"And I Saw Another Angel"

As always, friends, your support and love mean the world to me.  Thank you for your kindness and prayers and help.

We're slowly adjusting to our new school routines, and life is feeling more manageable.  But.  Weekday routines and all related feelings aside.  Yesterday was the first day of fall break.

Lucy was up first, and I found her at the window.

Patiently watching for Moroni.

Spencer joined us presently, and, after about an hour, we spotted him.  

We weren't sure what time he'd fly, so as crowds of people slowly accumulated on all our neighboring streets, we puttered around our kitchen, cleaning up (for the first time in weeks), making pancakes, and peeling peaches.    

Lucy and Spencer went downstairs to play until it was time to go outside.  I turned on music as I did the dishes.  We'd been looking forward to this day for months, but even so, I was surprised by the swell of emotion in my heart as I looked out the window.  The visual of Moroni and his trumpet - that flash of gold through the trees and construction debris - suddenly turned the mass of solemn stone behind our house into a temple.  And turned my eyes to the east.  To the Savior.  And filled me with another kind of anticipation.

I wept profoundly as the MoTab sang from my iPod, 

I Believe in Christ, He stands supreme

From Him I'll gain my fondest dream

And while I strive through grief and pain

His voice is heard, Ye shall obtain

I Believe in Christ, so come what may

With Him I'll stand in that great day

When on the earth he comes again 

To rule among the sons of men

A few minutes later, Spencer and Lucy had a row in the basement and there was all the usual commotion, including prolonged screaming, stamping of feet, and toys being thrown around the room.  But I didn't holler down at them like I usually do.  I just sat upstairs and waited for the screaming to melt into tears and for the culprit to come up seeking a snuggle.  He finally did.  And after listening to Spencer's tale, and dying his wet eyes and sniffs, my heart smiled when he asked me, "Mom, can we start all over?"  I nodded solemnly.  Yes, son, we can start over.  We can try again.  We can change and improve.  We can apologize and repent.  We can be redeemed, saved, even exalted.  

A few minutes later we stepped out into the crisp, damp morning, to greet our neighbors from near and far, and to be ready when the moment came.

 And when it did,

It was truly spectacular. 

A day to be remembered.  

Rain and all.  

**Much love to my sweet dad who came later in the afternoon and changed my car battery in the wet and cold.