Holidays????

Summer came with a heat wave this year! For Chad work was piling up and the pressure was on to get things done quickly, so the kids were hired to assist with a big job. They were amazing, I might add! 

The Job: Shingles

The Effort: Monumental due to the heat

Sleep: Deprived 

Well, that's probably how they felt. They started the job July 1. By noon the heat had driven them off the roof, the shingles were simply too hot to work with - so they came home. Later that evening they went back to work until dark. The following morning they were on the job by 7:00. Myles and Naomi had to work at other jobs that day as well, so at 9:00 I picked up Myles who worked until noon at the school. By 11:00 everyone else was once again done due to the hot shingles. They went back late that evening and did some more work. 

Now, as the family worked, one of the things I did was watch the weather forecast. Rain seemed to be popping in and out of the forecast like a jack in the box, one day it said it would rain in two days, then next day it was supposed to be sunny and then before you knew it the rain was back in the forecast. As such, we gathered the children around and explained to them the need to keep the roof we were working on dry so there would be no damage inside the house. We assured the kids that Heavenly Father was aware of this need and that if we prayed for that house to be kept dry, then Heavenly Father could keep it dry for us.

Wednesday was a similar day for the crew only it started earlier yet, they were on the roof that morning by 5:30 and were making very good progress toward the completion of the job. That evening they went back and were able to finish tearing off all the old shingles and only one small area was left to do. They came home weary but excited to be about done.

Due to the heat the kids were camping outside in the back yard in the tent. It just so happened that early Thursday morning, about 6:00 a.m., we awakened to the sound of thunder rumbling and then the unmistakable sound of rain coming down. Everyone was tired and the kids listened to the rain for about an hour before coming in. By 7:00 it was pouring. Chad was hurrying out the door to check things out on the job site. The kids had all reported that as soon as it started raining, they sent pleas heavenward to keep the job site dry. A short time later, Chad called. The house was 2 miles away from ours. He said that as he drove down the gravel road it was wet. However, when he got within a half mile of the house, the road was dry, dry, dry. There was no indication whatsoever of rain having come down whatsoever. He was able to finish up the last portion of the roof before the rains, which continued throughout the morning, began to fall there.

What can I say? What a wonderful example of the power of God! At our house we received an inch or so of rain in just those few hours before Chad got back from the job site. What a joy it is to know that God is mindful of our needs, and he is eager to bless us if we will just ask Him. I love what he tells us in Doctrine and Covenants 41:1...

 Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me;... (D&C 41:1)

Besides being very obviously blessed at Gods hand, the kids did an amazing job of shingling the roof with their dad. Everyone learned something about themselves, and it was so neat to see the kids come home exhausted yet excited at the work they had been able to accomplish! They were so excited when they finished! What a glorious opportunity work is. I am so blessed to have such wonderful children and an amazing husband.