"... how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings..." (3 Nephi 10:6)

This past week my parents paid for their family members that lives close by them to all go to Lagoon, an amusement park. It has kind of become a family tradition. It is a lot of fun to spend time with family, cousins, in-laws, children; these have become my friends. I enjoy the time we spend together. In a way, it is a gathering of our family. We create memories and binding relationships. Our son, Slade, could hardly wait to get there to be with his cousins. My mother has a great way of gathering her family around her. She has taught me, through her actions, the truth of this statement from the family proclamation: "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). Being together as a family at Lagoon, for me, has become a "wholesome recreational activity". What great memories we have created through the years.

Interestingly, this particular visit to Lagoon there was a mother peahen (a female peacock) walking around with her baby peachicks. She had three peachicks. The peahen was very attentive and protective of her little ones. That evening, as we were headed back to the pavilion to gather our children to leave, there upon the roof of a small cabin was the mother peahen with her three peachicks all tucked under her! It was an incredible sight to see how she had gathered them for the night. I haven't figured out how she got them on top of the roof, but they were all there. It made me think of this scripture when the Savior says: "O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart" (3 Nephi 10:6).

Slade, Lara, Ethan, and Stockton. How I love my children and want to gather them oft! 

(from left to right) Stockton, Slade, Lara, Ethan, Grandpa Bonney, Grandma Bonney, me, and Jeff. So grateful for a matriarch that gathers us often and in love!

My beautiful daughter, Lara, and me. It was so good to see her!

Me with the love of my life, Jeffrey.

Grandma and Grandpa Bonney waiting for the train. So grateful they gather us and help us create great memories.

This is the mother peahen with two of her peachicks. The chicks look like rocks. They are more at the front, look closely and you will see them.

This is the mother with her chicks on a roof of a small cabin. You can see all three chicks: one has it's head tucked in and you just see its tail feathers, and you can see the heads of the other two.

Christ does and is gathering us. As we listen and follow the promptings of His Spirit and our prophet, we will be led and protected in our daily lives. It doesn't mean we won't have challenges, or difficult days. But for me, I know I will have peace, joy, and be filled with the calmness I need a midst the storms of life. Christ is calling us, gathering us to Him physically and spiritually. What a blessing to follow Him and receive His protection and guidance, just as this peahen protected her little ones, and as my mother has continued to gather us and lead her family by example.

"[God] is a God of miracles" (Mormon 9:19).

For a while there I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to ride a bike again. Well, I can't ride my bike. But there has been a miracle...a different form of transportation and I love it! I now ride a trike! (Mine is a Catrike Expedition). I can move again, ride again, train again (although somewhat slower), and I'm outside! It is such a blessing to be able to ride! When things happen, or changes come about there is always a reason. One thing I know for sure is that God is a "God of miracles" (Mormon 9:19).

Me on my new wheels, Catrike Expedition, headed out for a ride.

Changes happen for a reason...just like graduation. My daughter, Lara, graduated this past June and is already at BYU (Brigham Young University). I am coming to understand a little more about what Christ was trying to teach when he said, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

Lara, always making me smile. She is such a happy person! 

Lara, on her graduation day. 

Lara with Jeff and me on her graduation day. I love the fact that Lara and her dad have a great relationship. They are quite the pair. Love these people!!!

Lara was ready to move forward and get going with her college education. What I was surprised with is the emotion I felt as my daughter was moving out and going away to college. It is part of the natural process, but I was surprised at how difficult it was for me with this big change in our household and family. When changes take place it is as though our Father in Heaven is saying it's time to move forward, learn something new, or practice something some more. I may not understand why things have to happen or why changes take place, be they physical, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual; but I do know that God "loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" ( 1 Nephi 11:17). God's whole purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). 

Change within and around us helps us prepare to be with our Father in Heaven again. Even though there may be changes in my life, it is a great comfort to know that "God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity" (Moroni 8:18). Life is good, even with all its changes, challenges, losses, joys, increases....all of it. I know that we are loved beyond our comprehension. God truly is a God of miracles. (So happy to be riding again!!!)

Me on my trike, Kevin (my brother-in-law), Fred (my dad), David (my brother), and Garrett (my nieces husband). We are headed out for a 50 mile ride around Bear Lake, Utah. It was a beautiful ride and the temperature was perfect!