Life is Precious

Our Christmas was a good one, New Years Eve was a blast with some friends, New Years day was not the best day for many Hokanson's.  William and I just got done Sherlock, and he answered a call and all I could hear were sobs, and him saying Hokan, No. It was his sister Melinda, telling us that our nephew Hokan had passed away. He was such a bright, intellectual and a talented Young Man. In instances like this you realize how precious life is, you realize family is important, you rely on prayers, kindness, and generosity of others. We decided at that moment that we needed to be out in Idaho with Family to help everyone through this hard time. Granted I drug my feet a little, telling William that he should just go, that we didn't have the money for all of us to go. I am not one to do things spontaneous or drive cross country with 5 kids in the winter. Needless to say not even 12 hours later we were packed and heading to Idaho. We went to my parents first, then on to my cousin Spencers house in Kansas, On Saturday we headed to Denver and stayed with friends for 2 nights. It was bittersweet returning to a place we thought would be our home when William was done with school. Good to see friends, even though the circumstances were not the greatest. On Monday  we made the last haul to Rupert, Idaho. I am not going to lie many prayers were said on the road from Denver to Rock Springs, WY. There were times that we couldn't see 10 feet in front of us, mainly because of the wind was causing snow drifts. Thankfully I have a husband who knows how to drive in these conditions, and prayers by many were heard. We were so grateful to make it to the hotel and see family!The day after the funeral we headed to Rexburd for 2 nights to rest up for our drive home. It was good to see William's family, to be there for them, and for them to be there for us. We finally made it home Sunday night around 9:30. So over the course of 10 days we traveled from Ohio to Idaho, stayed in 6 different places ( not more than 2 nights at one place), amazingly we all stayed healthy, and you know I would do it all again to be there for family! We were blessed by the generosity of many people! Thanks to everyone who helped us get out to Idaho and Back! The week we got home was a rough one for us, William and I were exhausted mentally, physically and spiritually. We had a couple of recover days, William had an interview for a government job in Alaska, and then the sickness hit. First three kids, then over the course of a week all 5 kids had gotten sick. William and I are still healthy as of now. I felt it was a tender mercy that we had a couple recover days before sickness hit.  Needless to say, I have learned to love my family a little more, tell and show people how much they mean to me, and to never take anything for granted.. Life is precious! I am grateful for the atonement and for the knowledge I have that Families can be Together forever!

Christmas 2013

It has been a while since I have updated the blog, then again it has been a crazy month for us here in Ohio.  We were truly blessed this Christmas by the generosity of others. It was a particular hard week, and I remember a good friend calling and saying that some people have gotten some gifts for our kids, not only 20 minutes later a different friend texted me and asked if I could come outside for a minute, she was in our driveway. I went out, already teary from my last conversation, and sat in her car and talked for a few minutes. She said that some people wanted to make our Christmas a little brighter, so she gave me an envelope. She made me promise we would do something fun, and not pay bills. I gladly accepted that!! I thanked her, went inside, still amazed by tender mercies and how without a doubt prayers are answered by those willing to accept the promptings. I came inside and opened the envelope and cried, Londyn asked why I was crying and I told her that someone gave us some money, and she said then why are you crying? I told her they were tears of joy! I counted the money and couldn't believe it, but it was literally 10 times what we had paid in tithing just two weeks before. I am amazed how things in our life can feel like such utter chaos, but yet feel so calm at the same time. I am grateful for peace, comfort, and the knowledge that Our Savior does know us, he does answer our prayers, and he is there to help us when we think we can't handle anymore.  I truly am grateful for the past year , yes it has been hard, yes it feels like it has been a million years, but I think it has been worth it. Our peace and comfort we are granted daily outweighs any anxiety we might have about our future.  Enjoy some pictures of our kids, in their new Christmas Jammies. Merry Christmas on January 24, 2013 Love the Hokanson's