On behalf of a grateful nation

Both of our grandpas (that passed away in the last two months) were honored with military funerals and I found myself so moved by them. The order and prestige that the soldiers stand and are uniformed in, the lone meloncholy bugler, the crisp way they reverently fold the flag. It felt like something off of a movie.

At Grandpa Hock's I was standing close enough to hear the soldier as he bent down and gave the flag to the family,

"On behalf of a grateful nation."

I felt so proud to be the posterity of these great men that the nation was grateful for. Either one of our grandpas could've died at war like so many other young soldiers of their time. Instead the Lord preserved them and allowed them to come home and marry wives and raise families. Neither Adam or I would be here today if it weren't for Heavenly Father protecting them. And at the same time, the country wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the willingness and bravery of these young men who flew away from their homes and their comforts and everything they knew to protect it from enemies far away.

At both funerals people kept telling us, "Be sure to live up to your legacy." It's a tall order, but nothing would make me more proud than to honor these two great men (and their wives) by living my life with the same patriotism and courage and loyalty to God that they've both shown.

Thank goodness that death isn't the end of the road. I am so grateful for how deeply my testimony has been strengthened lately about Jesus Christ and the great power that comes through His atonement.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 15:55-57)