This year has been somewhat uneventful.
We are all healthy and happy. The children are doing well in school. We have enjoyed a better year at our shop (where Kaerlig was awarded “Employee of the Month” 12 times by our CEO). We have grown closer as a family as we have worked and played together. We have also been able to attend the temple with increased regularity.
One memorable experience was our hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls in July. Our guidebook said it was a short, leisurely hike down into a “riparian oasis.” Rainer grudgingly agreed to go. But with the mid-day sun beating down on the steep sandstone reef all of the kids became discouraged (Rainer in particular). He complained loudly that there was no water in sight, we were in a desert, and the guidebook had lied! The kids were melting down. But we were caught between turning and hiking back up the slickrock face, or trudging onward to the promised oasis ahead.
In those difficult circumstances words of wisdom distilled to us from above. We told the kids: “You have been blessed with strong bodies and good minds. We know that you can do this. Heavenly Father knows that you can do this. You would be foolish to try and prove Him wrong. Prove Him right!”
When finally we arrived at the falls, it was beautiful. We had a wonderful time playing in the secluded pool together. It was incredibly refreshing. The hike in was much harder than we expected, but it was worth it.
It’s easy to see that experience as a larger metaphor. We know that our Heavenly Father has given us many blessings and that He believes in our ability to succeed at whatever challenges we may face. Even when things are harder than we expected, He is there for us and He is kind to us.
Yes, this year has been somewhat uneventful. We have found a secluded, sheltered place for our family to rest.
We like it here.
Merry Christmas.
The Hurtado Family
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