As we all know, tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  My heart goes out to every single person who lost a loved one in this terrible tragedy.  It is incomprehensible to think how many families were affected and how much all of those who were lost could have gone on and given to our world. 

We are a strong nation, as we have seen, and I truly believe that if we allow healing to take place, trials, tragedies, and hard ships refine us and help to be better citizens, friends, neighbors.  More compassionate, more loving, and more willing to lend a hand to someone in need.

I think anyone reading this can clearly remember where they were when they learned the news of the terrorist attacks.  I was about 7 months pregnant with my twins, and actually was heading to a scheduled ultra sound later that day.  I was so grief stricken, so worried about bringing two more lives into a world that in just a few short minutes, was turned upside down and evil had landed on our shores of freedom.   As the days followed, I began to truly believe what a blessing it was to bring children into the world at this time, that I had two more opportunities to raise children to be loving, compassionate, caring, Christ like individuals.  That two more people could hopefully add their gifts to a world so sorely in need of love and compassion. 

As my family has grown, I have seen how much love for each other and, love for our nation and love for our Savior can fill our hearts.  

That music and laughter can change everything

I have learned that it is O.K. to be different, and stand out

That a really good Baseball game can make you feel so good and so happy to be an American.

 (They still like it!)

I have been trying to accomplish a personal goal in my life as of late (and sometimes failing miserably), to add more peace in our home.  I  believe that peace, love, kindness and compassion begin in our homes.  These things are not created in a vacuum.  If we do not model them ourselves, teach them to our children, then how will they learn?   My prayer and my goal for the days going forward is that I will be less quick to anger, will strive to have more patience and love in my home.  To teach my children to speak kinder to one another.  Teach more often to my children the importance of being kind to everyone.  If we truly want peace in our world, then we must all begin taking the tiniest of steps, and begin in our homes.  

On that note, if you live in my community, I want to invite you to a special service at my church.  My church, the LDS church (The Mormons) are part of a community-wide peace project that is going on the entire month of September.  Tomorrow we are holding a special “Peace Service”.   In our church, members of the congregation are asked to speak and prepare a (talk, is what we call it), with an assigned subject, prior to the service.  This way, we all have the opportunity to learn and to grow, both the speaker, and the listener.  My husband was asked to speak tomorrow on the subject of “obtaining more peace in our lives”.  He has spent a great deal of time in preparation and prayer to speak tomorrow.  

Our “Peace Service” is from 1-2:10.  If you live near me and would like directions, please email me and I would be happy to provide the information.

Whatever your plans are for tomorrow, my prayer for all of us, especially Americans, is that we will hold true peace in our hearts, be a little more patient with one another, speak kindly to one another and go a little further out of our way to help someone in need. 

If you would like to know more about what I believe, truly brings peace to our souls, and our hearts, you can read Here

Much Love, -GTC

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