Families can be together forever.

 Today I was told a horrifying story from the mom that I nanny for. Last thursday in New York a nanny stabbed the two kids she was tending while the mom was at a swim lesson with the other child. When the nanny didn't show up to one of the girls ballet lessons the mom went back home to find her two children 3 and 6 stabbed to death in the bath tub and the nanny standing in the bathroom, who continued to stab her self in front of the mother. When I was being told this story my whole body went numb. Not only was it horrifying and tragic to hear, but it was kind of awkward because I could not  imagine the fear that a the mother who was telling me this story would have after hearing a story like this. So I naturally wanted to give her a huge hug and reassure her that I wasn't going to kill her kids. We talked about it for while. About how awful it is and how hard it would be to recover from such a horrifying thing. How would you move on with your life? How would you be able to be a mother to the one child that was left? I don't think I would even want to take another breath. 
  
  This story has been haunting me all day long. I can't get the images out of my head, nor the terrifying feeling of the strong pull satan must have had on this woman for her to commit such a horrific act. So when I was putting the kids down to bed tonight I couldn't stop hugging them. I think I did "snug as a bug in a rug" at least 12 times.. each. A few minutes after putting them down to bed ty came up and told me that he had a bad dream. I asked him if he wanted to have some apple juice and snuggle up and tell me about his dream, he grinned and nodded. ( I never let him do this!) So once he got his juice I asked him what his scary dream was about. He kind of mumbled for a second and then asked me " Can I still hug my family up in heaven?" I smile and look at him. "Of course you can. You can hug your family as much as you want in heaven." He continues to ask me a series of questions "How do you get to heaven? Do you need to go in gods belly?" "Do they give you food up there?" " Will I have a bed?" me:" Of course you can have a bed. You can have whatever bed you want up in heaven!" "Even a bunk bed??" "Yes T, even a bunk bed." I walk him back down stairs, tuck him in a couple more dozen times and then I go back upstairs. I immideatly knelt down in prayer thanking my heavenly father for me  being born in the gosple. For having such powerful knowledge that can help ease my mind, and that can help heal me. 

  I then thought about that story again. That poor mom. I cannot imagine what she must be going through during such a hard time. then I thought about the song "Come come ye saints"

And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell! ³⁴

 There is a reason why things happen. There is peace through all of these horrifying tragedeys. Although this life can be beautiful and happy. There is also so much suffering and heartache to go a long with it, and those kids don't have to suffer any longer. They survived this world. They made it to the end. All is well. That mother can see her children again. They can be together forever. Even if they aren't sealed. Even if they aren't of our faith. They willl have thier chance. They can be together forever and the is what I think makes our church truly amazing. 

The world is full of so much evil and it is so comforting to know that there is a plan and a purpose for all of us. How great is it to have the knowledge of these things so that no matter what trials or challenges we may face, there is always that light at the end of the tunnel. 

"Even though our journey may be fraught with tribulation, the destination is truly glorious."