Merry Christmas, Rhonda!

1.  This year, I have had the very eye opening experience of helping two of my close friends through very hard times in their marriages.  Without going into the details of those experiences, I felt that I have grown so much through these hard, sad experiences.  While I am forever grateful I didn't go through them personally, being so close to the situations has helped me to learn and grow.  I have more empathy, sympathy, compassion, and have learned that you honestly have no idea what someone else's life is like.  Even people you think you know lots about, you don't know everything.  What a lesson this has been for me to ponder on and think about.  As President Monson said, "Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life."  I have learned this more deeply through these experiences.  I am sure I have much more to learn, but I am thankful for the chance to be a friend, a listening ear, a confidant, a babysitter, a soft place to land, a counselor, a temple partner, someone to sit by, a furniture mover, a strength in difficult moments, a compassionate service meal maker, a deliverer.  I have had many, many hours of opportunity to serve these two friends and their families and I am thankful that I could be an instrument in the Lord's hand.

2.  This year, our family and my brother and sister's families endeavored to memorize The Living Christ.  Our family did it with a goal of finishing in 12 weeks.  While it took a little longer than expected because of a few summertime hiccups, we did complete it and it was a wonderful experience for us.  Family prayers became more meaningful because the children gave more thought to Him in whose name they were praying. The Spirit filled our home. Family Home Evening lessons were taught on the things we were learning.  Our children learned more deeply who we actually believe Jesus Christ to be and the role He plays in our lives.  We felt like Nephi when he wrote, 'We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ' (2 Nephi 25:26). Our home became a place of greater peace.

My sister in law, Haylee and her family, also completed this Living Christ challenge.  One day, we were talking together and I asked if she had any intentions of memorizing The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  We both want to make a goal of memorizing it in 2016 and so as my service, I have created (haven't finished, but almost!) printables and flashcards to help our families memorize this uber important document.  Upon finishing this project, I also plan on making it available for free to the public.  I know that this will prove to be a very valuable service investment!  Merry Christmas, Rhonda!