Missionary Mom Tip #5: Prayers and Transfers

Pray, pray, and pray some more for your missionary, their companion, the mission leaders, the senior missionary couples serving and helping in so many ways, and ALL the people that encounter the missionaries – their new friends. Prayer works!

While we cannot be with our missionary or have constant contact with them, through prayer, I think we can. There are so many things we can pray to Heavenly Father about and ask Him to bless our daughter or son in a specific and particular way. I know He likes prayers of gratitude also. Don’t forget those.

Pray for your specific child’s mission leaders. Just think of all they do for three years to serve and bless, to organize, teach, inspire, praise, encourage, worry about, feed, and more! Top that off with things going well in the mission and then shuffling things up every 6 weeks with changes and transfers. Inspiration and guidance are needed constantly.

Transfers are a big deal. What a puzzle to put together. For my family and me, it is exciting to see the transfer board and how Eliza’s mission leaders and the Lord are putting together the missionary teams throughout the mission. 

Transfers are a big deal for the missionary, too. Will they be staying where they are? Or packing up all their belongings and moving to another area? It is not easy for them to say goodbye to a companion they have grown to love and work well together. Welcoming a new companion they don’t know and must live with can be frightening and exciting. Do what you can from home to praise, inspire, and encourage. Faith and trust, growth, and experience – lots of good things come from it all.

Before I had missionary children, I remember a sister in my ward offering the opening prayer at church and praying for the missionaries in our ward and including something like praying they could get along with and work well with their companions. I don't think I had every heard that kind of prayer before. Having had children serve missions, I now know those kinds of prayers are needed too.

A missionary needs our prayers and encouragement every step of the way, and so do mission leaders. Bless them, Lord! 

A big shout out and prayers of gratiude often continue from me for President and Sister Munns, President and Sister Hammond, and President and Sister Chamberlain. Thank you!!! 

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.

Seek the Lord Early and Receiving Personal Revelation

The following words and tune have been going through my mind for weeks. Do the words to this song sound familiar to you?  

I’ll seek the Lord early while in my youth,

And he will help me to know the truth.

I’ll search the scriptures and find him there,

Then go to our Father in fervent prayer.

I’ll seek the Lord early, and I’ll obey

His living prophets in all they say.

I’ll keep his commandments; his love will abound.

I will seek the Lord early, and he will be found.

It is a children’s song, "Seek the Lord Early", with words and music by Joann Bushman Doxey. 

I have learned a few things as these words have been playing in my mind and while humming the tune. 

The prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, recently invited the world to hear the voice of the Lord in a video asking us how we #HearHim? The words of the song can be a recipe for doing just that, which is one of the things I have learned. (Except I like to pray first and then see what Jesus has to tell me when I read his words in the scriptures and words from his living prophets.)

Another learning that has been impressed upon my mind is the timing, or the when. I don’t feel the words to this song only imply for us to develop a habit of seeking the Lord at a young age, “while in my youth”. In fact, consider the timing of the moments the past few days or weeks when we have felt frustrated and scared, when we have questions, felt hopeless or overwhelmed, perhaps our faith is being tested, being tempted with sin, wondering what to do with a missionary child coming home early or temporary, or perhaps someone might be challenging our truth.What can we do? Seek the Lord early. Go to him first. Earlier, rather than later. With our problems, our heartaches, concerns, it is wise for us to seek the Lord early. Turning to Google first is not always our best resource,especially with matters of our soul.  But seeking the Lord will. I know it! 

How do I know it? Because I've tried it again, and again.

A few years ago, a friend taught me how to receive personal revelation with power journaling. She shared her formula for seeking the Lord. A desire to #HearHim . While it took me some time to get into a good practice of doing it on purpose, below is how it looks for me.

I love to write down my thoughts! It helps me to feel less frustrated to do some PoWeR journaling each day! I have learned that if I do this first thing in the morning, when I can have my own quiet time and before I check in with the world, I am in a much better place. This PoWeR not only blesses me, but the whole family. You know the saying, “If mom ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy!” It’s simple – Pray, Write, and Read. 

Pray - Pouring out my heart to God with a meaningful and purposeful prayer. Thanking Heavenly Father for specific blessings, asking Him for blessings I need, asking and inviting His spirit to be with me. Then I put my Bic multi-colored pen and power journal to work. In green I write a power statement, a declaration of truth or fighting statement. A few days ago my declaration was “I am trusting in the God and rock of my salvation; wherefore I become conqueror of the enemy” (thanks Jacob 7:25). Switching to blue ink...

Write - I write a letter to God in blue ink. I tell Him whatever is on my mind, what I am feeling, my concerns. I write down my feelings – good or bad, worried or sad. I ask for His guidance and that I really want to hear Him. 

Read - The next step is to read His words and listen for what He has to tell me. Sometimes I choose to read the Come Follow Me assignment for the week, lesson prep I need to do, a general conference talk, or at times I have just randomly opened my scriptures. In black ink, I write in my power journal things I might be learning or noticing. I might copy down from the scriptures/words of prophets. 

Red ink is incredible because in red I record the things I am learning from the spirit or inspiration I am receiving to do something. I am creating evidence that I am hearing Him! Thumbing through my notebook I love to see the red. When I start to get into a mood battle or need to reset my mind, it helps to go back and look at my truth statement and see the evidence, because I know what the enemy is up too - trying to get me to forget my truth and see everyone else as the enemy. Oh, I still have plenty of less-then-pretty moments, but this sure helps me keep my sanity. Additionally, this practice feels me with peace and love from my Heavenly Father and empowers me with strength and courage to move on in my day in a happier, more grounded place. I am better able to hear the Lord throughout the day and receive revelation for me and my family. 

The past few weeks specifically, because of the Covid-19 issue, I have had many opportunities to seek the Lord and ask for his comfort and direction. If you are reading this, I bet you have too. Searching answers to questions such as: how am I to make Sundays work at home without going to Church and partaking of the Sacrament? How should our family adjust to home schooling and working from home? Starting the day with an earthquake and aftershocks was unnerving, help guide and give me and our family comfort. How shall I minister to my family and friends who are also self distancing? My missionary is coming home in a few days, will you guide and help us all with that change in our plan? So much change is happening, help me maintain peace and feel Thy love and comfort.

As I seek the Lord early in my challenges and difficulties, He will be found comforting and guiding me. I know it! I am better able to watch and notice the tender mercies. A grateful heart for my blessings finds me turning to the Lord again with prayers of gratitude. I hope He finds me expressing that quickly and early as well. 

______________________________________________

I'd like to reference this 2018 talk from President Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives". One of the quotes from his message continually comes to my mind and drives me to seek the Lord and to #HearHim. He said, "But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

Another Graduation and Thanks to Windridge Elementary!

Another graduation today! Yesterday was Abbey’s HS graduation; today Eliza graduated from 6th grade, elementary school. I wasn’t planning to be emotional but I couldn’t hold back the tears sitting in that room with a lot of parents and a whole lot of 6th graders. I’m sure having Abbey graduate yesterday and also sending Emily off for her 10-week summer internship played into those emotions too. But really, my tears were not so much about sadness.  Instead, I was overcome with feelings of gratitude. Gratitude for having all of my children attend what I feel is the best elementary school ever! Which, I really have no merit in professing that; because it is the only elementary school my children have ever attended. 

Eliza's 6th grade graduation day from Windridge Elementary school.
LtoR - Lance, Eliza, LuAnn (teary eyes), and Andrew (allergy eyes)

In 2000 Lance and I were looking for our first home.  It was a struggle.  Nothing seemed right or felt right in the locations we were looking.  We were separating from military activity duty and time was running short.  We needed to find a home quick.  One particular day, when we began our home search, I prayed that God would lead us to a neighborhood that would be good for our children, a place where they would have good friends and go to good schools.  I know that prayer has been answered many times. But today, during a 6th grade graduation, ending our 16 years at Windridge elementary school, I was easily reminded of how blessed my children and entire family have been by the plea of that prayer.

Our family moved into our home on 500 East just a few months before Emily, our first child, would begin Kindergarten.  Memories of Windridge Elementary school just flooded my mind during today’s graduation.

Memories of the 1st grade Christmas program, 2nd grade Patriotic assembly, the Utah 4th grade program, and the 5th grade program all about our wonderful American History.  Those were touching programs for me and I appreciate the teachers that helped my children learn the songs that have been forever engrained in their minds, helping to give my children their own sense of pride and gratitude for our country and state. 

I thought about all the great teachers my children have had over the years.  We’ve had our favorites and those not so favorite.  But each one of those teachers was the right one for my child at that time.  When it would come time to begin a new school year, I would pray that my children would get the teacher that was right for them.  I never felt a need to ask or request a teacher.  My children and I would hope, but in the end we trusted in God and the decision.  Sometimes we would have to grit through the disappointment when “friends” were not in the same class. In the end, it all worked out and I believe we’ve all been better because of it.  Windridge has some amazing teachers!  They go above and beyond in so many ways.  As the 6th grade teachers spoke today, I was overcome with gratitude for them.  I could feel the love, care, and concern these teachers have for their students.  It wasn’t just today I felt that, but it seems to have been my experience at every 6th grade graduation.  I really love and admire these teachers and how they’ve loved, taught, pushed, provided wonderful opportunities for my children, and helped prepare them for the next step – junior high.  Teachers at Windridge continue to be a support and example to all of my children. 

Appreciation and thanks filled me too as I looked around the room to see parents that I’ve seen at the school countless times, helping in so many good ways, giving hours and hours of service for our children, my children.  PTA presidents, PTA board members, room mothers, parent classroom volunteers and more!  Windridge elementary, the school tucked safely within the neighborhood, has the most amazing and supportive parents!  It’s been a wonder to be a part of!  Because of these parents and many of them are my friends, they have also been a blessing in my life and my children’s lives over the years.  Thank you!

I was also filled with gratitude for the experience Eliza has had serving as a student council member this year and the unique opportunity that has been for her.  She has learned some great leadership skills, made some lasting friendships, participated in some wonderful service opportunities, and has been on the side to see what hard work and planning goes into events.  All of these things I was grateful she got to experience as I sat there honoring her today. Thank you, Mrs. Harris. 

Thank you everyone!  From the awesome principals over the years, the kind secretaries and custodial help, to the ground duty for helping my children learn some of the hard-knock lessons and some growing pains at recess, to the friendly crossing guard, and the many others who’ve helped and been influential at Windridge Elementary and in my children’s lives.  You are a blessing! 

I could go on, as there are many more memories in my mind and my heart.  My soul really is filled with gratitude and yet, perhaps a little sad as I close a chapter on our families’ elementary years.  For now though, the tears have stopped and I feel better expressing myself AND I can talk now without blubbering. :)

Mrs. Williams, Eliza's 6th grade teacher - 2016

Andrew's 6th grade graduation with his teachers, Mrs. Carlile and Mrs. Workman - 2012

Working on finding Abbey's picture with Mrs. Carlile and Mrs. Workman

when she graduated from 6th grade in 2010. 

Emily's 6th grade graduation with her teacher, Ms. Schultz - 2007

Years of Campaigning for School Class Officer

I'm so proud of my children! Never, would I have had the courage to run for class or student body officer when I was in school 30 years ago. A few times I did help friends with their campaigns by making posters and mass assembling little papers, which would announce the candidate to vote for and attaching some type of trinket or little goodies on it. Only to have hours of hard work cluttering the hallways at school. I was too afraid to run and did not want to put myself out there like that. Besides, candidates were required to do a speech or a skit, which could possibly be complete and ultimate humiliation. So yes, I'm proud of my children for even wanting to "run" for a class officer position.  

Abbey was the first child to run in the end of her 6th grade year for a spot as an officer at Farmington Junior High for 7th grade. Only one person from each of the elementary schools would be elected to go on and represent the 7th graders. Abbey's slogan on her 1 poster was "Don't be Crabby, vote for Abbey". She did so well!  Lance and I were thrilled she did this. So was her older sister, who really encouraged Abbey, because Emily regretted not running for officer herself. Abbey came soooo close! She lost by 1 vote to Elijah McKay.  

Then there was Andrew, he also ran in 6th grade for 7th grade class officer at KJH (our school boundaries changed in the middle of Abbey's 8th grade year). His slogan - "Got Andrew". It was pretty clever. He too lost by only a few votes to Brandon Lee.  

Andrew choose not to run for 8th grade officer, not sure or cannot remember why. He tried again for 9th grade officer. Andrew was so brave and not embarrassed at all with this campaign using Depends underwear! He didn't win. Parker, Ryan, and Jacee did. Not to be stopped, he ran for 9th grade appointed officer. Still, he did not make that either. However, at the last half of the school year, he was a TA (teacher's assistant) for his French teacher, Madame Clarke. Madame was the teacher adviser over the class officers during 7th period and it ended up that Andrew was the TA for that period so he got in on the action and ended up helping a lot. He really enjoyed it.  

Andrew did not try running for 10th grade, instead his sister, Abbey, convinced him to be an FCCLA officer - vice president of public relations. Abbey, and her friend, Abby were the presidents of the club. This was exciting at first, especially as he started high school. He got to participate in extra activities, made even more friends, and had the opportunity to participate with Abbey in FCCLA Star Events last month and did very well.  

  

For the last few weeks, he has been running for Junior class officer.  I'm so proud of him for trying it again! He made the first round and went on this week to finish out the campaign. Abbey was his "campaign manager" and helped him with posters and banners and hanging them up too. While visiting Emily at college, we enlisted her help as well to write on a few posters. It's a good thing Abbey was the campaign manager because this mom was frowning on the "sexy", the tattoos, and Shakira's hips. Who would have thought that his dressing up as Redfoo (I don't even know who he is) at Halloween would come in so handy with his campaign (thanks, Aunt Nancy). Woot! Woot! Andrew was announced today as 1 of the 4 winners as a Junior class officer! His courage pleased me, as did his desire and willingness to try again and not to give up because of past disappointments. At home I felt he was was very "chill" with his campaign and did not try to overly influence others or go over the top with what he was doing, and maybe he was different at school, but I don't think so. His attitude was if he made it great, if not, that's okay too. Andrew has many friends and is a natural leader. I remember one of the mom's from his playgroup, when he was 3 or 4, saying that she wouldn't be surprised if he became president of the United States some day. As a side note, I WISH he were running for U.S. president right now. Out of all the candidates running for the 2017 presidential office, he would by far be my #1 choice. Take a look at some of the photos from Andrew's campaign.

 

 

  

Next candidate, Eliza. She too exhibited great bravery and courage. Last weekend was a busy one coming up with sayings and ideas and making posters for Andrew and Eliza. I was happy when my sister, Sherrie, helped Eliza create a 3-D type umbrella for her poster when the family was here for dinner. It turned out cute! Eliza's poster was hung up on Monday and we got to see it when we went to the school for the super science night. Candidates didn't do any campaigning this week but today was the day she delivered her speech. While she has become a good little writer, she had a hard time coming up with and writing a speech. She was frustrated. But at last, by 10 p.m. last night she had something really great down on paper. This morning, her older sister was home for the day from college so she curled Eliza's hair and Eliza was dressed up and looking sharp. Her speech was first thing this morning. Eliza told us she was second to last to give her speech. Choosing not to tell the joke, instead, to begin her speech loudly as she was walking down the isle to the front podium. She has such spunk!  Eliza excitedly involved her classmates right at the beginning with her speech. I wish I would have seen her in action, but she preferred me not to come. At the end of the school day, the candidates were called out to the hall and teachers let them know who the winner was. Once again, the Thaxton child comes up just a few votes short to win. This time, 3 votes shy and beat out by Jack Harris. Jack had a "super" campaign and Eliza really is happy that Jack will be representing them at KJH next year. I was well pleased with Eliza! She did a lot of hard things, hopefully proving to herself that she CAN do hard things. Eliza was feeling sad, of course, but was handling things real well when she came home. It was sweet to see the compassion and care extended to her by Abbey and Andrew, both who have been in the same position. Eliza has a great attitude! The 6th grade teachers commented on how great all of the speeches were, some of the best they've ever heard. I think this helped Eliza know that she did her very best. What helped a lot too is that all week we've been praying for both of our candidates that they could do their very best and trust in God and His will for them. "Come what may...."

 

How’s it going 6th grade? I can’t hear you! (Pause) That’s much better! 
Here’s a question. Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building? Well of course it can, the Empire State Building can’t jump. 
Fellow friends and classmates, I can’t offer you a free trip around the world, a free Iphone6S, a doughnut, or any other bribe - but I can offer you my very best effort in representing you at KJH if elected to be your 7th grade class officer. 
I want to be a 7th grade class officer because I like to be involved and I have some good ideas. I am responsible, outgoing and friendly. As a student council member this year it has been an honor to be a part of this student group. I have enjoyed being involved with activities and events that have benefited YOU and our entire school. I have learned great leadership skills. I have actually seen and experienced how much effort, responsibility, and creativity go into planning school events. It takes everyone working together and following through with assignments. Being part of group that represents others can be hard work and is a BIG responsibility, but I feel I have what it takes to represent you – my friends, classmates, and soon to be Kaysville Knights.  
Give me a shout if you want to be the next Messi. Give me some love if you want to become the new Adele. Now hit me with your screams if you want to become the new Dr. Seuss or Steph Curry. Raise your voices if you want to be the next Jedi Master. Get loud if you just want to become your own individual and make your own history. Whatever it is, that you want to become, let me be the person to help you reach your full potential. 
Please vote Eliza Thaxton for 7th grade rep, She’s Got ‘Ya Covered!

Thinking about these campaigns gives me joy as I remember my children's experiences of having courage and wanting to participate. Having hopes of leading their classmates. Learning important life lessons along the way. I don't know how many more class campaign elections we will have, but I do want to record what we have done so we might always remember. 

As I come to the conclusion, I am recalling that I saw a photo of Lance's great grandfather, Andrew George Lavin, who was also a candidate once. I wonder if this where my kids get some of their political drive.  

You might also enjoy my other blog post about Andrew, "My Favorite Son, Andrew"

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.  ;)