I slept in my own bed last night for the first time in two months! It was glorious to be able to lay flat, to fall asleep next to Bill, to get up and make the bed, instead of just fold the blankets, then spend most of the day in the recliner anyway. It feels so good to have that sense of normalcy, even as I face a new normal.

I feel very blessed this morning. I pray I can feel that a lot, regardless of the realities I’m facing. The reality-the truth is that I am very blessed.

I have a wonderful family that loves me and has given me joy and happiness and provides me with a place of peace and growth. Bill is such a great husband. he has made it easy to become my best self-to reach my potential. I have never had to question his love for me. I have many friends who love and care deeply for my welfare. I have a comfortable, beautiful home with all the comforts of life.

I am emotionally and mentally healthy and generally handle the challenges of life with grace and I am happy. I have the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the doctrines, the truth, the covenants and the power of God as my foundation. I have been able to repent and feel the blessing of being clean and right before God. I know and love my Savior. He overcame all things, therefore, I can, too. I know and am confident that I’ll receive the blessings of eternity: Eternal life, which includes eternal families, eternal marriage, eternal progress, and a fulness of joy.

What happens in this life is eternally significant, but a very short span in the eternities of pre-earth life and immortality-Eternal life-forever. That’s a tough concept to wrap our brains around. But an eternal perspective will help us endure the frightening challenges we face here with some measure of grace and patience. And it makes it so we can experience joy, regardless of the circumstances of life.