There and Back Again: Week 41, 60 year wedding anniversary and raking at night time

This week my parents celebrated their 60th Wedding anniversary! How many people do you know are still married after 60 years? My parents came from very differnt and sometimes troubled backgrounds. HOWEVER, they had both been converted to Jesus Christ and had committed their lives to Him and the building of His Kingdom. I am the oldest of their 8 children. Our childhood was full of creativity, gospel learning, family activities, and camping/loving nature. I believe that the healing power of Jesus Christ was invited into their lives and it has been healing them ever since. Every year is better than the last even if only by millimeters. They are an example to me of obedience to God and perseverance. Thanks mom and dad! I love you. Here's to 20 more years!

The other day as evening began, Reg, who I think is fighting a bug, was asleep by 5:30pm. I was "boink" awake and felt like I had too much energy so went back outside to weed and rake. It was still very warm outside and the evening light was so soothing and lovely. As I worked my way down the the lawn near the pavers, a little family pulled into the parking lot. They got out and started walking down the path, reading each monument. I smiled and said, "Welcome to Carthage!". They replied. "We know you're closed, but can we please just look around?" Of course I said they could. Carthage grounds actually never close. After talking to them I discovered they were driving from St. Louis to Chicago and would not be coming back any time soon. I offered to take them on a tour. They were amazed and expressed worry that it would delay my work...not a problem. I called two different Sr. Missionary couples and Elder D. GRACIOUSLY offered to accompany me and spot me. AND SO I gave my FIRST tour. I did pretty good. It made me want to study the notes more and do it more often. I loved it. The family was so grateful. I was very glad I was out there weeding or I should have missed them for sure. After the tour I continued to weed and rake until 9pm. It was so nice. I came in when it was too dark.

I want to say something here about weeds...Two months ago I noticed a strange weed that looked like a little tree was trying to grow in the middle of the lawn. I tried to pull on it, but it was quite strong, so I decided just to mow over it instead. After a month or so I noticed that more and more of these little tree weeds were popping up. I decided last week I needed to actually dig them up. OH how I wished I had dug up that one little weed two months ago.

The more I mowed them, the fatter and stronger their roots had gotten.

AND they grew runners! I dug and dug and pulled and chopped until 30 of them were out of the lawn and there was no sign of any others. WHEW! If I had just dug up the one when I first noticed it!

So there's a metaphore here. When we sin, if we just cover it up and not root it out...it may look manageable/OK for a little while, but every time we cover it/mow over it, the root of that sin becomes stronger and stronger and starts birthing other sins and then you're lawn is ruined. BUT JESUS is our deliverer and healer. There isn't anything you can break, including your life, that He can't fix. I love the following quote from "Your Repentance Doesn't Burden Jesus Christ, It Brightens His Joy" by Sister Runia. "Your worth isn't tied to obedience. Your worth is constant; it never changes. It was given to you by God, and there's nothing you or anyone else can do to change it. Obedience brings blessings; that is true. But worth isn't one of them. Your worth is always "great in the sight of God," no matter where your decisions have taken you."

Tools of the Master Gardner! In other fun, Elder Cullen and I fed some young sister missionaries twice this week. They were SO adorable. They made up a thank you song and sang it to us. What creativity and hilarity. I really love those young sisters!!!

LAST of ALL...I performed the hula with my friends at the mission luau! One of our polynesian sisters and her companion taught it to us. May you ALL learn to dance and feel the love of your body like I do!