Fishing!

A few weeks ago, we went fishing in Huntington Canyon to celebrate Sam's birthday. There wasn't much in the way of catching fish, but we definitely caught the fishing bug, so we went again last Friday. Hopefully there will be more before school starts!

News and Stuff

The A/C in the Suburban went out, and it ended up being another $1000 repair. Ugh. We decided it was time to stop dumping money into that thing, so we went and got ourselves this:

It's a 2009 Toyota Sienna with 34,000 miles--far newer than any of our other vehicles. It seats eight. I'm very happy. It gets 2x the gas mileage of the 'burban. I love the two sliding doors and the back windows that roll down. It's pretty nice.

We celebrated Pioneer day by going fishing on Friday night. On Saturday we went swimming and later Tracy and the kids climbed the hill behind us to watch the fireworks in Spanish Fork.

Xander has started singing in church. He opens up a hymn book and sings at the top of his voice with great enthusiasm. It doesn't resemble what the rest of us are singing, but he sure sounds like he's enjoying it. I love it.

Everyone else is doing good and getting excited for school to start soon. I can't believe how fast the summer has gone!

In Joy or Pain

I need thee every hour, in joy or pain. Come quickly and abide or life is vain.

Maybe it's my new calling in the Relief Society Presidency, but it sure seems like bad things are happening all over. My neighbors lost their 18 year old grandson in a boating accident. The neighbor next to them is dying of liver cancer, and she is only in her fifties. The 18 year old girl on the hill above us rolled her truck and is paralyzed from the waist down. She was a world champion rodeo rider. Another neighbor on the street just lost her father, who was a member of the ward. Friends of mine are getting divorced. Many in our ward are dealing with unemployment and hard economic times. Tracy's uncle passed away last week. And family members on both sides of our family are suffering through serious difficulties. It's enough to make you really depressed.

But if I have learned anything from my own trials and troubles, it is that the Lord is always there for us, no matter what. If we turn to Him and trust in Him, He will get us through even the worst difficulties, and He can bring us joy and peace even in the middle of our pain.

Elder Holland said:

Are you battling a demon of addiction—tobacco or drugs or gambling, or the pernicious contemporary plague of pornography? Is your marriage in trouble or your child in danger? Are you confused with gender identity or searching for self-esteem? Do you—or someone you love—face disease or depression or death? Whatever other steps you may need to take to resolve these concerns, come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven’s promises. In that regard Alma's testimony is my testimony: "I do know," he says, "that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions". . .Brothers and sisters, whatever your distress, please don't give up and please don't yield to fear. . .If you are lonely, please know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know you can find hope. If you are poor in spirit, please know you can be strengthened. If you feel you are broken, please know you can be mended.

(I remember when he gave this talk in April 2006. It was an especially difficult time in my life. I wanted to give up. When he said, please don't give up, I felt like the Savior himself had his arm around my shoulders, pleading with me personally to keep going.)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  --John 16:33

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  --Romans 8:28

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 8:38-39

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  --Isaiah 41:10

 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.  --D&C 121:7-8

Hang in there, everyone! With the Grace of God, we'll all make it through.

Have You Been Savoring Your Summer?

We have!

Now for an ironic story:
For my 200 followers blog giveaway, I had to order a copy of the anthology Unparalleled Journeys which contains one of my short stories. It was one of the prizes. The anthology came out in 2005, so all that was available were two used copies on Amazon. I picked one of those and ordered it. When it came in the mail, I opened up the front cover and found the following inscription:

To Grandpa Bird

Love, Angie

Enjoy!

Yes, that's right. I bought Grandpa Bird's copy of the book. That means I have now paid for that particular copy twice!! I wasn't offended. I realize that his books were probably all sold or given away when he moved to the rest home. I knew he read my story, though. There were food stains on the pages. :) Well, now it belongs to a lady in Miami Beach. I wonder if it'll make it's way back to me again someday. (As long as I don't have to pay for it again.)