And Each Heart is Whispering... Home at last!

No matter where the roads of my life have taken me, I have always had a constant lit path that guided me home. A place of unfailing comfort, laughter, and love. The pure love that can't be described, only felt.

I've recently had to say goodbye to the place I have known as home, it was one of the hardest goodbyes I've ever experienced. Today,  I found myself longing for home. I began to feel broken and completely alone. I turned to my Heavenly Father for comfort, and prayed I would somehow find, within myself, the faith necessary to make it through the darkness.

My spirit was lifted through a favorite song...

"Sunny days and starry nights,

and lazy afternoons
You're counting castles in the clouds,

and humming little tunes
But somehow right before your eyes,

the sun light fades away
Everything is different,

and everything has changed

If you feel lost and on your own,

and far from home
You're never alone, you know

Just think of your friends,

the ones who care
They all will be waiting there,

with love to share
And your heart will lead you home"

("Your heart will lead you home, Kenny Loggins")

It turns out that my heart led me exactly there...home. It's definitely different than what it used to be, and I still miss it more than just about anything. But, as I talked to my mom today I felt the comfort of home that I naively thought existed within a house on a piece of land. It turns out, wherever you go, home goes with you. It lies within the love of those who never leave your side. Those who are hundreds of miles away and still manage to be there. I am overflowed with gratitude for the abundance of blessings I have in my life. I'm grateful for my Heavenly Father who is with me now, lighting my darkened path, that will ultimately guide me to my home in Heaven.

It's going to be okay :)

DANCE... Even in the Rain

As the rain hits my window, I cannot help but think of the storm I am facing personally in my life. It has been a long winding road, and home has never felt so far away. It breaks my heart. I miss the security of my moms embrace... Somehow, despite her own trials and challenges, she manages to make everything ok. I miss singing in the car with my dad, it uplifted me when I needed it most. But as much as I miss it now, I'm grateful so much for the blessing it was to be with them this past week. It was a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father. Not everything makes sense to me right now, and I'm not sure when it will get better. I have found myself wondering "Why?" Why does it all continually have to be so hard? I don't think we're always meant to know the reasons for everything. But I have learned some wisdom within the words of a favorite book...

 "In the midst of tribulation every soul takes a moment to ask why. Why me? Why now? What is the purpose for the anguish and the pain that I am experiencing? The mind searches for explanation; the heart questions its ability to withstand such intense emotion. In the search for a definite answer hope becomes dim and the struggle to simply exist takes over. It is hard to understand why bad things happen to good people. In these moments of despair we turn to God for answers. We become like the people of alma; 'And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God' (Mosiah 24:10). We beg to understand the reason for the suffering. We do not experience trials just to see if we will make it through.

 Each of us experiences the refiner's fire for one reason-- to come to know the Refiner...

 Christ is always there. In the darkest hours of he night and the longest hours of the day, He is there." (Closer to Christ- Emily Freeman)

 

We may not always have the ability to see through the eyes of the Savior. His perspective is far greater for sure... but we do have the ability to go to Him. If nothing else, we learn He is there, He is aware, and He loves infinitely. To me, that is priceless. It's worth the heartbreak. I love the message behind a favorite quote of mine...

 

 "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,

 But learning to DANCE in the rain."

 Whether the storm is literal or metaphorical... or even both, dance through it! :)