Summer Break #7/God's Love

Our 4th of July consisted of sparklers and fireworks.  We were up at my in-law's Lake House and we had so much fun.  We played on the lake during the day and in the evening we let the kids do sparklers.  After putting them to bed Derek, Samantha, and I went out on the boat to see fireworks.

I remember as a child going with my parents and grandparents to see fireworks in Salt Lake City.  My dad would always make a great effort to get us all there because he knew Mom loved fireworks.  (My husband has followed this tradition) We would usually end up at a park and lay on the grass and watch the fireworks as we listened to the radio play patriotic music. 

 At a young age I was taught the importance of our country and the blessing it was.  Patriotism was celebrated, honored, and expected.  What a great love I have for my country, my freedoms, my ancestors sacrifice, my religion, and my family.  I feel so blessed to be born into this great country.

What a loving Heavenly Father I have.  I am so grateful for scripture study.  This summer has had no routine and little consistency and I know my scripture study has suffered some.  Personally I have been struggling with my weight and appearance.  Today as I ate my breakfast and tried to be inspired with Michael calling "Mom! Mom--IE!!" over and over again I was guided to an article in the July 2014 Ensign entitled: The Gift of Our Physical Bodies, by Victoria Webb Rutherford.  It was the comfort that I needed, the assurance of what is most important, and that is God's love.  That we each have our trials, tribulations, and weaknesses, but if we let the world tell us how we should be then we will be miserable.  But if we allow God to tell us how we should be then we can have peace, joy, and happiness.  How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who reaches out to me to bring me the peace that I need.