Families are Forever!!

Typically I dedicate this blog to work issues with a few sprinklings of my family life. But today I wanted to post about something a little more personal.

I am a Mormon. We call ourselves "Latter-Day Saints," which is short for the name of our church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

Today I had the opportunity to tour a Temple Open house with some of my siblings and my mother. The Temple is the building we attend for several reasons but one of them is to be sealed (married) for time and all eternity. If you have the opportunity to tour one of our beautiful temples, I urge you to do so. They are beautiful buildings and always have a quiet, reverent feeling inside.

We believe that when a father and mother have been sealed in the temple and live the gospel principles that when we die we will be reunited and live with our families for all eternity.

You can imagine the peace this has brought me after losing my son Joey. I know he is with a loving Heavenly Father waiting for us to join him in the next life. It gives me a great deal of comfort to know that he will always be my son and that I will get to see him again.

But my experience in the temple today had extra significance. You see I would be delivering a baby today as this was my due date had I not experienced a miscarriage at three months pregnancy back in December. Yes. I would love to be holding a new baby in my arms tonight. I would love that very much as we would love to add more children to our family. But at the same time I feel at peace that it was not our time to have a child.

It has been difficult for me as my physiological response has been challenging. It was a frightening experience, and my body is taking its time getting back to normal. So although my spirit is at peace, my body isn't quite there yet. But I am trying to take good care of myself so that someday perhaps we can bring another child into our home.

I suppose I needed to write about this today because I feel like I would be ungrateful if I didn't acknowledge a greater power in my life. I have seen many blessings in our family. Even miracles. Some of those miracles were performed by angels like you who reach out to others in their time of need. I know that I am watched over and loved. I feel it every day.

So forgive me as I share this personal side of myself. I need to do it.

Love to you and yours on this beautiful, peaceful summer day!!

14 comments

  1. OXOXOXOXOXOXOOX

    You are an amazing, beautiful, and gifted woman. I am constantly blown away by the things you share from your life - and mainly, your strength and faith.

    I can't imagine what these past months have been like for you.. until of course, now.

    Big hugs... and thank you for sharing, you.

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  2. You absolutely do not need to apologize for sharing your testimony about temples and families - it's beautiful and I appreciate the fact that you did share it. Thank you. Hugs to you - hope you continue to regain your health...quickly. :o)

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  3. I missed checking in yesterday and now I find myself with a big lump in my throat reading this. I know what you are going through and wanted to send you a HUGE hug from Ireland.

    I love to read and find out more about different beliefs and cultures. It's a breath of fresh air. The fact that we are all different makes the world so interesting.

    Thinking of you

    Ali xx

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  4. You're amazing. Thank you for your beautiful thoughts! I always love to hear them from you.

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  5. Bless you, Jen. I'm glad you share your thoughts w/us because it makes your work that much more meaningful.

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  6. Wow girl... you never fail to leave me speechless. Thank you for your faith and your honesty, it's refreshing and humbling. Love ya.
    ~J

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  7. I agree 100% with what Wendy Sue has said! Thinking of you :)

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  8. I'm sorry for your loss. I can understand missing a new little one who was part of your family (if only for three months), especially on the day that you were to be meeting them and welcoming them into your family. Take care,

    Lizzy

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  9. Jen.
    I just love ya.
    Even if you have those mormon "horns." (snicker)

    You have a beautiful testimony. :)

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  10. I know exactly how you feel (except that I haven't been able to really reach a place of peace yet). I miscarried 5 years ago. My due date was March 22, 2004. I feel loss every day, but especially on March 22nd. It is hard knowing that there is no place to go and leave flowers. I don't know if it was a boy or a girl and the baby didn't have a name. It haunts me daily. I have 2 other beautiful children, but I also long for the one that I lost and for me there will be no more babies.

    anyway, hugs to you and thanks for sharing something so personal.I'm so sorry that you have to go through this.

    Kim

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  11. no appologies needed. you are such an amazingly strong woman, and i think it's so touching when you share these experiences and feelings with us. i cannot even imagine what you've been going through the last few months. i am so sorry for your loss.

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  12. Jen don't ever apologize for just being real and human. I can not even imagine how hard everything you have gone through has been for you but please know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Wish I would have had a chance to get to know you better when I was in Utah with Laura. Hugs to you

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  13. Testimonies are for SHARING! This is the lesson I just taught our YW in church yesterday! And yours is beautiful and strong! Thanks for sharing it! Can't wait to see what you have in store over at Two Peas! And I always love seeing your Hero Arts work too!!!! Hugs!

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  14. Wow...I understand your pain. I had a miscarriage at 3 months also. That was more than 9 years ago. The strange part was that when I got pregnant again (with my now 7 year old), my due date was exactly the same, but 1 year later. He will never replace that baby, but it did give me a bit of peace as I feel God had his hand in that. He knows what you need, right when you need it...even when we don't! Blessings to you...

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