IN MY ARMS AGAIN

This letter, from Tamara, tells the story of immeasurable loss and remarkable faith. Tamara was kind enough to also share a drawing of the four children they dearly miss and the Savior, who is "the only comfort they can truly find." If you only read one story from my blog this Christmas season, read this one.

Eight years ago this coming April we lost our little 2 1/2 year old [girl] when she was run over by a [car]. Such an extremely painful thing to go through...it truly makes you hold on to what you know to be true.
We learned a great deal and the experience changed us in ways that only that kind of pain can. My other children became very focused on what was truly important. At that time we had five children. After a couple of years we had two more boys.

It had been over four years since we lost our little girl and we were finding life to be a little easier. We had just moved to our new property as we were building a new home together and felt like the Lord had brought us to this little valley.

Six months after we moved we had morning of fresh fallen snow on the ground. My three oldest headed off to school along with their two friends. They never came home. Their car went into an icy pond on their way to school. Five amazing, righteous, beautiful kids were called home that day in February 2007.

I have lost half of my eight children. Our friends have lost half of their four children. And just over a year later [another] friend lost 2 of her four girls, as well as her husband, when their truck went off the road into the river. Our little valley has suffered much loss as well as experiencing much growth and perspective as we all miss whom our Bishop calls the 'Valient 8'.

God truly has his purpose in calling them home and I see it often as they are remembered and are an inspiration to so many. As their friends tell of feeling their love and influence. As their quiet involvement in our lives becomes more apparent. As we have learned that the Savior is truly the only comfort we can find...knowing that because of Him we will see them again.

This Holiday season has been particularly hard for me as we have moved into our finished home this past year and there are so many empty rooms, empty places at the dinner table, along with all those things that would be part of our lives with 4 additional children.....but I know that one day it will all be made right. One day I will know why my children needed to go Home so soon. One day I will hold them in my arms again and they will never leave me again. The baby in the manger is truly a gift of immeasurable worth to me.