Inspired Men!

Because of so much sickness this year and then we have traveled some in the last little bit it seems like we have not been to our ward in forever. So today being able to go to our ward was such a treat for us. I have always loved our ward. It is full of good down to earth people. Everyone is humble, and kind. It has always been a huge ward and can be hard to get to know a lot of people but that has never bothered me. I may not know a lot of names, but whether or not I know someone's name has nothing to do with what I have learned by the families in our ward. To top it all off Dallin and I just love our Bishop and his wife. When he was called Dallin and I both felt like he was called for us. I am sure many people feel that way in our ward. But sometimes we have even sat and talked about why the Lord wanted and needed us in Idaho and every time we think about it, we both agree that we needed to meet Bishop and Sister Campbell. It is even more special for Dallin and I because they have truly walked in our shoes. They have a daughter who is grown up now and has the same challenges as our Porter. They understand our sorrows and joys and give us so much guidance and advice. Sister Campbell has often just looked at Dallin and I at church and then shown up later that day with bishop just knowing we needed them. Every time it has been needed. They have given us so much eternal perspective on our challenges and so much hope for what is ahead for our family. I have told Sister Campbell many times that I hope someday I can do for someone else all that she has done for me.

This last week for our family has been really special, but also one of those weeks where we have really had to think, ponder and trust the Lord. I often think that Dallin and I have had to make a lot of really challenging decisions in our life and I keep waiting to get better at making those decisions and I think we have learned some really good skills, but still it never gets any easier. Dallin leaned over to me in sacrament meeting and suggested we sit down with bishop today and ask for his guidance and counsel. We had a really great meeting with him and he helped us clear out all the chaos in our minds and just focus on the right things. Dallin and I both are people who hate to not be prepared. We like everything to be planned and we try and prepare for all that can happen in any circumstance. But we also have been given many challenges in life that we could never prepare for. I don't think this is coincidental. But because of this it creates so much chaos in our minds and can make it hard to make decisions that require much faith and trust in God. We did not leave with our problems solved, and a clear answer to our concerns. But what we left with was a reminder of what is most important to us and help for both of us to be able to stay true to that. We left knowing that God loves us and has blessed us tremendously. He even provided an inspired Bishop to guide us and love us. We left being reminded that God is and will be in the details of our life. We left with counsel on what we should be praying about as well as some news ideas we had not yet considered.

Sometimes I think we think we can only go to the bishop for repentance or for callings and tithing settlement. But if there is anything I have learned in the last couple of years, when you are struggling you can go to your bishop. I have never felt silly or that what we were there for did not matter to my Bishop or the Lord. In fact I am often feel overwhelmed with love. That the Lord knows my struggles and he has helped us through them. I understand now that a Bishop is really the Father of our wards and like a Father we can go to him and seek his counsel in our lives. I have a deepened testimony that our bishops are called from God. That a God who is so involved in the details of our lives has provided for us all a leader and a man we can go to at any time. I have been so grateful for the service that has been given to Dallin and I by such a wonderful family.