3 Years Remembering Sunday Will Come

 The Apostle Paul said, “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and [our] faith is also vain.”


I can't believe that it has already been three years since my dad passed away. It still feels like just yesterday to me. I still remember the dream I had the night before, what I was thinking when I woke up, going and sitting with my dad (after he had fallen off the bed and couldn't move, and he wasn't really even  "there"). I remember thinking "this is it" when he was taking his last breaths.

 I remember being happy for him that he wasn't in pain anymore, but struggling with the fact that my dad physically wouldn't be at my wedding two weeks later, that he would never hold any of my kids and get to see him laugh at their antics like I had seen him do with all of the other grandkids that were around. I remember being grateful that I KNOW where he is, and to take comfort in the knowledge that I have that I will see him again, and get to hug my daddy. 

I think about him all the time and wonder what he would say to me about different things happening in my life. I am so grateful that our relationship got to be so good before I left on my mission, when we weren't so close through some of my college years.

 I am grateful that I had such an understanding mission president who talked me through losing someone to cancer, and allowed my parents to come out and visit the Sacramento temple with me as I tried to decide whether I should stay in California or go home.

 I am grateful that I do have many great memories with my dad. That I know I am special to him. I am grateful to a sister (in-law) who thought ahead and took video interviews of him so I can still hear his voice on the "really bad days" when I just want to see him and hear him again. 
I miss you daddy. Can't wait til I get to be with you again!

"When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime act, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.

I testify to you that the Resurrection is not a fable. We have the personal testimonies of those who saw Him. Thousands in the Old and New Worlds witnessed the risen Savior. They felt the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. They shed tears of unrestrained joy as they embraced Him."

                                                                   Joseph B. Wirthlin
                                                                   "Sunday Will Come" Oct 2006

It's kinda been a while

Wow, can we say that I haven't done a blog in quite some time? I guess the reason that first stopped me was I was sick through the first tri with baby #2 and then the 2nd tri we were prepping for moving down to W. Bountiful. So I will try to catch up on some of the main things.

The last post was announcing that we are having another boy. So let's start with boy #2. We THINK we have a name (still trying to find a middle name to go with the first, and let's be honest, the last name too. Cause Lucherini isn't a great name with some options out there). Anyways, So here is the story with how this name came to be, and if you stick with reading the story, you shall find out what the name is. 

So we were visiting with our friends Roxy and Larry (who I miss, by the way), and we started talking about boy names. Then Roxy wanted to start looking up different names and meanings. At first we were kind of looking for a middle name to go with another name that had kind of been our top runner, though neither of us could commit to it. The name was Gideon. Well, among some crazy fun options that we pulled up, Roxy, in classic Roxy fashion, paused and said, "I know the name of your child." Well, obviously, we were intrigued to see what this name was that Roxy was so sure was the name of our little guy in the oven. So after another dramatic pause, we got the name. Ezekiel. (She also mentioned that we could call him Zeke). I will be honest. There are some biblical names that are kinda hard for me to swallow. Gideon was kinda out there for me, but it was the name that I had liked most to that point. And with this history of having a hard time with some of these more "out there" biblical names for kids today, I must say that I am shocked at how much and how fast both Kellen and I loved this name. 

 I will be honest here. A huge thing that I love about the name Ezekiel is the meaning of it. (I am HUGE into what names mean. That is the only thing I don't like about Thomas being Thomas, I mean, twin? Really??) Well, the name Ezekiel means "God will strengthen". How can I not just LOVE that? And the last few months, that phrase, "God will strengthen" has popped into my head many times with situations going on in my life. 

So there you have it. As of right now, it is seriously looking like our child's name will be Ezekiel  _______ Lucherini. What do you think? 

So now to move on to our other child. Thomas is now 20 MONTHS!! Where oh where has that time gone?! 

He is growing up so fast I can't believe that he will be 2 in 4 months! Thomas has really started to show that he is a toddler and not a baby anymore. He is working hard to repeat any words in books that I say. Here is a list of a few favorites words: no, bwop bat (stop that), peas (please), haatsie (shotzi, this is a dog), haugie (auggie, also a dog), up, babble (bottle), jeuice (juice), orsse (horse), aug/woof (dog), at (cat). And I must add one of my favorites that he just learned is turtle. I can't describe in letters how he says it, but MAN, SO cute!

Kellen is about to start his first day of teaching math on Monday. That is kinda crazy for me to think about how he is actually a real teacher, and not just going to college. College has been part of my life for the last 9 years, that it seems crazy that it is over (for now anyways, until he gets a masters). He is also coaching football for the high school. He is the defensive line coach for the sophomores and freshman. So far he likes it. The first game of the season is later today, so you might see some more posts about football if I don't fall of the planet again. 

I am just trying to deal with the move to my mom's (we are living here for a year-ish). Hopefully we can pay off some debt and get into a house by next summer. I am also trying to just work on improving my attitude each day. Though I will say some days are certainty easier than others. 

Well, I will give this a break for now. Thanks anyone for reading.  :)