On Overcoming Trials

I can't believe it's November already! Time has been flying by in the Stannix home. I have become a little lazy in our documenting lately and am hoping to have a post of "little things" for later this week. Last month was a toughy with Mr. Stannix training in Calgary during the week and coming home for weekends, which were also packed full of family things and church callings. Even though we have had a month and a half to practise our good-bye's I still cry every Sunday night as the littles and I gather in the front window to wave Daddy off for another week. And even though I've had a lot of practise with this whole "single mom" thing, I still dread every Monday. Days are long, my belly just keeps growing (for which I am grateful), and my body is oh so sore each morning when I wake and each night before I go to sleep. I am so grateful for such a responsible oldest child who sneakily tidies the toy room to surprise me, or creatively helps her brothers do things that I need them to do. She sure is a special girl!

We adored the time we could spend with Daddy this weekend. We did one final rake up of the leaves in the yard and cleaned up the garden. Mr. Stannix kept my kitchen cleaner than it's been all week and we really enjoyed some downtime as a family. There were a few moments when we were all playing in the backyard Saturday afternoon where I wished we had a personal photographer to capture the children's faces or record their laughter. Mr. Stannix lovingly told me to take a mental picture and hold those moments in my heart. There was just something so special about the way the kids giggled as they chased their Daddy around the backyard trying to steal the soccer ball. Their faces were so bright, and they were so full of love and life. I loved watching Joe chase everyone, thinking he was part of the game even though he didn't really know what they were doing. I loved the way Hyrum ran around the yard with his elbows bent, his nose crunched and a huge grin across his face. I loved hearing Camilla's belly laugh and she shrieked with pure joy. I stood in the midst of it all a little misty eyed and couldn't help but think how blessed I am. 

This year our family has experienced many trials and heartaches and I am amazed at how much closer we are because of them. I recently had someone close to me lose a baby and in trying to think of words of comfort and ways to serve them, memories of our own loss came back to me. My heart filled with gratitude as I remembered all of the wonderful friends and family who served us during that time. There are still hard days even ten months later. There are still nights where fear and doubt creep in and tears fall on my pillow. But I am so grateful for the knowledge and peace that the Gospel brings to my life each and every day. I have become so much closer with my Savior as I have used to atonement to overcome not only the little shortfalls each day, but also the things that seem unfair in this life. 

Often the words from a familiar hymn "Carry on! Carry on! Carry on!" fly through my head during the day. On those rough days I am grateful for my children's optimism and endless supply of hugs, as well as the power of prayer. Even though we miss Daddy horribly during the week, we are "carrying on" and making the best of this awesome opportunity Mr. Stannix has been given.