Feel The Love

How I pray that all who have loved then lost might know the reality of the Resurrection and have the unshakable knowledge that families can be forever.
One such was a Major Sullivan Ballou, who, during the time of the American Civil War, wrote a touching letter to his wife--just one week before he was killed in the Battle of Bull Run.
With me, feel the love of his soul, his trust in God, his courage, his faith.

"July 14, 1861

"Camp Clark, Washington

"My very dear Sarah,

"The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days--perhaps tomorrow.
Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

"I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.
... I am ... perfectly willing ... to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government. ...

"Sarah, my love for you is deathless; it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistingly on with all these chains to the battle field.

"The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long.
and hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood around us.
I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me--perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed.
If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name.
Forgive [me] my ... faults, and the many pains I have caused you.
How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been!
How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness. ...

"But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and the unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights ... always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again."

Thomas S. Monson -The Path to Peace -April 1994 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was with my brother. We were on our own, without parents. On a journey. We came to a campsite with a man, and he invited us to sit by the fire. We got to talking and he mentioned my bracelet. It was a beaded thing that was mostly white with some color on it. But he seemed to focus particularly on a small rock bead, the same size of the others...only it was turquoise. A stone that was rare and very coveted. So rare in fact that he tried to kill me and my brother. We took off running in the woods, but I got shot in my lower back. My brother helped me to a cave, where we were going to seek shelter in the 'heart of stones' where I could be healed through the turquoise mine that we knew about...and no one else did. It was a tricky cave though with multiple passageways. A lot like a maze. As we walked in, we came across another man, who was searching the caves for the turquoise mine's entrance. At that point I could only think of the fire burning down my back, but we weren't sure we could trust this guy as we'd been betrayed so many times before that point....

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D