With wonder and delight

The newest member of the Kirk clan has a look of just excitement to be here on earth. I love her bright eyes and her curious smile. She reminds me a lot of her mother.

Thinking about the new spirits that have been sent to our family has led me to ponder on the great goodness of life. If I read the newspaper too many days in a row I begin to feel bogged down with the weight of the world. When I see this beautiful face I think of the scripture on John chapter 16: 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have^apeace. In the ^bworld ye shall have ^ctribulation: but be of good^dcheer; I have ^eovercome the world.

We are so blessed to live in a time when the Atonement has happened, when the prophecies have been fulfilled. On our family vacation last year we listened to the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites books. In the first one, some teenagers go back in time to the Nephite civilization. They meet some Nephite warriors and one of them asks, "The Christ, has He come in your time?" The boy answers and says yes and the man is so moved he cannot speak. The gift that Christ has given us is hope. Hope that His promises are sure. Hope that we can do all that is required of us. Hope that in the end these tiny moments like little Amaya's smile are gifts from God to remind us that He is real and that He loves us.