Day 6: In My Arms Again

If you only read one story from my blog this Christ­mas, read this one. I received this story from Tamara last year, but I’m post­ing it again, because it’s such an incred­i­ble exam­ple of faith and hope through tragedy. Tamara was also king enough to share this beau­ti­ful draw­ing of her chil­dren with the Sav­ior. Thank you, Tamara.


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 ‘Valiant 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.

One day I will hold them in my arms and they will never leave me again. The baby in the manger is truly a gift of immea­sur­able worth to me.

Thanks again, Tamara.