SUNDY'S SEVEN SABBATH SENTIMENTS - EDITION 4

1.

The Melanson Service Crew (minus a few who were still working out front)

Service rocks!  Saturday we spent the entire morning working at the Melanson's home.  It was fun!  It was rewarding!  And it was HARD work!  I think the Melanson's were surprised and pleased.  They are such wonderful people who do so much for others it was nice to do something for them once in awhile too.

Scott worked mostly outside with the other men.  They weeded, tore down a deck, mulched, and laid rock foundation.  I think he enjoyed the camaraderie and the heavy labor.

I spent the entire time indoors; taking down wallpaper.  I'm quite a pro now.  A hot water and fabric softener concoction made the job easier.  (I found that idea on the Internet since I had never taken wall paper down before.)  Removing wallpaper is quite messy and at one point Dave came in and saw the mess.  For a moment he thought his dog had torn something up... he was about to yell at her but then realized it was just me.  I told him he would have to yell at me instead and he ordered me to my crate!  :-)

2.

The Church Cleaning Crew (Nettie is taking the photo so she is not pictured.)

Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy also participated in the service.  They worked a bit outside, but they ended up going to the church and cleaning it for a few hours with one of their role-models: Nettie Melanson.  They are industrious young women and I'm proud of their willingness to serve.

3.

This is Sally DeFord
Today a group of young people in our ward sang a beautiful song for sacrament meeting.  I got to play the accompany them.  (Actually I asked them to sing, too, since I am still the ward music chair.)  The song is "Arise and Shine Forth" by Sally DeFord.    I love her music.  And she wonderfully gives away her arrangements and compositions for free.  Her website is a gold mine for ward choir directors (of which I am also called.)  I'll be using a lot of her arrangements for the Christmas Sacrament Program in December also.  (Which I will be writing and directing and organizing again.  I talked to our new bishop on Wednesday and he would like me to continue that tradition.)  Anyways: if you are interested in Sally DeFord's music check it out at www.defordmusic.com.

4.

Guess what?!  I'm actually excited that I get to go to girl's camp in two weeks.  That may surprise most of you since most of you know that I do not enjoy camping.  I think I'm excited because we have AWESOME young women and I love our YW camp leader/president, Roxy.  I'm mostly thrilled to get to spend the time with my two gorgeous daughters who are the light of my life!  I want to make it fun for them and help them to feel the spirit and enjoy the week!  Don't worry, I'll be posting a LOT more about camp in the following couple of weeks!

5.

I'm making homemade potato salad today.  I haven't made homemade potato salad in over six years.  Hope I still remember how.  The potatoes are cooking right now!  :-)  And the eggs are already hard-boiled and peeled.

6.

I just finished studying President Eyring's General Conference talk, "Come Unto Me" and Elder Scott's talk, "For Peace At Home."  We read and discuss one talk a week as a family (we missed Mother's Day so we are making up by doing two talks today.)  They were wonderful talks!  I think that Heavenly Father is trying to tell me I need to put more effort into my scripture study.  Elder Scott said, "Little things lead to big things.  Seemingly insignificant neglect can lead to big problems.  Simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full of bountiful blessings."  After teaching about scripture study last week and reading about it this week, I am going to resolve to study my scriptures daily rather than just read them.  I think my downfall is that I tend to read the words without thinking about them sometimes.

7.

Grandad White

I'm so grateful for the chance to celebrate true heroes this weekend.  I always think of my grandfather on Memorial Day.  (He passed away this past January.)  In the past, I always called him to thank him for his service during WWII.  He was in the navy, fought in the Pacific and even survived a typhoon aboard ship.  This year I won't be able to call him on the phone, but I will be able to think and reflect on the many great veterans of this wonderful nation.  The words that come to mind when I think of the service our navy, army and air-force men and women perform are:  loyal, honorable, selfless, smart and fearless.  These are traits that I hope to emulate and that I hope my children adopt as well.  Thank you too all the men and women who serve this great country by putting your lives on the line.  We love you!  We honor you!  You are true heroes!