Putting My Christian Heart to Work Because I Have Been Given Much

I spent the weekend working… working when my heart really wanted to sit at my desk and listen to General Conference. I worked on my set for many hours. I worked on creating apple sauce at the request of my daughter. I worked at creating a sugar free apple pie. I worked at harvesting the last of the tomatoes from my garden. I worked at putting those tomatoes into jars while standing in the rain. I worked at cleaning up the kitchen and running laundry for my teenager who missed her laundry day. I did try to listen to General Conference on Sunday. I got all but the Women’s Sessions from Saturday night in. It seemed like the main message of the whole conference was about ministering and serving. At least I got some serving in, even if I didn’t do my traditional listen to conference activities.

Then, just before I was ready to start my 10 day Facebook fast, as requested by our prophet, I had some time to look at a fundraiser my daughter is hosting to help a family in need. It seems that they have had some bad luck. A less than honest company sold them a house that was uninhabitable. All of their money is now tied up in lawsuits while their family – a large family with 7 children – faces their second rainy, wet, cold, Oregon winter in tents! How does this happen?

I have experience with living in tents as a family. When I was a kid, my family lived in the mountains in tents for a summer while we logged logs for my parents’ log home. It was hard… but at least it was summer. I can’t imagine living like that in the cold rainy weather of the Willamette valley. Their story reminds me that it is a blessing to serve!

So here is my plea… if you happen to read this blog, please consider buying some of these cards from my daughter. Her goal is to raise $600 to help this family pay for repairs.