“But how? How can you just get over these things, darling?...You've had so much strife but you're always happy. How do you do it?'

'I choose to...I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened, like my father did, or I can forgive and forget.'

'But it's not that easy.'

He smiled that Frank smile. 'Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things...I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount. That I did a proper job of hating, too: very Teutonic! No' - his voice became sober- 'we always have a choice. All of us."

-M.L. Stedman, The Light Between Oceans

Blessing Day

This last Sunday was Charlie's blessing day. It was such a special experience, and I tried to write down everything Max shared during the blessing in my journal so I would never forget. I felt so honored to be this little boy's mom. Throughout the day I kept thinking about what I've shared before on this blog a handful of times.. I even read it at my sister's wedding dinner. It's in my quote book, it's in my life book. There is nothing else that so perfectly describes the sweetness of life and family as this quote:

"My young friends, there is much happiness and joy to be found in this life. I can testify of that. 
I picture you with a companion whom you love and who loves you. I picture you at the marriage altar, entering into covenants that are sacred. I picture you in a home where love has its fulfillment. 

I picture you with little children about you and see your love growing with them. I cannot frame this picture. I would not if I could, for it has no bounds. Your happiness will have no ends." 
- Boyd K. Packer