It is a rare moment when I am alone in a room in my home. It's Sunday afternoon, our three children are sleeping downstairs in their rooms or are very quiet. I laid down for a while with Blaine, but feel I have things I need and want to do, and if I sleep, I will miss the moments.
Some of the tender mercies I saw in our lives this past week - I still hold a tender spot in my heart for Nicole Tonks - she was Elizabeth's Girls Camp Leader a couple of weeks ago. She went all out - put her whole heart and soul into the calling, and it showed so much. Such a blessing to Lizzie and our entire family. It makes such a different when members do their calling!
This week, Coach Neil Gleichman put his heart and soul into a Summer XC Camp - the camp was a week long -well, from early Monday morning until Saturday afternoon. It was vigorous. It cost $200, which is significant for today. It did include lodging in a tent by Jenny Lake and the nutritious food was included, though. They had two tents - one for men, one for women. There were only five young women from THS that attended - Kat, Ruthie Bagley, Elizabeth and I can't remember the other name. But Mr. Gleichman took them on two runs per day, usually a hike or activity in the the outdoors, and they had instruction on nutrition, how to properly run, all aspects of XC - it was outstanding.
I'm in love with Elizabeth. We missed her while she was gone almost 6 days. It's a tender mercy of God to have a sweet daughter like Elizabeth. This week will be her last week working at Corner Drug. She's worked long and hard this summer. It's a good thing we/she asked for part-time this year. She's still worked a lot. She was able to get all of the time off she needed for her camps and things, so that was nice. I do not think she will work there again next year, but Sally and Aaron Myler have been good to her.
A tender mercy is that Elizabeth has not suffered from allergies this summer. It's such a big deal - a very few days she had to take one tablet of an anti-allergy, so we feel blessed. The pain in her calves that plagued her during last school year has almost dissipated, which has been wonderful. We credit Coach Geichman for his work on teaching us to roll her calf muscles in relieving that.
Nikole is happy and excited for college. She attended Reiley Moulton's family/friend dinner last night and his farewell in sacrament meeting this morning. She had a lot of fun with Reiley, Freeman McCashland, AJ Robison, Keegan Kearsley at the dinner. Nikole had a really good date with Dallin Isaac, our cousin Jake Isaac's brother. He picked Nikole up at Breanna's home in Layton, had a fun date to Boondocks, he ripped his pants on the fence, when he tried to climb over to fetch a ball Nikole had hucked over the top, they got him new shorts at the City Creek Mall, ate there, had fun riding long boards at Breanna's church - just had a grand time.
Nikole went with Carl and I to Rexburg - she chose to drop us off at Rexburg Rapids, which turned out to be really fun - I think it is one of the best buys and deals to do, right in Rexburg - a big water park with two slides, a lazy river, a huge little kids toys and pool area, nice picnic areas with covers from the sun, a lap pool. Nikole had fun with the gas attendent and a young man at DI, who asked if she was attending BYU-I and invited her to swing dancing on Wednesdays.
I had some personal struggles this week with a wierd feeling I rarely feel of feeling like really wealthy people control everything. I know they do in the world, but it was more personal. I've always believed and taught my children that although I'd like them to set their goals high and to obtain a job that they love to do but that makes decent money - I always believed and taught that money really doesn't matter truly, it 's the service, the heart, the love of Jesus Christ and the following of Him who served and loved all - that is the pure gospel, and the way we should live.
I know Heavenly Father's house is full of many mansions, and His church on the earth and His temples are beautiful beyond anything here on earth - so I know that is we inherit the Celestial Kingdom - I've heard it's more beautiful and wonderful than anything I can imagine here, so it's worth it, but I just don't understand over-abundance of money on this earth. I don't know why people have to have super large, extravagant homes, and so much riches.
I've learned I guess it's ok if they stay humble, focused on the Savior and don't think they're better than other members and people.
My two oldest presious children are married or marrying into wealthy families. I pray their hearts will remain pure and good. Breanna's family is sweet, fun and happy. They are very good to us. We had fun hiking with them at the bridal shower. Breanna is a sweetheart.
I prayed fervently for deliverance from the sad feeling I was having. This was Saturday morning. Then I went about and we did our usual Saturday work. We had been busy last week-end, spending boat and hiking time with Terry and Derek and Breanna, so it was nice to be home. I had traveled to Rexburg to take Carl to Rexburg Rapids and to do a bunch of errands, so it was good to be home. I worked away and Blaine worked away. As we did our work and got to pick up Elizabeth at around 3 pm, I began to feel the Holy Ghost prompt and teach me. Such a tender mercy to know the Holy Ghost is real and He will bring comforts to our troubled hearts.
I had the prompting that my belief is still absolutely true - no matter whether we are poor in money, medium or wealthy - we are judged the same - the Lord uses the wealthy's money to run his programs in the church, but others have other gifts, other testimonies, other things that the membership needs - we all have talents, blessings, things we can offer the Kingdom. We are all going to be judged on our hearts, the service we gave, the commitment to living His commandments we gave on the earth.
I also had the prompting that I have going through two very big, regulary stressful (even if it's good stress) events - having two children leave home and having one get married. Putting on a marriage is a big event. So, no wonder.
I'm going to keep trying to save money on my weekly deal groceries, I'm going to keep canning fruits and vegetables in the fall, I'm going to keep being the best daughter, wife and mother I can be. I'm going to keep attending the temple regularly, I'm going to keep paying my thing, keep doing my church calling, keep loving my family, keep serving those I know are struggling. The soft and tender answer was for me!
Derek went to see Breanna on Friday. It was her 21st birthday. We sent a polka dot skirt in the mint color she loves. We helped Derek order the big canvas picture of he and Breanna she wanted, and he ordered he and she tickets for Lagoon! Wow, she's being treated royally!
He will come home either tonight or tomorrow morning - we are guessing in the morning. They cannot stand to be apart very much. : )
It's a blessing to be part of a wonderful courtship and marriage. I feel it has been a Fairy Tale, but in real life.
I've been plugging away at the decorations for our open house here. I had hoped to use the same table decorations for the lunch, the reception at Marcums, and then our open house, but that doesn't work, so we are painting jars, and I had a miracle of finding slices of trees that are in fashion. A tender mercy was that my friends John from work and Ken Schwab. I asked them if they knew of anyone who could find me a tree slice to decorate our open house with. John Dobbins told me he had just cut down a big tree the night before, on the hospital property! He would use the big saw and slice off 2 inch thick pieces of the tree! Ken said he John didn't have big enough pieces, he was going to cut wood the next day in the forest, and he would get me one! Yay! Tender mercies!
