Seven years ago when Matt died I felt a suffocating darkness descend upon me. I did not believe I would ever experience light again. However, the Comforter, spoke to me. I literally heard these words, "Francie, you do not yet have a testimony of Hope... but as you pass through this experience you will know what hope is." I knew in that moment that I was not alone. I have studied and read about hope. I have prayed for hope and practiced hope. I felt my own personal feelings stated aloud as President Uchtdorf spoke on hope in October conference. The words he spoke were my own... they were a reflection of my own testimony. How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ which teaches all things we must know and do to return home to our Father in Heaven.
Hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges.
But Why Then Is There Despair?
The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.
Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.
Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.
In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can “have patience, and bear . . . [our] afflictions.”
The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.
We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt, and despair.
Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us. -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
She grew up on Emblem Bench with those Peterson girls as friends.
She was a wonderful wife and mother. Her husband is John Davison and her children are Chuck, Wendy and Mike. She now has nine grandchildren. .... and I know of two great grandchildren.
Anna Mae and John Davison
I have been blessed with a wonderful family whom I love so much and am comforted by the love they have for me. This week is my cousin's, Wendy Davison Richter, birthday. She was the city girl who loved to come visit the farm each summer. We wrote letters to each other all year and just waited for that one or two weeks we could spend together. Wendy didn't have a sister and she loved being with LaRae, Cheryl, and I. We all would cry when she returned to Colorado. One summer I returned to the city with her and we made these cute dresses. It was so fun.... Thanks, Aunt Anna Mae!! I would hope that everyone can have the relationships with their siblings and cousins that I had. Happy Birthday, Wendy. I love you.
Not so long ago, Wendy was here visiting with Cheryl and I. In this picture we were at Shell Falls. We were on our way over the mountain to see Jill. Wendy had her two youngest daughters with her, Rhianna and Devin. We still like to spend time together!!!
Seven years ago when Matt died I felt a suffocating darkness descend upon me. I did not believe I would ever experience light again. However, the Comforter, spoke to me. I literally heard these words, "Francie, you do not yet have a testimony of Hope... but as you pass through this experience you will know what hope is." I knew in that moment that I was not alone. I have studied and read about hope. I have prayed for hope and practiced hope. I felt my own personal feelings stated aloud as President Uchtdorf spoke on hope in October conference. The words he spoke were my own... they were a reflection of my own testimony. How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ which teaches all things we must know and do to return home to our Father in Heaven.
I look at the blogs and enjoy seeing the pictures of young mothers busy with their children and recall the wonderful years when my children were small. I loved becoming and being a mother to Jill and Matt. They were delightful and beautiful children and I always enjoyed being in their company. We had alot of fun together and it is a great blessing being an eternal family.
Our family truly wasn't complete until our Matt joined us in 1986. Jill was born just two years earlier in 1984. This is our first family picture with the four of us together. It was taken just after Matt had arrived from a long journey from Korea. He smiled and smiled and so did we!!
Yesterday, November 19th, was the anniversary of Matt's death. We miss him. He is always in our thoughts and our prayers. We cherish all the sweet memories we have of him and love him more with each passing day. We feel him close to us and are filled with gratitude once again that we are an eternal family. The picture above is a picture Matt chose to put on my computer as a screen saver many many years ago. It represents serenity for me and always reminds me of my Matthew.
Nathan and Yuritzin Link
On October 24, 2008, Nathan Link got married in the Billings Montana Temple. He married a beautiful young woman from Mexico. Her name is Yuritzin. He met her while on his mission in Mexico and then waited for her while she served a mission also. Nathan is my Aunt Orpha's youngest grandson. In the picture are Nathan's brothers, Chris and Cameron.
Jill is rather awesome! She hunted the deer on the farm. It literally just walked out of the corn. She got a good shot and took it. This is a great looking dry doe. She will grind the meat and make jerky. A meat many of us enjoy a great deal. I remember LaRae shooting a deer so she could make jerky to sent to Vietnam when Sam was serving in the army in 1969.
Her husband, Jake, was very proud of her!! I told her.... she can hunt and butcher the deer and I will raise and butcher the chickens and we can keep the children fed!! There is something comforting about being self sustaining and capable. 
