He Always Keeps His Word.

 On Tuesday night before bed, I got a phone call

 from one of my dearest friends, Hope,

who informed me that her husband had unexpectedly passed away

while at work.
My heart jumped into my throat.  No!

How could this be?

We just saw him.  We just talked!

After I hung up the phone with her, I went upstairs to tell

the Nies who were getting ready for bed. 

Together we mourned for her and for her three little kids, who are left

with a giant gaping hole in their lives and heart.

All seven of us kneeled down around Oliver's bed, and Christian

offered the sweetest prayer to God, asking

for her family to feel peace and comfort.

Yesterday the girls and I worked in the kitchen together, preparing

a meal for her family (She's vegan...we can do that!).

In the kitchen, we talked about life and death, trials and pain

and as we peeled vegetables, we let the tears roll down our cheeks.

 We talked about how much we love

and admire our friend, Hope, and how unfair this seems.

The night I heard the news, I couldn't sleep.

 I tossed and turned in my bed, feeling guilty that I was comfortable

 and warm sleeping next to

Christian, who was very much alive (and snoring) when I knew

Hope was in her bed tossing and turning, wishing that

 her husband was with her, snoring in their bed.

Just over a few years,

 I have seen my friends (and my sister-in-law!)

say goodbye to their husbands:

Lisa

Lindsay

Julie

Keri

Liz

Hope

Emma

I was reminded of one of my very favorite talks given

by President Henry B. Eyering, which helped me find peace

in these uncertain and heartbreaking times.

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest

 as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing.

You and I have faith that the way to rise through and above trials

 is to believe that there is a "balm in Gilead"

and that the Lord has promised, "I will not … forsake thee."

I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life. 

I cannot assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment.

One of the characteristics of trials in life is that they

 seem to make clocks slow down and then appear almost to stop.

But the Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up.

 And He always keeps His word."