A lot of you know that when we bought our house, we bought it as a HUD home. I am not sure if we could have gotten such an amazing house in such a great neighborhood when our marriage was so young if we hadn't bought a HUD home. Unfortunately, when you buy a HUD home, they are not always in the best condition. We are still in the process of fixing our house. One of the things that wasn't in the best of condition was our backyard. It had so much over growth and piles of pine needles which for anyone else would be an easy Saturday of grunt yard work and the problem is solved, but for Chad, it isn't that easy. With his heart problems there just isn't a lot of heavy lifting that he can do. Well, we have a couple of amazing home teacher who continually go above and beyond their calling. They have cared for and loved our family. They seem to always be waiting around the corner continually offering their support to our family. Well, when they saw our backyard and Chad told them why it had gotten in the state that it was in, they immediately went into action. They rented a dumpster and called every able bodied preisthood holder in our ward to come by on Saturday to clear out our yard. It was amazing to see decons, preists, and elders of all ages out it our backyard working. I loved to see them laughing and having a good time while they were hauling years of pine needles and junk from our backyard into the dumpster parked front of our house. When people to come together to help and work in a positive manner, the good mood is catching. Our backyard was transformed within hours. Even our Bishop, whose time is precious and he has precious little of it, took time out of his busy schedule to help out as well. Our yard has never looked so amazing, and I find myself venturing out there with a good book to read because now it is a relaxing escape and not an eye sore anymore. Thank you so much to our friends and neighbors. And thank you to our home teachers, who have become our dear friends, for seeing a need and filling it.
It is just amazing that all of that was once in our yard. People were still coming when I left to go meet my dad for lunch. My dad was going to take me and the kidlets to lunch a Maddox for my birthday. I love my dad so much. I really would think that I had something wrong with me if it weren't for my dad. I have told him so on many occasions, and he has said that I do the same for him. I would say that he is the only one of my immediate family who wants anything to do with me, but that isn't entirely true. In the past couple of years, my little sister has started to really make an effort too. I love the person he married, Rita. She is so good to him and loves him. And her two daughters, Samantha and Sarina have become real good friends to me. Sarina was sick and Chad stayed behind to help the elders with our backyard, so it ended up being just me, Lauren and Evan, my dad, Rita, and Samantha. It was alot of fun. It reminded me of all that I have been given. Some people don't have anyone, but I do. My family might not be built like yours, but it is still people who I love whom also love me. If that isn't family then I don't know what it.
After lunch with my dad, I met Chad at Riverdale Park where his family was having a Sphar Family Reunion. By the time I got there, only Chad's sisters and mom were left. It was still nice to see them for a little while. I haven't had a lot of opportunity to see his sisters in a while. Since I saw them last, Traci had had her baby girl and it was the first time that I got to see her. We brought Carter his birthday gifts and a cute dress for baby girl Ella. Family is just so important. No matter how your family is built, you need to feel belonged and loved. You need people who over look your faults and will stand by you in good times and bad. I have that. I have pieces that came from this parent and that one, who are half and steps and real. And they come together to make this beautiful patchwork, this amazing tapestry of a family I am so blessed to be a part of.
1 comment:
That is so awesome that everyone came together to clean up your yard. It's always a blessing to have loving ward members ready to lift a hand and help. Sounds like you had a great day. :)
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