Divine signatures

This past week my boys were at scout camp fishing

and hiking

and earning their man cards and canoeing and rock climbing.

And meantime a young mom I visit teach was husbandless during those 4 days. Home alone with 4 young kids and I figured she would need a little reprieve. I offered to take her to lunch one day and she immediately latched on to that idea. My cute girls stayed home to babysit and we set out for a few hours. She and her husband had talked before he left about how she would get through the next couple of days and she told him how nice it would be if someone in the ward called and took her to lunch and gave her a couple of hours. She eyed me with suspicion as she asked whether I had talked to her husband before he left.

So many times we never know when we are about the Lord's work, but we just heed those promptings and feelings and go and do. Well, this week I got to actually hear the other side. That is such a confidence builder for me to know I was who someone needed at the moment.

Girls camp has come and gone.

It is such a indescribable experience. How can I explain the feelings and emotions that overcame me at our first flag raising ceremony when we got to the part of "one nation under God" in the pledge recitation. Or the incredible increase in love I get for all those girls. It's an experience I treasure every year as I get to step away from the worldly concerns and really focus on God's great eternal plan for all of us. Nature has a way of bringing me closer to my Maker than most things. Well, music too can do that.

My most treasured experience from this camp occurred a few hours after our testimony meeting. One of our Laurels was new to our group, having moved here recently. She has had some questions and quietly disappeared after our testimony campfire concluded. I gathered a few of my Laurels and we went in search of her much like the shepherd going after that one sheep. We found her sitting at a picnic table in the pavilion with her scriptures open and an open dialogue pursued. There were questions and answers and just all around great conversation full of love and the spirit. Several hours later we finally retired for the night. I hope that this girl knows she is loved immensely and that her Father in Heaven is very aware of her and her concerns.

A few weeks later I was reading the latest Ensign and came across an answer that was meant for her.

A prophet of God once offered me counsel that gives me peace. I was worried that the choices of others might make it impossible for our family to be together forever. He said, “You are worrying about the wrong problem. You just live worthy of the celestial kingdom, and the family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine.”

I immediately texted it to her which made her entire day so much better. Again, like with my lunch friend, I love when those little divine signatures pop up in my life letting me know that God is real, that he is very aware of me and those within my circle of influence.

What's happening in my yard

Same thing happened to my tomatoes last year. It's from a lack of calcium and it seems to only occur with my romas. My cherry tomatoes don't seem to have this problem called Blossom End Rot. I bought some stuff to spray on the leaves which I think is just a temporary fix. I wonder if they just need a little extra water. When vegetables are fruiting they need about 1 1/2 inches of water a week. My fruit trees also need a little extra when they are fruiting. I also read about adding egg shells to your soil. Definitely some things to figure out here.

Good things
rich soil
zucchini :)
grandmas

Gould family visit

Our guests who were family, and who became a part of our immediate family, have gone home. There was a touch of melancholy as we all woke up yesterday to a quieter than normal house.

There is talk already of a vacation to visit them sometime in the next year or two.

When Megan first approached Tyler about staying with us for two weeks this summer while they were in town for reunions, he immediately said yes. And then I had to remind him that the very week they were coming into town, I would be at girls camp and he would be in Wisconsin for work leaving them here alone with our kids.

Now I'm going to bare my soul here but just know I've done a complete reversal in the last couple of weeks. 

The first time we saw our Gould family was 2 years ago after many, many years. I wasn't sure how my kids would accept having people here whom they barely knew, and I thought they should stay with someone else, at least for those few days. Goodness, they were coming from half way across the country so why not spend some time with other family. None of my talking seemed to work and my kids assured me that they loved the idea of having them here. Talk about becoming as a little child with no reservations and so accepting. I prayed for peace in the situation and a week before they were to arrive, an email from Emily Freeman, a Time Out for Women presenter, showed up.

"There is one season in our family I will never forget. It was a season that began with a prompting. My girls and I were traveling in the car and we began talking about one of my favorite scriptures verses found in D&C 124:23, 'And it shall be…a house that strangers may come from afar to lodge therein; therefore let it be a good house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord.' I asked my girls if we could try to make our home like that for one whole season. The type of home where people would feel something good when they walked in. I wanted them to come to our doorstep and find a welcoming home. A home where people could come to talk about Jesus."

Hello. Wake up call. Our home was to be a home where they felt comfortable and welcomed and might feel of God's love.

We put them up in Nate's room. Nate was kind enough to vacate himself and all his belongings for two weeks.

At girls camp I included in my testimony my strong feelings of the camaraderie and relationships that are strengthened when you live with people and break bread with them. There is a certain bonding that forges deep friendships. I've seen it with girls camp, with Kiersten and EFY, and when me and my siblings end up at home for the weekend. A couple of hours here and there just aren't comparable.

Well, after two weeks of living with the Goulds, I've done some serious repenting regarding the earlier feelings I had (I even told Megan of these feelings I had had and how grateful I was for the opportunity we had to get to know them better). I loved listening to Ash and Alex giggle and giggle with Hailey and Jaden one night . . . late one night . . . as they made up stories. Yep. I finally climbed out of bed to go snap a picture of their late night antics.

I loved watching Alex develop a bond with "his buddy" Megan as they worked out in the mornings and she helped him gather seashells at the beach.

I loved watching Erik take his younger brother and cousin and help them with a lemonade stand.

I loved getting to know Megan a little more through our casual conversations we had in the kitchen. I loved that my nieces Lexi and Maddie stayed for a few days and that Maddie got to come to church with us. I loved our movie nights and ice cream and slush parties.

This is an experience my family will not forget. It was a little strange at first, getting used to having extra people around, but the day they left was just as strange.

We have missed them and my soul is better for having them here.

*I had to pilfer a few photos because the ones I took of everyone on our front porch were so blurry when I opened them on my computer. I might be looking for a new camera.

What's happening in my yard

Loving the daylilies (red=Red Razzmatazz; white=Blueberry Candy) and blanket flower (Gaillardia X grandiflora) that are blooming this time of year when nothing else is. The blanket flowers are self-seeders and are easy to transplant all over the yard. They do not like a lot of water.

Good things
giggling cousins
horseback rides
pioneer faith

Our garden

[A]s the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

--Alma 32:30

Our garden this year has finally arrived due to Tyler's hard work of running water to all our boxes.

For many years we've had a garden that really hasn't produced. I always start out strong but the July heat arrives and I give up watering. And we all know what happens when the watering stops. Well, I'm afraid those little plants don't stand a chance in the heat.

The picture above is the first part of June and the ones below are two weeks later. Water is liquid gold. It makes everything flourish and thrive.

Our home teachers on several occasions have talked with us about watering our gardens and watering our testimonies. Erik has always been quick to point out that I'm the one who killed our corn one year because of my lack of committment to watering.

Water is essential to living things. If you want something to live, it must be watered.

If you want your family to thrive, it must be watered.

If you want your relationships to flourish, they must be watered.

If you want your talents to grow and develop, they must be watered.

If you want your testimony and faith to live, they must be watered.

Am I sounding a little redundant?

Consistent watering is key. A few drops here and there won't give you the miraculous results that spring up from a tiny seed.