There and Back Again: Week 76 TWO TORNADOS

This past week was full of fun and fear.  We helped several new missionary couples move in and took them to eat to get to know them better. We had some great activities. I almost tipped the tractor over...that was truly scary.  

The heavy rains had made the ground very soft and when I did my normal route over this little hill it sunk down just enough on the downhill side of the tractor that the mower deck got jammed below the sidewalk line and I couldn't go forwards or backwards and as I tried to back out or move forward it started to tip sideways.  

Elder Cullen RAN over and was pushing on the top of the cab while we problemsolved.  I put it in 4 wheel drive and with his pushing on the cab we were able to wrench free and be safe again.  Then we had to fill, patch and reseed that bit of lawn...heh heh....At least it was at the Bushnell where the "public" never sees.

Wednesday we had a kit flying activity on the temple hill lawn.  It had been raining all day but stopped an hour before and was warm and WINDY!  No one even had to run to get their kit going. They just tossed them up and they went hundreds of feet into the air....Except for mine.  

I got a unicorn kite from the dollar store and it was a piece of junk!  LOL  I tried, three or four different missionaries tried, I gave up.  15 minutes later Sister P. started shouting my name.  I looked over and My unicorn was flying over the temple. LOL  What is the significance??!!

That night the blustery winds turned into a tornado!  Elder Cullen hunkered in our basement with the missionaries next door.  I went over to the Bushnell because the young sister missionaries were very scared and their basement was LOCKED!  As I headed over to their home the sirens came on...it was quite dramatic.  We kept cheerful as we gathered, told stories, prayed, and they were very very glad I was there to comfort them.

Two days later while we were having our movie night another tornado struck.  We gathered in the basement of the Visitor's Center and sang songs, played games, and talked.  When the sirens stopped we got permission to go ahead and watch the movie.  Then at a climatic part in the movie Thunder and Lightning struck. The whole room shook!  The Wifi was knocked out.  So that was the end of that.  LOL.  I thought it was quite metaphorical that we were focusing on the savior (The Lamb of God) in the middle of a storm.

So today is clear bright and warm. We're cleaning house and packing and grateful. I am reminded of a scripture or twooooo.

2 Nephi 2:11For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

So we NEED the crazy in our lives in order to be grateful for the good.  The more pain you have the more you appreciate your health, the more sorrow you have the more joy you have when the sorrow is over.  It's just the way. So don't fight it...paddle through it and remember Christ said

Psalm 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Matthew 11:

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

There and Back Again: Week 75 Grand Journey to Georgia and KC

Last year we had a NEW type of grass appear in the lawn. We looked it up and found it was nut sedge.

I WISH we had actually researched it. I wish our "Grounds Boss" knew something about nut sedge. He told us to not worry about it and just mow over it. BAD advise.

Pulling the tops and mowing make it multiply faster..WAHHHH This year after a warm rain THESE popped up! Attack of the tribbles.

We couldn't just pull the stems, we had to dig them out by their DEEP bulbs! It's a labor intensive thing. So the lesson is, do not put off until tomorrow or take the easy way...no mowing over your sins to hide them.

JUST PULL THEM OUT by the bulbs through repentance. Because of Jesus we can root out our sins. Because of Jesus, Elder Cullen and I will somehow have the ability to get these things out of the lawn for good!!

Speaking of Jesus, our youngest son Ephraim played Jesus in a musical this weekend. Our older son, Ben, and his wife helped write and perform the music and lyrics, the producer is a friend of theirs and they have been working on it for two years.

Last night we got to watch it and it was AMAZING. So professional, so inspiring, so much talent. We were given permission to leave the mission for a week. So Monday We drove to celebrate Easter Monday with Autumn and honor our Slovak Heritage.

Even though it was a literally a 6pm to 8am visit we made the most of it! The boys showed us all their latest triumphs in bike riding, art, and music.

Autumn and the kids created a delicious Slovak Easter Meal. And we spent quality time together. I particularly enjoyed bedtime stories with Emmet and Taran.

Then we went down to Elder Cullen's cousins and had the BEST time doing family history, going to museums and just catching up.

 We LOVE the Davis's!

Then we visited the Cahokia Mounds...the oldest City in North America. It's timeline perfectly matches the people in the Book of Mormon.

It was amazing to climb the Monk's mound...amazing because we didn't have a heart attack, and amazing because the view was SO SPLENDID. We could see St. Louis in the distance.

Then spent the night at my BYU roommate's house and really enjoyed catching up with her and her husband and meeting her kids and grandkid.

We got to Kansas City on Friday, played with baby Wells, Ben and Courtnie,

watched the musical then got home Saturday (today) to find the Young Sister Missionaries had heart attacked our door!!

What a lovely REST and it feels so good to be back "home" We will enjoy it to the fullest for the next four weeks!!!

There and Back Again: Week 74 HAPPY EASTER!

The TULIPS HAVE OPENED!! A True sign that Spring has come. We've had a warm rain for two days now and everythings is SO happy.

The grass turned deep green and got lush looking, the flowers opened and birds are everywhere.

We have so much to rejoice in! Click here for a Happy Easter! Our Comedy Night went wonderful. Our Palm Sunday Music program was inspired. My Healing Herbs Workshop was well attended. I am grateful that Jesus Christ created plants that can heal us! Our Living Christ Project Performance was well received Wednesday night.

This weekend we culminate our month long Easter Rejoicing with General Conference! Click on this link to find out how you can watch on Saturday or Sunday. Each session is unique, uplifting, and inspiring. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/feature/general-conference?lang=eng

General Conference This is a time to listen to REAL Apostles and Prophets and know what Jesus would have us prepare for and work on for the next six month.

We're also having a delicious lamb feast on Sunday. I am grateful for My Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the Love he offers me, for the ability to repent of my sins and turn my weaknesses into strengths. I LOVE Him with all my heart and am willing to die for Him as well as live for Him. I invite you to come to Christ and believe that you can be healed in all ways as you develop a personal relationship with Him. Find out how to do that at the General Conference Link above! He is RISEN!

And because He is risen, you and your family can be together forever even After Death!