Aunt Katie

My Aunt Katie is dying of cancer. She is a wonderful wife, and mother to six beautiful children. We often times don't know why we have to experience certain circumstances in life, but we do know that our Heavenly Father has a greater plan in mind. One of Katie's friends is putting together a memory book for her, and this is what I wrote.

When I think of Aunt Katie, the first thing that comes to my mind is memories of excitement. I remember when my mom told me that my Uncle Dennis was going to be getting married, and I was so excited to have a new Aunt. This would be the first time that I would get to see an Aunt enter into the family and I was thrilled. I remember looking again and again at their wedding announcement, thinking how beautiful I thought Katie was, and how I wanted to be just like her some day. I loved the fact that she had served a mission and was really excited to have a young and fun aunt. I don’t remember if it was the morning of Dennis and Katie’s wedding, or if it was before their reception, but one thing I do remember is how beautiful she looked in her wedding dress. I was sitting on the stairs at my grandparent’s house, watching as she and her mother perfected her hair and makeup. I couldn’t help but think of how I wanted to someday be a beautiful bride, sealed to my husband in the temple.

Katie has always been so much fun to be around. I remember one time when she was at our house, shortly after having Jeffrey, and we had built a blanket fort in the front room. She was so nice to play with us and even crawled inside the fort to play. She always has a smile on her face and is a very caring and genuine person. She knows how to make you feel special and loved.

When I think about Katie, I can’t help but think about how creative she is. I am always amazed at how she can take something that seems so insignificant and make something beautiful. She is an awesome seamstress, scrap booker, card maker, piano player, cook, blogger, etc. You name it and she can do it!! She is an all around amazing part of our family.

Along with several tasks at hand, she is a wonderful mother. Having six kids, I can only imagine, can be a challenge at times. She and Dennis are great parents who are raising such amazing children. They have taught them to be kind and polite and have raised them to have testimonies and a love for the gospel. I know that Aunt Katie has a testimony of our Savior, and she has strengthened many people through her struggles and trials over the past 3 years. Through her whole battle with cancer, she and Dennis have both been optimistic and strong “rocks” to our family. Even through days of hardship, they have always had faith and hope, and know that things will work out the way that they are intended.

I recently heard life described as a big blanket that is being weaved. All that we can see here on earth, in this life, is the backside. As we journey through life we can see that there is color and beauty, but along the way we find knots, twisted threads, and imperfections. It is not until later that we can see the remarkable beauty of the front of the “blanket” of life, and put it all together. Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us, and there is nothing in this life that we cannot overcome through faith and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We may never know in this life why we experience what we do, but we know that we can grow from those experiences. It is through the gospel and the ordinances performed in the temple that we can be eternal families. President Thomas S. Monson said, “The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls—not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when he said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.’ ”

We love you Katie and are grateful to have you as part of our family “blanket”. Thanks for the incredible strength and inspiration you are to each of us.