Our Family Vacation

I’m excited to be in Wisconsin with Becky and the kids.

I remember how hard it was last year: the pain of feeling so disconnected from Becky, the pain of knowing that the year before, I was in a terrible, terrible place, the regret of what I’d done and the despair it was causing my best friend and wife…

I’m grateful that today is a new day.

I’m grateful that today I’m living in recovery.

I’m grateful that today I feel so connected to Becky and to my kids.

I’m grateful that, through the Atonement, I’m in the process of healing and being forgiven for the terrible things I’ve done in the past.

I don’t have too much time today, but wanted to surrender to God through writing in my journal. I feel so grateful to have such a loving and supportive family. Becky’s parents could have completely disowned me and given me the cold shoulder after what I’ve done to their daughter, but they didn’t. Becky’s family could have done the same, but they haven’t.

I feel so grateful for this.

I just watched a Mormon Message about the blessing of children. I’m so grateful for our children. Yesterday morning before breakfast, Becky and Caleb and I all went out running/biking. It was so impressive to see Caleb out there with us – he didn’t complain and he did a great job! I would guess he ran about 2 miles. It was a bonding experience for all of us and a great way to connect.

I read this article from the Ensign today:

I will be forever grateful to a Savior who not only carried my sins, sorrows, and afflictions but also took the time to remind me that He has done so. I hope that my experiences can help others to take courage, bear up under their burdens, remember that they are not alone, and be blessed to endure to the end.

Elder Bednar said this as well about how Christ knows how we feel in our toughest times:

There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, ‘No one knows what it is like. No one understands.’ But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens.”

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease,” Ensign, May 2014, 90.

I’m grateful to have a knowledge of the plan of happiness. I’m grateful to have hope that today I can live in recovery from my addictions as I submit my will to God and humble myself before Him.

I look forward to today!

I look forward to loving and supporting my family and treating them with patience and respect.

Hasta luego!

Nate