Unpredictable.

Life is insane. Life is crazy. Life is precious. Life is fragile. Life is unpredictable. This past weekend was tough. A group of friends from our ward had gotten together for dinner before the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday. What was suppose to be a great night out with the girls and a spiritually uplifting meeting turned into a night of extreme sadness... yet spiritually uplifting at the same time. We were headed to dinner when one of the girls said one of our friends had her baby earlier that day... but the little guy wasn't doing so well. We decided to go visit our friend in the hospital. The baby was transferred to the DC Children's Hospital... dad went with the baby and mom had to stay behind at the hospital. After all she did just have a baby. We ended up ditching the meeting to do what we felt was more important. While we were at this little families home taking care of a few things.. we got a phone call from our Bishop that asked if 2 of us could go get the mom and her children and take them into DC. They needed to hold the baby and say goodbye to him. He wasn't going to make it. This family already has 3 children. These little children's lives had just been changed. So had mine. To see this sweet momma tell her children that their little brother was going to Heaven and that they needed to go see him before he went was absolutely heart wrenching. They were filled with questions and sadness. We got to the hospital and some of the sweetest things took place. I was moved and touched by the words that were said. My heart was full yet in knots. We took the children home and tucked them in bed so the parents could say their final goodbyes to this little angel. At church the next day we had Fast & Testimony meeting. The father and his 8 year old daughter were there. I was stunned... Shocking since they didn't even get home until about 6 am. The 8 year old told her daddy that sometimes we don't feel like going to church, but we need to go. Children are incredible. So this dad with the faith of his daughter went to church. He stood and bore his testimony. He told of the love he feels from his Father in Heaven. It was powerful and beautiful. The whole meeting was intense. All the tender voices reaching out to this family were inspiring.
I have to say I have been humbled through all of this. It's all a wake up call as to what's really important in life. The twists and turns our lives have in them sometimes feel like too much to handle. I know we are never given a trial we cannot handle. I am so thankful for the knowledge we have in the Gospel of knowing that our journey doesn't stop when we leave this earth. This family is a forever family. They will someday see their brother and son again. Where they can be together forever. I am so thankful for a Father in Heaven who died for us so this can be possible. I am thankful for the feelings of peace I feel in an uncertain world. I am thankful for all the things we have to go through that deepen our souls and make us stronger. As I pray for this family, I am reminded once again not to take advantage of the things that life has to offer. Life truly is so unpredictable.