Honeysuckle & Fireflies

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After a dinner of Chicken Fajitas, most of us went on a walk to the park. We wanted to escape the contentious one and enjoy the nice weather (questioning the nice weather part – it was 87 degrees at 7 pm with 66% humidity). Aside from smelling like mosquito repellant, and sweating, it was a great walk. Scotty brought a basketball and he and Jimmy shot some hoops at the park (after the ball rolled into the muddy ditch… one of those things a parent sees coming but the 11-year-old didn’t consider when rolling the ball on the downhill sidewalk).

Max, Eliza, and Scotty went on the park swings. I educated them on the benefits of swinging as a child which helps regulate their vestibular system (not sure what that means … something about movement awareness or balance… maybe… the things you learn from instagram that you should probably verify before teaching your kids.)

On the way home, we spotted fireflies in the forest. Scotty educated us on the mating rituals of fireflies which was … educational. haha. I didn’t grow up with fireflies in dear ol’ Idaho, so I think they are extra spiffy. We walked through the backyard gate by all the honeysuckle (also something I didn’t grow up by). Jimmy taught Scotty how to taste the nectar from the honeysuckle flower.

We heard from Abe who is in Sao Paulo Brazil during our walk, which was reassuring to know he’s still alive on his first day on BYU Band Tour. He lives! And I hope he has a wonderful experience.

These pics are from 2016 when the kids first learned about honeysuckle and fireflies. I miss those days though I remind myself the past wasn’t all ‘cookies, and milk, and yellow balloons’ all the time, either. As Emily Freeman shared in her recent Conference address. We have good days… and we have bad days. But life and testimony are forged throughout each day.

Miracles

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I’ve been studying about the Miracle of the Passover in Moses time and the Miracle of the Seagulls in Pioneer times. I guess my thoughts have turned there during this Easter and Passover time of year as well as this Corona pandemic. I’ve thought of the fasting and prayers for relief from suffering, sickness, and plagues, as well as news of Locusts overrunning parts of Africa right now (which of course reminded me of the locusts of Moses time as well as the miracle of the sea gulls in pioneer times).

There have been significant miracles throughout time. The greatest being the sacrifice of our Savior. This lesson having been taught through the sacrifice and miracle of the Passover.

The early saints witnessed a miracle of the Seagulls eating the locusts yet it wasn’t mentioned as a big thing in very many journal entries at the time. Just makes me wonder what miracles are right before us that were not seeing clearly because we’re so deep in it.

What miracles are we witnessing right now?  A people being humbled, that we finally are forced to slow down and reconsider priorities, that we will gain a stronger character by dealing with this challenge, that we believe in a living prophet to guide the world? We will experience loss, we will have times of anxiety or depression, but we also can know that God is good and gave us the ultimate miracle of His Son who saved us all.

We have desired miracles in our life for healing, strength of resolve in parenting, patience and increase of love needed.  So it’s on my mind a lot. What is an appropriate miracle to desire? I truly believe that miracles are all around us, as Sister Hinckley shared. I also believe in huge miracles that have occurred throughout time, some of us knowing and understanding, some never to be understood by mortal man.

Most of all I know Good sends miracles of all types and sizes to us as we are faithful and continue in obedience. I just want to have the spiritual eyes to SEE and recognize and live in Thanksgiving for these miracles.