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

Weekend adventures

Ty and Nate accompanied Erik on his 11-year-old scout overnight camp out.

This was a backpacking trip where they hiked to base camp and then spent a good part of the next day hiking to these:

TV towers which are viewable from our backyard. Unfortunately, they didn't quite make it before turning back. They were so close, in the area of the snow, but some of the boys were just not prepared for such a strenuous hike.

Nate might have been one of them? Doesn't he just look miserable. Both he and Erik accomplished something hard that day and I am proud of them for attempting. Some of the scouts continued on and made it to the top. I guess there are people who live up there and man the station one week on, two weeks off. Our scout group was given a tour. Someday I'd like to hike it and get that tour.

I like that Erik had to take a picture of the flowers they saw (which I believe is a columbine). It tells me he's paying attention to the beauty in the world around him.

While the boys were wending their way up the mountain, I got to spend a good part of my weekend trying out the new mower on the weeds in the backyard (I managed to completely bust off a sprinkler head with that new toy. Oops! Guess I get to figure out how to put a new head on.) and getting these babies in the ground while learning some about our drip irrigation.

Oh, I had one of the best Saturdays. I am always happy when I get to tinker in my yard. And I'm so happy to have my boys home safe and rested.