Amazing Grace

What a humbling and uplifting experience to attend Clay's funeral. What a testimony that our Heavenly Father and Savior live and love us and are ever mindful of us. What amazing spiritual power we felt.

We have wonderful friends in Woodland. Friday morning we dropped the kids off at school and then hit the road for Visalia. Two different friends picked up R & N and kept them until we returned to Woodland at about 8pm (and we didn't even stay for the luncheon, despite Janie's request that we stay and Chris Quist Hageman's invitation and expression that they had more than enough food. Isn't that also amazing that Clay would be the bishop and Chris would be the RS president?). (It was so weird to be in Visalia and realize that we were geographically closer to Anne than to our kids. We got to visit with Cam Thomas who lives in Burbank. His drive was 30 minutes shorter than ours.) We arrived at the stake center at 12:15. The overflow parking next door was already 75% full. (Steve and I really enjoyed our 7+ hours in the car together. It was a wonderful time together without any interruptions.)

Blane gave me a great big hug before the funeral and said you can't believe what a wonderful week we've had. He told me how they have enjoyed great spiritual experiences and have been lifted and strengthened as a family. Julie was unbelievable. She stood by Clay's casket and greeted a steady flood of people. The line into the Relief Society room extended down to kitchen. (In a building with a layout similar to the Gridley Stake Center.) She was the one doing the comforting. When she hugged me she told me that Clay said several times that he felt bad about how much he teased me when we were growing up. She stood there in that room with peace and love just radiating from her.

During the funeral, Melisse expressed that their family appreciated all the prayers that have been given in their behalf and testified of the sustaining power of the Comforter that has been carrying them through this tragedy. She said that she had experienced power beyond her own, enabling her to do the difficult things that have had to be done.

It was an amazing and strengthening experience. It was a testimony to the power of lives well lived, built on the foundation of the Savior. It was a testimony to me that the Lord stands always ready to bless and comfort us and is able to bless us to the extent that we have drawn ourselves close to Him. It was a testimony to countless family prayers, scripture reading, FHE, service, and temple attendance. The small and simple things.

What a wonderful community Gridley is. There were so many people from Gridley there. Eric Wheeler, for example, came down from Oregon to be there. I was humbled to think how blessed I am to have grown up in Gridley and to have been taught and touched by Ron, Rita, Janie, Dave and so many others. To have had such a great group of friends to rub shoulders with at church, at mutual, at school, at home. It also served as a great reminder to me to be patient with my children and with teenagers in general. People don't become spiritual giants overnight or even (very often) in their teens. I remembered times when I came home from mutual or Sunday School or school and expressed to mom my great lack of appreciation for Clay at that time in our lives. Truly, what a mighty man of good he became.

Another thing that really touched me was Melisse and Blane expressing that the Lord had prepared their family for the tragedy, that He was blessing them to look back and recognize that preparation, and that He had and was continuing to bless them with a multitude of tender mercies.

What a blessing that the Lord is in charge and will turn every experience to our good as we turn our hearts to Him. I am so grateful for the example of the Sannars and Daddows.