Last month we had our previous renters move out. My husband and I were feeling the strain of their presence and didn't know how well we'd make it to the end of their contract (3 more months). The yard was always messy with neglected toys, constant garbage and dog poop. They were pretty good people but were just hard to live with because the apartment is above our garage.
The renters found a place and we immediately found new renters within days of our posting our ad. HUGE blessing since last time it took six months. We were happy.
It didn't come without struggle. We'd helped the previous renters financially by charging less rent for yard work (which wasn't done completely). I ended up charging $60 for three hours of cleaning and we had to charge for a new lock since they lost the key. The woman threw a fit and demanded items back we had helped them get rid of when they first moved in. She determined we weren't welcome at their new house.
I was so sad that she threw away our friendship over a cleaning bill and a lost key that was all in her control. We were friends and had gotten along very well.
My husband and I learned a great lesson. It is hard to help people and use good boundaries. We were tired of helping them since they took advantage of our generosity. In the end they didn't appreciate anything since we stopped helping them and made them responsible for things they could control.
We also saw, again, how the Lord takes care of us and got us out of that situation in excellent time. We are so grateful and our new renters don't demand any favors!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Home
(An article I wrote from The Gunlock Informer, September 2011)
Home is a place we saw little of during the summer months. My children provoked this article since they have really missed their home. The children were used to long days at our home playing in the yard, going to the splash parks and checking out books at the library in past years for summer activities.
Disappointment struck briefly as those past events were not to take place during this last summer. That disappointment faded quickly as the pursuit of the new and unknown came. The excitement of preparing and thinking of all the fun things to be done while on vacation, going to family reunions or just supporting their dad working on the farm, was special.
With each trip a new adventure unfolded, it created a summer that leaped by while time was flying just as fast. Packing and unpacking, doing laundry just to put it back into the bags. Doing dishes by hand, sitting in tractors, counting ladybugs and grasshoppers, applying layers of sunscreen. Collecting a hay cube to show off to mom so she could see the success of the day.
The return home was welcomed more and more with each trip. The door to the house would unlock and the children would disappear to be with the things they love most in their own home. Sighs were more and more heartfelt each time their heads lay on their very own pillow, in their very own room, surrounded by their very own belongings.
Although it is fun to be constantly doing things and going from one event to another, there is something to be said about being home. I believe my children have learned for themselves how special a home can be.
Home is a place we saw little of during the summer months. My children provoked this article since they have really missed their home. The children were used to long days at our home playing in the yard, going to the splash parks and checking out books at the library in past years for summer activities.
Disappointment struck briefly as those past events were not to take place during this last summer. That disappointment faded quickly as the pursuit of the new and unknown came. The excitement of preparing and thinking of all the fun things to be done while on vacation, going to family reunions or just supporting their dad working on the farm, was special.
With each trip a new adventure unfolded, it created a summer that leaped by while time was flying just as fast. Packing and unpacking, doing laundry just to put it back into the bags. Doing dishes by hand, sitting in tractors, counting ladybugs and grasshoppers, applying layers of sunscreen. Collecting a hay cube to show off to mom so she could see the success of the day.
The return home was welcomed more and more with each trip. The door to the house would unlock and the children would disappear to be with the things they love most in their own home. Sighs were more and more heartfelt each time their heads lay on their very own pillow, in their very own room, surrounded by their very own belongings.
Although it is fun to be constantly doing things and going from one event to another, there is something to be said about being home. I believe my children have learned for themselves how special a home can be.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Again, Small Desires
I have wanted a surger for years and we planned to get one and it fell through a few times and I just figured it would be a while before it actually happened. A woman moved into the ward who had a surger that was given to her in the past that was barely used and didn't want to take the time to figure out how to use it, so she gave it to me.
My smallest desires are heard. The things in this world that I want are things my Heavenly Father is mindful of.
My smallest desires are heard. The things in this world that I want are things my Heavenly Father is mindful of.
Small Desires
Two years in a row I have shown up at the school on picture day to help a teacher and end up helping the photographers. This means I get a free portrait package for one of my kids. Every year the price of the package goes up and I decide to take pictures in my own yard. This year I wanted my youngest to have school pictures since I've done it for the older two at least once. (My son got the free package last year.) So I just show up to help her class and they need a parent helper. I think even my smallest desires are heard.
Priceless Peace
This last summer I have felt amazing peace through the good and the bad. Since my husband has started working on his family farm again, I have felt peace in knowing it is what we are supposed to do as a family. We had some confrontations to fix past conflicts and made it through better.
This peace has been priceless to me since so much has been required of me and there's been so much change. I know my life and happiness is important and what I do matters and how I feel matters too.
This peace has been priceless to me since so much has been required of me and there's been so much change. I know my life and happiness is important and what I do matters and how I feel matters too.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Marriage Warranty
Marriage doesn't come with a guarantee, but it comes with a warranty. Marriages can break or malfunction but we are given tools to fix it as part of the warranty.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tonsils
My youngest has needed her tonsils out for many reasons-snoring, teeth, mouth breathing, sore throats, etc. Finally I took her in since the symptoms were getting worse. Within one week she had her tonsils out.
Day 3 of recovery and she is doing GREAT! The doctor said she'd have a rough first 2 days and, especially day 2 and she has done amazingly well. She is eating and drinking like she's supposed to. We haven't had any problems and she is smiling and playing. This is a great blessing, especially since she is so small for her age. It is dangerous for her to get dehydrated and we have experienced no threat!
Before her surgery, her dad gave her a blessing and said she would recover well and us as parents would know how to take care of her.
I know the priesthood blesses our lives directly through my husband from the Lord. I know Heavenly Father cares about our daughter specifically (and our other kids too) to help guide and direct us to take care of her and help her heal quickly. I know He has given her comfort to get through this hard experience.
My son got horribly sick right after his sisters' surgery. He was out of school for almost 2 weeks. We took care of him too at the same time and we know the Lord was watching over all of us to meet each need when needed.
Day 3 of recovery and she is doing GREAT! The doctor said she'd have a rough first 2 days and, especially day 2 and she has done amazingly well. She is eating and drinking like she's supposed to. We haven't had any problems and she is smiling and playing. This is a great blessing, especially since she is so small for her age. It is dangerous for her to get dehydrated and we have experienced no threat!
Before her surgery, her dad gave her a blessing and said she would recover well and us as parents would know how to take care of her.
I know the priesthood blesses our lives directly through my husband from the Lord. I know Heavenly Father cares about our daughter specifically (and our other kids too) to help guide and direct us to take care of her and help her heal quickly. I know He has given her comfort to get through this hard experience.
My son got horribly sick right after his sisters' surgery. He was out of school for almost 2 weeks. We took care of him too at the same time and we know the Lord was watching over all of us to meet each need when needed.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Easy Lie
Satan wants us to think life is supposed to be easy. This is a lie. We are supposed to have trials and tribulation so we can learn and grow.
Priesthood
The priesthood is an important part of the gospel for men and women. Some people have a problem with it being given only to men. I can see how they feel, but I'm going to use my husbands words to explain.
Men and women are clearly different. It can be said that generally women are closer to the spirit and have a more service oriented attitude than men. Men are good but get focused in and can miss stuff. Men have the priesthood to give service and as an opportunity to be closer to God. The priesthood can never be used selfishly. It can only bless others. A priesthood holder can never bless himself.
Although the priesthood is only given to men, it equally blesses men and women. It is a way to use God's power to serve others.
Eve was made for Adam as a helpmeet. Adam goes to the Lord and is guided. Eve is guided by what Adam was told by the Lord. So it makes sense that Adam would have the priesthood since he is the one directly guided by the Lord and Eve receives full benefits through Adam. There is an order and the order makes sense.
Men and women are clearly different. It can be said that generally women are closer to the spirit and have a more service oriented attitude than men. Men are good but get focused in and can miss stuff. Men have the priesthood to give service and as an opportunity to be closer to God. The priesthood can never be used selfishly. It can only bless others. A priesthood holder can never bless himself.
Although the priesthood is only given to men, it equally blesses men and women. It is a way to use God's power to serve others.
Eve was made for Adam as a helpmeet. Adam goes to the Lord and is guided. Eve is guided by what Adam was told by the Lord. So it makes sense that Adam would have the priesthood since he is the one directly guided by the Lord and Eve receives full benefits through Adam. There is an order and the order makes sense.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Good Rut Made Better
My oldest came and asked me if we could read the scriptures together as a family after church. We already read scriptures together as a family every night with picture books, and we've read the Book of Mormon together already (without pictures).
What she wanted was for everyone to read from their own scriptures since everyone has some. It was such a great idea and really made sense. Sometimes we get stuck in a good rut and miss a good thing. I'm glad she made us get out of our good rut for something better. She is such a good girl! We read after church and plan to read the picture scriptures during the week and from our own on Sundays together.
What she wanted was for everyone to read from their own scriptures since everyone has some. It was such a great idea and really made sense. Sometimes we get stuck in a good rut and miss a good thing. I'm glad she made us get out of our good rut for something better. She is such a good girl! We read after church and plan to read the picture scriptures during the week and from our own on Sundays together.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Salt of the Earth
Salt makes things better. We need to be like salt, and make others better.
Example: I thought of a girl in my neighborhood and she was a great basketball player when I was in young women. She was a year younger than me. When we played basketball, she made us all better. Without her we were terrible and had no savor-and we never won! She was our salt.
Example: I thought of a girl in my neighborhood and she was a great basketball player when I was in young women. She was a year younger than me. When we played basketball, she made us all better. Without her we were terrible and had no savor-and we never won! She was our salt.
Mustard Seed
Faith like a mustard seed can mountains. Our problems, sins, pains, are mountains that we can move with faith.
Faith is a choice though. We have to choose to do our part. We are responsible for our faith. Do we pray, seek knowledge, have hope, etc? If we do, our mountains will move with the Lord's help.
Faith is a choice though. We have to choose to do our part. We are responsible for our faith. Do we pray, seek knowledge, have hope, etc? If we do, our mountains will move with the Lord's help.
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