Watch Care and Satisfying Souls

WATCH CARE and SATISFYING SOULS

"The optimist says, the cup is half full. The pessimist says, the cup is half empty. The child of God says; My cup runneth over." - Anonymous

I went Visiting Teaching to two of the ladies (friends) that I am assigned. If you would read my years worth of journals, you would know that I have a firm testimony of Visiting Teaching. Since my mother was not a member of the Church, she did not have Visiting Teachers, so my first, real experience that I had with the program was at Ricks College. I remember when I was called as a Visiting Teacher for the first time, I was told that I had a direct stewardship from the Lord over these two sisters that I was assigned to teach and then realized that my Visiting Teachers had a direct stewardship from the Lord over me! That was and is amazing to me. I am so glad that at a young age, I “got” the program because I meet so many people that don’t understand the point or the purpose or the power of the program. I'm not saying that I'm perfect at it- I'm just saying that it is important to me! Some of the choicest relationships I have in my life have come to me through Visiting Teaching. I wish I had time and memory to express them all here.

Those that I teach now are all just beautiful women- Elsa Gray, Marilyn Bawden and Brenda Bailey. I have said this many times, but I doubt that Elsa and I would have become friends had I not become her Visiting Teacher (at least not right away!) We are so opposite- she is beautiful and dignified, elegant and precise, a little reserved and soft-spoken. I am hap-hazard, flighty, scatter-brained and put my foot into my mouth quite frequently. But we have been together for many years now and I feel like she is one of my closest friends. We have found common ground in our mutual love of the scriptures, taking an Old Testament class together, and our love of nature and gardening. We host the “Utah Field Trips” focus group and always have such fun doing so. We check out the sales at garden centers and Chico’s clothing store. We go on Sandy City garden tours together as well as art galleries. Our friendship is varied and rich and I’ve learned that it takes time to build friendships, but when you take the time, they are solid. She has taught me, by her example, of always saying the kind thing. She never criticizes and always focuses on the positive. Just an amazing women whom I love dearly .

I have visited Marilyn B. for several years as well. From the first time we met, I connected with her soul. I know that sounds strange, but I love that when it happens. Again, she is soft-spoken while I am rowdy, but she puts up with me anyway. I have been amazed at her gentle nature and surprised at her strength. Here she is, this cute little thing (oh yes, while I was there today, her painter came in and the first thing he said was that her hair cut was cute! And if that wasn’t enough, he said that “it was the same hairstyle his wife wore when he fell in love with her!” I was glad I was there to supervise!) and yet she does all this really hard, physical work! Like (last year) cleaning out all the sludge in their waterfall. I’m talking gallons and gallons of muddy, icky stuff. Then this year, she broke out all the tile and cement in her large kitchen because it needed replacing! I don’t even mow our lawn and here she is doing VERY heavy labor. “Why?” I ask. “Because it needed to be done,” was her soft reply. She just got back from Chile and fly fishing with her husband and daughter, Tara. Like a thirteen hour plane ride, then 7-8 hours by car over terrible roads! Amazing! She is always such a good sport. I think I would be complaining all the while. But I always learn from her. I was especially touched by her service to her little adopted granddaughter who she cared for so long. Why? Because it needed to be done. She doesn’t shout her good works from the rooftops but quietly does what needs to be done. I love that about her. And she is teaching me new things....like blogging. Actually we laugh that we are "the blind leading the blind." (With blogging, the term "teaching old dogs new tricks" comes to mind.")

Brenda just moved into our Ward less than two years ago. I had a strange (but good) experience as soon as I met her, I knew I was suppose to be her Visiting Teacher. I called up Ruthie, our RS President, and told her that if she hadn’t assigned Visiting Teachers to Brenda yet, I really thought I was suppose to be there and Ruthie consented. I don’t know the why or wherefore of that prompting, but I do know that we quickly have grown to love each other. I love her knowledge, her grace, her love of art. She is the “Project Queen”- in the two years I have visited her in her home, she has had one part or another of the home in disrepair/repair! And it is turning out beautifully! I’ve loved all the time we’ve spent together and sharing what she is reading or her travels.

And as I’m writing this, I realize that all three women I teach are beautiful, classy, soft-spoken and dignified, well- traveled, well -read. I’m just starting to see the picture that Heavenly Father really put them in my life to help me, rather than me helping them! But again, I don’t think it is so much about “helping” as it is about caring. And “caring” I can do. This month’s lesson was on “Becoming an Instrument in the Hands of God by Listening to and Following the Promptings of the Spirit.” I was so touched by all of the quotes in the lesson and have pondered them now for weeks. I have been so blessed to have had so many experiences where I have felt God’s hand in my life, and His voice in my ear (i.e. constant, growing amazement!) and realize what a great gift that is. What in the world do people do that don’t rely on the Lord every day for light and guidance? All through the day, I feel like He and I have conversations- His to me are encouragement and promptings to do something or help someone. He is also a great reminder since every morning I pray “to remember the things I forget!” And my prayers to Him are with constant gratitude. I am so thankful for His presence in my life and the lives of our children! Sweet things happen to all of us, everyday and I feel so blessed. I feel sustained and carried in the hard times and a gradual filling when I am empty. I guess that is why one quote stood out to me, in particular, this month:

Eliza R. Snow (1804–87), former Relief Society general president: “When you are filled with the Spirit of God, … that [Spirit] satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart, and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that spirit my soul is satisfied. … The Spirit of God will impart instruction to your minds, and you will impart it to each other. … Remember that you are Saints of God; and that you have important works to perform in Zion” (Woman’s Exponent, Sept. 15, 1873, 62).
When I think of the trails Eliza R. Snow went through, I realize that she probably knew in an intimate way, the longings and vacuums of the soul. And yet, we are all given that wonderful gift of the Spirit, to tap into, to fill the empty spaces. Visiting Teaching helps do that for me. What a blessing we can be for each other! How fulfilling to share with each other the intimate truths and details of our lives, that we can “mourn with each other during times of mourning” and “celebrate the goodness of life.” With all things of life, we have choices. We can choose to not partake of the things of the Spirit- we can go through the motions of Visiting Teaching, or attend meetings, or do service, whatever- without really benefitting from the incredible opportunities it affords us. The choice is always up to us. I choose Visiting Teaching, as a stewardship from the Lord, if you will.

A beautiful quote I read this week:

"I choose joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God." - Max Lucado

Kid's Speak

Last week the Campbell kids were being babysat by their Campbell grandparents. Gracie checked out her Grandpa Campbell for awhile and then declared, "Grandpa, you look old enough to be dead!"

CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER

CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER

I had a most “amazing” experience in my life last week. I’ve been out of town so just now have the opportunity to address my thoughts about it. It was a busy couple of days. David was out of town on Monday and I had a huge cooking class I was teaching at my home Tuesday morning (gourmet breakfasts- oatmeal with bananas and creme brulee on top- or how about baked French toast with pralines crumbles on top?) And then Tuesday night, I hosted a bridal shower for my best friend’s almost-to-be daughter-in-law, Julie (the wedding was yesterday so now it is official!) Monday is my day to watch my grand kids and I had other obligations that day so it was busy. I kept thinking it would simplify my life if I would go to Dan’s grocery store to get the chicken salad for the mini croissants for the shower. I like their chicken salad but I usually spruce it up with more celery and grapes. But for some reason, I could not make myself drive to Dan’s. It would have taken only 20 minutes each way but I hate the traffic going there, and for some reason, I just could not make my “body” go there! It was getting late afternoon and I had a full evening of cooking and cleaning ahead of me, and started once again to drive to Dan’s and JUST COULDN’T TURN TO GO THERE. I know that doesn’t make sense and it didn’t make sense to me either. I knew I could make the salad, but knew Dan’s was good and easier. But instead, I turned in to Albertson’s. I don’t usually shop at Albertson’s but usually at Smith’s. But the thought came to me that I didn’t know what Albertson’s chicken salad tasted like. Who knows, it could be my new favorite! Well, just so you know, Albertson’s doesn’t even MAKE chicken salad. When I heard that, I immediately thought, “Well, for Pete’s sake, why didn’t I go to Dan’s. What’s the deal anyway?!” But then I thought, “Well, I’m here, I’ll go over to the bakery and check out their mini-croissants. I got to the bakery and found only pre-fab mini’s and ended up by giving up and just buying full- sized croissants for the shower. By then I came to realize I would just go home and make the chicken salad (knowing at the same time that it would STILL be less time to run to Dan’s!)

WHEW! Way too much explanation! sorry...

The bread section is next to the bakery and I saw someone I knew there, someone I knew but not really well. But the limited conversations that I have had with this person have been really inspiring to me and meaningful. We chatted for a minute (“How are you?” “Burnt out- I’ve had a crummy day.” etc.) and then, everything changed. Somehow, there in the bakery aisle, the Spirit got involved and we had the most incredible conversation about....well, everything! Without going through the entire conversation, I realized that the Spirit had orchestrated our meeting. She confided she had been sitting in the parking lot, discouraged, unable to come into the store for twenty minutes, while I was out on the road, trying to get out of driving to Dan’s, then coming to Albertson’s where I seldom shop. Things were said and shared that I believe, at least for me, were “tender mercies”- even, answers to prayers. I was amazed at her articulation of spiritual concepts that were exactly what I needed to hear and translate into my life. I think the conversation also fed her needs and thoughts. An hour later we were almost embarrassed that we had stood there that long, lost in deep discussion. There were many things that we spoke about, things I mean to ponder and study out in my mind. For a small part, we talked about women, and the strength that we can be to each other. She said, in an email to me later, “I just wanted to thank you tonight for ... reminding me in a powerful way that although we have many, many other duties and responsibilities, our real calling on this earth is to 'witness and validate'  and lift and strengthen each other.” I’ve thought of the importance of those words- “to witness and to validate!” I thought of a quote that I heard in a movie a while ago. It said, (in answer to the question, “Why do people get married?”) quote-“We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."
Of course, that is just a part of what marriage is about but I thought it was profound and beautifully stated. I realized as I spoke to my new friend, that it is also a very important part of friendship. True friendship. How important it is that we, as wives, mothers and friends, learn to really connect with each other on a higher level. To connect with the Spirit in our conversation. How elevating is that?! And then I pondered on my friend’s closing comment in her email- “I cannot remember all that we spoke of but I remember how it felt to stand in deep discussion with you as people reached around us to grab a loaf or two of bread. The messages pierced and expanded me and riveted me in place. The irony washed over me today that we stood in the midst of the Wonder bread, bagels and muffins yet witnessed to each other of the true Bread of Life.”

Again, I say, I stand all “amazed!” My cup runneth over!

Once There Was A Snowman

This is a tribute to all snowmen who live or have lived! It is so gorgeous outside that I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge it. And snowmen just make me happy! Here's just a couple of snowmen stories that I celebrate:

When Ryan W. was on his mission, I just missed him terribly. For Christmas, I had the kids build a snowman for each member of our family outside our kitchen door. We built one for Ryan too. Then we had our picture taken, everyone with their snowman. I don't have the picture handy to post but I loved looking out the window and seeing that our family was "complete."

I always tell the kids around Christmastime, that if they really want to make me happy, just make me a snowman for my Christmas present. Two years ago we didn't have any snow. So Ben, who lives up at Alta, filled the back of his truck (twice I believe) with snow from the canyons and brought it down and dumped it on our grass. Luckily Joshie was here to help him and together they made me a wonderful snowman! What a labor of love!

I happened to be at Brandi's a few months ago and came outside to find Gracie working on this masterpiece. How can you not look at a snowman and not smile. For that moment, all is right with the world! (And how can you not look at Gracie and smile...what a doll!)