As newspapers around the country struggle to stay alive, I wonder, "Is there nothing worth reporting?" Only the tragic news makes a page, while thousands of positive, life changing miracles are worked by our Father everyday on our behalf!
Today I see the hand of the Lord in my life in abundance! I recognize that He totally brought us home last night! We had two cars in SLC, and didn't leave for St. George until about 8:00 p.m. Saturday. I was tired before we started, but J (our other driver) had been at EFY all week, and got up at 4:00 a.m. Saturday to party with his new friends before they had to be out of their dorms at 7! They made it to our home in Sandy around 9:30 and we went for a beautiful hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon! I have never seen a snake on that trail before, and thankfully this was not the normal trail, but rather it is a new (secret) one on the North side of the river, but we found six (6!!!) snakes within about a 10 minute span along the trail! They were not long - the mamma was about 18" and the others were just babies, about 8-12" long. Enough to make B & I scream! It was a beautiful hike and we loved being all together again!
The miracles of the afternoon yesterday were countless! K & I had talked about doing a family picture for my Mom for her coming birthday. I thought I could go to Snowbird and find a photographer, but due to the season it is, they were closed! I returned on Friday to Mom's house hunting for a phone book, opened the book, and after saying a little prayer, decided on who I would call first. A cute young Natalie answered the phone and indicated that she could come Saturday at 3 (the appointed hour) but it would only be for a short 30 minutes. If we moved to 2 then we could have her for an hour for a reasonable fee. This being the first call I had made, I was hesitant, but scheduled her for the next day (yesterday). She tried to email some sample shots she had taken, but the email wouldn't go due to too much mail in my email account. So, late in the afternoon Friday, I confirmed that she would be there, noting however that the forecast called for scattered showers! I contacted all my siblings once again to confirm, and set the dress code for the pictures (white shirts, with the women in black skirts, boys all in Kacky pants, and the little girls in black & white dresses I found an hour earlier!) Everyone confirmed they could be there (MIRACLE!)! Saturday after our hike, we prepared light sandwiches for all to enjoy with watermelon in preps for the pictures. We had several other projects we were working on our home there including planting the garden, fixing a few boards on the deck, and packing/cleaning to leave. Time slipped quickly away. We hurried to get to Mom's for the pictures at 1:30, and Natalie came! The skies were perfectly overcast, keeping the temperature down, the shadows to a minimum, no squinty eyes! It was perfect! Couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! Everyone showed up, and looked great! Natalie took individual family shots of each family unit, and then all of us together! Mom was quite stressed prior to the gathering, but it all went so smooth! Natalie was cute, and smiley, helping the little ones to all look at her. We quoted Grandpa's favorite jokes which kept everyone laughing i.e. "Look at all those cotton pick'in Indians!" "How do you catch a polar bear?" We have told these jokes for so long, we just share this part, and everyone laughs at the thought of hearing it from my Dad!
Following the photos, we all went to H's for a party for K's son J who was turning 7. Fun in the pool, barbecue burgers, potato salad, and more watermelon. We had a nice evening together, and I felt bad trying to pull away, so.... we didn't! We were once again the last ones to leave (why do we always find ourselves on cleanup crew?). It was a very nice night. Then back to our place to pack quick, and on the road to home! We had K with us from her week at EFY with L. J drove through Orem, and then we traded, and I followed B for the rest of the way home. It was a little after midnight when we pulled in. I prayed many times over that we would all be safe, and that I could stay awake to get everyone home. I have always had a problem watching movies, when the TV goes on, I go to sleep. I think part of my problem was the teens in the truck were watching a movie right next to me, and it continued all the way through Cedar. When it finally turned off, I was able to wake up more and finished strong. I know that traveling save is a miracle and blessing for me! Thank you Heavenly Father!
Today I went to Nursery for the first hour (since I have not been released, however they have called two others to be in there). Then I snuck out to YW where L.D. taught on the importance of service. Boy I have a week of that this week! We spent the entire evening after church working on the Youth Conference EFY here in Bloomington which is this weekend. It will consume everyday this week. I pray for many miracles in regards to it!
I didn't write about this in this blog, but I got in trouble with the BSA people last Wednesday night for coordinating all these Eagle projects for this EFY. I am not sure why even now, but I met with them for several hours on Wednesday, and they are upset that they don't think the youth are doing the work. So, I am backing even further away, trusting them to do the job! I know it will take many miracles to have all the projects ready to go and successful for that day! I believe that these young people are coordinating more than other scouts would have to because they have to meet our time table, and help all these adults understand and see the plan! I don't understand how the Eagle board thinks they are getting it easy!? The eagles who did trees before this only did HALF the amount of trees these boys are! I understand they are super sensitive about fire hydrant painting as not being an Eagle quality project. I don't agree when the Eagles are coordinating some 119 hydrants! I can see that 30-40 is NOT enough, but 119? That is not the same! The other thing is, I asked before we ever started this project, and were told it was ok. They did say if we weren't doing alot of hydrants we should attaching something else as well. I understood that was for 50 hydrants. The City Water department oversees this painting, and they claim it would take two staff members an hour to paint three hydrants! That means man hours along to paint 119 hydrants is 80 hours and that is painting alone. No planning, fund raising for the wire brushes, paint brushes, templates, etc. I told them I QUIT on Wednesday night! I have now been yelled at by the City of St. George regarding the water line for the trees on this project, yelled at by a scout committee chair who was ranting about these projects, I have been yelled at by Dad's who thought I was expecting too much. I have been dealing with scouts 20 hours/day for the past three months in preparation for this event, and now the Eagle board is upset with me. Whatever! I don't do this for the BSA! I am not a paid employee! I am a volunteer, and I can quit! I don't need the stress of dealing with the BSA! These people say they are upset with the way the labor hours are somewhat organized, or the fact that these boys were searching for projects, and I happened to have an eye looking hard for projects that could work for large groups of people, and so I suggested they pursue these projects should NOT get me OR them into trouble! In fact, those very people ARE paid employees of BSA and why do they have a JOB? Because good leaders in the real world are donating their time, talents, and monetary wealth into helping young men develop into leaders for tomorrow! This is truly an opportunity for young people to lead!!!!!! If it is not, I don't know what is!!!! I see they are meeting tons of other deadlines, dealing with many additional people to coordinate details all as part of this project! It is NOT as easy as doing this project for their weekly activity - which is when they usually happen! It is not happening just when they are ready! It is on a synchronized schedule! They have worked hard, and deserve to be recognized as the best of the best, and if that doesn't mean they are Eagle scouts THEN IT IS THE FAULT OF THE BSA program and NOT of the lack of leadership they have shown! Enough is enough!
After I delayed our departure time on Wednesday from 4:00 'till 10 p.m. because I had to conduct a Wolf & Bear Den Meeting for my ward Cubs (Compass, Liahona & GPS fun!), and then had meetings with the Eagle board for several hours (telephone and face to face). We finally made it to Salt Lake for a much needed break! I should have left my cell phone home if that was really what I wanted, but I was grateful to talk to those involved in these projects while we were way, and see the progress happening on all of them! Good job BOYS! You're GREAT!
Newsworthy? I believe the stature of the service that is rendered in our community on a daily basis is worthy of report! I believe the Hand of God miracles are worthy of report! I am grateful to have ways to record them in both public and private!
Today I see the hand of the Lord in my life in abundance! I recognize that He totally brought us home last night! We had two cars in SLC, and didn't leave for St. George until about 8:00 p.m. Saturday. I was tired before we started, but J (our other driver) had been at EFY all week, and got up at 4:00 a.m. Saturday to party with his new friends before they had to be out of their dorms at 7! They made it to our home in Sandy around 9:30 and we went for a beautiful hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon! I have never seen a snake on that trail before, and thankfully this was not the normal trail, but rather it is a new (secret) one on the North side of the river, but we found six (6!!!) snakes within about a 10 minute span along the trail! They were not long - the mamma was about 18" and the others were just babies, about 8-12" long. Enough to make B & I scream! It was a beautiful hike and we loved being all together again!
The miracles of the afternoon yesterday were countless! K & I had talked about doing a family picture for my Mom for her coming birthday. I thought I could go to Snowbird and find a photographer, but due to the season it is, they were closed! I returned on Friday to Mom's house hunting for a phone book, opened the book, and after saying a little prayer, decided on who I would call first. A cute young Natalie answered the phone and indicated that she could come Saturday at 3 (the appointed hour) but it would only be for a short 30 minutes. If we moved to 2 then we could have her for an hour for a reasonable fee. This being the first call I had made, I was hesitant, but scheduled her for the next day (yesterday). She tried to email some sample shots she had taken, but the email wouldn't go due to too much mail in my email account. So, late in the afternoon Friday, I confirmed that she would be there, noting however that the forecast called for scattered showers! I contacted all my siblings once again to confirm, and set the dress code for the pictures (white shirts, with the women in black skirts, boys all in Kacky pants, and the little girls in black & white dresses I found an hour earlier!) Everyone confirmed they could be there (MIRACLE!)! Saturday after our hike, we prepared light sandwiches for all to enjoy with watermelon in preps for the pictures. We had several other projects we were working on our home there including planting the garden, fixing a few boards on the deck, and packing/cleaning to leave. Time slipped quickly away. We hurried to get to Mom's for the pictures at 1:30, and Natalie came! The skies were perfectly overcast, keeping the temperature down, the shadows to a minimum, no squinty eyes! It was perfect! Couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! Everyone showed up, and looked great! Natalie took individual family shots of each family unit, and then all of us together! Mom was quite stressed prior to the gathering, but it all went so smooth! Natalie was cute, and smiley, helping the little ones to all look at her. We quoted Grandpa's favorite jokes which kept everyone laughing i.e. "Look at all those cotton pick'in Indians!" "How do you catch a polar bear?" We have told these jokes for so long, we just share this part, and everyone laughs at the thought of hearing it from my Dad!
Following the photos, we all went to H's for a party for K's son J who was turning 7. Fun in the pool, barbecue burgers, potato salad, and more watermelon. We had a nice evening together, and I felt bad trying to pull away, so.... we didn't! We were once again the last ones to leave (why do we always find ourselves on cleanup crew?). It was a very nice night. Then back to our place to pack quick, and on the road to home! We had K with us from her week at EFY with L. J drove through Orem, and then we traded, and I followed B for the rest of the way home. It was a little after midnight when we pulled in. I prayed many times over that we would all be safe, and that I could stay awake to get everyone home. I have always had a problem watching movies, when the TV goes on, I go to sleep. I think part of my problem was the teens in the truck were watching a movie right next to me, and it continued all the way through Cedar. When it finally turned off, I was able to wake up more and finished strong. I know that traveling save is a miracle and blessing for me! Thank you Heavenly Father!
Today I went to Nursery for the first hour (since I have not been released, however they have called two others to be in there). Then I snuck out to YW where L.D. taught on the importance of service. Boy I have a week of that this week! We spent the entire evening after church working on the Youth Conference EFY here in Bloomington which is this weekend. It will consume everyday this week. I pray for many miracles in regards to it!
I didn't write about this in this blog, but I got in trouble with the BSA people last Wednesday night for coordinating all these Eagle projects for this EFY. I am not sure why even now, but I met with them for several hours on Wednesday, and they are upset that they don't think the youth are doing the work. So, I am backing even further away, trusting them to do the job! I know it will take many miracles to have all the projects ready to go and successful for that day! I believe that these young people are coordinating more than other scouts would have to because they have to meet our time table, and help all these adults understand and see the plan! I don't understand how the Eagle board thinks they are getting it easy!? The eagles who did trees before this only did HALF the amount of trees these boys are! I understand they are super sensitive about fire hydrant painting as not being an Eagle quality project. I don't agree when the Eagles are coordinating some 119 hydrants! I can see that 30-40 is NOT enough, but 119? That is not the same! The other thing is, I asked before we ever started this project, and were told it was ok. They did say if we weren't doing alot of hydrants we should attaching something else as well. I understood that was for 50 hydrants. The City Water department oversees this painting, and they claim it would take two staff members an hour to paint three hydrants! That means man hours along to paint 119 hydrants is 80 hours and that is painting alone. No planning, fund raising for the wire brushes, paint brushes, templates, etc. I told them I QUIT on Wednesday night! I have now been yelled at by the City of St. George regarding the water line for the trees on this project, yelled at by a scout committee chair who was ranting about these projects, I have been yelled at by Dad's who thought I was expecting too much. I have been dealing with scouts 20 hours/day for the past three months in preparation for this event, and now the Eagle board is upset with me. Whatever! I don't do this for the BSA! I am not a paid employee! I am a volunteer, and I can quit! I don't need the stress of dealing with the BSA! These people say they are upset with the way the labor hours are somewhat organized, or the fact that these boys were searching for projects, and I happened to have an eye looking hard for projects that could work for large groups of people, and so I suggested they pursue these projects should NOT get me OR them into trouble! In fact, those very people ARE paid employees of BSA and why do they have a JOB? Because good leaders in the real world are donating their time, talents, and monetary wealth into helping young men develop into leaders for tomorrow! This is truly an opportunity for young people to lead!!!!!! If it is not, I don't know what is!!!! I see they are meeting tons of other deadlines, dealing with many additional people to coordinate details all as part of this project! It is NOT as easy as doing this project for their weekly activity - which is when they usually happen! It is not happening just when they are ready! It is on a synchronized schedule! They have worked hard, and deserve to be recognized as the best of the best, and if that doesn't mean they are Eagle scouts THEN IT IS THE FAULT OF THE BSA program and NOT of the lack of leadership they have shown! Enough is enough!
After I delayed our departure time on Wednesday from 4:00 'till 10 p.m. because I had to conduct a Wolf & Bear Den Meeting for my ward Cubs (Compass, Liahona & GPS fun!), and then had meetings with the Eagle board for several hours (telephone and face to face). We finally made it to Salt Lake for a much needed break! I should have left my cell phone home if that was really what I wanted, but I was grateful to talk to those involved in these projects while we were way, and see the progress happening on all of them! Good job BOYS! You're GREAT!
Newsworthy? I believe the stature of the service that is rendered in our community on a daily basis is worthy of report! I believe the Hand of God miracles are worthy of report! I am grateful to have ways to record them in both public and private!