The Dream

  I've been debating all day whether or not I should share this experience on the blog or not. But ultimately I decided, since this is my journal, I couldn't risk it becoming forgotten. 

  In the almost two years since Brendan passed away, I've never really had a dream about him. That is, until last night. 

  In my dream we were all together, Mom and Dad Peck, and Loren's siblings. Mom had called us together for an exciting announcement. As we sat there waiting, someone came out and stood in front of us. It was Brendan. We all sat in amazement then burst out in tears and cries of joy. Mom told us Brendan was back, but for how long she didn't know. 

  Then suddenly, it was just Brendan and me. We were lying on the grass together, Brendan's head on my shoulder just watching the clouds roll by. 

  "Will you sing me a song, Jamie?" he asked.

   I sang a few primary songs while he hummed quietly beside me. When I finished, he turned and looked at me. His eyes were piercing. He looked so intent. His next words struck me hard.

  "Jamie, never forget what's most important."

  And then I woke up. 

  I couldn't describe what I was feeling. I had just been with Brendan. It felt so incredibly real, like we literally had just been together.  I felt his head on my shoulder, I heard his voice as clear as day. And I couldn't shake his piercing eyes and final last words, "Never forget what's most important."

  As I dressed and got ready for my morning run, I couldn't stop the tears. As I started running down the street, the tears turned into sobs. I had forgotten what it was like to sit next to that sweet boy, to hear him speak, to just be around him. My heart was breaking. 

  I started thinking about his last words to me. Loren and I haven't been to the temple in many months. We honestly have no good excuse, we haven't made it a priority. I then had an impression come to my mind and I instantly knew, Brendan wanted us to go to the temple. I felt like I was seeing my life in a new light. I've been so caught up in the little day to day things that I've forgotten the big picture. What am I doing to prepare for the Second Coming? What am I doing to prepare my family? How often do I waste my time on social media? I then had a thought that time is a scarce commodity. Maybe I don't have all the time I think I do to prepare. Maybe I need to be doing just a little bit more, being a little bit better every day. 

  Was it all just a dream? Possibly. But to be honest, I believe it's more. I've never been so moved, so affected by a dream as I did by this one. I literally felt Brendan and heard his voice as clear as day. I received such a crucial warning that has literally changed my life. I'm choosing to believe that Brendan was there and that he still deeply loves and cares about his family. I believe he's trying his hardest to help us make it together to the Celestial Kingdom. I hold this experience so precious in my heart. My promise is that I WILL focus my life on eternal things and that Loren and I WILL attend the temple more. And hopefully by doing so, I will be able to look into Brendan's beautiful, piercing eyes again and tell him that we made it. We will be a family for eternity.