WHAT a wonderful week we've had. We got TWO days of Independance Day Celebrations. On July 3rd, Elder Cullen and I helped FM and the construction company for our new visitor's center in Nauvoo put on a HUGE BBQ for the town of Nauvoo. Over 1000 burgers and dogs in the sweaty heat of 94 degrees with 90% humidity. LOL how do people do this? Sunblock, hats, COVER your skin and drink tons of water.
Elder Cullen put a little too much sunblock on and had to share with a friend. On the actual 4th of July we delighted in some hometown Carthage events, like the parade and the fireworks
The people here are generally very kind, welcoming, and open. A family gave us their bench to sit on because we were on the grass! They were younglings and didn't mind. I realized why Windsor has a strict rule with their parades that NO CANDY is to be THROWN from the floats! One of the little boys near us got pegged in the head was really crying hard. ALSO, kids were continuously darting under the caution tape to get candy just a foot or so beyond it, but this placed them in big danger of oncoming entries! It was a little stressful to watch. How often do we bend or break God's rules without obvious or immediate consequences, only to get smashed on the head by a hard sucker!lol
By the way, now that I know how to drive a tractor, I saw some cool tractors in the parade I'd like to try.
As I scanned my family chat and saw all the pictures of their Independance Day celebrations all over the USA I was grateful that they appreciated our constitution enough to give it a day. I loved a quote my sister sent me."Today, as we celebrate our glorious freedom and consider the lives lost in battle to have it, my mind is also turned to our Father's plan, the battles we fought [in heaven], and freedom we have to choose because Jesus gave His life so that we can have our agency/freedom/(as well as repentance and healing) , and my heart is so full! I love our country and I love Father and His glorious plan, and I love Jesus for making our return home to our heavenly reality possible. AND I love you!!"
Isn't she awesome? I testify her words are true. We are ALL VFW because of the heavenly war we fought in for the right to choose our destiny. THAT is why we came here to earth. It's a proving ground for choice. Think about that. When you act, what is it you are choosing?? Actions and consequences are eternally connected. You can not jump off a cliff and choose for gravity not to work, to not be smashed at the bottom. When you jump, you are choosing to be smashed. When you lie or steal or break any commandments, you are choosing scary consequences even if you are not feeling them now. The great Mercy of Jesus allows us a "parachute" of repentance so to speak. BUT then again you have to choose to OPEN it by accepting Jesus's atonement. We need to retain our freedom of religion, freedom of parenting, freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must choose the hard work of freedom over the shackles of convenience. You will not regret it.
Next Topic
My cousin TJ got sealed for time and all eternity to his bride yesterday and Elder Cullen and I were given permission to drive the 2.5 hours to be there! It was so fun to see my extended family there. We also did some temple work before the sealing so it was a productive day!
LASTLY, Elder Cullen and I were surveying our Carthage Jail "kingdom" while doing an evening security check and noticed that the gravel area was really scuffed up and bald in some areas. Hundreds of visitors have taken their toll on it, young kids make piles and "draw" funny cartoons in it, and after awhile it just gets scrubby looking.
Elder Cullen decided to Zen Garden it and we've been doing that ever since.
It's very peaceful and relaxing to rake the gravel back into place and make the lines, it's quiet, it's beautiful, it's a little thing but it makes one feel really great to look at the results even knowing it will be undone in a couple days. Take time to survey your space. The space you trod in day in and day out and make messes in. Then take time to meditate and organize the little things in your life. The impact will be large, comforting, and beautiful. God will help you do this. Just because life is a test doesn't mean it has to be a big stress all the time. Breath, love, talk to Heavenly Father who said, "
Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
Doctrine & Covenants 88:119"
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