Bishop asked me to write about Sheri's history for a Fifth Sunday presentation. He asked me to model it after the pattern in a article in this month's Ensign. Sheri is the current Primary President in our ward.
Sheri
Sheri is of royal lineage. I sang a song to her when we were married a
song called Vision: See that woman standing there, golden sunlight in her hair.
Something glows above the rest, can your sense her nobleness. A painting without frame it seems, but
endless in its majesty; can you see what I see, can you see? I see a vision in eternity, you are the
vision I see. Angels surround you in
eternity, glorious queen your will be. I
see the sons I see the daughters at your side, glorious queen; Goddess
forever.
Sheri’s youth was hard. Her parents were divorced when she was three,
and she was raised by her birth mother and stepfather. Sheri now has two fathers. Her step father did not always treat her as
he should have. Her oldest brother was
killed in a farm accident when she was in third grade. Sheri was acquainted with grief and
hardship.
Sheri was the oldest daughter in her
family of thirteen siblings. She grew up
working hard, changing diapers, cooking and cleaning; and performing farm
chores.
After we were married, we were
anxious to start a family. Sheri always
wanted a large family of at least eight children (not a few). Sheri quickly became pregnant. However her fist pregnancy ended in
miscarriage. Her second pregnancy also
ended tragically with a stillborn baby boy.
It wasn’t until her third pregnancy that we brought our oldest daughter
home, Natalia. She was followed by five
more siblings, each born about two years apart.
Sheri was a busy woman.
When are youngest child, Caleb, was
finishing elementary school, Sheri reminded me that when we courted I had
always talked about being adoptive and foster parents. She was the spark behind us becoming licensed
as foster parents. She said she felt
inspired that we were supposed to do this.
Starting
about eight years ago, we brought over 35 children into our home. Some we had for only a brief period. Some we kept for over a year. Tony we were able to adopt. We have had children from many different
circumstances. Some, such as Tony, were
premature. Sheri has a special talent
with premature babies and babies with prenatal drug exposure. She has a deep seated love for children.
Sheri
is an example in our home of daily prayer and daily scripture study. She gets up early and reads her scriptures
and has some time to herself to meditate and pray.
Lessons
To each is given a talent, and we should use that
talent.
Having faith in the Lord he will show us the path
we should go and the things we should do to leave a positive mark in the world.
Even though things don’t always work the way we
would like them to, and there may be trial and pain; as we pursue with faith we
receive blessings from the Lord.
What Can I Do?
Recognize and develop my talents, and use the talents I have been
given.
Think about how I can strengthen my faith and trust
in the Lord.
Consider how to make my time spent waiting for the
Lord’s blessings more fruitful and productive.
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