Day 16: Twenty-Two Years

Today is a very significant day in the history of our family. The news that we received on August 16, 1990 changed our lives here on the earth for all time; that same news deeply broadened our eternal perspective. I'm not going to go into the details of what this day means to us; if you don't know, or you want to be reminded, you can go here and here to read about it.

Mike and I had an impromptu visit to the cemetery last night. We sat on the grass next to Ashleigh's grave and watched the sun start to set. We talked about the fact that today was August 16; the twenty-second anniversary of that terrible day. It seems so long ago.

Since that day in 1990 we have grown from a family of six to a family of nineteen. Our boys have served missions, married, graduated from college, started businesses, become fathers. Caitlin came to our family bringing us much joy and healing; and now she is a young woman with her entire future to look forward to. We have three beautiful daughters-in-law that we love and nine wonderful grandchildren.

We have learned through the most heartbreaking of circumstances that a family can face... that life does go on. Happiness is obtainable. Ashleigh loves us and watches over us... we are her eternal family and she wants to be with us again just as much as we want to be with her. God loves us and knows us. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and his sacrifice for each of us makes it all worth it.

I am so very, very blessed.