Pouring on the Heat!

 We have had a LOT of HOT days this summer, but nothing can beat today! Here's why!

Being scheduled to work at the school this morning, and in an effort to beat the heat, I go early in the morning... in fact, the sun wasn't even up yet when I went this morning. When I walked into the school I was shocked at how hot it was in there, but I set to work. As I worked my way around the end of the hallway, doing walls, I actually had to set up a fan due to the excessive heat! Then I worked my way into the boot room and to my dismay discovered that the radiator was pumping out heat!!! In fact, it was hot to the touch! By that time my co-worker had arrived, so I notified her. We discovered that the boiler room felt like an oven - literally! I think that if we had put bread in there it would have actually baked it was so hot!!!

Well, I found another space to clean - a space outside of the school, in one of the portables, and blessed relief, this space had air conditioning!

I finished up my shift and touched bases with my co-worker once again. The school was still blisteringly hot! She told me that the temperature sensor had malfunctioned and was reading -48 degrees Celsius instead of the 30-plus temperatures that we were experiencing. Yikes! No wonder the heat was pouring out of the radiators!

In my experience, I have discovered that there are times in our lives when our sensors are out of whack - possibly even as bad as the school sensor was out this morning. I have witnessed so many times, people who have a malfunctioning sensor when it comes to the feelings of others. The variance in the reading is so far off that they are unable to recognize the unbearable discomfort they are creating for those who love them. I know that I have had to reset my own sensors from time to time. It takes a lot of effort and it also requires the attention of one who specializes in such things, namely my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is a God who resets malfunctioning spiritual sensors when we call in the work order. In a sense, we are the boiler that He is called in to work on, but in order for that to happen, we have to accept His instructions and seek a relationship with Him. As we build that relationship our sensors are more attuned than they once were.  And a better relationship with Jesus means better relationships with the people in our lives. There is such joy in the cool breeze of good relationships.

The Heart of the Storm

 We have had so little rain all year that whenever it does rain, we LOVE it! This past week we had our first big storm and it let loose! It turns out we were in the very center of it, and the direction of the wind changed several times before the rains and hail subsided.

I think it lasted about a half hour. The hail was on and off and thankfully never got bigger than peas and it didn't come down so heavy that it shredded everything. The garden even fared pretty well, though my poor corn, which was just tassling, is slightly askew.

There may be bruises on the fruit, and there are certainly more crab apples, plums, and regular apples on the ground than there were before, but the beauty that followed the storm was amazing!!! The rain came down so hard and so fast that it literally flooded our street. Charity waded out in gum boots, and couldn't go as far as the end of the street without the water rising above the boot level. The colors on that lake-like street were so beautiful as you can see in the photos.

The sunset was also amazing, and the light looked almost fiery as the sun set through the clouds and moisture that hung in the atmosphere.

I am so grateful for the moisture - we got all of 2 inches maybe more in that short time. I'm also very grateful that the hail didn't really do much damage. And on top of all that, there was such a neat feeling of rejoicing in the blessing of moisture and beauty that followed. It smelled wonderful and the nearby dill fields became ever more fragrant. 

This week I've been pondering a little bit on the storms of life, and when this storm rolled through I was reminded that though storms come, and each one is a little different, bringing with it different challenges and struggles, there is a beauty that can be found. For me that beauty is in discovering the hand of God guiding me, blessing me, lifting me, comforting me, and extending His precious grace. The storms of life don't always end with a sunset, in fact, there are some that don't seem to end... but the beauty comes as I am strengthened to endure the storm, and empowered to face it with faith and trust that God hasn't forgotten me. I know He lives and that He loves not just me, but everyone. I know that He is intensely interested in our success as we face those storms. This knowledge is the equivalent of a beautiful, vibrant sunset in my life. It brings me joy, even when there is commotion or unrest and I am so thankful for that peace that settles on my soul in the heart of life's storms.

Cute Campers!

We have been so blessed this week to be able to take some time off of work and to spend some time in the mountains.

Monday was our first official day of holidays and it was full of tasks to be completed before we could leave... but, we had everything done that was on the list in the time that we had, and by 1:00 we were on the road. Our destination was the Beaver Mines campground. We had extreme wind gusts sporadically through the night, but we weathered it well. 

Tuesday, Alisha and the kids joined us, and we engaged in all sorts of activities with them.

There were bike rides around the camping loop...

Hiking the mountain trails...

Flying Kites...

We did crafts and played games. The kids were delighted to discover 'a mountain!' and they especially loved the water, wading with their mom. We had rain Tuesday night, so the games inside the tent at bedtime were fully engaged in. The kids loved the tent and especially found the flashlights entertaining on the tent walls. They only had two days with us before they had to go home.

That evening we went for a walk through the campsites. I took scads of photos, and had some that I really loved... but for some reason the camera deleted a pile of them. However, I did still get some good ones of beautiful scenery.

The sunset was so lovely!

Before leaving the area we visited Castle Mountain Falls. The area was lovely and so nice to visit before we headed for home.

We are so grateful for the beautiful areas we've been able to not only visit, but also share with our family. It was delightful having Alisha and the kids join us, I only wish more of our family could have been with us. It is such a joy to have beautiful area's so close to where we live that we can spend time in 

Though we absolutely loved our time away, we are also happy to be home again. Our watering system worked beautifully and our yard is happy. We've picked a pile of peas already and in looking around I think that the squash grew 1.5 feet or so in our absence!!!  It is such a joy to be able to come home to a flourishing garden and yard. I am so blessed to not only find beauty in the mountains, but I also find much beauty right here, at my home.

We are Loved... Warts and All!

We live in a society that tends to expect perfection – the perfect look, the perfect relationship, the perfect words. Our actions are expected to be void of mistakes, errors, misjudgements and so forth. Sadly, if you do something someone doesn't like they may 'cancel' you which means you will likely be ostracized, boycotted, or shunned by them. The pressure for our lives at least appear perfect is tangible which can lead one to view others with less than charitable eyes. Perfectionism and comparison go hand in hand and can become deep rooted habits, like warts, that are hard to overcome. Comparison often spurs one to judge others OR causes anxiety and self criticism. This is toxic to cherished connections and steals joy.

In relationships our response to other people’s lack of perfection matters a LOT! President Nelson recently reminded us to watch how we speak about others, and to make sure that those things we say are virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy whether we are speaking to his face or behind her back. (April 2023) Speaking and thinking that way emulates the Savior’s grace, which says: “I know you messed up here, and that stinks, but your actions won’t push me away. Instead, they motivate me to draw closer because I know you can do better. I believe you will do better, and I’ll be walking beside you each step of the way.” I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to live in a culture where grace is generously given, where we mirror God’s heart to others in our homes, churches and communities.

I think we have days where, just like the combine, we are doing pretty good. On the other hand, there are days where it seems there are multitudes of mouths (responsibilities) to feed and we are armed with only two small fishes and a hand full of loaves. We may even be feeding the monster of expecting perfection from ourselves or others. No matter what the case, no matter how great the lack, we need the Savior to perfect our efforts and magnify them, and as with the loaves and fishes, we see that He doesn’t just fill the need to precision, but rather He expands our efforts to overflowing as he perfects our offering. 

It was No Accident!

They say that success is not an accident... and that has been true at our house this week. We set out to do some big projects. My husband had a job to finish up in town that has been ongoing for a long time. By the beginning of the week, everything was in place to get it done, and so that was what he did. It was a good plan. It is amazing what a little window trim will do. It literally frames everything that you look at outside your house! It's like a living picture that lets in the light! 

As for me, I had so many things, but the plan I worked was one of incremental pieces. I did little bits on big projects. I sewed, watered, read, weeded, sprayed, cooked, and all the usual things. The big plan was to give one day with my husband to the completion of a project we have been working on for what feels like a long time [right Breanna?!]. 

On the appointed day, with the trim out of the way, we went to work together on the doggy bunk bed. it was near completion already but still needed most of the finishing work done. It took the morning but once we had everything ready to go, we were delighted to discover a little time for our yardwork. I had some bark to spread around my garden, and weeds to spray once again. My husband mowed the lawn and alley. It didn't take long and we were eagerly on the road, excited to get to Breanna's.

This project was the dreamchild of Breanna and is an ingenious space saver. Her dog, Oki, will sleep up top, and the service dog in training sleeps in the kennel below. Both dogs have lots of room. Oki learned to use the stairs quickly. Each step is a drawer unit, so she also has more space for all those doggie things that accumulate when you love animals. 💓

After putting the legs and drawer pulls on, we finally took her out for her birthday dinner and then for a walk down at the park. Oki went for a good run which gave him an even greater appreciation for his new furniture when they got home.

I have to say that it FEELS AMAZING to have so many big things come to completion within days of each other. Truly it was no accident. We had to plan all those things into our schedules which were already full. But the satisfaction of a job well done feels so joyful. It is worth the effort and sacrifice needed to accomplish anything worth doing - and when it comes to the people I love, it is ALWAYS worth doing. [I am also so very grateful for their patience. 🤟]