Ties that Bind

(Forgive me for backtracking a bit!  It's difficult to proceed with so much left unsaid.)

Every year my Resident Assistants (the student employees I train and supervise) participate in a series of obstacle courses at a local military base as part of an intense week of leadership training.  Most of the courses involve getting across a pool of water with limited resources. 

The RAs have to be creative. 

And brave.

It's always exhilarating to see them plan and execute and achieve together - and to see the camaraderie they build in the process. But this year's Camp Williams training conjured a few additional feelings in me, as it took place concurrent with news of Wes's progressing cancer.  I couldn't help a wry smile as I watched my RAs mount those precarious planks and proceed hesitantly above that cold, murky water. The whole thing seemed to mirror my personal emotional journey in a pretty accurate (if overly dramatic) way. 

In the end, all the RAs came across dry!  Those strong (scary looking!) ties held! 

And so have ours. 

These past months, we've been continually strengthened by the faith and friendship of so many people.  Love has been wrapped securely around us in a million meaningful ways.  

Dear friends have written and called, cooked and babysat, prayed and fasted, and in various other ways helped to bear our burdens.  

Waters of Mormon by Walter Rane  Mosiah 18

So much sincere service.

So much proffered faith. 

You may recall that my birthday fell at the beginning of September.  Can you think of a better gift than a gathering of both sides of our family?  At the same time, in the same house, for the same purpose (a priesthood blessing following a family fast for Wes)?  It might look like your average birthday bash...

But trust my cheesy,"try not to cry, try not to cry," smile:

There was nothing average about it.  Our families are extraordinary. 

You can imagine I uttered a hearty, "Amen!"  a few weeks later when Elder Holland spoke at our regional conference and said,

 "The fact is that faith is better nurtured and more protected and longer lasting when there is an entire family to reinforce it."

We have been thus reinforced. And we truly believe in strong, eternal family ties.  Ties that reach beyond the realm of mortality.  Ties that offer the promise of everlasting relationships as well as the assurance of help here and now from loved ones seen and unseen.

I love this painting by our neighbor Brian Kershisnik (I told you!  We live in the most amazing neighborhood known to man.  You can move any time).

We're grateful that eternal families - "united, bound, linked, tied, welded, sealed"* - are such a pivotal part of God's plan, and we feel grateful to be part of such families. 

*Elder Holland