Reunion

My beautiful grandmother passed away 10 1/2 years ago.  Ten years already sounds like a long time, but it seems even longer when put into the perspective of how much has happened in that decade.  I was in fifth grade and not quite eleven when she died.  In the last 10 1/2 years....

7 Grandchildren were added to the family,

3 Grandchildren served full-time missions,

10 More grandchildren were married, and

22 Great-Grandchildren were born.

There were 10 Annual Croxford Family Christmas parties,

10 trips to Bear Lake,

And many more get-togethers in between.

That's only a small sample of the life events that we have celebrated in our family in the last decade. That is a lot of life to live without your eternal companion by your side.

Today, after ten-and-a-half long years apart, my grandfather was finally reunited with the love of his life.

It is always sad to lose someone you love, but today I am also filled with joy that they are finally having their reunion in Heaven.  His heart broke when she died, and I imagine that today, it's finally full again.

See you later, Grandpa.

Love, 

Rachel

Birthday

Welcome to the world,

Legend Jack Vaitai Williams

Born Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 4:49 pm

7 lbs 6 oz

20 inches

Follow the Prophet

I love primary. Want to know why? For the past month, Diva's favorite song (which was of course quickly picked up by Meka) has been "Follow the Prophet" from the Primary Children's Songboook. I love this song, especially when it is sung by the world's two most adorable children, complete with hand actions and a little sassy hip movement on the line "don't go astray." But more than that, I love the eternal truth that is taught in this song: Follow the Prophet, he knows the way.

What a great song to have filling our house during Conference weekend. In our house, General Conference is almost as much of a celebration as Christmas. It is filled with family and wonderful food, but most importantly, it is filled with inspired words from living prophets who act as God's mouthpiece to the world.

I watched the final session of Conference* (for explanation, see below) with Diva in my mom's room. Coloring and doing puzzles and games in her new coloring book throughout the session, Diva wasn't really paying attention. Whenever President Eyring got up to announce the next section of the program, she would ask if it was over. When he got up and announced the final speaker to be followed by the closing song and prayer, I told Diva "The Prophet is going to talk, then they're going to sing a song and say a prayer and then it will be over." Satisfied by that, she went back to her coloring. But as soon as the Prophet got up to speak, she looked up at the TV screen and said excitedly, "Oh! That's President Monsonie!" I was surprised and touched that she recognized God's Prophet and knew exactly who he was. "Follow the Prophet" isn't just another song that she sings--it's a song with important meaning that she understands. I hope she will always continue to recognize the Prophet for who he is and always follow him.

Now we have a world where people are confused.

If you don't believe it, go and watch the news.

We can get direction all along our way,

If we heed the prophets -- follow what they say.

Follow the Prophet, follow the Prophet.

Follow the Prophet, don't go astray.

Follow the Prophet, follow the Prophet.

Follow the Prophet, he knows the way.

*Note: Twice a year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints holds a General Conference which is broadcast to members all around the world. Each conference is divided into four two-hour sessions, two on Saturday and two on Sunday, with an additional two-hour session on Saturday evenings for priesthood holders. During these conferences, we are taught by general authorities and officers of the Church, or, in layman terms, the head haunchoes (the Mormon Prophet can be compared to the equivalent of the Catholic Pope when it comes to position in the church). We believe that their counsel and guidance comes directly from God as inspiration and we value the words taught in General Conference as scripture. To learn more about the LDS faith, General Conference, and what we believe, click here. Or to set up an appointment with the full-time missionaries in your area, click here or send me an email and I will be glad to help you set it up.

Heartache is a Vicious Thing

Have you ever had so many thoughts in your head that you couldn't put them into words no matter how hard you tried, even though that's what you wished you could do more than anything? So have I.

Life in this apartment this past week has been, well, hard on all of us. One roommate went through a painful breakup, a couple more had hopes smashed, everyone has been stressed and on edge, and our apartment seems to be a vacuum for drama. The more we try to pull the plug out of the wall, the harder the vacuum sucks. And I have somehow found myself here, stuck as the mediator in what seems to be the most complicated love pyramid that ever existed.

But that's not what this is about.

Tonight I experienced what it's like to rely on the Lord for words. My best friend needed me, but I had so many words in my head that I had none at all. Not only that, but I was emotionally involved in the situation that had her collapsed on the floor and sobbing in my arms, and I was struggling to remain the strong and sensible one. I needed the clarity to be able to tell her what she needed to hear. But I couldn't get it out. As I rocked her back and forth I pleaded to be able to say what needed to come out. Never have I thought so carefully about what to say before saying it. But it came. The words came out and the advice was sound and spiritual. It provided her the comfort and guidance that she needed and gave her the little bit of clarity she was seeking in order to be able to turn her pleas to her Heavenly Father and allow him to direct her in her decisions. I know the words were not mine. They were the words the Spirit was trying to tell her but which she was too upset to hear.

I like to think that in this week of chaos, confusion, and endless emotions, I was able to be the answer to a friend's prayer. Amidst the millions of racing thoughts going around in my head, I was able to have a small moment of clarity in which to help someone I love dearly. I'm now back to not being able to not being able to even begin to decipher the chaos in my mind, but for that moment, everything made sense.