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 💕