10 Days Until My Missionary Returns Home!!

On March 9, 2025 I made a post like this on my social media. I was beginning a 10-day count down of Eliza returning from her mission on March 19, 2025. Wahoo!!

So much excitement and gratitude!!

In 10 days, my amazing daughter will be coming home after serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France!

I am overflowing with delight and gratitude as I think about the many lives she's touched and the many that have touched and blessed her life. This includes companions, leaders and teachers at the MTC, terrific mission leaders, senior missionary couples, members in the branches and wards, all her fellow missionary pals, the many people she met and were willing to talk to her, and all those who would listen to her share and teach about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

The faith, strength, and love she's exhibited over the past 18 months have been such an inspiration to me. I can’t wait to welcome her home, hear her stories, see her notebook of miracles, and see the incredible person she’s become through this experience.

I’m so proud of her and grateful for the service she’s done in France and Belgium—what a beautiful journey it has been!

Sunday Gratitude Journal

    “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:10)  In a recent study I had of "Jesus Christ, Creator"  from the scripture Topical Guide - this verse made me sad. It was written long ago, biblical times, but this scripture indeed has application today. 

As the world continues to fight a pandemic and more and more are becoming ill with the virus, many think Christ is not in the world. Perhaps they are unaware of Him. Many may feel He is not helping in this situation, I would say He is. I see His hand guiding and directing my life. I see Him working in the lives of many of my loved ones and friends. I hear Him giving me guidance and whispering words of comfort and peace. Jesus Christ is “in the world”, evidence of Him is all around. Christ’s creations are beautiful - look around today and notice all that He has made. We can find joy and gratitude for His beautiful creations. Nature is healing. (This reminds me of this recent message from Music and the Spoken Word specifically about that -https://musicandthespokenword.com/spokenwordmessages/just-what-the-doctor-ordered-sunday-november-15-2020/). 

“And the world knew him not”. That part of the verse causes me sadness. Jesus Chirst, the Savior of the world, and yet “the world knew him not”. Let me introduce you to my friend, my big brother, my Savior and champion, Jesus Christ. I love Him! I depend on Him! He is my rock and my salvation. Want to know Him too or know Him better?  If you are intentional about it, let me tell you some ways that have helped me and might help you:

1. Pray to your Father in Heaven and ask that His son, Jesus Christ may bless you and give you His power today with the worries, concerns, anger, and challenges you are facing. In praying, ask that you may feel of His love and peace in your life today. Then notice, just notice, His hand in your life. I am grateful for prayer, and that I can pray anytime and anywhere. 

2. Read Christ’s words in the scriptures. He is there. Open up almost anywhere and begin to read, He will show up. He shows up especially in The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  A few years ago I marked any reference made of Jeus Christ and he was there on almost every page, multiple times. Amazing! Sometimes after I have prayed or written down my concerns and then opened up my scriptures, I can hear a message just for me from Him. The more I am in the scriptures, the more grateful I am for them. 

3. Look at pictures of Jesus Christ, feel the peace and see the light that can come to your heart. A few new favorite artists that I particularly enjoy are: Eva Koleva  Timothy "The Lord is My Light", and Kate Lee. 

(You may want to check out this recent news article, which tells more of Eva and her magnificent art.) I am grateful for talented artists that fill my soul with beauty and light. 

4. Read and ponder upon the words of The Living Christ. A testimony of Him by living prophets and apostles. I am grateful for the testimony and witness of truth from others. 

5. See Him lovingly portrayed in these Bible videos  or in this new series, The Chosen. If you’ve seen The Chosen, don’t you love it? The Chosen has helped me see Jesus in a new way and has connected me closer to Him. I am grateful for talented people that can act and direct and create such uplifting media. 

6. Listen to a prophet of God who knows Jesus. Isn’t it amazing that there is a living prophet of God upon the earth today who speaks of Christ and speaks to Christ?  A few days ago, our prophet had a special message for us. A message of hope and healing. A prescription to make us better. Which is to express our gratitude. I don’t think our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ need our thanks and grateful hearts as much as we need it. As we recognize the blessings and notice where the blessings are coming from, it is healing to our souls and it helps us to “know Him”. A prophet of God speaks words of peace, comfort, and shares what the Lord would have us do in our lives right now to make us feel better. I am grateful for President Nelson. 

7. Hear the many songs and read the lyrics of songs and hymns which express praise to Jesus Christ. Again, many talented artists that help me feel Christ's love, His peace, and know Him better. For which I am grateful for. I am also blessed by Spotify to create playlists and hear such songs quickly and easily.

8. See and read even more about Jesus Christ at this Come Unto Christ webpage. I am profoundly grateful for my Savior. 

 

We all want this pandemic, the coronavirus to end. Perhaps what will help end the pandemic, to return to “normal living”, for us to again “prosper in the land” - is for us to know Him. Jesus Christ has all power, “all things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3.) This verse causes me to have respect, awe, and gratitude for all the things He has created for me and you. Without Him not anything was/is made. We need His guidance, His light and the inspiration He desires to give. I would think scientists and doctors have felt that guidance as they have sought a cure and developed a vaccine. Perhaps some professionals don’t recognize the guidance, but I am certain it has been there because thousands upon thousands of us have prayed and asked for His help to find a cure. And because “without him not anything is made”. I think for the cure to come quicker and for less of us getting the coronavirus, there needs to be more who see Jesus Christ in the world, more believers and followers of Him, and a lot less in the world “who know him not”. 

I stated above how I am grateful for prayer and that I sometimes hear the Lord’s voice as I read the scriptures. This past week I had such an experience where the following verses spoke to my soul and I was able to personalize it for me and for you. It is a prayer of the brother of Jared found in the book of Ether 3:2-5  from The Book of Mormon. 

2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the [coronavirus]. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy [people] because of [our] weakness[es] before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.

3 Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many [months] we have been in [unnormal living conditions]; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon [us] in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that [we] shall [continue to] go forth [among this pandemic lifestyle] across this raging deep in darkness; but behold [the good intentions and efforts of so many of thy children trying and desiring to make things better.]

4 And [we] know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch [our hearts and minds], O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare [us] that [we] may shine forth in [these troubling and sometimes dark times]; and [that Thou shalt continue to] shine forth unto us in [our lives], that we may have [Thy] light while we [endeavor to endure COVID19].

5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men. (Ether 3:2-5)

    I am hopeful that through gratitude more of us will see Christ in the world, be grateful for this beautiful world and all the other creations and blessings in our life He has made, and that the whole wide world will know Him or know Him better.

A Rocky Summer

It has been a rocky summer; I can blame most of it on COVID-19.  Vacations for our family had to be changed and adjusted, in doing so we saw a lot of rocks.

July 10, 2020 was a date that happily took a few of my family members and I to Idaho for a wedding. We decided to make a road trip out of the occassion and stayed the night in a hotel (first time for us to do so during COVID). On our way we detoured to see the City of Rocks in Almo, Idaho. Impressive, large boulders that seemed to pop up just like a little city as we came around the corner and caught our first view. "Camp Rock" (not pictured) was one of our favorites.

"The City of Rocks National Reserve, also known as the Silent City of Rocks, is a United States National Reserve and state park lying 2 miles north of the south-central Idaho border with Utah. It is widely known for its excellent rock climbing and rock formations."

The following day, on our return from Idaho Falls, we drove to Craters of the Moon, the vast area was created by lava flows over time. 

"Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a U.S. national monument and national preserve in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho. It is along US 20, between the small towns of Arco and Carey, at an average elevation of 5,900 feet above sea level." 

Then on to see the Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, where rocky canyons is the landscape for the sparkling waterfalls. The falls have been called the "Niagara of the West".

It was an enjoyable couple of days to escape home, get out and see new places. Every time I saw these rocks the scripture from Heleman 5:12 would enter my mind.

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Back in February, we planned a trip to Disneyland for August. There was a time we thought that might happen, but California Disney never opened up. Instead, we opted for a road trip to see something we have wanted to see but hadn't seen before - Mt. Rushmore. Originally our vacation week would have been during Sturgis, an annual motorcycle rally through the Black Hills. We adjusted the time of our arrival to South Dakota and went to Yellowstone first. There is so much to see in Yellowstone! Over 3,000 square miles of land! Clearly one cannot see it all in a day or two, and that is all we had. But the various landscapes, impressive geological sites, beauty of canyons, waterfalls, and lakes, and the occasional sighting of wildlife were all things to behold. We exited Yellowstone out of the east side and drove through the mountains and canyons on North Fork Highway. Such a beautiful drive to Cody, Wyoming. Again, recalling these words, "remember that it is upon the rock of [y]our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation;..." played through my mind.

In South Dakota we saw Mount Rushmore, which I loved seeing so much! It was remarkable. Such a special feeling there. I am grateful for the service, leadership, and dedication to our country of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The majestic carvings is a memorial to them. 

We drove through the 8-foot wide Needles Eye Tunnel, which is part of the Needles Highway drive filled with unusual and impressive rock formations in the Black Hills. The air was cool, and the rocks and landscape sights were too. 

One place I wished we could have visited longer was the Crazy Horse Memorial. It is a mountain monument under construction on private land in the Black Hills - not too far from Mount Rushmore. It depicts the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land. Learning a little bit about its history and seeing the evening laser show was inspiring. I got to bring home a granite rock, from which this mountain monument is being carved out of. I hope to visit this memorial again in my lifetime. 

Every time I saw these impressive, massive, meaningful and beautiful rocks, the spirit would fill my mind with remembrances of and a connection to where my foundation lies. Additionally, I would be reminded of the children's Primary song about the wiseman building his house upon a rock. I am so grateful for my knowledge of Jesus Christ. He IS my Savior, Redeemer, and my firm foundation of faith. I can trust Jesus.

"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." (Luke 6:48)

The rocks would remind me of how beautiful the world is. Sometimes, within just a few miles, the landscapes and formations would quickly change. There is much variety and beauty in this world. I am so grateful for this beautiful world, created for me and you, by an all-knowing, and loving God. There is no denying His handiwork. "... yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:44)

Incidentally, we drove past Devil's Gate near Martin's Cove and Independence Rock on our return drive home. More rock formations to keep my mind remembering who my true rock is. AND, while on this trip, my son was with many of his friends on their own excursion at Island Park. While there, he gave his girlfriend a rock, a really special and expensive rock, and asked her to marry him. She said, yes! :)

Thank you COVID for making my summer so rocky. It has been a reminder of where my true foundation lies. Which is in the creator of all these great rocks! My Savior, Jesus Christ, is my rock, my sure foundation. 

Why is He my rock?  Because He is constant, true, and someone I can rely on always. Think about it, since the coronavirus (March for me), our lives changed and things around us started shutting down. Details about our way of living were changing hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly. God is not changing. "For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever", I can rely on Him!  People, places, and circumstances around me might change, but Jesus Christ will always be there and so will my Father in Heaven. I am the one that moves and chooses to distance myself from them, but like like the firm, strong, and steady rocks I've seen this summer, He will always be there. I know it. When the distance happens, God is still there. Always calling me to return, to come unto Him, partake of His gift of repentance, change my heart, and partake of the goodness, peace, light, and joy He offers. Oh, it is wonderful!

Thank you, Jesus, thank you Heavenly Father, and thank you to the Holy Ghost that communicates to me teachings, testifies of truth, and helps me see spiritual connections along my journey. 

As extra thoughts...

On the heels of our Yellowstone trip, the Music and Spoken word for Sunday, August 23,  showcased pictures from Yellowstone and the history of the National Parks. Would highly suggest taking a look, or at least fast forward to the speaking part. So cool!  August 23, 2020 - #4745 Music & the Spoken Word. https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/videos/august-23-2020-4745-music-and-the-spoken-word/

Additionally, "How Firm a Foundation" (Hymn No. 85) supports many of my above thoughts. 

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,

In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—

As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,

As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove

My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;

And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,

Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,

Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

(Text: Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835. Music: Attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889)

Today (Tuesday September 8) as I get ready to share this post, with walking up to hurricane-force winds at up to 95 mph, causing big damage in my yard with trees falling, I am reminded again of rocks. The rocks don't move in the fierecest of winds. They are strong, firm, and steady. So is Jesus. Life has always been a bit messy, but there is always a way through as I lean on my Savior. He IS my sure foundation!

A Letter to God and Cheerfully Doing

Dear God, 

Thank you for a good, and complete night's sleep. Thank you for this quiet moment now. Thank you for the spirit I felt yesterday watching a few movies about the Restoration, adding to my preparation for General Conference. Thank you for the video chat I had yesterday with my sisters, for another sister that reached out to me via text, and thank you that my parents drove up from Sandy to stand at the edge of our porch to welcome Andrew home from his mission and talk to us for a bit. Thank you for that. 

This self-isolation and safe distancing hasn't been too bad. Especially compared to the 5+ months Joseph, Hyrum and others endured with terrible circumstances at the Liberty Jail. How horrible! As I watched those movies yesterday I was quickly filled with gratitude once again for my little struggle. I am self isolating with my family around me, in the comforts of my own home, with plenty of things to do to keep me busy and happy, and being able to have much digital contact with others and even safe-distancing contact. There is plenty uplifting and encouraging material to read - Thy word. I can pretty much carry on with my life. I have windows to look out at and occasionally see neighbors and friends walk or drive by, I can step outside and enjoy fresh air, or go for a walk and be cheered up by the daffodils. I am warm. I have a comfortable home and bed. I have plenty of food and can go to the store or a restaurant to get more. I have a bathroom (with plenty of toilet paper), running water, and electricity. Thank you Lord! 

This pondering and writing of these blessings brought to my mind the thought to look up and read more about the Liberty Jail. Which then led me to read this moving and powerful message from Elder Holland, "Lessons from Liberty Jail". He gave this talk in 2008 to young adults. Wow! As in typical Elder Holland style, I read it while hearing his voice in my mind - delivered with passion and full of spirit. Reading these items just adds to my gratitude. I have been given insight, and hope, and it has caused some inner reflection on my own struggle at this time, which actually seems so minuscule - how can I even complain or murmur? Please forgive me. I have it so easy. I see an end in sight. I wonder how long it took Joseph and others to see an end to their cold, damp, stifling, hungry, uncomfortable condition. It lasted for months!  But you were with them. 

Needless to say, this morning I kind of feel things have come full circle a bit for me today in your messages back to me. The scripture message you gave me as an answer of guiding strength almost two weeks ago (March 22) was from D&C 123:17. What I heard you tell me:

"Therefore, dearly beloved [LuAnn],... cheerfully do all things that lie in [y]our power; and then may [you] stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

Those were reassuring words. The phrase that came to me with great force and increased my faith, was "with the utmost assurance". Filling me with such hope and firmness to that which I was praying for. This verse of scripture has been a guiding light and a strength for me in the days since as the spirit has brought to my mind this scripture in times in which I have needed it. Thank you!  Connecting this verse to me even more was to be reminded in my study this morning that this verse was actually spoken to Joseph Smith from Thee while he was in Liberty Jail. Wow! His suffering then has eased my struggle now. Not only did Joseph receive by revelation section 123, but also sections 121 and 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Who can doubt personal revelation? I can't and I won't. 

I am so blessed! I am grateful. I will remain faithful. I see your hand and notice Thy blessing and tender mercies to me and those I love in this crazy time of the corona virus pandemic. There are miracles in the mess!  I see you doing your work. Thank you God! I so look forward to what other messages you have for me as my family and I participate in General Conference. I am ready! 

Your beloved daughter,
LuAnn


A few more things to add to this experience that I want to remember. There are many scripture verses in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, that have verses about cheer. Doctrine and Covenants 61:36 and John 16:3 are good ones. Sister Franco wrote an Ensign article "Be of Good Cheer" (December 2019), which is inspiring and joyful. 

Back on March 19 (wow, that seems so long ago), I received an email from Hang a Ribbon on the Moon  about a free "Be of Good Cheer" banner printable.  It was so cute!  With events canceling, families staying home, home schooling beginning, people still hustling to find toilet paper, and a day after the earthquake, I knew I needed to print up and color this banner to hang in my home. It has been a cheery reminder to be happy and notice the blessings! We've been able to send pictures to a few family members hopefully increasing their cheer at this time. I wish I could make this banner up and give to everyone I know! 

Additionally, our neighborhood hosted a parade on Monday this week (March 30). We made posters to hang out the windows and decorate the cars. Driving past the homes of the recently returned missionaries, as well as nurses and police officers giving much to help others at this time, we honked, waved, and cheered. I thought it was so much fun! Guess what I had written on the back my van? Yep, "Be of good cheer!"

Speaking of Elder Holland, he shared current words of hope and direction just a few days ago. His words gave me peace - "Shelter in Place".

Finally, there has been a quote that has resurfaced and been going around the internet these few weeks by Fred Rogers which says, "When I was a boy I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" I think this statement is so true. We have so many people helping at this time, giving of their safety and comfort to help others. But I would also like to suggest, look for God helping you. Notice the many ways God is helping you. Write them down (record) so you remember and your can rejoice now and later.  "...cheerfully do all things that lie in [y]our power; and then may [you] stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (D&C 123:17)

Cherries, Cherries, Cherries, and MORE Cherries!!!!

This spring our cherry trees were full with bright, white blossoms. "We looked out our windows and what did we see?  Popcorn popping on the cherry trees!" 

It was almost as if the trees were celestial!   In the seven years we've lived here, the cherry trees have never quite looked like this.  They were so beautiful! 

It wasn't long before the beautiful blossoms fell and in their place we could easily see all the small, green cherry buds emerging.  This worried us as we were nervous to the amount of fruit these trees were capable of producing! To help save some funds for our summer family vacation, we opted not to have the trees professionally pruned back in January/February and we certainly did not try pruning them ourselves.  I think the lack of pruning might have been our problem for all these cherries!  In fact, knowing that the cherries would probably be at their very best picking during the time we were on our trip, we thought much about just picking those little green cherries right then.  Someone talked us out of that idea.  Instead, we decided to have a professional come and spray the cherries for worms, for that had been a problem in years past. 

The fruit ripened, became red in color and the cherries were very plentiful.  In some areas they grew like grape clusters!  With two trees, we were going to have so much fruit and we would not be around for a couple of weeks to do much with them (nor did we really want too).  We offered the cherries to everyone!  Some came and picked buckets full.  Others came with their little children for a small grocery sack full.  

                                

One day (Flag Day), Eliza and her cousin picked cherries and sold them.  This was kind of embarrassing for me, since a few hours previously I put a post on my Facebook page that they were for free.  But those two girls picked the cherries and bagged them in various sizes and made $30+ that afternoon.  Still, this hardly put a dent in our over-abundant cherry supply! 

While yummy and sweet, the cherries can be a big mess when they fall to the ground.  Some just drop, but the raccoon and birds do their fair share in helping the cherries to fall.  My husband has spent hours raking up cherries to help get the squished, sticky residue out of the grass; in hopes that that pit comes out of the lawn too.  Why worry when you can pray?  We were worried that while we were gone for a few weeks those cherries would fall and we would come home to a huge mess on our lawn.  We prayed and included this worry in our prayer the morning we left for our trip.  Praying also that people would stop by and pick, and pick cherries while we were gone.  Some people would text or email or even comment on Facebook that they stopped by, this would make us so glad.  When we returned, we were happily relieved to not have the anticipated big mess on our lawn.  Our prayer was answered, and that prayer may have very well been answered by a kind, anonymous soul (or two or more) who raked up for us. How grateful we were for that tender mercy, no matter how the Lord chose to answer it.

I didn't know too much about what to do with cherries, other than bottling them or making jam. So when I saw this little cookbook, "Berry and Cherry Recipes" at The Arch gift shop in St. Louis, I knew I could greatly benefit from it.  Some things I made with the cherries this year were cherry syrup for pancakes; a cherry sauce and cherry frosting for some sweet rolls; a cherry crisp dessert inside a pie shell; cherry muffins; cherry braised chicken dish.  Almost all of the recipes turned out well.  Lance particularly loved the chicken and cherry crisp.  The muffins, however, did not look too great and they were heavy and dense - more like hockey pucks.  

   

We still had so many deep, red cherries all over in our trees!  Another plea was sent out.  This time we tried placing a sign at our sidewalk that would alert people passing by, including friends and neighbors in other parts of the neighborhood, that we had plenty of cherries to share and wanted to give away!  More people came and the sign was effective.  We left a larger step stool in the yard along with a wobbly, wooden ladder.  In hopes that it would make the picking job easier and perhaps more enticing.  Thankful we were whenever someone stopped by and picked.

People were appreciative too of the cherries.  Their thankfulness to us came back in various forms.  Such as people posting pictures of their pickings on Facebook or photos of pies or other yummy things they were able to make with the cherries.  Someone left a nice note on our door.  Another neighbor brought us some cherry almond jam she and her family made.  It was soooo good!  Many would tell us how much they picked and how glad they were for the cherries.  Most recently we had someone stop by and bring us a warm loaf of homemade wheat bread.  Very yummy and thoughtful too.  While these gestures were not necessary; especially since we were most thankful to them for helping us out with picking!  It did feel good to share and know that people liked them.

Well over a week ago, there were still lots of cherries high in the trees and they had to come down.  Lance was really tired of raking them and the cherries were getting less firm and darker in color.  I'll use Andrew's words to explain what we did.  He gave a talk about families at Church on Sunday and used this example in his talk.  He shared:  

"One way to help in the home is by working together.  When we work together, we can accomplish a lot.  As you know we have 2 big cherry trees in our front yard. And this year we had the most cherries we ever had! We had a lot of people come over and pick them, but it seemed to not even make a dent. Towards the end of the growing season the cherries fall on the ground. We have to rake them up, and that is a tough job to do. My dad would come out almost every other day and rake them up.  Although we didn't help him very often raking up the cherries, this week, we worked as a family and got rid of all the cherries in the tree.  We laid tarps out around the trees. Some of us climbed up in the trees and began shaking the branches. Others would reach up with rakes and knock of the trees.  Working together we cleared both trees."

The cherries would be knocked to the ground on tarps we had laid out on the lawn and then dump the cherries from the tarp to the green can.  We were so thankful for Lance's brother who came and shared a big chunk of his time helping us getting the last of the cherries down.  By the time we were all finished last Saturday, I think we calculated we filled the green can at least one and half times.  Now that's a lot of cherries!  Especially considering how many were picked and used by others!  

I hope this works, here is video that shows the process...

Why don't we just cut the trees down?  We've considered it.  But we love the shade these trees offer our home, especially since we have older windows on our west facing home that really need to be upgraded.  Certainly we will prune next year and are really thinking of spraying the trees so they won't bare fruit next year.  We'll see.  But for now, we'll enjoy the few months break before the leaves turn golden and start to fall and our work of raking starts back up.  ;)

Spring 2014 at Our Happy Home

Beautiful signs of spring!  Including bike rides, rising outdoor temperatures, cleaning out flower beds, pruning prickly roses and raspberry bushes.  There has also been emerging flowers, cherry blossoms galore, and fragrant lilacs too!   Even rain, as we've had plenty of April and May showers.  It's made having broken sprinklers a bit more bearable, or at least fixing them hasn't been on the top of the priority list - yet.  So grateful for the rain!  On a recent Saturday, when we all worked out in the yard, the ground was so soft that it made pulling weeds pretty effortless.  The cool, over-cast day was even an extra bonus for making the yard work that day actually quite enjoyable and memorable.  

"Why does my heart with gladness sing?

Only because it's spring!"

(Primary Children's Songbook)