She only waited 50 years.

I wont be disclosing who this blog is about, but I wanted to share an experience I am having with a friend.

I have never been one to stand up and preach the gospel to anyone. Maybe its a flaw. Maybe its because I have made so many STUPID mistakes in my 32 years that I don't feel preaching the gospel to anyone is appropriate. I just want to live in such a way that those around us notice a difference and want to know what we are doing differently. That simple. Do I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored church on the earth today. Without a shadow of a doubt, YES!  Do I think those who aren't will be doomed...No. Its not my place, nor anyone else's, to determine that. Which is done entirely to much in this part of the world. Treating anyone differently because they choose to live a different religion is not what we have been commanded to do. Its taken me awhile to grab  hold of that idea of thinking. That the way I treat others, that didn't have the same line of thinking as me or lived contrary to the way our church taught, was WRONG.

So wrong.

Not until I met this friend did I realize how wrong I was.

I met her in a gas station several years ago. A very unlikely place to meet a friend, I know, but the older I get the more I realize that God puts people in my life for a reason. Its has become important for me to understand those relationships. I saw her a couple times a month and it was pretty superficial, nothing that really made us "friends". Over the past several years we would see each other more often and she would ask Adam and I a few question about our religion. I thought it would be better if I sent her things to read instead of answering questions, because that is the way I learn.  I  sent her things to read. Later I would ask her if she had any questions about anything. I knew she didn't read them because she would change the subject. Fair enough...I would just leave it alone and wait until she was ready.

"You can take the horse down to the water, but you can't make him drink it"

Years would go by and not another word would ever be said.

Then last year when we were all just hanging out she asked Adam and I some point blank questions about things. Not necessarily about the LDS church, but the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was thrilled. Not because I wanted her to be LDS, but because she needed the spirit in her life. I think everyone does. What would have been a short visit lasted until the wee hours of the morning. In our church we talk about sacred places...that night as we talked about Jesus Christ...we were in a sacred place. I knew she felt it. She had tears in her eyes. It was a special moment for all of us.

 It was a break through.

Last year brought a lot of huge changes to our small family. It started off with my husband changing career paths and then a few months later being offered a promotion. (Only a two hour drive a day)Then the sale of our house to an amazing family that was an answer to another one of my prayers. (As much work as we put into that home, I didn't want a family to move into it that would destroy it.) Then last but not least I "retired" from working outside the home and became a full time stay-at-home mother and wife. Phew. Catch all that...oh and by the way we have no where to live.

It was stressful, but it was a new chapter in our lives. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to foster relationships that I had neglected because of all the hours I put into work. She was one of those relationships I chose to foster. We saw each other a lot the next few months. Pretty much everyday. It was great to have a friend that wasn't associated with where I used to work. After working for so long I needed to see how to live a life without a "job".  I needed to learn to enjoy the moment. She taught me that. She taught me how important it was to

 Just sit and be still.

 Enjoy the sun.

 The wind.

The grass in between my toes.  

Just to appreciate time.

When I was with her, time seemed to stand still. I knew although she was watching the way I lived, she didn't judge me. She just loved me because we were friends. Not for what I could do for her, or what I could give her but because we were friends. Friends like that are very few and far between.

I have always worried about what my house looked like when anyone came over. How it looked. Were my walls clean? (I have had people make comments about dust in my house) Had I dusted this week? Are my beds made? Is everything just perfect? Does it smell good or bad? Then one day as we were sitting on her couch talking, people just started showing up at her house unannounced. (feeling appalled and uncomfortable I wanting to leave) She just brought them in and we all just hung out together. Talked like family. She never cared what her house looked like. If she did, it never showed. It was a very humbling experience. She doesn't have much. Grew up and raised her children with little to nothing. Yet as these unannounced guests would arrive she was making them coffee, (I hear those Mormon's gasping) Offering them sweet tea, (and another Gasp of Horror) or something sweet she may have had.

Acts of a true Christian woman.

When we got settled into our home, about an hour away from her, we would call each other often and just chit chat about anything and everything. Its been a long time since I have been able to talk to someone about everything from politics to what's for dinner, without one of us getting upset about an opinion. (Usually the other person, but who is keeping track.) It was nice to have someone to talk to on the phone while I cleaned the house. Adult conversations are important...especially being with a toddler all day.

One day a few months ago she asked if I could send her some more information about what we believed...her husband was asking some questions. --Usually this is where any other "Good Mormon" would start sending over missionaries. (Hey Peter Priesthood don't roll your eyes at me!) I sent her more information. After I mailed it I never mentioned it again. I honestly didn't think she would even open the package or read anything I sent her. Then a few days after I mailed the package, she called me and asked me questions about things she was reading! Say WHAT!? My first missionary moment. (Better write that down somewhere)

She told me that day, that she had never read the bible. Ever. That although she had known there was something missing in her life she ignored it. Never knowing that her Heavenly Father really truly loves her. Never knowing that she could be forgiven for anything she had ever done if she would repent and never look back. I sat and listened to her voice crack and then her cracked voice turned in to sobbing in-between words. She told me how all her life she had ignored the promptings she had been given to go to church or to read. How powerful that conversation was for her, and for me. She had found her "uncommon courage" to stand outside of the world and listen to the one that created her. I am eternally grateful that she shared that with me.

Now when she calls (which is at least once a week) she tells me what she has read and is on FIRE about it. Its like a child learning to read for the first time. She can't get enough. I will text her and ask her how her reading is coming along and she will respond with "Just finished. Read for two hours this morning"...proud moment! Or my favorite when she asked me about Cain and Abel and I read the verse where Cain said "I am not my brother's keeper" and she came back with "Did he really just SASS God!?" (never looked at it THAT way) We laughed so hard. That was the first time she had read that story.

Our Father in Heaven works miracles every.single.day. I am so thankful that she taught me to slow down and take time to enjoy them. I know she thinks I am the one that brought her to Christ, but I think she was finally ready to listen. I was just the vessel that he was working through that finally reached her. It wasn't REALLY me

. When I stopped judging her for who she had become over the years, started looking at her for what she was in the eyes of our Father, that is when I loved her for what she really was.

 A child of God.

I pray that someday she will decide to be baptized. Although I have my idea of what church I would like her to BE baptized in...(Cough cough...LDS CHURCH) I honestly don't care where. I just want her to have a relationship with Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. (Can I still keep my missionary moment even if she doesn't become LDS?? I am keeping it anyway. Back up off me.)

Sometimes its not about the crops you reap, but the seeds you sow.

Love one another.

xoxo

Humbly Aware

Once again I am late posting...So what else is new? I guess I see a trend. I swear I am trying. This week I may have a legitimate excuse. What do you think? 

Living in the south we all know there is a possibility we will some time in the year see or have a scare with tornado or tornados, and this year has been no exception. This year marks the 3rd year anniversary of the April 27, 2011 tornados that literally devastated every single city that was in their path. Most of those cities are still rebuilding. Most are still emotionally recovering from their loss of not only property, but family and friends. Several never finding their loved ones. Those tornados are what they call "generational" tornados. Tornados that only happen once in our lifetime. They were EF5's that ripped this state apart. I still get goose bumps thinking about it.

 Hackleburg aftermath. April 27, 2011

 Hackleburg

I am not down playing any Tornado. Devastation is Devastation no matter where you live and these weren't the only tornados that happened in the state of Alabama that dreadful day. I think Hackleburg to me stands out because this tornado literally took this entire town down to its foundation. Taking up roads and sidewalks with it. Adam went to help clean up and said his heart just broke. These people had nothing left.

Tuscaloosa, Al.

As we watched this tornado forming and headed to Tuscaloosa we all held our breath. This is home to the University of Alabama with thousands upon thousands of students attending and in school. With the reputation of the storms that day it wasn't looking good. Yet at the last moment this tornado turned a hard corner missing the school and the hospital by less than a mile.

Looking for more information on the April 27 tornado's I found this tidbit.--

"April 27 had the most tornado-related fatalities in the United States in a single day since the "Tri-State" outbreak on March 18, 1925, when at least 747 people were killed.^{[10][11][12][13]} Nearly 500 preliminary local storm reports were received for tornadoes over four days, including 292 in 16 states on April 27 alone.^[14] This event was the costliest tornado outbreak and one of the costliest natural disasters in United States history (even after adjustments for inflation), with total damages of approximately $11 billion (2011 USD).^[1]"

We have two tornado seasons in the south, Spring and Fall. Here lately our most deadly has been in the spring.

As we started preparing for the storms that were headed our, way we were also celebrating our 7th anniversary. What better way to celebrate our anniversary, and Adam's only day off, than to watch what mother nature would be creating for us this day. Hoping to see a tornado or two without seeing people hurt or their property being damaged.

These storms coming across Arkansas produced extremely violent storms. Now Arkansas has a very similar "infamous" date of April 27th.

We knew we had better watch these storms closely as they approached.

This turned into an ALL DAY event. It started in Mississippi in the morning and made for an extremely long day for us in middle Alabama. These storms were not long track storms like her previous sisters three years ago, they were short strong, "popcorn" storms.

Our local Meteorologist have become people we turn to, to keep our families safe. They not only EDUCATE their viewers, but also speak frankly. They do not over react and put fear into the viewer, but make sure they do the right thing for their families. They go to elementary schools, programs weather radios, have classes to educate communities about weather, and work tirelessly throughout storm nights to ensure families stay safe.

I know I have learned a lot of James Spann.

As the night drew on, I was hopeful we would be spared from the wrath of the storm. Typically when the sun goes down the storms stop being so violent. I was wrong. Just as I started putting Caden to bed, our area was put under a warning. I had already given up on the storm. I am so glad Adam continued to watch. Saying our prayers Adam interrupted and said "Its time to make a pallet downstairs" it wasn't what he said, but how he said it. I could hear fear in his voice. Without hesitation I scooped up my son and ran downstairs. (No I didn't have our bed made, I really thought we had nothing to worry about)

As I am making a game with Caden setting up the mattress and telling him we were going to "camp" down in the garage, Adam is standing in the doorway looking at the storm outside watching the radar on his phone. Caden is terribly upset that we don't have a tent set up or a campfire to roast marshmallows and I am having a small panic attack on the inside. Singing primary songs and trying hard not to cry. I think maybe its because I have a child now and thinking about the possibility of something happening to him that was scaring me.

The tornado sirens are blaring.

I get Caden snuggled in and the wind is blowing. Rain in crashing down. Then. Everything got quiet. Spooky quiet. Adam said the pressure outside changed and the garage door pushed out a foot and slammed back and he ran to take cover over where we were. He said he could hear things hitting the side of the garage and the side of the house.

I am so thankful we couldn't hear the trees snapping and things hitting the house. All I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat and soft breath of Caden.

I am so thankful after the power went out we still had our phones and people texting us telling us where the storm were. Family that saw our city on the Weather Channel were keeping us up to date and sending prayers our way. I know without a shadow of a doubt that prayer is what kept us safe.

After that storm passed Adam couldn't get service. He is very determined on keeping us safe and didn't want to be blind to the storms. He got into his truck and went around the block to check on the neighborhood. That's when he saw the damage in our neighborhood. Trees were down everywhere. Power lines were all over the roads. He knew we had been hit by a tornado. When he realized there was no way out of our neighborhood, we were blocked in all directions by huge trees, that is when he started to panic.

After the storms passed and all was safe we went to bed. No power, but we were safe.

 At first light we decided to check out our neighborhood. (wouldn't you?) I am in utter disbelief as I look around. We were so close.

 Look at the trees in the background.

  

We learn later that the tornado started in our small neighborhood. The National Weather Service declared it an EF2. It had winds up to 115 miles an hour, was 1,500 yards wide and was on the ground for 5.45 miles (about 10 minutes).  It could have been so much worse.


I am so very thankful we were spared and no one was killed during these storms.


Thank you for reading and sharing the experience with me and thank you again for those of you who prayed for us. 

Not all pictures are my own.

UnCommon Courage



I have struggled internally about writing this blog. I am not sure if it is the possibility of rejection or humiliation by the comments that may possibly arise, but one can't live in constant fear of what other people might thing of them, right? Please be kind and realize this is my own personal opinion and not an opinion shared by those who share my faith.

I usually get on a kick with new things until they "get out of my system". I am not sure if everyone is like this, but I blame it on my OCD tendency's. Here recently a new series of the show "19 kids and counting" aired and I watched it. There is something about that family that fascinates me. Not sure if it is a mother of 19 kids who NEVER raises her voice to scream at her children or the sheer number of children these two people have had on purpose. I watched in amazement that parents can raise extremely well behaved children with manners and with conservatives values that they not only teach their children, but also live it themselves. On this particular show I was watching, the oldest daughters were talking about their two year journey of writing their book called "Growing up Duggar". I looked it up on my iPhone read the sample and I was hooked. In less than 6 hours I had that book devoured. (Probably less if I didn't have a toddler competing for my attention) 

I am not a book reader like my mom or sister. If I read anything its usually nonfiction and something that has to do with my "kick". Reading is a big deal for me. I do it purely out of seeking information rather than pleasure.

I am so impressed with this family. The more I read about them, the more I want my son to have access to the things these children were exposed to. 



This book is all about what they have learned growing up in a very conservative home. Why their parents raised them the way they did and their thoughts on how they were raised. The love for the Savior and the love they have for everyone around them. (The love they have without passing judgment) They then go into detail about their experiences they have had in their very short lives and how they have shaped their decision on how they will live the rest of their life. This book is extremely easy to read. Mostly geared for young women in their teen years. Yet as a parent I recommend it even for us.

Here is what has impressed me most with the Duggar's. Starting with the parents. They were very young when they married (17-19) and just had a desire to be a God fearing Christian couple. (Who doesn't right?) They started off reading the Bible as their guide for living, an owners manual for life if you will. When they would read something that they felt was speaking to them they lived it. Pure and simple. (Something else I think all of us struggle with. Hand raised I am guilty) From the reason they have 19 children-- Psalm 127:3, to them being lead to homeschool -- Deuteronomy 6:6-7. Their decision to leave their hair long-- 1 Corinthians 11:15 to their modesty guidelines--Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Timothy 2:9. I could go on, but I want you, as my reader, to think about something: Whether you are- Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Mormon or non denominational, should we not ALL be living the way we have been shown to live in the scriptures we have been given? Something hit home to me while I was reading this book that really was a pivotal moment for me. "These parents were given the same tool I have and yet they have done one thing different than what I am doing. They are LIVING it. In every aspect of their life."

  "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." James 1:22

 I am probably the less, of the less, of the less of perfect, and if there was a lesser of the less of perfect...I would probably be in that category. The reason I say that is, I am not here to preach to you. Stand here and correct your way of thinking or living. All I am trying to point out is we all profess to be "correct" in the faith we choose to live or attend only on Sunday. Every single one of us sin. Period. From being angry and loosing our temper with our family to being way over our heads in debt and every.single.thing in between. We all sin differently. All things I just mentioned are in the bible that are considered not living a "Christian life". The one thing I see less and less of is John 15:12. There are no exceptions in this scripture. Not one. No "If's" or "But's". Just love. Thinking someone is less than lovable because of the way they choose to live their life, or because they don't go to the same church or believe the same way you do isn't what we have been commanded to do. (Hand raised, I am guilty) We are to love everyone and to teach our children to love them and not judge them for the way they choose to live their life.

As I am reading this book I am just crying. (I know most of you are shocked) Tears dripping down my face, guilty of so much they are talking about, and in amazement that these very young girls have done more in their 19-21 years to serve others and to show the pure love of Christ, than I have done in my entire 32 years of life and probably will do in my entire life. Peering over at my precious little boy asleep in his bed, at this point I am (I am sleeping in his room on the floor because he has a cough that has scared us both.) praying I raise him to love his Father in Heaven, to seek out the scriptures in everything he does and to raise him in such a way that when people meet him there is no question in their mind he is living a Christian life. Not because he is "Mormon", but because he lives by his convictions.

After reading this book I quickly ordered "A love that Multiplies" written by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, and I was just as impressed.

If there was ever a family I wish to model our behavior after it would be this family. I have yet to meet a family that has actually practiced what they preach.



 Here is what I think is truly amazing about this couple. They have their children hold them accountable to their behavior. Most parents refused to accept correction from their children thinking that it is disrespectful. These two have asked their children to be their "accountability partners" to ensure they don't get angry or to gently remind them when they think they are getting angry.

 Their first book is on the way. I am just as excited to read their first book as I was about the other two. Can't wait.

I highly recommend these books. Regardless of religion. (They are conservative Christians. Although they go to a Baptist church, they don't consider themselves "Baptist") I really am curious as to what your thoughts are.

Thank you for reading.

1 John 4:19

xoxox