Families Are Forever

I love my family from the bottom of my heart. They are all so cute and sweet. Every single one of us have a huge heart and would never hurt anyone intentionally. As I was thinking today with all the trials we have been given to us that addiction and abuse has touched my family the most. As we come together to heal I did not realize that actions could effect the ones we love the most. I myself have struggled with addiction. I have done stuff in the past I would never want my children to do. My husband still struggles every day with addiction.

      All of my children which includes my step-children. I only point out this because Weston and Trinity have been affected from two parents that struggle with  addiction. There mom who definitely has a good heart but has made some terrible decisions that left her unavailable to her children. My two children Alexis and Dakota also had a parent walk away from terrible decisions. To watch these young men and women walk on a path so different from their parents and make right choices because of what they have seen. They are not perfect by any means, they still don't do their chores when asked. But they are responsible, loving, caring and friendly and my prayer for them is to follow a different path.

      I had an answer to a prayer at one time in sacrament meeting. A still small voice said to me "She is my daughter you need to take care of her." At the time we were going to adopt a troubled 16 year old who's parents were dissolving their parental rights. I started to doubt what I heard and the voice became louder and said again louder. "She is my daughter and you need to take care of her." I looked around to see if anyone heard this. I finally realized that this was the answer to adopt Cassidy. Cassidy right before we adopted her ran away. I was so disappointed because the answer was so clear that day.

       I realized a little while later the answer wasn't about Cassidy at all it was about my beautiful step daughter Trinity. He has given me that wonderful spirit to take care of. This can be the most amazing gift that heavenly father could give us. The responsibility to teach his children to follow and love him. I have a testimony of the power of the atonement.  We can be forgiven of the stupid decisions we make as parents that affect the ones we love. It is that unconditional love a parent has for a child, heavenly father has for us. We can be FORGIVEN for what we have done. All we have to do is let him in.

Love,
K