New Chapters

     When KC and I were first married, I had a really hard time deciding on whether or not we should have children and when. To my surprise we were led to the conclusion to have children pretty early on in our marriage and Dia joined our family just before our 2 year anniversary. Although I was incredibly nervous and apprehensive about becoming a mother, I truly believe that Heavenly Father blessed me to be one. As soon as Dia was born it felt that something just "clicked" within me. Motherhood came so easy - like the comfort of stepping into a pair of well loved shoes. 

     Throughout our marriage, I have heard "oh you will be so glad to send your kids back to school when summer is over". But I have never held that sentiment. My children are my joy, and my world. This year, Tyler is starting Kindergarten and Dia is entering Middle school. Brynlee is now the oldest of the children at the elementary school, and will take on that role accordingly. Today marks the first time in 11 years that I have not been caring for at least one child 24/7. Except for the soft clicking of my keyboard, the house is still and quiet. 

     I don't know if there is any good way to prepare for this moment. It is overwhelming with emotion. To be honest, I felt like maybe I just wasn't ready for my baby to go to Kinder. Really, it's that I was scared and was mourning that part of my life being over. As of today, life will never look quite the same. For as much as you savor the moments of childhood, the truth is that the years do pass by quickly. 

     The most common question that I've gotten and the one I've tried to think of an answer for myself is "what are you going to do now with all the kids in school?" And the truth is, I don't know. For now, I am giving myself grace. After fully giving myself to my children for 11 years I'm going to just take some time for myself - time to grieve what has been lost and time to meditate on what can be gained. Time to figure out how my relationships with my children will shift as we head into a new, older future. 

     Change is inevitable. But family is constant. I'm so grateful for the comfort that this afternoon, and every afternoon, my children will be back. Those times will not be changed. There will still be after school extra curriculars to attend and things to do. There will still be laughter and fighting and snuggles. There will still be love. 

     To my beautiful children. You are not alone. I am with you in spirit cheering you on. Every day. 

     To my Father in Heaven. Thank you for being there in spirit and cheering us on. Every day. 

Love, 

Christine 

"Lord, I Believe, Help Thou Mine Unbelief"

 I am not a fan of giving talks in sacrament. Or teaching adult church classes. Apparently even though I bought a little time a few months ago by rejecting my husband's asking me to be a speaker in sacrament, I wasn't destined to avoid these two things forever. I was asked to give a talk by the other member of the bishopric two weeks ago (and you can believe I grilled my husband to see if he had anything to do with that), and was also recently asked to lead an emotional resilience class as well for our ward's relief society. So I guess God's plan right now isn't quite my own. 

When I was given the topic for this talk, I didn't feel any words come to me, only feelings. Feelings which I honestly cannot describe. The topic is incredibly personal and resonated with me deep in my soul. For several days I sat at my computer each day, willing the words to come. Finally on about the fourth day I was successful and I do believe that the spirit guided my writing and transposition. I would like to share my thoughts with you, if you will allow. 

I grew up in a family with four children, and I am currently the only child whom is still a member of the church. My mother has always told me that I was her child that was born with a testimony. Although in many ways I agree with her, I also think it is a peculiar title because there have been many times in my life when it has felt my testimony has been held by a thread. The first real challenge of my faith came to me in high school. I had a best friend who was not a member of the church. During our times spent together we had several talks about faith and our beliefs. Her father was the leader of a local non-denominational church. I was very interested in the differences between our churches. I was lent and read materials given to me by my friend and attended a meeting. It was during this time that I realized my natural compulsion to finding truth. Although I had never doubted the gospel of Jesus Christ, I also was not closed to the idea that perhaps there was truth that I had not yet learned. I found a bond with Enos who said : “And my soul ^ahungered; and I ^bkneeled down before my Maker, and I ^ccried unto him in mighty ^dprayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.” It happened to be that around this time, there was held an area wide youth celebration for the anniversary of Joseph Smith’s first vision. I arrived at the arena with my young women’s group and each of us was given a glow stick. At the end of the program, the lights went out and one by one each participant broke their glow stick and held it in the air, signaling the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit washed over my entire body, and confirmed to me that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the truthfulness of the whole gospel must stem from it. It was as President James E. Faust has said “We can have a… testimony that… Joseph Smith was a prophet commissioned to restore the Church in our day and time without having a complete understanding of all gospel principles. But when you pick up a stick you pick up both ends.” My experience in that arena became the foundation for my true conversion to gospel of Jesus Christ. 

That day changed my life, although it did not shield me from trials of faith thereafter. Liz Stitt, in a column for the church’s website, said “Sometimes I think we may feel that because we believe in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, all things should be easy for us to accept. So when we hear or see things that don’t make sense to us or that don’t feel the same way for us that the rest of the gospel does, I think we’re sometimes inclined to doubt it all. To throw it away. To leave. But I believe Christ invites us to come and stay anyway, no matter where we are.” If you, like me, struggle at times, there can be comfort in knowing we are not alone. There are many examples of righteous men and women in the scriptures who have faltered. Some include those who have personally seen the Savior, perhaps most notably Joseph Smith, whom pled while he suffered in Liberty Jail, saying “Oh God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?”

In the book of Mark, we learn of the Savior coming upon a discussion between his disciples and the scribes that had drawn a great crowd. Seeing this, he asked the scribes “What question ye with them?” A man came forth and explained that he had asked the disciples to cast an evil spirit out of his son, but they could not. The father fell to his knees and begged Jesus, saying “if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Jesus responded “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” 

When the pandemic shut down the world, I was certain that it would take a toll on the mental health of myself and many others. It turns out I wasn’t wrong. While many others became significantly stronger in their faith through the newly implemented Come Follow Me program, I cannot say the same was true for myself. I found myself failing to do even the basic “seminary answer” things. This led to discouragement and wondering if perhaps I didn’t really have faith in the gospel, because if I believed it why wasn’t I doing the things the Lord asked? The downward spiral that followed found me like Ms. Stitt mentioned, “inclined to doubt it all. To throw it away. To leave.” Then one night my husband asked me a simple question. Do you believe in God? My answer was simple. Yes. No matter what the circumstance, I know I will always believe in God and my Savior Jesus Christ, for I have had too many experiences in which “I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” With this simple but sure foundation, I shifted my attention to asking the Lord to “help… mine unbelief.” Within a few days, I was blessed to have the spirit rejoin my life on a more consistent basis. It was clear to me that the Lord had never left, but had been patiently waiting for me to come back to Him. I had been so focused on the hefty commandment to “be ye therefore perfect” that I had lost sight of the mark. I had not become instantaneously perfect, and I received assurance that that was not what He was requiring of me. I felt that I had to give him the plant, but all he was asking for was the mustard seed. 

In our mortal journey, we cannot receive all truth and knowledge at once. Our minds could never handle nor comprehend it. Like Joseph Smith and the Savior himself, we must learn line upon line, and precept upon precept. There is no guidebook on when these teachings will come to us or how we will react to them, we can only be assured that in due time, the spirit will reveal the truth of all things. For many of us, the spirit’s timing may be the hardest part to endure. On certain topics, we may walk through the valley of shadow our whole lives, not knowing why a commandment has been given, a teaching has been taught, or a trial has been ours. It is easy to forget the Lord’s gentle reminder “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”. To get through these times, we may ask the Lord to help us strengthen our faith, the hope of things which are not seen, which are true, so that we may wash away the unbelief. Nephi, who is hailed as one of the greatest heroes in the Book of Mormon, knew the process of waiting patiently for confirmation of the spirit intimately. Although his own father Lehi had been granted visions by God, Nephi was not sure if he believed. He prayed to the Lord frequently for understanding.  After some time, he said “And behold, he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe” (1 Nephi 2:16). Nephi did not receive an answer immediately after his first prayer. The answer came with time, and a ready heart. Later, when Nephi himself was granted a heavenly vision, he did not understand the meaning of it. When an angel asked him, he replied “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. (1 Nephi 11:17). 

As we study the struggles Nephi, the man with the son afflicted with an evil spirit, and others who came out on the other end of their doubts with stronger spiritual perseverance, we see a pattern. The precursor for each of these is not perfect knowledge, but faith. President James E. Faust taught: “To all those with lingering doubts and questions, there are ways to help your unbelief. In the process of accepting and rejecting information in the search for light, truth, and knowledge, almost everyone has—at one time or another—some private questions. That is part of the learning process. … To those who believe but wish their belief to be strengthened, I urge you to walk in faith and trust in God. Spiritual knowledge always requires an exercise of faith”

We know that faith without works is dead, but likewise true faith leads us to action. They are siblings. These actions do not need to be grand gestures. The man’s son was healed because he had the faith to bring him to the Lord. Nephi received visions and miracles through prayer. In Moses’ day, followers had to simply look to the brazen serpent to live. L. Whitney Clayton of the First Quorum of the Seventy said “Each day we decide what we will do and what we will not do, among myriad alternatives. When we choose to obey the commandments cheerfully as our first priority, neither murmuring about nor measuring the things He commands, we become… fishers of men and cast our nets on the right side of our own ships. We simply go and do the things the Lord has commanded, even when we are weary, trusting that He will help us to do exactly as He asks. As we do so, the Lord helps our unbelief, and our faith becomes powerful, vibrant, and unshakable… No matter who we are or where we live, there is much about our daily lives that is routine and repetitive. As we go about this dailiness, we must be deliberate about doing the things that matter most. These must-do things include making room first for the minimum requirements of faithful behavior…No other daily vitamins strengthen the muscles of our faith as fast as these actions.” Further, President Faust has counseled “We acquire a testimony of the principles of the gospel by obediently trying to live them… A testimony of the efficacy of prayer comes through humble and sincere prayer. A testimony of tithing comes by paying tithing. Do not let your private doubts separate you from the divine source of knowledge. Prayerfully go forward, humbly seeking eternal light, and your unbelief will be dispelled… [go] forward with faith, and you will find that your faith will increase. Like a good seed, if it is not cast our by your unbelief, it will swell within your breast.” 

As we daily exercise our faith with a sincere heart and real intent, the Lord will multiply our efforts. The foundation of our testimony will be strengthened, so that when it seems all our walls are down, we still stand. God loves each of us. There is no trial we face that he does not know about. He is mindful of the world of information and confusion that we live in. He knows that we do not know everything and will always meet us where we are to lift us up if we turn to Him for help and understanding. Let us remember 1 Peter in which we find these comforting words : “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom ye have not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls”.

I believe that these blessings are true, and I say these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. 

Great to be Eight

Today is Dia's 8th birthday and I am finding myself choking back tears regularly. I feel like a sappy sap, but I am feeling all the feelings.

When KC and I got married, I didn't want to start having kids until I was at least 27. I had never really babysat growing up, and I didn't have much experience with kids at all. It's safe to say when we knew it was time to have kids, and I was pregnant with Dia, I was terrified. I didn't think I was ready to be a mom and more than once I wondered if maybe we had made a mistake.

When she joined our family, I knew immediately Heavenly Father had blessed me an instinct for motherhood. Diving into caring and loving for her came easily. Of course it doesn't hurt that she is easy to love.

It has been the pleasure of my life to watch her grow, learn, and develop in each stage. I have observed her not only give up the limelight of being an only child, but also her selfless service to her siblings. I have seen her personality bloom. I have seen her in her most pained moments when she is still trying to be brave. I have tried to teach her in her moments of frustration when she doesn't understand. I have watched her as she lights up when she does. She is truly beautiful on the outside as well as a beautiful soul on the inside.  I am constantly amazed by her desire to be helpful, her capacity to love, and her never-ending inquisitiveness. There is no doubt that she brings greater beauty to the tapestry of our family.

This year is a milestone year as she is now eligible to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is a choice that we have talked with her about often and how it needs to be her decision, and hers alone. She has zealously accepted to commit to this covenant. Unfortunately with COVID-19 her baptism is postponed for now.

She also learned how to ride her bike without training wheels recently. I have grappled with letting her ride to the park and back (just a few blocks away). Although none of the other children on the street have this privilege, I am finding myself trying to figure out the concept of independence; when are children old enough and mature enough to be given levels of responsibility and independence. Because I realize I cannot hold onto her forever.

The concept of independence, and of letting go, is hard. And I know that it's not ever going to get easier. Not even when she is grown and gone from our home. As we celebrate another year older for the girl who made me a mommy though, I do look forward to what her future holds, because I truly believe it's going to be bright, and I feel privileged to be an observer and part of it. Happy Birthday to my precious girl.

Love, Mommy

Testimony

For many reasons, 2020 is a year that I have been looking forward to in our house. One of these is because Dia is hitting what is considered a milestone year in our church as she is going to be celebrating her 8th birthday this year.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8 years old is the youngest that a person can be baptized. This is considered to be the age of accountability, when children are able to understand right from wrong, and that choices are accompanied by consequences, be they positive or negative.

This year as a part of the Come Follow Me program, we are studying and reading the Book of Mormon together as a family.  Dia is an avid reader and does seem to love learning about all things and how they work, including those things of the church. As such, I purchased her the Red Headed Hostess's Book of Mormon Study Guide for children and youth. Initially when Dia received this book she was so excited. But as I encouraged her to use it this evening she had a very difficult time wanting to. This led into a long conversation.

We talked about how for her, this feels like doing extra homework. I explained that I often times feel that doing my scripture study is a chore, and that it can feel like doing homework to me sometimes as well. We talked about why we read the scriptures. This week we have learned about Lehi's vision and the tree of life. We discussed how only those who held onto the rod of iron (the word of God) were able to make it to the tree. We talked about how Heavenly Father and Mother love us beyond anything we can comprehend and how they long to bless us, but in order for them to do so, we need to do our part so that the windows of heaven may be opened so that they can pour them out upon us. We also discussed how there will be times in our lives when we are struggling and want to hear His voice. And that the best way we can hear Him and know what He wants us to know is through the holy scriptures. And that ultimately, our goal is to develop a deep love for our Heavenly Father, which will lead us to want to read the scriptures daily.

The most impactful part of our conversation for me came when Dia asked "But how will I know that the Book of Mormon is true?" This is such an excellent question. It is one that feel strongly about because I desire for my children to decide for themselves what they believe is right, with the understanding that ultimately it may not be the same path that I have chosen.

Making the decision to be baptized is a big one. In our church, it is the first covenant, or promise, that you make with Heavenly Father. It is not an oath to take lightly, as not keeping this covenant can bring eternal consequences. I was able to explain to Dia that being baptized is an important decision, and that knowing that the Book of Mormon is true is an essential part of that decision. Because if she knew that the Book of Mormon is true, then she would know that the prophet Joseph Smith (who translated that book) was a true prophet of God and that he restored the Church of Jesus Christ in its fulness upon the earth today. This would, of course, be important to know if you were becoming a member of said church.

Together we read Moroni's promise, found in Moroni chapter 10 verses 3-5.

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

After explaining what these verses meant, we had a conversation about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the member of the godhead who will touch your spirit, to help you know the things of God. He gives you guidance on what you should do, and whether things are wrong or right. The way each person feels the influence of the Holy Ghost can be different. Dia told me that she is not sure if she has ever felt the Holy Ghost. She said "Sometimes I think lots of thoughts, but I don't know if those are my thoughts or if they could be the Holy Ghost." Oh! I have the same problem even as an adult. 

Bear with me, because although my thoughts are everywhere, they'll eventually come around. Recently we had a few incidents with Dia where she had come home from school convinced that something another classmate had told her was true. For example, she was very upset that the kissing bug she saw on the school bus could kill her. Her friends mother and I reassured her that because someone says that something is true doesn't mean that it is, and that we, who are older and have more experience (and I'd wish to say wiser!) knew that the kissing bug was not going to kill her. Likewise, I told Dia that she could read hundreds of articles saying that the Book of Mormon was true, and a hundred more saying that it was not true. I told her that as she reads the Book of Mormon, she will find that it will testify of its own truth. However, the only way that she will know if it is true is by asking our Heavenly Father, who knows ALL things, whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. 

She became concerned that she may never feel the Holy Ghost testify to her that the Book of Mormon is true. And what if that happens? Will Heavenly Father or I love her less? I said no. There is nothing she could do or choose that would make me love her less. And Heavenly Father will never love us less. He loves us with a perfect love. And He knows us perfectly. 

The truth is, that the thing that I treasure most is the thing that I ultimately cannot give to my children. I can teach them of our loving Heavenly parents, who are always watching over us, and rejoicing in our victories and sorrowing with us in our disappointments, who pour out blessings upon us that we see and sometimes cannot see. I can teach my children of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has made it possible for us make choices for ourselves, and to repent when we make the wrong ones. We can watch and hear our living prophet speak the words of God, which he has received through direct revelation from Him. But to KNOW the truth is something that only He can give through the Holy Spirit. As I testified to my daughter this evening, I know that for something as important as this, Heavenly Father will not stay silent. I know that if we believe in Jesus Christ, and have a desire to know truth, and ask God, He will give us an answer, and that answer will not be one that we will be unsure about or can ignore. He loves us. He is there. Ask, and ye shall receive. 

General Conference Activities - October 2019

General Conference has really snuck up on me this year! I can't believe we're a mere 2 days away! I'm looking forward to hearing what the Lord has inspired His prophet and apostles to say. In my preparations, I've created & modified a few activities for the kids that I've found on lds.org. You can download them yourself if you'd like by clicking the links.

MATCHING GAME 

Download backs HERE.
Download fronts HERE.

PROPHET AND APOSTLES COLORING PAGES/NOTES

The original coloring pages for these are found on the church's website - see them here. 
I have modified these pages to include names and a place for notes.

Download HERE.

CONFERENCE BINGO

This was a favorite with my kids last conference. Probably because they got candy as game pieces. Ha!

This folder has four different arrangements. Download HERE.

SUGAR CUBE TEMPLES

This conference the kids will also have sugar cubes to build temples. It's a new activity - one I've seen before but we've never done. I'm hoping more go on the temple than into little mouths - that would make them sick quick! 

Photo Credit : Our Family Blog

Anxiety

When KC was growing up he was sure that he wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. As he started medical school he still felt that that was the dream. When he began studying Psychiatry as part of his medical school learning, he fell in love. He was incredibly hesitant at first because there is a stigma surrounding mental health. When he told me that he wanted to learn more and possibly pursue a residency in Psychiatry I felt similar critical sentiments - why do you want to waste your medical school training? You wouldn't even be using your medical tools or picking up a stethoscope ever again. You did all this to become a therapist? (Which, for the record, psychology and psychiatry ARE two different things.) Those were feelings I had to work through myself - and ultimately I have always felt strongly that he should do what he loves and is passionate about. So that's the path he and we have taken. As he goes to his work now in residency, I love watching him come home in the evening. He loves going to work every day. He is growing, he is learning, and he is excited to do it. This is his calling.

I don't know whether to call it poetic, but almost a year and a half ago I myself was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). I have often felt incredibly guilty for KC because not only does he deal with this at work, but then has to come home and deal with it here as well. I couldn't be luckier to have a husband who loves me beyond what I think I understand and is so patient in my worst times.

For the last few months my anxiety hasn't been well controlled, the last few weeks being the worst. Since being diagnosed with GAD I have really come to realize how many people don't understand what living with anxiety is like. There is a marked difference between having normal anxiety and having anxiety clinically.

I am now coming to terms with that I may have GAD for the rest of my life. When I was diagnosed and treated with a thyroid disorder in my youth, I had no problems taking a pill every day for the rest of my life. But this has been different. Perhaps it is my own pride. When my thyroid isn't under control I don't feel the effects as much as I do when my anxiety isn't controlled. I really do sometimes hate having GAD because the emotional effects can be harder than physical ones.

So what is it like, to have clinical anxiety? I think the best description is tense and tiring. My body carries tension, especially my jaw, which has led to teeth grinding issues. Repetitive thoughts take hold all day long. Sometimes these thoughts are irrational. And in the back of your mind you know it's irrational, but you can't stop thinking about it, even though you know you should. (This is why you can't tell someone with anxiety to "just snap out of it". They want to. But they literally can't.) So you can spend the whole day thinking and with tension in your body until at night, you are exhausted. But then you can't fall asleep because of the thoughts swirling around in your head. It can be pretty easy to get into a downward spiral - especially if the irrational thoughts are self deprecating ones.

Everyone has moments of anxiety. But when it began to interfere with my ability to complete daily activities and interact with others in a usual manner, that's how I knew I needed help.

So why am I sharing this now? I don't know. I just feel like it's important to break barriers and be heard. Although mental health stigma is getting better, there is still a lot of it out there. So many people actually have mental illness, but you would never know it because from the outside they seem to be functioning just fine. But mental illness is just as real as any other illness that you CAN see from the outside.  If those who suffer are like me, there is still a bit of fear to share because you don't want to appear as weak or unusual.

I may find myself being more open and sharing my experiences with GAD in the blog in the future. If you have any questions about it feel free to ask!

God is Not Here

This year, our church has made some big changes. We used to go to church for 3 hours on Sundays. They have now consolidated the time to 2 hours. However, there is a new curriculum they have introduced called "Come Follow Me". Each family or individual is given a manual which is a guide on what can/should be studied within a calendar week. The lessons given on Sundays in church also correspond with those studies to create a rounded experience. The goal is to bring our discipleship into a home based, church supported one rather than one in which we rely on our church time to fulfill our spiritual needs for the entire week.

I was incredibly gung-ho about the new curriculum and was so excited to start it. I looked forward to becoming more like my Savior - and a much better disciple of him. I looked forward to including my children in the curriculum and doing nightly scripture study and gospel discussion. I did great for the first week in January. I have done horribly since then - next to nothing. Over the last week or so I have really noticed my ability to feel the spirit starting to slip. It was not hard to see that it was because I wasn't doing what I should be doing, even some of those small daily things such as prayer.

This morning as I knelt at my bedside for the first time in a few weeks, my daughter came in to get ready. The following conversation occurred:

"What are you doing?" She asked quizzically.
I answered "I'm praying."
She said "But God isn't here."

I cannot lie. My heart sank at her answer. My most treasured possession is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has taken me on the paths I have gone on in my life. It has shaped me into who I am today. More than anything I would love to share with my children His love and help them understand His plan for them so they will know this for themselves. In that moment I really felt like I was failing.

On the other hand I also felt guilty for how long it had been since I had spoken to my Father in Heaven. Does he listen? Does he care? Even when I have treated Him like I don't care? I am so grateful to know without a doubt in my heart that He DOES care. That He will ALWAYS care. That no matter how far off the path I've gotten, the moment I turn back, He's there, waiting for me.

In 3 separate instances in Isaiah, the words are spoken, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." (See Isaiah 5:25, 9:21, and 10:4)

My children don't always make the choices I want them to make. And sometimes it is frustrating. But my love never dissipates. As soon as they are ready, I'm there with a snuggle and a kiss and advice on how we can handle things better next time.

How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who does the same. Who loves me with more love than I can comprehend, even when I continue to stray off the path.

This morning after my daughter's comment, I knew it was a teaching moment. The conversation continued:

"Sweetie, Heavenly Father is everywhere. All the time."
"But He's in heaven"
"Right. But He still hears us no matter where we are, no matter what time it is."
"Even in Africa?"
"Yes, even in Africa"

A Child's Prayer (vs. 2)
"Pray, He is there. Speak. He is listening. You are His child. His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer. He loves [His] children. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven."