Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?

A few weeks ago as all of you know Dad shot himself by accident. One of the tender mercies of the Lord was that he didn't die, it didn't shatter a bone, it had not penetrated an artery but had lodged in a muscle. I remembered how President Eyering had asked us to write down how we had seen the hand of God take care of our family...it comes a conference talk by President Eyering in 2007.

I was so touched that I wanted to make sure I implemented it during such a challenging time. He said, and I quote:

"When our children were very small I started to write down a few things about what happened every day...I heard in my mind - not in my own voice - these words: 'I am not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.'

I went inside. I didn't go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family....

I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: "Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?" As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened....I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. .....Did God send a message just for me?

He loves us and I testify that He loves us and it brings me joy to remember Him...

Today - there is more than one, the tender mercies of the Lord was evident in that we had been looking for over a week for Matthew's diploma. We found it today. The deadline was tomorrow.

We were able to share with a sister a ladder and a meal as she went through moving during this time in her life.

I find it a tender mercy whenever I talk with any of our children and I talked with Jenn, saw Matthew today and talked with Diana...