Life Isn't Always Easy

Last night was an extraordinarily bad night. Because I respect the privacy of my children's feelings and emotions AND because I am learning to respect my own, I won't go in to details. I will say this, though:

Life isn't always easy!

After the extraordinarily difficult events took place, the bishop came over and said, "So, Jackson. I forgot to tell you last night while we were doing your initial missionary interview that Satan is about to blast a storm against you that is epic. He will stop at nothing to keep you from going on a mission. He will use your family against you. He will use anything at his disposal."

Can't wait...

Well, Satan was on his game last night and we were not prepared!

But, here's the thing... Heavenly Father is stronger. The atonement is stronger. Families are stronger. We pulled out of it together... with a loving bishop and my sweet and strong brother who is always there with his Priesthood. We pulled out of it together with a couple of phone calls to R, who is in Chicago, and changed his flight to come home tonight to be with Braxton. We pulled out of it with a phone call to my T, who let me cry (the ugly cry) and then made arrangements to be with me, even though I shut her down.

And this...

This was the outcome, the final period on Satan's effort to destroy us.

This embrace.

This love.

This forgiveness.

This mercy and grace.

This use of the atonement.

Sooooooo.... next time you want to throw a storm our way, Satan... try to remember that we are the storm. Try to remember that our Savior has given us a safety net to get up and try again. Jackson is going on a mission, worthy and ready. Just so you know...