Swaddled Babies

For family home evening, I asked Miss V to pick an activity from the December Friend magazine, and she found a 10 Days of Jesus page. We picked two of the activities together. We watched Sister Joy D. Jones talk from the Christmas devotional about how Christ is the gift who keeps on giving. We drew pictures of the baby Jesus while we watched.

The other day at the dinner table I was explaining that Christ lived a perfect life, and Miss V piped in, "I'm perfect, too!" Well, she's not wrong... We talked about how before children reached the age of understanding and accountability, around 8 years old, they are considered perfect in Heavenly Father's eyes, and don't require repentance or baptism. Obviously, Jesus Christ was perfect in totality, and His understanding came at a much younger age, but I'm grateful Miss V is thinking about how the gospel topics relate to her.

I know Jesus is the Savior and Messiah, that He came to be the Example of how we can live full of compassion and love. I know that what He taught applies to me today, and that He suffered in Gethsemane for me and my children, and my husband, and every other person in this world. He did all of this so that we might overcome death and our shortcomings and sins to become perfect like Heavenly and Christ. So we can live as families with Them again. What a blessing to be able to share this earthly experience with my little swaddled babies, entrusted to me by their loving Father in Heaven.

Grandma J's Passing

Grandma Margaret Johnson, Easter 2012

My last remaining grandparent on my side, Margaret Alice O'Neil Johnson, passed away this morning, 9:43 A.M. She had breast cancer a few years ago, and after a mastectomy and treatments, was cancer-free. We found out last week that the cancer had returned, with tumors on her spinal column and problems with her liver. They tried a hormone shot, hoping to extend her life a few months, but it didn't seem to work. The doctor offered chemo, with the declaration that it wouldn't reverse previous damage, just prevent further spread. He gave her up to two weeks, so my wonderful Aunts and Mother arranged for Hospice workers to come. Yesterday she had a "death rattle," and Mom explained it would probably be a day or two. While I find it interesting that my grandparents have chosen holidays on which to die (Grandpa Hooper around Memorial Day, Grandma Hooper on Father's Day, Grandpa Johnson on Mother's Day), I thought about next week's holiday. Grandma passed away a week before Good Friday, representing the day the Savior passed away on the cross before being lain in the tomb and rising again on the third day, Easter Sunday. I do know that Heavenly Father has a plan for our family, and one of the most hopeful parts is the Eternal Family. Because Jesus Christ died and rose again, every person who has ever lived on the earth has been able to receive a body and will be resurrected to immortality. Because of His Atonement, we also have the opportunity to not just live forever, but live forever with Heavenly Father and with our families if we follow the teachings of Christ and do what He and our Heavenly Father have asked of us. I know Grandma J is very relieved and excited to reunite with Grandpa, just shy of her 75th birthday. Thanks for staying as long as you did, Grandma, even though I told you time and again you were supposed to live to be 100. We love you.