Two Major Blessings

I recently read these words from the scriptures: "...I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

As I reflect on the passing of my grandpa as well as this miracle growing inside of me, I feel indescribable gratitude to God that he gave us the gift of life and family.

I have felt God's spirit with me more and more recently as I strive to focus on gratitude, family, and the Gospel. I have felt His spirit as we study scriptures as a family. I have felt His spirit guide me in how to use my time wisely. I have felt His spirit buoy me up over and over again.

In a previous post announcing my pregnancy, I marveled at the Lord's timing. I felt at that time that he had truly "gone before my face" and prepared the way for this new little baby in ways I didn't even realize until after the fact.

As time has passed, I realize that the Lord is constantly going before my face. I feel buoyed up in the knowledge that He knows what I need more than I do and that He will give me strength to do all things I need to.

There are two major blessings that have happened recently (among many others, not so major) that have me feeling extremely grateful:

The first is that I got to spend time with my grandpa just 3 days before he died. Although he was aging quickly (he was 92!) and I knew once I saw him that it would be the last time, no one realized that he would die only 3 days later. My step-sister Lynn was flying to St. George and had invited us down to see her and the grands. I was worried I wouldn't feel well enough and we almost decided not to go. At the last minute, I was feeling good and we decided to make it happen. I will be forever grateful for the Lord's timing (and Lynn's!). My grandpa is one of my heroes. My last blog post mentioned his last words to me. I like to think that he is in Heaven meeting my little baby.

The second major blessing is that for all of my (understandable) worries about my pains during pregnancy, I have felt pretty good. Sure, I have the usual laundry list of things I'm not loving about pregnancy. But that being said, I am almost 28 weeks and still quite mobile. In my last pregnancy, 28 weeks was the week that I had to stop driving and basically stay at home. As it stands this week, I am still driving and sitting through soccer games, doing some grocery shopping (although Costco is off my list), going for "micro-walks" (a few blocks) in the evenings with Rob, fulfilling my church calling as primary secretary, and taking care of my family. I feel incredibly blessed.

The Lord knows what is in store for each of us. Not only that, but He prepares the way. He sends his angels to bear us up. He cheers us on. And right now, He gives me strength by allowing me to feel His spirit. I am so grateful.