A better ending

At the end of the school day it was apparent our children survived. Porter did not collapse for lack of nutrition, Madi made some friends, Mason came out of his first day of 8th grade having conquered his locker. Bryn stopped throwing up about 11 a.m. or so and we made our way tentatively to Jamba Juice for our annual more expensive than gold per oz. smoothie; a tradition we've been keeping for 6 "back to school" years.

A friend called and offered to have my little girls come play (I took a rain check, but so nice she called huh?). My mom posted a "hang in there" on the blog and my mom in law called and listened as I tearfully recounted the awful morning. My brother called Mason and asked him about his first day back to school. A friend brought by some delicious cinnamon swirl bread.

Little acts of kindness are such a poignant reminder that a Loving Father hears our silent prayers and -through others- reminds us that He is near and that He cares.


John made it home before the middle of the night, so he was here for our Family Home Evening. We introduced this year's family theme "We Will Walk In The Light". This talk was the basis for our lesson, we listened to it during dinner and re-visited it's concepts of:

*learning true doctrine
*obtaining a testimony
*living courageously


some visual aids were introduced. We'll light our candle (remembering the "light") at dinner this year and hopefully discuss one way we have walked in the light during the day. Our little picture is sitting on the kitchen display shelf, it will remind us that Christ is the giver of all light and truth; that He is the light we hold up, and His is the light that can fill our dark spaces and fill us, literally, with light that can burn within.

Each family member was given their own flashlight in symbolic remembrance of the family's theme. I wonder how long before the little lights, chained to backpacks, will remain...but it was an effort made with such good intention, hopefully the kids will think about walking "in the light" when they see it for as long as it lasts.

My favorite scripture from our lesson was this:

Ephesians 5:8 "For ye were sometimes in darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light"

I love the mercy of the words. To me they are a reminder that because of the atonement of Christ we can be full of light, even if we had chosen darkness (or a portion of it) at one time or another.

A better ending to this day than could have been foreseen from it's rotten beginning. I guess out of darkness light can emerge, just like the scripture says.