So much is happening always. I miss writing here. Where to write, and where to record is my constant battle! I am reading "Insights" a book about our dear Prophet President Nelson. It says he has a little book he records in. I wonder what those pages hold? Is it his blog? Is it full of impressions and jobs to do like my clipboards? I don't save those papers (most of the time) and yet, when I reflect back on the few I have stumbled across, I see the impressions of that day recorded for me to follow through on.
The Come Follow Me book tells us to record our impressions. I just struggle with where and for whom? Is it for me to reflect on? Is it for my eyes and my eyes only? Then my clipboard works great and I can check off those jobs and get them done. Somehow that doesn't seem to feel quite complete. I am seeking to learn and change.
I haven't written here since I went for our adventure to the Northwest. It was a great trip. We drove through Yosemite. Up to Creater Lake. To Mt. Hood. Through Portland, had a fun time with our bikes and 2 kayacks. Sara came. She decided literally as we were pulling out - so we added her bike to the rack and waited as she threw clothes in a bag. I was glad to have her along with the littles (Jakob, Sophia and Stephen). While in Portland, Brad called and said he was not happy and felt strongly that he needed to join us. He said he had bought a ticket and was flying in on Saturday morning to Portland. He joined us there.While there we had major changes with our Samuel. He came home from his mission the end of July. He was only out 6 months. The call said he "had a late confession" and needed to come home. We were in a little town called Bellingham on the boarder of the U.S. that night. We had decided to stay in the country because we didn't know what was going to happen with our phone when we crossed the border. I just had a feeling we shouldn't cross over that night - but wait until morning. My phone records the time as 10:32 that night - I am not sure what time zone that was in, but it was after dark - we were in a wheat field watching the sunset. We couldn't get to the shore - the trees were so thick we couldn't see through them, and the shore line seemed to all be private. We found a park, but the mesquitos were so thick it was miserable being out there. So we found this field, and on a little two lane road without a shoulder, Brad pulled off, hoping that we would be able to get back onto the road when the sunset ended. President Jensen sent a text that said "Sis Harr. Do you have a min to visit?" I replied "Of course!" "Are you busy with the family. When it's a good time." "Anytime. Now?" He called. Oh the dread of that call. I jumped out of the car, the kids were watching Indiana Jones on the video equipment in the car, and Brad and I had been talking. I didn't have any idea what this was about, so I jumped out with Sara's sweatshirt from off her back to protect me from the mesquitos! President asked if Brad was with me, so I waved to him, to come out and join me. He explained that Sam was coming home. I gasped. What? Is he hurt? Alive? Dead? What? We had talked to him on Monday. This was Wednesday night. On Monday he seemed well and happy. We had no clue that there was a problem.
I have enrolled in Pathways - a program through BYU-I to finish my degree. I started after highschool, but dropped out to put Brad through school and then law school. It is my turn to go back. I think part of this is because Sam doesn't seem to care if he goes to school. He is totally floating right now, lost in trying to determine what he is going to do next. We were told to just love him and to let the decision to go back into the field be his. That is hard! I don't think he is done learning what he was to learn. I am sad that he would be dishonest in getting to the field and through the temple. He seems to have a testimony when we talk to him, but right now he says carefully that he doesn't think he will be going back to the mission field. It was and is not easy. It is not hard. It is not ok to just quit. Oh I love him. I want him to live the life he was sent here to live.
Two pathways diverged in Fall 2019, and carefully long I stood; I am choosing Pathway Connect, I believe education always makes a difference.These photos are all since we got back from our trip North to Canada. Sara turned 16 and went to Dixie High Homecoming dance! The cute boy is Aaron Carey.
Cute Sophia models here the Full Armor of God she made for our Come Follow Me Discussion of Ephesians recently. She is so cute! Stephen didn't help her but came outside to see what she was doing, and felt sad that he didn't have a full set of armor. She gave him her whole set, and then set out to make another set for herself again! I love you Sophia! Thanks for always being so kind to everyone!
The latex gloves are to protect Sophia and Stephen's hands from the hive of bees that showed up in our backyard. We called Kylea Christensen who has 4 hives, and she came and taught us about them. She brought a bee box, loaded them into it, and the determined to leave it in our yard for a couple days. Then she came and picked them up and took them to join her other hives. It was fun to learn about those amazing fuzzy little creatures! I sure love these little people I get to have adventures with! xoxoxo Laus Deo!