home. No gift bestowed upon us is as precious as children. They are proof that God still loves us. They are the hope of the future!" ~David O McKay 

 

(source)

Pieces of my heart also reside with my mother in Heaven, my father and my sister in Nova Scotia, and brother, nieces and nephews in Ontario . . .  extended family in America. They are my family too, and they share something with me that nobody else does . . . they share a history with me that nobody else does . . . and roots that go deep down into the Canadian soil, that cannot be altered or budged. They are so wonderful to me and I treasure all that we have shared or ever will share, with all of my heart.

Family is eternal, and a part of our Heavenly Father's great plan for us . Within the walls of family . . . we should be able to find strength, love, understanding, hope . . . joy. It does not have to be perfect. None of us are. I find comfort in that truth, in knowing that however far we may move away from each other here on earth . . . we will come together again one day, and we can be together eternally, in a most beautiful place. 

 

 

 

 

 I have a difficult time understanding those who have no belief or faith . . . where is the hope in that . . . the promise?? How much more wonderful to believe that we were sent here to earth by a loving and caring being, with a wondrous and marvelous purpose for being here . . . and that when we leave this place, we can return again to that beautiful and divine place, to live with our family's and our Heavenly Father again, for eternity. These principles are as much of the fabric of my life and being as breathing or walking  . . . 

 

I suppose it is just as hard for those who don't believe to understand how I can believe, or why I would want to.  They probably think I live in cloud cuckoo land. I guess its just one of the things that makes us all different and beautiful.

I know I am just rambling now . . . but these are my thoughts as I sit here this morning. I am filled with love for my family, both the near and the far . . . both the given and the chosen. They . . . you . . . are a blessing to me in a myriad of ways . . .

“...love...it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our church callings, and our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities and nations. love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

 

 

 

There is  nothing totally new in the kitchen this morning I'm afraid.  I had to work yesterday, but I am sharing these lovely Chocolate Fudge & Raspberry Tarts from a while back. 

 

May your Sunday be blessed in a myriad of ways.  Don't forget! 

 

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And I do too!