Then sings my soul.

Last night I was driving home from going to a green house with my sister and it was in that twilight hour where the moon plays hide and seek behind the mountains as you drive.  I had just been talking to Becki about how stupid sentimental I am about things and how there are moments, places, smells etc. that when they hit me I almost feel my soul take a deep sigh.  I told her it is these moments that I understand the lyrics "then sings my soul".  Let Maria Von Trap have her raindrops on roses and her whiskers on kittens I have my own favorite things.  I have the smell of geranium leaves at the beginning of spring or the smell of a roast cooking as you come home from church.  Don't even get me started on the taste of my mom's gravy, (when I was a kid for my birthday she would give me my own gravy boat).  I have the sound of rain on a hot summers night thumping down on the leaves outside my window.  I have the touch of my wife's foot sliding over to meet mine as I crawl into bed (our own code for I love you...even when I'm not awake).  I have the sound of Molly laughing at something Sophie has done or my Aunt Mere's laugh (that is one I miss hearing).  I have the sight of my dad's sheepish grin when he is embarrassed by something and trying not to laugh.  I have the feeling of breaking up clots of dirt between my fingers and the fresh cut grass between my toes as I mow the lawn.  I have walks with my family to visit the neighborhood yards and to see the Iris in bloom.  I have the smell of fresh cantaloupe that for some reason will always make me think of my mom.  I have the long stretches of road lined with lodge pole pines that tell me I'm in Yellowstone.  I have the equally long stretches of roads surrounded by fields and a slight smell of manure that signified I was close to my grandparents in Leamington (I wish my kids could have had this same memory).  I have those moments where just before dark Anna and I find ourselves walking the yard, hand in hand, as crickets serenade us and 'rocket'the squirrel puts on a show doing his tightrope walk just for us and that is when it hits...the sigh...the eyes welling with tears because I know my Heavenly Father loves me.

Easter!

I know you have all been waiting patiently and anxiously for my next post...just like my sweet girls in this photo who waited at the very edge of the driveway, because they know they can't go in the street without us, for Anna and I to get all the stuff together to go on a simple family walk (everything! and I do mean everything takes longer with kids because heaven for bid you be blocks from home and you forgot their blanket and they are cold or their sippy and they are thirsty, and did I mention you better have a purple one for Sophie and a pink for Molly or let the wailing, screaming and gnashing of teeth begin.  Sometime I imagine Hell is being trapped in a room with screaming crying toddlers that won't calm down or listen to reason...anyways back to what I was saying).  I know you have been patient but keeping this up when I have a real job that takes attention is harder then I thought...but worth it.

Recently, really it wasn't that long ago, we celebrated Easter.  The Saturday before Easter the girls woke up and searched the house for their Easter baskets and when they found one they also found one for me that Anna had done in secret...I am really a lucky guy.

 On Sunday, Anna and I hosted her side of the family at our house.  It was great and most of the 11 that are in the state came which trust me is a huge accomplishment with schedules and all.  We gathered the grandkids together, oh and Heather because she still counts as a kid and it is a chance for free candy so why not, for an Easter Egg hunt.  We had well over a hundred eggs that my beautiful wife diligently had stuffed, and eaten when the cravings for chocolate hit, and re-stuffed and hid for the event.

With Easter comes spring weather and in my family that means trips to the green houses to prepare for planting season.  Seriously, we visit multiple green houses sometimes not buying a thing but going for the experience and the sure joy it brings our souls.  At J&J we had to visit the fishes.

and at Rocking E we visited the chickens and almost bought chicks...thank goodness we didn't because we are getting chickens already laying eggs from Anna's parents...and Sophie took a ride on a horse (Molly wouldn't have anything to do with it).  Seriously it was a dime...so she rode twice, we're generous like that.

On a separate note, in Sunday school we are studying the Old Testament and I recently came across a realization that I wanted to share.  We'll see if I can share it and make any sense.  We were reading about the Israelites and how right after they were liberated from Egypt, where they witnessed miracles like ummmm HELLO parting of the Red Sea and a literal pillar of fire guiding them in the desert that they complained and turned to Moses for help with hunger and thirst.  First let me make clear, I am in no way judging them as how often in my life have I witnessed the hand of God only to turn the next day and say...where are you, I need some help here.  That being said, I saw a clear pattern that they were hungry and turned to Moses and the Lord provided Manna, they were thirsty and complained and turned to Moses who struck the Rock and the Lord poured out water.  Over and over this happened and I'm sure Moses was like..."come on have a little faith, I'm hungry and thirsty too" but why wouldn't they turn to Moses he always solved the problem and usually with little effort on their part.  So they wandered for 40 years with some success and some well no so proud moments.  Moses learned to be a leader and found a midst that group leaders like Joshua and others who rose to the top.  

I couldn't help but think of my parents in Serbia working with this little branch in their own wilderness and they tried to lead this band of Saints to their own spiritual promised land.  I found that their were so many similarities between the two stories as I hear of my parents desiring more faith from those who they work with and hearing complaining and constant asks not only on them but the Church to step in and solve worldly problems.  They see miracles and they see backs turned, they hear complaints and at times want to cry out..."we know we are right here with you but if you could only trust and open your heart a little more".  They see members who don't want to sacrifice or step up if it is hard or inconvenient and they see members stretch out their hands and then quickly retract them and build walls around their close group not letting anyone in and become hardened and unforgiving of others faults failing to see their own.  But...and this is a key...they also have found their Joshua's in people like Nemanja who are strong and valiant and will, as the Joshua of old did to Jericho, break down the walls so that the branch can grow and the gospel flourish.  Bottom line...my parents need to realize it took Moses, a great prophet of God, 40 years to lead the Israelites to the promised land and they in 18 months have done great work and need to cut themselves some slack.  I'm so proud of my parents and am so excited to have them home next month....NEXT MONTH, so crazy!