"Staff Development Day"

 Sometimes we have to be creative to make these days off school COUNT, but with my kids help we do it  -- So after we finished our outdoor chores for the day, we made Grandma's Pretzels

Then we went to Lone Mountain Park to Play and Ride Plasma Cars

  to finish off the afternoon we climbed Lone Mountain -- The view is incredible, we love to find the temple, our home and other fun recognizable landmarks while we are up there.  A friend of Conner's recently did an Eagle Project putting a bench at this stopping point. 

Pruning

Yesterday, we woke up early with the goal to start pruning our yard.  This may not mean a lot to anyone, unless you have pruned these lovely plants, but we have a yard-ful of beautiful plants in the spring and summer, but in the winter we have a yard-ful of overgrown plants that are awaiting the pruning season to grow again.  We have an upwards of 45 lantana (typically 3 lantana's pruned fill one of our large garbage cans -- or 1 large black garbage bag with tons of sticks coming through the bag), we have 16 Mediterranean Palm trees, 7 African Sumacs, 5 canary dates, and 10 sago palms (these typically aren't anything hard except 5 of these were already planted when we moved in and are the largest sago palms I've ever seen 2 of them have 3 trunks).  Those are the cumbersome ones to prune, the ruellia, jubilees, chaste trees, and other small plants don't really count because they only take moments to prune.

Now back to the day, Sheldon was up and out in the yard before me.  Kindly our garbage men were just getting there.  They do one side of our street and then as they go around the community they come back and do the opposite side of our street.  They offered to empty the cans for Sheldon now and then would empty them again on their way back around.  That is about the time I showed up.  So Sheldon and I worked feverishly to try and refill the cans as quickly as we could.  Then we had empty cans one more time, but within about another hour they were filled again.  

Conner and Loryn showed up and began to help.  Loryn enjoys trimming the african sumacs and Conner looked forward to using the hack saw (power tool), and trimming the canary date palms.  As I continued trimming I realized the great satifaction that  comes with work. The thought came to mind from the "Family Proclamation" that "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."  The satisfaction comes as we step back and realize the progress we have made, the same goes in life.

As a child I remember the winter and how often I saw trees pruned back to almost nothing.  I hated it.  I thought they were ugly and I didn't understand why anyone would ever do that to a beautiful tree with hundreds of branches down to nothing.  Then as we started our own yards in different homes I realized the need to prune.  I had done it in small ways with my grandma's and their homes for years, but didn't really realize what they were doing.  Just as the Lord teaches us.  We must go and "obey the commandments of the Lord" and "labor with their (our) might", the Lord will labor with us and we will have "joy in the fruit" (Jacob 5:69-72)

We only finished about 3/4 of the yard.  There is  a lot of garbage to pick up and we feel we have already piled enough in our street, but I am grateful that I was taught how to labor in the vineyard from parents, not only physically labor in our yard, but also spiritually labor in our Lord's kingdom.  I am grateful that we can continue to finish our laboring by all of working just a few minutes each day we will be completed by the end of the week.  I know it is through experiences like these that our faith is stregthened

Life

These past several weeks have been a little bit of a whirlwind for me, I can't imagine, what they have been for all those involved.  I won't go into much detail now, but I have been inspired by my niece Melissa to do a little bit better at keeping an up to date blog, she seemed to have it down perfectly... not too much not too little.  So that is my goal, but unfortunately as I get on to do this I remember all the things I wanted to blog about and then the lists starts.  I'll try to be reasonable to do only one entry a day (except today -- I'll do two....) then maybe I won't burn myself and come to the point I do maybe one a week.

Tender

Monday, started off with a list of things to do.  I needed to try and catch up with all that I had put off before I left on our trip and with the normal list of things to do.  After shopping I came home and began cleaning.  I called my mom back and we had a sweet visit.  The day continued, kids returned from school, and I was mopping the floor when Sydnee brought me the phone and said it was Grandma, I was a little surprised, since we had talked earlier, but not alarmed, until she communicated that Melissa had been in a serious car accident and was in critical condition.  My first instinct was to pray, which I did then I called all our kids to let them know.  The wait seemed forever, then a text stating they were taking Melissa to surgery, and Ethne was very critical.  Within moments we learned Ethne had returned to her loving Heavenly Father.  Although, we all knew where she was and that she was okay, the sorrow was still there.  I don't know what I was most sad about, but I was sad.  

The next 24 hours seemed like a blur, the things I do remember is wanting to talk to all my siblings.  Having the desire to be together, and praying ever so earnestly for peace for Melissa, Lawrence, Shauna, Scott, Marilyn and Larry.  Tuesday night, Melodie let me know that Wednesday night she headed to  a wedding in Twin Falls, and could drop me off in Salt Lake, they would be driving home Saturday and they could pick me up on their way back.   I decided to try and go, I spent most of Wednesday making the arrangements for while I'd be gone.  I left not knowing for sure if I'd be coming back before or after the funeral.  It was a sweet car ride up with Melodie and Abby.  I picked up Meagan's car in Provo and headed for Salt Lake.  

When I arrived at the hospital, my mom and dad were there with Scott and Edward.  Melissa was alert and awake.   There was a sweet spirit in the room.  One of peace and comfort.  My mom and dad left shortly after I arrived and then Scott asked if I could stay while he went to be with Gabe and Isaac.  I was honored to be asked to stay, but offered to go be with the boys if Scott would rather stay, he said the boys needed their dad, and it would be best for me to stay.  It was sweet being there with Melissa.  She looked really good, and I was impressed with the tender spirit that surrounded her.  As we sat and visited she inspired me.   Before Scott left he placed Edward on Melissa's stomach, after a few minutes she asked me to move him to her side.  Edward was sleeping and was relaxed in his mothers arms.  Melissa was able to relax for a few moments to.  The entire day was a sacred moment that I will treasure forever. 

Truly the whole time I was there was sacred, and felt blessed that my family was willing to sacrifice and let their mom leave again (after she had just been gone), and that I was able to for a moment find peace in serving my family members who could use it.  I was able to spend Friday at Julie's playing with Carter, Ryan and Audrey.  

Friday Night Meagan, Brianna and I were able to go visit Melissa again.  She had been moved from ICU to a private room and was still continuing to improve.  

Saturday I was able to go play with Isaac and Gabe.  It is so much fun being an aunt and enjoying the small little things nieces and nephews bring to us.

I will ever be grateful for an inspired sister in law who offered me a ride, and also for those who let me be there and learn and grow from the sweet spirit that was so present