Letters of love - From Kelly

(Kelly is the daughter of my Moms sister Pam, my Moms only niece)

About a month ago while I was sitting in Sacrament meeting, I opened my scriptures, but stopped to see a hand-written note in the front cover.

For Lovely Kelly,
As you read and ponder these Holy Scriptures, open your mind and heart so that our Heavenly Father can guide and direct you in the way you should go. As I have watched you grow into a beautiful young woman, and choose the Right most of the time, it doesn’t surprise me that you are making this choice now. Remember that the Church of Jesus Christ is not just a “Sunday Church”- It is a whole new way to live each day. As you do that you will grow in wisdom and other ways you never imagined you could. I love you and I’ll always be here for you.
Love Eternally,
Aunt Caroline

As I read the words my Aunt Caroline wrote for me when I was baptized at 19-years old, I cried. I thought back to all the memories I have had with her and short amount of time we have to still make new ones. I thought about her love and support she has shown me as I have grown a testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She supported me when I was baptized, when I had a civil marriage, and when Brian and I were later sealed in the temple. Although she is not my mom, Auntie would be the stand it when I needed it. She was at my Girl Scout events, went on field trips with my class for school, came to listen to me speak at church and was my temple escort while taking out my endowments.

When I got home after church I went to my bookcase and started pulling out every church book we owned. I found numerous books that she gave to me with personalized messages. They were filled with Auntie’s strong testimony of the gospel and her love for me. When I opened The Holy Temple, by Boyd K. Packer, It read:

To Brian and Kelly,
Congratulations on being a forever family now. Uncle Larry and I pray for your eternal happiness. Vow from this day forth that you will never-ever be without a worth Temple Recommend and that you will go to the Temple faithfully every month, at the very least for the rest of your marital life. The Temple has made Uncle Larry and I the people we are today. There is no other light like in the temple to guild you through your lives.
My Eternal Love,
Aunt Caroline

Watching her struggle with this debilitating disease and see her strength through everything will be with me forever. Her life has been a great example to me about living the gospel, serving and loving.

I am at that point in my life when I am critically evaluating who I am and who I want to be. As I am identifying the gaps in my life I am filling them with character strengthens from many strong, independent women I have known. The list is endless of the ways I will incorporate Auntie into the rest of my life as woman, wife, and mother.