A Good Day

We took a trip to visit Grandpa and go to the temple in January and celebrate Addie and Mark's birthdays. It was so nice to be able to get away from our regular routine and lift our spirits. 

This big 3 year old girl loves her some ketchup!!

I am always struck at how closely I feel Mom's spirit when I visit Dad now.  I have no doubt they still have similar conversations to the ones they had before, and that he can still hear her calling down the stairs to him to remind him to run to the post office or come upstairs and EAT!  Haha!  Something as simple as putting up her seasonal decorations or even throwing in a load of laundry makes me feel closer to her, and I am grateful for the memories I am able to have of her while I am there and how it lifts my spirit each time.

We had some time on Saturday to go and visit the cemetery.  We had a good conversation while we were there.  It was really good for me and I think it was for Dad too.  

In particular, I am grateful for the time I get to spend with DAD now.  I didn't always get the same one-on-one experiences with Dad that I did with Mom while we would make these weekend visits, and so now I feel like we are able to really develop and cultivate our relationship which has given me a new appreciation and realization of Heavenly Father's plan.  This time with him is a gift.  It's meant for a divine purpose.  It will help strengthen our relationship so that it CAN and WILL last throughout the eternities.  I am grateful for the spirit whispering to my soul these simple truths.  Or maybe it's Mom nudging us all in the direction that we need to go...onward and upward...together...until we reach our final "seats" in heaven where there will be "No Empty Chairs."
 It was a good day.