I will update happenings in my life in my next post. This
one….this one is about them.
One of my best friends is going through a trial right now
that I could only imagine as one of my biggest fears and my heart aches for
her.
I thought about updating many times, but every time I went
to, my life seemed so unimportant I didn’t even know what to write.
She had to temporarily say goodbye to her amazing husband on
November 21st as he was
called home to our Heavenly Father. He was doing what he loved with some of his
family gathering cows, the horse he was riding partially rolled on him and
caused brain damage and collapsed lungs. He remained unconscious but fought for
his beautiful family for 13 days.
Carissa and Dallin, oh they have so much love for each
other!
I met Dallin for the first time at their temple sealing, but
I really got to know him when my three best friends and I got together around
Christmas time in December 2012. What a wonderful guy. I thought he was the
male version of Carissa so it was hard not to love him too.
I would watch them together and I could feel the love they
had towards one another and know that they still do. He was so kind and loving
to her and I could see that he would do anything for her. Not only did I see
the way he looked at her with love, I saw the way she looked at him just the
same. Even though I had been married a few years before them, their love
inspired me. I look up to their marriage.
They are expecting their first child in January. A baby boy.
What a wonderful gift to have a baby boy to remind her of Dallin every day. To
remind all of us. What a blessing he is.
Carissa’s testimony has strengthened not only my testimony
but many many others. I thought about things I could say to her to help, to help
strengthen her during these hard days. But all the while, her words were and
are strengthening me.
I am so lucky to have her as my best friend, I feel so
blessed to be a part of her life and to have been able to know Dallin and love
him as much as I love her.
I wanted to share her testimony with you, with the hope that
you may find strength through an amazing daughter of God that I get the
privilege of calling my friend…
"There is one word I never thought would be used to describe me...widow. I Carissa Hunt am a widow.
This is a very hard word/concept to wrap my mind around. I never knew or could possibly imagine the heaviness this word carries. As I have been placed on this path I have had many ups and many downs. My perfect life as I knew it has been changed forever. Every plan, every idea Dallin and I had now has to be reviewed or changed. However, there is one thing that has not changed and will only change for the better and that my dear friends is my testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My heart has seen so many miracles and tender mercies from the Lord that have come to pass since this journey began. I have said this many times and with every time I feel it deeper in my soul...My Heavenly Father has carried me and continues to do so. He not only carries me spiritually but, through all of those around me. Whether they know it or not they are instruments in the Lords hands to raise me up. It is hard sometimes to move, to get up and find the gumption to do the laundry but, somehow I do it. My greatest challenge right now is learning to be alone, alone with my own thoughts in my own house and stay strong and centered to what I know.
Beware Satan is very real and if you let him in, even a little he will take over your mind and twist your thoughts. I cannot allow this to happen. Today I was having a hard morning, I wasn't going to attend church. I was convincing myself it would be ok. I had been listening to a recording of Dallin reading 1 Nephi. Ten minutes before sacrament meeting started I was on my feet getting dressed. I didn't second guess my actions I just followed my feet. I walked in and sat on the very back row by myself. I made it. I knew that is where I was meant to be. My Stake Pres. was on the stand and sent a message to his son (I taught him in my Valiant 10 class) to come sit by me. This was a great tender mercy. I needed that boy to sit with me and help me through with his big smile! I have learned and known the things of this gospel my whole life and now more than ever it is in essences time to walk the walk. It's time for me to act on those things I know so deep in my heart. To hold onto the words I get to hear my husband read to me through sacred scriptures. It's time in my life more than ever to hold to the rod."
This is a very hard word/concept to wrap my mind around. I never knew or could possibly imagine the heaviness this word carries. As I have been placed on this path I have had many ups and many downs. My perfect life as I knew it has been changed forever. Every plan, every idea Dallin and I had now has to be reviewed or changed. However, there is one thing that has not changed and will only change for the better and that my dear friends is my testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My heart has seen so many miracles and tender mercies from the Lord that have come to pass since this journey began. I have said this many times and with every time I feel it deeper in my soul...My Heavenly Father has carried me and continues to do so. He not only carries me spiritually but, through all of those around me. Whether they know it or not they are instruments in the Lords hands to raise me up. It is hard sometimes to move, to get up and find the gumption to do the laundry but, somehow I do it. My greatest challenge right now is learning to be alone, alone with my own thoughts in my own house and stay strong and centered to what I know.
Beware Satan is very real and if you let him in, even a little he will take over your mind and twist your thoughts. I cannot allow this to happen. Today I was having a hard morning, I wasn't going to attend church. I was convincing myself it would be ok. I had been listening to a recording of Dallin reading 1 Nephi. Ten minutes before sacrament meeting started I was on my feet getting dressed. I didn't second guess my actions I just followed my feet. I walked in and sat on the very back row by myself. I made it. I knew that is where I was meant to be. My Stake Pres. was on the stand and sent a message to his son (I taught him in my Valiant 10 class) to come sit by me. This was a great tender mercy. I needed that boy to sit with me and help me through with his big smile! I have learned and known the things of this gospel my whole life and now more than ever it is in essences time to walk the walk. It's time for me to act on those things I know so deep in my heart. To hold onto the words I get to hear my husband read to me through sacred scriptures. It's time in my life more than ever to hold to the rod."
She is absolutely amazing and so inspiring. I thank the good Lord in Heaven for Eternal Families. I am forever thankful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and that we will see those loved ones we had to say goodbye to much too soon again.
Heavenly Father.....He is good.
