Stand in Holy Places

This has a whole new meaning for me lately. There's been shootings a couple times in the last 2 weeks in our neighborhood. We think one of our neighbors is involved in last weeks shootings-- by the way the cops were hanging around their house today. Two weeks ago, Andrew pulled out his AR-15 when he heard some gun shots and started cleaning it (I think it's an ar-15... I don't know.. I don't know guns and I don't like them but I do have a great respect for them). When I got home from YW, he told me what he heard and then decided to teach me how to use it, if need be. We hear gun shots at least once a month and we live in a nice little suburb called Tolleson in Phoenix with nice new houses-- you'd never guess it'd be that type of neighborhood until after you move in. I'm glad we didn't buy because it wasn't until after we moved in that we realized we're surrounded by drug users and shootings and loud music that plays until odd hours of the morning from some one's car that keeps Abby up at night some times.


Yet, I still feel the spirit, the love of Christ and am completely content in my house. As President James E. Faust taught in his talk on Standing in Holy Places, he said "to fully enjoy life, all of us must find our own breathing space and peace of mind.How can we do this? There is only one answer. We must rise above the evil that encroaches upon us. We must follow the counsel of the Lord, who said, “It is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places.” ...surely another holy place on earth ought to be our homes. .. I can say that our home has been a place where we have sought to honor the spirit of holiness to the Lord. We did not always succeed. Of course not. But we tried."

And I feel the same way. We are seeking to honour the spirit of holiness to the Lord in our house and though we don't always succeed we are trying. And because we are trying I feel comfort and peace and safety in our house. And I'm grateful to my husband who has the priesthood, who was able to bless our home and bring the spirit into it. I'm grateful I can stand in a holy place. :)

Anyway... they're building a police station a block away from us so we're hoping things will calm down now. We've been using a police unit that is not stationed very close to us and it often takes them a while to get to our neighborhood. And I just wanted to share that as I'm watching the police which are parked outside of our house questioning the family kiddy corner to us.

Better get off and go to the store to get some free stuff with couponsense. whohoo. :)