What get's us through

A lot of people ask..how do you do it?! The answer is you just do! When you are given something like what we have been given...you don't really have a choice. We didn't ask for this... it was just given to us...so we take it a day at a time...sometimes an hour or even a minute at a time and just try our best to do the very best that WE can! We aren't perfect...we definitely don't have all the answers or nearly enough at this point. There are probably a lot of people out there that would probably do things different and handle it better then we have...but we do OUR best and leave the rest up to the Lord.

There are however, several things in our life that have been a huge blessing in helping us through it all...

1. Our knowledge and testimony of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Both Zach and I grew up in families that taught us the gospel and were great examples to us. But when you go through something as hard as what we have experienced it takes your OWN testimony to get you through. There is nothing that anyone else can say or do that can give you that...it is something you have to develop and have on your own so that when the storms come...and they will...you are not torn apart.

This knowledge of the gospel has brought us light, peace, and hope in the darkest of times. Through our knowledge of the gospel we know the reason that we chose to come to earth was to get a body and be tested. We knew that it wasn't going to be easy and that we would HAVE to face hard trials so that Heavenly Father could test us and perfect us so that one day we will be prepared to live in His presence again. We know that although it doesn't always seem fair and at times we want to give up...if we endure it well...we will be blessed and experience more joy and happiness then we have felt pain. We know that all things will one day work together for our good and even through the tears, it will ALL be worth it. We trust in His plan, that He knows what we need, and that He won't give us more then we can handle. We are SO grateful for this knowledge...without it I'm not sure how we would have coped.

2. Our knowledge and love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Knowing that Jesus suffered for ME and he felt every pain and sorrow that I have felt on top of everyone elses brings comfort. Often times when I feel there is NO ONE else that understands...my Saviour does. He knows how to rescue and comfort me because He has felt MY pain. When I open my heart to him, when I strive to feel His love for me, when I desire to be more like Him...I am comforted, I am stronger, I find happiness, and I feel loved!

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

3. The scriptures.

There are countless examples of heroes in the scriptures that have faced severe adversity. Through reading them I am able to relate and learn, although our situations are nowhere near the same. They give us examples to follow as SO many of them are so diligent and faithful despite adversity. They teach us about our greatest example ever...the Savior. They are not always easy to understand and I admit that not EVERY time I read I come away with an answer...but they bring me peace just from opening and reading their pages.

4. Our families!!!

Mine

Zach's

Holy Cow...without BOTH of our families supporting us, helping us, loving us and Dakota we wouldn't be where we are at today. They hugged us, cried with us, prayed with us, drove us, made us eat and lay down, etc. while we were in the hospital and needed them SO badly. Since then, their love and support for us and Dakota has never ceased!! Zach's loss of sight and Dakota's accident have left us in need of a lot of extra help whether it is driving Zach somewhere, tending Dakota, letting us vent or cry to them, hugging us, or just praying and fasting for us...our families have been with us every step of the way! We love them SO much and are grateful for EVERY single thing that they do!

5. Our friends...both old and new!!

We have had SO much support with both Zach and Dakota from our friends and THANKS just doesn't seem to justify all that they have done! From cards, to texts, to gifts, to meals, to chats, to tears, to emails, to money, to prayers, to hugs, to EVERYTHING! We have had friends there for us ALL along the way and we are SO grateful to each and every one of you. Through these trials we have been blessed to obtain even more friends...some we have never even personally met but that have reached out to us and have blessed our lives!

6. Last but most definitely not least...THIS SMILE!!!

This most PRECIOUS and sweet smile was taken from us for a time! I never appreciated something as simple as a smile until it was gone! Every one of these brings heaven right into our home gives us the strength and motivation to keep going. They make every hard moment worth it!
WE LOVE YOU KOTA!!!

I wrote a blog post about 10 things that have gotten us through the DAILY thick of it all too...
10 Things to Get you Through