B and I had to go to the grocery story last Saturday.  I know that is nothing new in ANYONE'S world.  In fact, we go waaay too often.  Spending way too much money each time we do.

On this specific Saturday there was a group of scouts doing a food drive for the local food pantry.  It was refreshing to see instead of the usual notice on the front door saying they were coming on a given day to collect.  And it was no trouble for us to go in the store and get something that was on sale and non-perishable to add to what they had already collected. Easy.

These boys were giving up a Saturday to serve someone they don't know and will never see.

Refreshing.

Service isn't in our vocabulary much any more.  Especially for the youth.  It should be but it isn't. 

I know there are many parents/grandparents who are service oriented.  But not enough.  Many kids are entitled and don't want to do anything unless they know what's in it for them.

On two different Thanksgivings, after we had eaten, we put together pantry packs.  These pantry packs are given to the local food pantry.  They, in turn, given them out to children who don't have consistent meals over the weekends when they can't get breakfasts and lunches from school.  The younger grandkids LOVED putting these packs together.  It took us less than half an hour to do the 50 kits we had planned for.  They wanted to do more. At that time we just didn't have the resources to do more.  We had to pay for everything that goes in those pantry packs including the Ziploc bags they were packed in.

Watching those scouts made me realize how important it is for kids to have experiences serving those who can't give anything back. My job, as a grandma, is to watch for opportunities for service for my kids and grandkids. That we can all do together.  Because I know that "....when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17 

 

I hope you'll indulge me while I wax eloquent for a minute....Friday Chris invited me to go with him and the boys to hike Donut Falls. Good memories from years past. But not the hike I remembered.  I'm getting old I guess. 

It was a beautiful day, albeit a little chilly when we started. And I think for Chris and I it wasn't the hike we quite expected. Although being in the mountains is a good day any day! And for me, I was with the people I love. There were a couple of places where we had to cross the river. Mack was on Chris's back. The first crossing Chris grabbed Lukey and just hauled him over. Beck was fine. There were a couple of other places before the second crossing where I was able to help Luke while Chris had Mack. Beck was a mountain goat. 

When we came to the second crossing (if that's what you want to call it.) It was kinda like getting to the falls up Adams canyon. You're basically on your own except for a precariously placed skinny log with a few others around it. Kind of a free for all

Chris made it across again with both boys. I don't know how he did it. I think both Beck and I managed to step in the water but Chris made it across dry.

I felt bad for not being more help. My core isn't what it used to be.

Here's the deal, if we crossed the river twice getting up there we had to cross it going back.

When we got to the water Chris told Luke to hang on tight. Luke did, but it wasn't good enough. So Chris said 'No, put your arms around me and hang on as tight as you can.'

They made it.

I'm not mentioning what my crossing looked like. 

The rest of the hike was fairly uneventful except for a scraped knee at the end. But it's not a hike with kids unless there's some casualty.

Here's my thoughts...and I know you know where I'm going with this....

Life is becoming full on crazy. We all thought we were in for a beautiful easy life. At least I did! It is beautiful, but not without pain and difficulty.

There are parts (most parts, actually) that we can't do alone. We need help. First of all, we need each other. I'm soo grateful for each and every one of you who are a bright spot and example to me in so many ways that you will never fully know. I love you all soo much!

Also, we need the Savior. He helps us through this life when we don't know how we're going to do it. In fact, he tells us to grab Him by the neck and hold on tight. Because if we don't, we won't make it. He literally carries us. If we will let him. We are nothing without him. Friday, Lukey would have been left behind without Chris. Christ WON'T leave us behind. But we do have to hold on tight to Him. Yes, there are owies along the way but that's when we come in to help each other. And the Savior doesn't carry us the whole way. Just the parts where we would be left, lost and forgotten. I am so grateful for Him. He's my friend. I love Him.

And that's all I have to say 💕

 

Succor; a person or thing that gives help, relief and aid.

 I once heard a religion teacher say it literally means ‘to run to’. We see this word in Alma 7:12 that says, speaking of Christ, ‘…and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people…’

That word is Gaye Brown to me.  The morning our sweet Sarah died, the bishop came to our house with the police.  After they gave us the news, he asked if he could share it with you. You were the RS president at the time.  But you had also just been with Sarah on a trip to Ghana less than a year earlier. 

The next thing I knew there you were at my doorstep covered in dirt from doing yard work that morning.  You had ‘run to’ us before even changing or washing up. I remember your nails having dirt on them.  And there you sat and cried with us and shared memories of our sweet Sarah and from when you had lost your amazing Jodie the July before.  It was a special sacred time that I will never forget.  It was ‘Pure religion and undefiled….visiting (us) in (our) affliction’ (James 1:27)

You are a bright spot in the lives of everyone who knows you.  I want to be like you when I grow up.  I love you!

A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER

The chaos had finally quieted and I was left with a sink of soapy water and the dirty dishes to go with it.  Lest you think I was feeling sorry for myself, far from it.  This is a time to slow down, think about the evening and connect with myself.  It is a time for reflection.  Almost a meditation of sorts. 

This Christmas Eve had felt more chaotic than most.  We had added 4 more bodies to our family count with Rachel engaged to Darin.  His kids are lovely and well-behaved.  It’s my own crew that got out of hand.

We had had the usual pinata with gifts and candy stuffed inside.  The littles loved hitting it with all their might to see if they could spill a few treats for themselves. 

Then there was the adult bingo with gift cards as the prizes. A chaos of its own making.

Bingo was followed by Rachel’s addition of the Saran Wrap game.  I don’t know what else to call it.  It is layer upon layer of Saran Wrap waiting to be unwrapped with candy and gifts tucked within each layer. Dice and gloves are involved which only added to the frenzy.  Screaming may have been heard coming from each person at some point in time until it was over.

We unwrapped presents.  Which took longer this year with the addition of the Teeples family. But added to our gifts that we gave, were Rachel and Darin’s gifts to each other’s kids.

I read a story from a new Christmas book by Bruce Lindsay about his father Richard. It included Heber who was his best friend at the time.  It meant a lot to me to share it with the kids.  I knew that Heber would never mention it.  It was a sweet story and when I asked Heber about it earlier, he said he remembers that Christmas and the gift from his friend Richard.

It was nearing 8:30-9:00pm which is a little on the late side for Christmas Eve.  In spite of the late hour, we packed up and headed to the cemetery for our ‘tradition of the candles’ at Sarah’s headstone.  A minimum of a dozen candles are set around Sarah’s headstone.  Some are in lanterns while others are just set around on the skirting of the headstone or even in the snow.  This year because of no snow, it was the grass.  The effect in the darkness is magical.  A stark reminder that there is light even in death.

With my hands in soapy water, as I was reviewing the reveling we had just shared with this year’s Christmas, my eyes rested upon a stained glass manger scene a dear friend had given me just that year.  Maybe even earlier that day. I had hung it on the handle of the door leading to the basement. It now lay on the counter next to the sink.  Broken.  Shattered from the middle out to its edges.  It had obviously been bumped and then stepped on amid the rush and chaos of our many activities.

Then this thought came into my mind….

“Where was I in your celebration of the season?  Was I bumped and then trampled on in your rush to accomplish what you wanted to do?”

My heart was broken.  In our frivolity and merry making I had completely forgotten the reason for the season.  The reason for the joy and laughter.  The reason for the connection called relationship.  The reason for hope, rejoicing and love.  I had trampled the gift given to me by my all-loving Father in Heaven in search of my own desires and agenda.

A vow came over me with the gratitude in knowing I could have another chance. Next year.  Next year would be different. I vowed to always make it different.  My Savior, Jesus Christ would be my focus.  Our focus.  Each year. 

Because He is the reason I live, love, have joy and peace.

 QUIET

I am an introvert by nature.  Yes, I love my people and spending time with them.  Connecting, playing.  But I also need down time and alone time to rejuvenate.  

Some people think that I'm a snob because I'm not the first to talk to them and make them feel comfortable.  I'm an observer and a watcher.  I like to asses a person and a situation before jumping in with both feet.  Granted if I'm the only person in the mix I'll talk and be friendly.  But if it's a group, I'm not the first one to put myself out there.  

If it's my own family, that's a whole different story.  I'm in the mix and wanting to talk and connect with EVERYONE.  

We open up to those who we're comfortable with.

Put me in a social situation, where there are ALOT of people (more than 10) and I'm stuck.  I don't know what to do or say.  

Give me a group of 6 or less and I'm comfortable and at home.

Sounds like an introvert to me.  But I still need rejuvenation and alone time even with 6 or less people.

Rejuvenation.....what does that look like?  Time in the yard.  Either working or sitting.  Reading.  Playing the piano.  Journaling.  Cooking.  

I first read this book about 7 years ago.  Maybe it's been longer.  I can't tell you the relief I felt as I read about introverts and recognized myself.  But the beauty of this book was in recognizing the power and necessity of introverts.  We live in a world that celebrates the loud, the outgoing, the social and gregarious personality. I have felt 'less than' because I was not those things. This book helped me realize it was okay to be quiet and need alone time.  

You see, the world needs both.  Introverts and extroverts.  What a sad world it would be if we only had one or the other.  I have friends who are extroverts and they keep me laughing and well-fed with their stories.  Extroverts need introverts who will listen to them but also bring a different view to the table, when necessary.  

I am an introvert.  And it's ok.    

 WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER?

This is a question that haunts me.  Kind of along the same lines as "What have you been up to?"

Not much.

At least I don't think so.

Gifts suggested from my patriarchal blessing are wisdom and knowledge.

But no one seems to care or want those gifts.  So I keep quiet.  Why give a gift that no one wants?

I know my thoughts have merit.  They have proven reliable time and time again.  My heart and mind haven't failed me yet.  

I know people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.  

Relationships are very important to me.  I have tried to cultivate the relationships within my little circle so that my thoughts might have some merit.  And yet, that isn't my motivation in developing relationships.  Relationship is something I think we all crave and need to survive and become who God wants us to be.

This will be my space to share.

I will share insights from the week, month or year that I think have some merit.

Maybe they will have meaning to someone.  At some point.  Because that is something I do have to offer.

TAKE A LOOK

 Take a close look at this picture.  There isn't just one set of eyes looking at you.

I took this picture one day when I came out of the bank back in August of 2019.  

It was a long time ago, I know.  Especially considering we've been through a pandemic since then.

This crew of mine never cease to make my heart smile and give me joy.

What would I do without them?

Toby is ALWAYS watching out the window when I return to the car.  It doesn't matter where we are or how long he's been in the car.  His watchful anticipation melts my heart.  

Don't we all long to have someone who is happy to see us no matter what?  No matter how long they've been kept waiting or where we've been? 

I have it.  And I'm not going to take it for granted.  For one second.