Calm Before the Storm

I have been having this same thought for the last few days and thought I would write it down.

I feel like I am sitting out on my porch during that calm before the storm.

I am referring to the kinds of storms that rolled through Indiana when we lived there. This was the first time I had experienced mid-western storms and after learning and preparing myself for them I learned to really love them. I would usually know when a storm was coming (because I was obsessed with the weather channel), but I would love to be outside with Dominick before the storm came anyway. I loved it, because it was beautiful and calm - really really calm. I would watch in the distance and could vaguely see the black clouds moving in, but would still just sit and enjoy how beautiful it felt. I knew that it could potentially be dangerous and destructive, but felt safe knowing how to protect us in the house and always knowing that when it had passed there would once again be a beautiful and calm feeling outside.

The funny thing is, just like a meteorologist tries their best to predict exactly where and when the storm will hit - they just can't. Likewise, they can't always predict how severe the damage will be. It is like that with trials in our lives. We know they are coming, we just can't predict when, where and how hard we will be hit. BUT, we know that no matter how bad the storm/trial in our life seems - there will always be that calm in the end (or if your lucky during).

I am glad that I know what I know about our little Everett. I am glad that I can at least try to prepare for the storm/trial. The doctors, like the meteorologists are doing the best they can too, but sometimes all they can do is give us predictions. They do their best, however to prepare us for how to take care of/protect Everett, Dominick and Kambree through the storm when it is upon us. I am truly grateful for the doctors, though I am most grateful for the knowledge of the gospel to be our guide in weathering storms like these in our lives. Truly, Christ is the only one who can know how we feel and give us the comfort we need, as well as the plan to keep our family safe throughout adversity.

I loved the talk given by Elder Wirthlin in Conference. He said something that I felt like He was saying just to me - talking about a letter he had written to an ill daughter of his, he wrote "The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him." He finished his talk by telling us that "Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it." Lucky for us, we already love Everett - so he must not even be the trial coming!

Because of Conference, I have a renewed spirit to enjoy everyday and the many many blessings I have in my life. That is why it is so beautiful and calm right now in my life. I have so so much to be grateful for. I know there is a storm coming. I don't know how hard it will be, but because of our Savior I know that there will once again be a calm - I don't know when or how, but I know.