Just Love Them

 I spent some time recently with a friend who has some adult children who have not embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I believe they are good parents although I didn't grow up in their home so I can't say exactly what kind of parents they are.  I do know that they serve faithfully in their church callings.

Sometimes I think of others who are dedicated disciples of Christ and some of their children have chosen to embrace it while others in the same family do not.  What makes the difference?  Friends?  Choices?  Certainly not the parenting style since all were raised by the same two people.

This wise friend told me that it is not her responsibility to "save" her children.  That can only be done by Jesus Christ.  Her job, and her husband's, is to love them.  At times I have thought about trying to "save" someone I love from themselves or their unwise choices.  My job is to love them no matter what they choose. 

Talking with one of my children tonight, I expressed how grateful I am for the atonement of our Savior.  I've certainly made my share of dumb mistakes.  How indebted I am to Him who took my sins upon Himself so that He could save me.  Literally save me.  

Sister Stapley gave a talk a year ago while we were in Nauvoo.  She explained why Jesus chose sheep rather than goats as his disciples.  Sheep stay close to the flock and hear the voice of the Shepherd.  Goats are wanderers and get into trouble easier; they don't necessarily listen.  I will admit that at times in my life I have been that goat but I much prefer to be a sheep.

Memorial Day 2021

I invited family and a few others whom I always invite, over for a picnic on Memorial Day.  We had a lovely day.  It was supposed to be about 72 and we got better than that.

We taught some people how to play Bocce ball and they enjoyed themselves.  

I always let the Shasta Daisies grow in the far back yard.  When they're finished I mow them down.  Lydia and Henry loved picking them.

All ages of people got in on the Bocce action.

Some played and then sat and watched.  Others played Corn Hole.

My brother Pat's girlfriend, Melody spent the weekend at our home and she took all these fabulous photos.

Lots of guests sat out on the lawn and enjoyed one another's company as well as the great food provided by everyone.

Eli and Henry enjoyed riding the rollercoaster down the driveway.

The smile on my face tells how much I love having all these wonderful people around.

Some of us ate our meal inside the garage at a table.

Lots of visiting happened there after the meal was finished.

Lounging around before and after a meal is always a good thing.

Then there is Uncle Pat.  All the kids love him!

Dan invited some friends who were in the area.  It was good to meet someone new and have them feel of our hospitality.

Christine and Ben showed up.  I don't think I've seen Teeny for years.  Maybe since her wedding.

Ben has officially graduated from Shawano high school.  

Clare brought a bat, ball and a Tee for Henry.  He had a great time trying to hit that ball off the tee as well as when we "pitched" it to him.  

Our little Eddy wears his baseball cap.  So cute!

I love to  see my daughters together enjoying themselves.  It makes my heart happy.

A good time was had by all.  I only wish I would have remembered to invite a few more friends. Next time.  

A Covid Thought

 Back in February I was reading in the book of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon.  I was in chapter 11 where Abinidi is in King Noah's court admonishing the priests and king about their lives.  He is telling them to repent. 

 In verse 23 and 24 he says this:

"And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God.  Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies."

The world we live in has forgotten God for the most part.  He has been kicked out of any public gathering including schools and government.  This is an unrepentant world where anything goes.  The Covid-19 virus brought the entire world into bondage.  I thought when President Nelson called for a fast that things would be gone in short order.  Then we he asked for a second fast I was certain that this time with religious people around the world fasting that this plague would be eradicated.  I feel the Lord is slow to hear our cries just as Abinidi prophesied.  The Book of Mormon was written for our day.  This is just another witness to me that it is true.

An Epiphany

 As I was reading the Sunday School lesson a few weeks ago I had an epiphany.

We refer to the Savior as the "Light of the World."  The sign of His birth in the Americas was that there would be a day and a night and a day without darkness.

It made me ponder over that sign.  He truly is the Light!

A Few Carpentry Projects

I've been highlighting my projects and I want to show off two things that Pat has been doing.  He cut, sanded and bundled the pieces of these benches while still in Nauvoo.  Before we were banned from the carpentry shop for personal use.

It was a bit of a struggle to put the first bench together as some of the pieces weren't fitting quite right.  After some photos sent by Elder Brown, he figured out what needed to be done and created these very sturdy, comfortable pieces.  My job was to apply the water sealant.  

The next project was for me.  I wanted garden boxes.  I know I am not a great gardener and I thought if I only had a little to weed that I would be much better at it.  I don't plant a lot of things anyway so why have all that wasted space?

I really wanted grass between and around the boxes but then I wouldn't be able to get at them with new grass and/or seed.  So I settled for the mulch.  Again, they look so good and new soil with fertilizer added I'm hoping that whatever is planted will grow beautifully.

A Birthday Boy & The Water Slide

The grandchildren have been asking when we would get the waterslide out for them.  Saturday was an especially hot day with temperatures in the 90's.  We got the thing set up and sent out a Marco Polo to let them know they were welcome to come at any time.

Lydia got the first shot at going down the slide.  Evelyn was right behind her.

Once the  Gourleys arrived, there were constant kids coming down the slide.  Even Sammi went down the slide. She shot right out the end because it really isn't made for adults.

There were the usual water fights and silliness.

Andrew and Cierra showed up with the birthday boy and all three of them took a turn.

Eddie liked it when one of his parents held on to him and he went half way down.  He wasn't so convinced of the fun when he went down with his dad.

When we were wrapping up the day, Cierra brought out the decorated high chair.  Eddie became the star of the day.  Sweet boy.

He picked at his cake and really didn't smash into it at all.  Still, what a great way to spend your first birthday!

That Peony Bed

In the last post I told and showed the progress made in the shrub beds around the house.  I was not looking forward to tackling the one on the lower lawn with the peonies and hibiscus.

This before picture shows how thick the vegetation was.  It has been there for a number of years and it was beginning to encroach upon the peonies.  I tried once upon a time to remove some of it, whatever it is, and the roots were so thick and entangled that I just gave up.  I was hoping Jeff would take care of it while we were gone.  No such luck.  So last week I decided that today was the day and I went after it.

When Pat came home later in the afternoon I had him remove the railroad ties so the bed is about 1/3 shorter than previous.  I planted that section with grass seed.  

The most difficult part was in front of the rock as there was just limited space to get my fork in and then deep enough to loosen the roots.  The other really hard part was just at the south end.  There was some kind of shrub growing there as well as the tall green stuff.  I actually had to roll the stuff out like sod.  Good thing Sammi was there to help as it was HEAVY!

In the end, it was worth all that work.  I am so pleased with the way it looks.  

Once the weeding was finished the mulch was applied.  Even better!

 

Landscaping

When the snow melted and we were able to get out in the yard we found several things that needed our help.  Some of those things needed help prior to our mission.  Since coming home we have more time to accomplish them.

Our yard swing was in tough shape.  Our children bought us a. We seat a couple of years ago but the frame was really rotten and I did not feel comfortable putting the seat on that frame.  Pat built a new frame. He also replaced all of the tile surrounding the fire pit.  Perhaps the most noticeable is that fact that the old, rotten fence came down.  The. The tree between the houses also were removed.  Finally, Pat put up the new fence and cleaned it.  It looks fabulous!

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As I was sitting outside I noticed that the shrubbery beds needed some help.  Too many weeds!  I began weeding next to the fence.  Once that was complete, I moved to the bed next to the garage.  I decided that all the day lilies had to go.  It was a lot of work.  I think I removed 3 wheelbarrows of lilies.  The bulbs/roots were so massive in clusters.  Now my hosts will be seen and not covered.  I’m still not sure how to remove those that have begun to grow beneath the service door.

The last step was to put new bark in those spaces.  

The other space that I spent some time in was next to the sidewalk.  I dug out the huge clumps of daffodils and set them out to dry.  I also cleaned out the front bed.  No bark there though as I'll plant some flowers.  Next job is the lower lawn peony bed.  That one is the worst of anything I've ever seen.