Sunday, July 10,
2016
Last week went
well. We were blessed that Chad got the
4th of July off of work on Monday.
That afternoon we went to the watch Finding Dory, it wasn’t my favorite
movie. That evening we went to my cousin
Jaime (Caldwell) Shelton’s home for swimming, a BBQ, and fireworks. It was fun to get to know her and her kids.
This week I’ve
dusted off my violin and started working on a song my Mom asked my sisters,
nieces and me to learn to play at the Flake reunion. The song, “Fiddle Faddle”, is probably the
most advanced piece I’ve ever learned. I’ve
set a goal to practice it three times each evening so I don’t make a fool of
myself and so I can feel confident performing it. I’ve improved a lot but I still have some
trouble spots. Normally I don’t enjoy
playing the violin much, but as the week has progressed I’ve actually enjoyed
learning this song and might try to learn a new song on the violin or viola
after I perform at the reunion.
Wednesday morning I had the amazing opportunity to
work as a volunteer with the Catholic Charities to help some refugees. I met with Violetta—a social worker, or case
manager, or whatever her title is who was a refugee herself 10 years ago—at a
Walmart in Glendale to shop to set up an apartment for six men who are refugees
from Cuba that would be arriving in Phoenix that afternoon. We filled up three shopping carts with
dishes, towels, bedding, cleaning supplies, and all the other basic things
people need to set up a home. After that
we went to the apartment, carried everything up to the third story apartment
and put everything in the rooms where they belonged. Then we went to Fry’s and bought 1 ½ carts of
food for them, probably enough food for about a week or so. We went back to the apartment and carried
everything into the apartment and put everything in the fridge and
cupboards. It was a great experience. While we were shopping at Walmart I felt the
spirit very strongly. I remembered Elder
Kearon’s promise when he said, “Seasoned
members of the Church who have given years of service and leadership attest to
the fact that ministering to these people so immediately
in need has provided the richest, most fulfilling experience in their service
so far” (Refuge
from the Storm). However, I did
receive some opposition while leaving Walmart that bothered me quite a bit.
As we were walking out of the store Violetta
stopped to have the Walmart greeter check her receipt to prove that she had
paid for everything. As I was standing
there waiting to help push the carts out to her car, a man and woman noticed
all our stuff and asked me if I was moving into a new place. I told them that we were setting up an
apartment for some refugees. I could
tell by the man’s expression that he didn’t like that very much but he didn’t
say anything. However, as the woman
walked away she critically said something like, “you should help the people in
our own country.” It really bothered
me. I shouldn’t have let it bother me so
much because it ruined the spirit I had felt earlier that day. I thought about it a lot and this is my conclusion
of the whole experience—“All things which are good cometh of God” (Moroni
7:12). Satan is sneaky and when he can
get us to criticize the good that others are doing he gains power. However, in
the end he will not win. Good will triumph over evil. I have a renewed desire to compliment and
praise those who are doing any type of good and to bite my tongue and change my
thoughts when I think something critical.
Thursday morning Spencer and I went to the
temple. He did baptisms while I did initiatories. It was nice to do that together. Friday Amy and David came to stay with
us. Our kids had fun playing on the
waterslide and then we went to swim at the Lamoreaux’s and Josh jumped off the
diving board! Friday evening Amy and I
attended Tyler Ann’s bridal shower and then went to Celeste’s to practice “Fiddle
Faddle” with Celeste and my Mom. Saturday
was my niece Tyler Ann’s wedding. It was
a beautiful sealing. It was fun to be in
my temple with so many of my sibling. I’m
looking forward to the Flake Family reunion in two weeks when all of us will be
together.
This morning I had some thoughts about finances that I plan to teach my children. The council I will give them is to be a saver not a borrower. Those who save can save others. Those who borrow can't. Those who are borrowers have already spent their money before it arrives and don't have the freedom to choose where they would like to spend it.
My quote today is from John Wayne. “Life
if tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid.”
Love,
Mindy
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