Our Story

Life is about getting wisdom through experience and often through learning from our mistakes. I think life was intended to be this way. The good experiences have been wonderful, but the challenging experiences have taught us. It has taken me a lifetime to learn to put the Lord's will ahead of my idea of how things should be. I have learned not to beat myself up for past mistakes. They were my learning tools. Instead, I am grateful for the progress I have made. I am thankful to be surrounded by an amazing eternal partner, and family, friends, and fellow believers. I am grateful to have a lovely home to live in. Although the cars I own would not be my first choice, I have reliable, comfortable cars. Finding a place where I have not been blessed would be difficult.

This is mortality. We were told that it would be challenging. The Lord is not making future harp players of the faithful. He is preparing us to do be like Him and do what He does. And the way He prepares us is through trials and tests. It's called experience. We often think the present trial is more than our faith can endure. But as we endure it well, we will begin to operate at a new level of faith. My faith is more profound and stronger because of past trials. My ability to understand and help others has increased. Ultimately, the Lord will lead us through the trial or give us strength to endure it. As I age, I recognize that some trials will be with me for the rest of this mortal journey. At weak moments, I get angry. But I have learned through past experiences that I really can endure well. And I know my life will be better if I choose to be happy despite the trial rather than angry because of it. And I am preparing to return to the Savior, who will someday say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”