left: trunk o' treat on 10/30 right: trick o' treating 10/31
"Why do you wait at your door, woman,
Alone in the night?"
"I am waiting for one who will come, stranger,
To show him a light.
He will see me afar on the road
And be glad at the sight."
"Have you no fear in your heart, woman,
To stand there alone?
There is comfort for you and kindly content
Beside the hearthstone."
But she answered, "No rest can I have
Till I welcome my own."
"Is it far he must travel to-night,
This man of your heart?"
"Strange lands that I know not and pitiless seas
Have kept us apart,
And he travels this night to his home
Without guide, without chart."
"And has he companions to cheer him?"
"Aye, many," she said.
"The candles are lighted, the hearthstones are swept,
The fires glow red.
We shall welcome them out of the night—
Our home-coming dead."
afternoons at the pool, planting a garden, time outside, lazy mornings, swimming lessons, road trips, camping, family gatherings, sunshine...I could go on forever.
One of our last summer activities every year is harvesting the peaches from our little peach tree.
The girls love watching them grow throughout the season and are now SO good about leaving them on the tree until they are ready. At the very end of the summer season (they had already been in school for a few weeks) we spent the evening outside and picked our peaches.
The summers go by as quickly as these girls are growing up.
Their ages are so much fun.
Some days I wish that I could make time stand still.
I was twenty years old. I had been a church-goer with my family most of my life. My mom was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I was three years old. My dad's activity soon followed. I had experienced many positive influences through church attendance: gospel teachings, a supportive church family and opportunities for some service. At this time in fact, I was "serving" as the secretary in a youth group (12-18 year old girls). It was standards night and the book "For the Strength of Youth" had just been released and we were presenting it to the youth for the first time.
As I listened to this meeting I had a clear realization that church activity had been a strong part of my life and upbringing...yet the gospel of Jesus Christ seemed weak. Did I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? As I sat in the large room with many friends around me I made a determination- I wanted the gospel of Jesus Christ to sink deep into my soul. I wanted to know for myself. I wanted to attend to my meetings and service because I loved my Savior- not because it is what my family did. I decided that night that I would read the Book of Mormon every day. This is a book of scripture that I had studied every four years in seminary and Sunday school but I had never read it seriously and sincerely for myself. I started that night.
The words and the stories within the book were familiar, I had heard most of them many times, but something was happening to my heart. I felt it softening. As I read one night I was so overcome with grattitude. This feeling had never happened to me before. I felt such joy and I was humbled by it. What did I do to deserve to have this in my life? I wanted to share. I knelt by my bed to thank my Father in Heaven. I felt so grateful to know this peace and feel this gospel. The next thought and words that came to my mind surprised me---"If you want me to go- I will serve."
Had I really just said that? Friends and church members had asked me many times if I had plans to serve a mission. My answer was always "no." And a quick "no" at that. I didn't have any interest in being called away from those I love for 18 months to an unknown location, I could have been sent anywhere. That next day I thought about that prayer I offered at the side of my bed all day long. How would I know if He wanted me to go??? As I returned home that evening from work I saw a letter that I had received in the mail that day. My friend had written from his mission in Argentina. (A country I would be called to.) As he completed the letter he wrote something like this:
Carin, I strongly feel that you should serve a mission. It has blessed my life and strengthened my testimony like I can't describe in words....
As I read his words a strong feeling overtook me. I knew it wasn't my friends words...but a calling to serve. I knew my answer. I walked down the hallway to my parent's room and told them the news- I was going on a mission.
As I listened to Elder Holland's message he gave last Sunday in General
Conference this experience, from twenty years ago, came flooding back to
me. He shared the apostles experience found in the New Testament
when Jesus returned after his resurrection. Peter and several apostles
returned to fishing. Jesus needed them to be His disciples...Lovest
thou me? Lovest thou me? Lovest thou me?
Where is my heart today?
I am busy, active and participating in church service---but where is my heart?
Is it focused on serving others?
Have I let go of pride?
Is it focused on Him?
"To all within the sound of my voice, the voice of Christ comes ringing
down through the halls of time, asking each one of us while there is
time, 'Do you love me?' And for every one of us, I answer with my honor
and my soul, 'Yea, Lord, we do love thee.' And having set our 'hand to
the plough,' we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and neighbor rules the world."Elder Holland
I
am left, after listening to these beautiful words, with a desire to do
better...so much better...not only in deed...but instead in my heart.
"I believe that the place in which I live, while I live in it, is the best place in the world for me. And as it gives to me the best it has, it deserves in return from me the best I can give it."
"Believe in God; believe that He is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." Mosiah 4:9
