2 Nephi 2:2, “Thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.”    

Do you ever feel like your challenges are more than you can handle?  or that you are overwhelmed and that no one else in the entire World has life so hard?  I thought of this as we were driving to the Temple today - the last few months our family has had to face illnesses, disappointments, difficult relationships, death, and job frustrations.  Then I thought of a good friend in our Ward who was recently diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer.  After three months of harsh chemotherapy, the doctors decided the tumor had shrunk and they could perform surgery. During the operation on Friday, they found that the cancer had spread and they couldn't complete the procedure.  Then, walking into the Temple, we were greeted by a very good friend we knew in Korea, who lost both of his young sons in an accidental shooting several years ago.  How do people move forward when they face trials such as these?  How can we find peace, and how can we smile when life sometimes is so hard? 

When truly hard things happen in your life, it’s not always easy to find a silver lining to be glad about. Especially in the moment. Yet when you seek closely, there’s always something you gain from each challenge, even if it’s to learn empathy so you can better help others who go through similar trials in the future.  You aren't going through these trial for nothing!  The same trial that's so painful right now might give you the strength and wisdom you need to do something incredibly important down the road.  Something, in fact, that you wouldn't have been able to do at all if this trial hadn't come into your life now.  Remember, God is with you every step of the way.  In our Stake Conference today our Stake President talked about Hope. We have to have hope that things will get better, that our understanding of His plan will grow, and really, we have so many blessings and so many good things in our lives to be happy about.  I am so thankful that as a family, we can take care of each other - encourage one another, and reach out with an understanding heart.   I love this video from Elder Holland - We have to have hope and believe that there will always be good things to come.

Thank you, Kim, for helping me with Math this week! We made it through the 3rd week - only 11 more to go ~

And thank you, Kate, for reminding us that it's almost summer and you are already enjoying the best Mid-west summer treat.  Danes Dairy is now open!

Sayre, with the best ice cream ever

Thursday, I got to spend the day with Jake because he didn't have school.  He was patient while I was in a Zoom Meeting and then he helped me pull dandelions from the backyard.  He found a lot of "rolypoly bugs" (or Pill bugs, if you want to be official), so decided he would start a rolypoly habitat.  Then he decided he wanted to have a rolypoly farm, so we got a plastic container and he filled it with dirt and dandelion roots and stems (because they taste like cabbage and that is really what rolypoly bugs like to eat).  My favorite word of the day was when he was calling earwigs, earwax 😂.  He spent the night on Thursday because he only had a half day of school on Friday.  He got a workshop tutorial on saws from Ji-Chan, and we took the dogs on walks (he rode his scooter).  

Yes, we did have to visit target

Learning all about saws

His favorite tree to climb

Featured Furry Friend of the week is GRACIE -

You do need to know Gracie to love her!  She is a great snuggler (especially with Kim), and sometimes Ji-Chan.  You can't talk to her after 8:00 PM (that's her quiet time), and don't even think about displacing her in the car.  If she is sitting on the front seat - sorry, you have to either squeeze in beside her, or sit in the back.  She is the Real QUEEN!

Sorry Blythe . . . this is my seat 

So regal - where is her crown?

Just a parting thought - 

There were so many youth at the Temple on Saturday doing baptisms, and I was thinking how nice it would be to have a Hopkins/Ellsworth youth Temple trip this July when Blythe is in Colorado.  I don't know what everyone's schedule will be like then but we can set up an appointment if you would like to go.  I can't imagine anything better than being in the Temple with you all.  

Love you all so much!  💗

One more parting thought - Paul has a birthday this coming Thursday.  He is the last of my triplets (Blythe, Hollie, Paul) to turn 15! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL   🎂