Tender Mercies

The summer so far has had its ups and downs.
and it has been filled with tender mercies as Elder Bednar Calls them.
I have personally felt the love of God for all his children more in the last 2 weeks than ever in my life.

This week for example I learned how to fast- from a Catholic girl. a group had decided to do a sweet thing and fast for my grandmother who is in the hospital. the best part is it was the girl that doesn't come to church who suggested it, and then it was the catholic girl that showed her vigorous faith when we thought we could just skip breakfast because we were working hard all day. she said 'No we're going to fast all day and make this mean something'. So we did, and i am grateful.

One night this week an old man came up to Marshall and said.. "so are you related to the Trading Post director." ... "yes," marshall replied. The man got excited "so do you have some oil i could borrow?"
The man's wife was so grateful when she came in the next day. she had had an accident happen that could have permanently damaged her hearing, but with the oil her husband was able to give her a blessing.

yesterday at 6am as i sat reading my scriptures while i served scoutmasters coffee in the trading post, one man commented on how nice all the mormons were.  not knowing what to say i said, "thanks! i love being mormon!"... "really?" he asked. "how can you say that? who honestly loves their religion that much? you really love being a mormon? why do you like it so much?"
at this point i might have looked around to make sure i wasn't in the middle of some church movie.
it was honestly the first time anyone had ever asked me something like that so sincerely. for the next 30 minutes, while he drank his coffee, we had a great conversation about the church. I mentioned that tom was going on a mission and was preparing to teach people all they needed to know. he got really excited and said, "you mean he would talk to me all about it, and i could ask him questions, and that would be helpful to him?" i laughed at that. yes that would be very helpful.

It has been one week, and the spirit of missionary work is all around me. this morning for our scripture study, tom and max and parker woke us up with a knock on our door and marshall and i pretended to be investigators. they taught us all about Charity and the pure love of God. They are all going to make great missionaries.

Then, today cute Megan asked Marshall to help her know what to say when she gave a boy a book of mormon. Tom gave his first one out to his Senior Patrol Leader his first week.

I am grateful for the tender mercies that i have seen this summer, i am grateful to feel so close to my Heavenly Father and to the Savior as i see His power in the beauty of the island and of the people on it. i am grateful today to be able to see our small community play a small yet wonderful roll in sharing the gospel.

Scouts

I love my job- and i love moments like this

girls: those boys are so cute ( giggling)

camp director: hey boys the girls are swooning over you!

shy scout:  um.. ok so can we go sit over there.. ( pointing the area far away from the girls)

My Father

Dear Daddy-

I cant wake you up early in the morning and bring you breakfast in bed today
Im sorry i am so far way-
I cant give you a gift made out of chocolate or paper and card hasn't quite made it to the mail- but this way i can dedicate a whole long paper just to you and all our memories and love and happiness

I don't know how i got so lucky! some people have dads that are really good at somethings, my dad is good at well everything! I could talk about each thing for pages but instead i will make a short list
.
1. You have an incredible singing voice even and especially at night when you would sing me to sleep, songs like: " ink a bink a bottle of ink cork fell out and you stink" however, i giggled so much i never did understand why it was a bed time song

2. You made me a two story barbie house complete with a deck vaulted ceilings tile floor and drawers for the barbies that weren't being used.

3. You made me a beautiful day bed out of wood just the way i designed my dream bed in my mind and even a smaller scaled one for my american girl doll

4. you taught us all the importance of scouting and from that we are all here today! ( so its your own fault were gone you see)

5. you give me guidance and love... even if it is late at night and i am taking up half of your bed.

6. you know everything about sports especially the greatest team and sport... BYU football!

7. you believe in me- my talents and my dreams and you helped me achieve all that i have reached so far.

8. You have always been worthy to hold the priesthood and given me wonderful fathers blessings whenever i needed it!

9. you are the peacemaker of our home, making me stop fighting with others or simply teaching me to care about other peoples feelings.

10. i would like to note that all of these adorable pictures are of you supporting me at Choir Concerts, In the Miss Layton Pageant you were my biggest fan and as a Senior Class officer where you Chaperoned any and all events we ever put on.

Daddy i love you! your the greatest father.
I know it was hard to give me away but i am grateful for the best advice you gave me - to marry the amazing man that will be the father of my children someday.

I love you daddy! Happy Fathers day! you are the best in the world!

different lives

We live in a place called Cherry Cove- its on catalina island.
i promise ill update late but now let me just tell you about the present.
Its Week 1 of camp-  let me up date you on the family

Mr. Marshall has been playing ALOT of roles including my hero best friend and fix it man- he is my personal trainer and scriptorian not to mention he is the chaplain- health officer- guidance counselor- shooting director- range master- Torqua indian ( yes pictures are soon to come) the police officer of a crazy man park- a drunken pirate- 'the Ugly man' and the hero of about 200 scouts and leaders this week! lets just say i love him! someday i hope i explain all of those things, i will try eventually with pictures but i didn't realize that Marshalls computer doesn't let you download pictures very easily. 

Adam is in charge of Island adventure and the sailing program. island adventure is a troop of boys each week that instead of coming to camp they go hike and boat around the island. Adam however seems to do alot of peoples dirty work for people, but it is because he is such a hard worker that he has things like this troop of 30 kids this week that remember him from 3 years ago and worship the group he walks on. every day they chant about how much they love him and scout masters come in to tell me how lucky i m to have him as  brother- this is  good reminder for me :) We love being here with him. His head is still shaved when he is not wearing a red beanie he has on a bright red military looking scout hat - he is always really easy to find.

Tom is adorable- he and marshall are indians together tonight. He works so hard but everything keeps breaking in his life- poor boys backpack broke and water spilt all over his preach my Gospel. The next day his water bottle- the next day his shoe- the next day grandma- the next day something else i forgot- and today his Sailboat broke. But he has still managed to place 2 books of Mormons and brings new friends  with max to family scripture study every morning at 6:15. i don't know what marshall and i would do without him because sometimes he is the only way we wake up in the mornings. We are so glad he is here.

 

This is the Hand holding club. Butch and Becca. We love them. They are the only other couple out here this summer so we started a club.. cool people hold hands.


Remember how i said marshall plays alot of roles? this is what i do all day.. besides go to alot of meetings and count alot of money..

Dont worry we really work hard :) well thats enough about today.. sweet dreams!