Heavy Hearted

I know I just posted about the great blessings in my life. And I have a lot right now. But for the last few weeks I've been feeling pretty down. I'm sure part of it is the cold, rain, and darkness around here. Plus it seems like every time I look at my computer the headlines are just horrible. The night before Christmas a girl in a town near here decided to kill her whole family, including her young niece and nephew. She shot her mom while she was wrapping presents for the grandkids. I keep seeing updates on the pregnant girl that got killed and burned and on the guy who decided to kill his children. Then there's the girl in Utah who was shot by her ex-husband. On her birthday. In front of her mom. Drunk drivers, child abuse, war--it's just getting to be too much. Especially since many of these stories involve people my age or who have children the same ages as mine.

I've always enjoyed reading the news, but it's really getting me down lately. It's not only that. We've had several family members and friends going through some serious trials too. I think that just adds on to everything else. It's kind of strange because last year was a very bad time for me, and I felt like it wasn't for many other people I knew. Now I feel like the only one with blessings.

My mom just called last night to let me know that my uncle died in an avalanche yesterday. Not only that, but there were two other guys with him. All of them have families and they are all from the same small town and ward. My heart aches. Within less than three years my mom has lost a sister, her mother, and now a brother-in-law. This post doesn't have much point, really. I still have a testimony and I still know that "joy comes in the morning". But sometimes the night seems really long.