Testimony

 I hope my family won't mind my sharing...but this was a round of emails that we shared today. I feel truly blessed to have been given such wonderful parents and siblings. Our blessings are always cause for reflection. (And at the time of this writing..I am a bit annoyed with a few member of my immediate household...so posting this is helping me to bite my tongue!)


Subject: Re: Motorcycle Accident

Date: Saturday, February 5, 2011, 8:47 AM

Motorcycle Accident
Today I went to Mesquite to ride bikes with Rachel's family.  We had a lot of fun.  There were 4 other guys that weren't part of our group there from Rexburg.  We were with them for a few minutes and then we went to a different part to ride.  When it was dark we came back to where the trucks were parked and the police were there.  Come to find out that one of them was killed on his bike.  He wrecked somehow and broke his neck and it killed him.  Wow.  Crazy.  It happened at 4:30, we left the area around 3:30.  Very sad!
It just goes to show that we never know how long we have.  I want to let you all know that I love you very much.  I wish/hope that we can spend more time together.  It is so limited and life can be absolutely crazy.  I am very thankful for my testimony and the knowledge of the Atonement.

Love,
Josh
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That is heartbreaking. I am so sorry. 

I concur with Josh -- we are truly blessed. What a wonderful family we have...and what an amazing gift ...the Atonement and the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eternal families.

Love you all so much.

Be safe and be happy.

Love,

Tacie______________________________________
   Man, that sucks.  But you are right, it just goes to show how fragile mortality really is.  For example, just last week I responded to a call where a 50 y/o man was trimming some trees in his back yard and fell off his ladder and died. Something so innocent and mundane (something we've all probably done before) yet for whatever reason, this time he was called back home by Heavenly Father. Unfortunately I see this kind of thing a lot and as a result, I am always reminded that "the hour cometh which no man knoweth."
As of late I have felt extremely homesick for you guys (I think this is the longest we have gone without visiting Las Vegas) and wish we could just drop everything and drive up. However, in spite of the fact that it is not in the cards right now, it is always comforting to know that we have been sealed for time and all eternity.
if we will but be faithful to the commandments and the covenants we have made.  I add my testimony to yours, Josh, and tell you all I love you very much and not only know our Savior lives but am forever grateful for his atoning sacrifice. I know he loves us no matter what and wants more than anything for each of to return to live with him again. I love and miss you all!

Word to our motha-

Lincoln

PS- "If you stay ready, and aint never got to get ready." 

     -Some dude I arrested a few weeks ago. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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 What a scary and sad thing! I too am thankful for my knowledge of the Atonement and the plan of salvation.

I love you all and wish we all lived right in the same neighborhood!

--
Season Giles
Graphic Design
801.850.8879
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Oh my goodness, I am bawling my eyes out now!  First reading Josh's sad experience and then the sweet posts from each of you.  For some reason this thought has been on my mind a lot lately: (perhaps because there have seemed to be an extra lot of deaths of people I know in the past couple months)  "When is it going to be my turn to lose someone close to me?  When is one of these deaths going to personally effect me?"  I spoke on the phone yesterday to my mother and we had a wonderful chat.  But about an hour later I thought, "What if that is the last time I get to speak with my mother?" and again the tears flowed.  I am just getting way too morbid and I need to knock it off right now!
   But you are each right...Thank Goodness we have the Atonement and Thank
Goodness we know about the Plan of Salvation!  We are so blessed to have the knowledge and understanding that we do, so that when these most difficult departures occur, we will be able to stand strong and get through them.  And you are also right that it means we have to live every day the very best that we can, say the kind and loving things we need to say each day, never let a day go by without telling your immediate families that you love them, and all the others every chance you get.  So each of you know this:  I LOVE YOU EACH SO VERY MUCH!  I am so grateful that you are each trying hard to live the Gospel and do the right things.  I am so very thankful that you are good parents and you are teaching your children correct principles, both by word and by example.  I am extremely blessed to have a husband and sons and sons-in-law who honor their priesthood, and to have daughters and daughters-in-law who are nurturing their sweet children and living up to their covenants.  As Mother pointed out yesterday in our phone conversation, "Kris, you really are blessed to have such a lovely family.  Your children are living the Gospel, they are good citizens, and they are raising valiant children.  What a wonderful blessing that is!"  I couldn't agree more!
   Thank you, Josh, for spawning this outpouring of love.  Maybe there will be a lot more tough times ahead, but we will all pull together and uplift one another and we will all make it back home as one eternal family.  I want you to know that I have a strong testimony of the gospel, I am grateful for the wonderful life I have, and I love you all so very much!  Now go out and have a terrific day!  Oodles and oodles of hugs and kisses, Mom xoxoxoxoxoxox