Letter to Jesus

          The first December that I had my blog, I created this post which explains our letters to Jesus.  After a while, I added my thoughts to a journal I take out with the decorations each Christmas season.  The journal had been given to my mom.  I don't even know who it was from - I'm assuming it was left at Christmas time as I recently came across an unsigned Christmas Tag.  Someone had written: "use for personal journal, diaries, notes, recipe, addresses and more."  It was still blank when I retrieved it.  

 I started journaling in 2013.  As I was reading through some of it this year, I came across the letter I had written to Jesus.

                                                Christmas 2013  

                         

Dear Jesus,

       There is so much on my mind, I hope that I am able to express it all.  I wrote a few things on my blog - though not with the full amount of detail.  I would like to express. We have been so blessed this year.  And yet there have been times when I've overlooked those blessings - for that I apologize.

       The blessings have poured out all year, but became more obvious to me in September when so many family and friends rallied around us and mom - who was very much alive and spirited during the summer. Thou had sent her an angel named Harold.  He befriended mom and she finally accepted Alta Ridge as her home.  She was so happy - a far cry from where she was when we had brought her there to live.

      

       We had a family party in August.  Mom did a tremendous amount of visiting.  She truly was excited to see everyone and had rattled on endlessly about how and what she was doing.  A week later she was sent to the hospital and Thou prepared all of us to send her home to Thee.  It's true that we didn't wish to see her go - nor did we wish to see her mind deteriorate to a state of non-recognition to vegetation.  We are blessed with happy final memories of her as she stubbornly made her transition to return to Thee.

       We have all been blessed to be there and to support one another and laugh together as we prepared for mom's departure and funeral. It was frustrating watching her hang on for so long without food or water.  But it was pleasing to see that the dementia was being lifted and that daddy was there to escort her to the other side.

       Thou blessed me with a car that pretty much ran on prayer (see here) Thank you so much for allowing me to take [Jenna] to school each morning and to go and visit mom.  I know the car had mechanical problems; I just hadn't know to what extent.

       I thank Thee for keeping the car alive as [Biff] has taken over and it is now working for him though I have still been reluctant to drive it myself (should I have the opportunity)

       Thank you for blessing my boys with wives.  It is good to see each of them so happy.  [Rochelle, Carrie] and now [Jeanie] are certainly welcome editions along with [Tony and Rochelle's] little [Ester]

       It's so good to see all of my boys so happy.  It has been a struggle for [Biff] and as [Jeanie] has also endured some hardships it is really nice to see the two of them so happy together.  And I thank thee for allowing them the opportunity to marry in the temple right away [unlike Roland and myself; see here]

       Last night was the first time in six years that  the boys were able to visit together in person - all three of them.  The first time that all three boys and all four daughters spent Christmas together.

       [Randy] surprised me, taking over a tradition that had been a part of my family.  One that had been started by my great great Aunt Lucy from what I understand.  When Aunt [Trudy] was no longer able to have the family over on Christmas Eve, mom  took over having it at her house.  And that faded out with the entire family making our social in July - though mom and my sibs have tried to remain with get-togethers during the holiday season.  And now [Randy] has started this for us and his sibs.  How amazing is that?

       The greatest thing this Christmas is having had the opportunity of feeling my mom's presence - something I ironically feel more this year than I did last year when I was with her at her house.  I thank Thee for allowing me the opportunity and for symbols.  Have a happy birthday and thank Thee for Thy example and for Thy gift of the Atonement and for all the gifts that we receive on a daily basis - even the one's that [we] don't recognize. Please help me to recognize [Thy] blessings and opportunities that I too may pay it forward.

       Love,  [LaTiesha]