Sunday, August 11, 2013
Yesterday we spent the day at the Wilcox Family Reunion, we missed Shawn and his family and Todd and his family, and of course our missionaries Katelynn and Jeremy.
The reunion was held at Monte's house in Saratoga Springs. We ate sandwiches, visited, and spent most of the day down by Utah Lake swimming and boating. I went out on the boat first with Monte and a bunch of kids. We had five kids on the tubes. The wind and waves were not of the most friendly kind, and I thought of Christ and his Apostles on the Sea of Galilee. I thought about Peter as I watched four of those kids tumble off the tubes into the turbulent waves. We had to circle around and pick up the kids one by one, but we could not stop the boat because of the waves, they had to reach out and grab onto the tube as it passed by. The first few attempts proved to be fruitless, the kids bobbed up and down in the water as we passed by them on the boat. I strained into the water keeping track of the kids watching as waves poured over their heads and vanished from my view for a moment. Fear gripped at my heart until I saw them once again bobbing in the water. The life preservers certainly saved their lives.
Water was not only washing over the heads of the children in the water, but occasionally the boat would hit a wave and also take in water. I had to not only keep my eye on the kids in the water, but I had to make sure the children in the boat were safe also.
As we passed by the children again, I called to each of them, and explained that we could not stop the boat, but they would need to grab hold of the tube and hang on. By the third time around we were able to collect all four children from the waves and they were back on the tubes again. I was so very grateful. Monte slowly took us into the shore.
Though there was no serious damage or injuries sustained from this experience, ( And I was probably the only one a little nervous,) it could have quickly turned from fun to tragic, if even one child refused to wear a life jacket, or the life jacket failed to do what it was made to do or if the pilot of the boat was inexperienced and foolish.
I could not help but draw an analogy to the gospel and this experience. As members of the church we have all been baptized, we have all been given a life preserver, if we continue to wear our life preserver, even when things get rough, and maybe we let go of the church or raft, we can be sustained until we are rescued. Sometimes it may take someone several times to try to rescue a lost brother or sister, but as long as that life preserver or the spirit, is helping them, they will be rescued. With a good leader or parent, that child can be quickly brought in from the storms of life. But how much more urgent is it to rescue those who do not have a life preserver, who are not members of the church or who have discarded their life preserver. A sailboat was out in the waves and we watched it topple into the foaming waves. We could see that the people on the boat could possibly be in distress, so we quickly went to unload the kids and tubes to start out to help. Fortunately, another craft was close by and came to their aid. A few minutes later, the harbor patrol showed up along with the paramedics and fire trucks. I don't know the real answer, but to go along with my analogy I am going to suppose, that when the sailboat toppled, the people radioed for help, because they were not prepared for the storm and they were not wearing life preservers. Theirs could have been a tragic ending had it not been for a watchful (hometeacher). They were almost in need of greater help one with crave consequences had not there been someone there watching over them.
Our children were taught that they needed life preservers before they could get in the boat or on the tube, they choose to obey, and when trouble hit, they were kept safe from the storm and were rescued with relatively little problem. Those who set sail in the sailboat, had the same weather we had, had the same water we had, and new the dangers of the lake, as well as knowing that they should wear a life jacket, yet they choose to venture out into the storm unprotected and when they fell into the water, when their "security" left them, they required a far greater and dramatic rescue, and it could have come too late.
Anyway needless to say, the storm dissipated and the rest of the day went relatively calm, but all were kept safe with the life preservers. I could go on with countless analogizes.
We also spent this week working on our bathroom. Thank you to Jana and Leah for allowing my family to hang out at their house so we could eat and shower while our water was shut off, and the living space was inundated with construction materials. I am really happy with how it is turning out, and I am grateful to Paul for his sacrifice and hard work to make it all possible. When I learn how to post pictures I will do it.
Today I am going to give a talk on baptismal covenants in sacrament meeting, and then I have an interview with the bishop. I will be released from my calling. I have enjoyed being in the relief society presidency and relief society president for the past 5 years. I hope I did what I was needed to do.
Thank you again Wilcox's for a fun day yesterday, especially Monte and Callae for being perfect hosts and sharing your boat.
The reunion was held at Monte's house in Saratoga Springs. We ate sandwiches, visited, and spent most of the day down by Utah Lake swimming and boating. I went out on the boat first with Monte and a bunch of kids. We had five kids on the tubes. The wind and waves were not of the most friendly kind, and I thought of Christ and his Apostles on the Sea of Galilee. I thought about Peter as I watched four of those kids tumble off the tubes into the turbulent waves. We had to circle around and pick up the kids one by one, but we could not stop the boat because of the waves, they had to reach out and grab onto the tube as it passed by. The first few attempts proved to be fruitless, the kids bobbed up and down in the water as we passed by them on the boat. I strained into the water keeping track of the kids watching as waves poured over their heads and vanished from my view for a moment. Fear gripped at my heart until I saw them once again bobbing in the water. The life preservers certainly saved their lives.
Water was not only washing over the heads of the children in the water, but occasionally the boat would hit a wave and also take in water. I had to not only keep my eye on the kids in the water, but I had to make sure the children in the boat were safe also.
As we passed by the children again, I called to each of them, and explained that we could not stop the boat, but they would need to grab hold of the tube and hang on. By the third time around we were able to collect all four children from the waves and they were back on the tubes again. I was so very grateful. Monte slowly took us into the shore.
Though there was no serious damage or injuries sustained from this experience, ( And I was probably the only one a little nervous,) it could have quickly turned from fun to tragic, if even one child refused to wear a life jacket, or the life jacket failed to do what it was made to do or if the pilot of the boat was inexperienced and foolish.
I could not help but draw an analogy to the gospel and this experience. As members of the church we have all been baptized, we have all been given a life preserver, if we continue to wear our life preserver, even when things get rough, and maybe we let go of the church or raft, we can be sustained until we are rescued. Sometimes it may take someone several times to try to rescue a lost brother or sister, but as long as that life preserver or the spirit, is helping them, they will be rescued. With a good leader or parent, that child can be quickly brought in from the storms of life. But how much more urgent is it to rescue those who do not have a life preserver, who are not members of the church or who have discarded their life preserver. A sailboat was out in the waves and we watched it topple into the foaming waves. We could see that the people on the boat could possibly be in distress, so we quickly went to unload the kids and tubes to start out to help. Fortunately, another craft was close by and came to their aid. A few minutes later, the harbor patrol showed up along with the paramedics and fire trucks. I don't know the real answer, but to go along with my analogy I am going to suppose, that when the sailboat toppled, the people radioed for help, because they were not prepared for the storm and they were not wearing life preservers. Theirs could have been a tragic ending had it not been for a watchful (hometeacher). They were almost in need of greater help one with crave consequences had not there been someone there watching over them.
Our children were taught that they needed life preservers before they could get in the boat or on the tube, they choose to obey, and when trouble hit, they were kept safe from the storm and were rescued with relatively little problem. Those who set sail in the sailboat, had the same weather we had, had the same water we had, and new the dangers of the lake, as well as knowing that they should wear a life jacket, yet they choose to venture out into the storm unprotected and when they fell into the water, when their "security" left them, they required a far greater and dramatic rescue, and it could have come too late.
Anyway needless to say, the storm dissipated and the rest of the day went relatively calm, but all were kept safe with the life preservers. I could go on with countless analogizes.
We also spent this week working on our bathroom. Thank you to Jana and Leah for allowing my family to hang out at their house so we could eat and shower while our water was shut off, and the living space was inundated with construction materials. I am really happy with how it is turning out, and I am grateful to Paul for his sacrifice and hard work to make it all possible. When I learn how to post pictures I will do it.
Today I am going to give a talk on baptismal covenants in sacrament meeting, and then I have an interview with the bishop. I will be released from my calling. I have enjoyed being in the relief society presidency and relief society president for the past 5 years. I hope I did what I was needed to do.
Thank you again Wilcox's for a fun day yesterday, especially Monte and Callae for being perfect hosts and sharing your boat.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
This has been a good week. We have had the opportunity to celebrate several birthdays, Mathew, Ben and Lilloette.
We bade farewell to Jordan and Maci and kids (not that that was good) and sent Nathan and Shawn on their way to North Dakota.
I harvested some green beans and canned 12 pints.
Paul and I attended the baptism of Paul's cousin's daughter.
I was asked to speak next Sunday, that could be good or bad.
We bought a toilet and some flooring so we can remodel our bathroom.
Next week we will start the remodeling job.
On Wed Susie Bore and her four delightful children came to visit. After a quick lunch of pigs in a blanket we toured BYU. We went to the Art museum, the Science Museum and the BYU Bookstore. We finished off our visit with BYU Creamery Ice Cream. We got a good highlight on the Bore Family and renewed our friendship.
So this was a good week. We had time to visit with family and friends, read, and eat ice cream, BBQ, watch a movie or two, just enjoy the last week of July.
We bade farewell to Jordan and Maci and kids (not that that was good) and sent Nathan and Shawn on their way to North Dakota.
I harvested some green beans and canned 12 pints.
Paul and I attended the baptism of Paul's cousin's daughter.
I was asked to speak next Sunday, that could be good or bad.
We bought a toilet and some flooring so we can remodel our bathroom.
Next week we will start the remodeling job.
On Wed Susie Bore and her four delightful children came to visit. After a quick lunch of pigs in a blanket we toured BYU. We went to the Art museum, the Science Museum and the BYU Bookstore. We finished off our visit with BYU Creamery Ice Cream. We got a good highlight on the Bore Family and renewed our friendship.
So this was a good week. We had time to visit with family and friends, read, and eat ice cream, BBQ, watch a movie or two, just enjoy the last week of July.
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