The Junto Grove

Junto Participants, just go ahead and click below for the grove.

If you would rather pay by email, use PayPal and send it to the yahoo email address I provided in the email.

Either way, please make sure you email me at my gmail address.

Thanks!

Embraced By His Love

She was rather rambunctious today. It was her second time in nursery, she had a beautiful new dress on. But come Sacrament meeting, she was frustrating. A slight temper tantrum, running up to the podium, screaming during Sacrament. We almost took her home, but we did not.

Then Church ended. Mother was in choir rehearsal. Sarah and I were behind the last pew, she at one end, I at the other. I looked at her and she smiled. I opened my arms to her and she ran. She ran as fast as her little legs would take her.

When she got to me, I hoisted her up in my arms and we embraced.

And I began to understand forgiveness.

Sometimes I err, and err pretty badly. I do not understand how Heavenly Father can forgive me. Yet, as I held Sarah in my arms, what occurred during Sacrament meeting melted away from my memory and my heart was filled with love.

Is this what Father Lehi felt when he said

But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. (2 Nephi 1:15).

I am not sure, but it was both powerful and tender, as I am learning my precious daughter is.

She Could Not Carry Her Own Burden

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows - Isaiah 53:4

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:30

Friday and Saturday were pretty huge days for Sarah. We had a conference for the youth and that meant a lot of walking and a lot of sun and not a lot of sleeping. Two days of that with a 15-month-old makes for one grumpy and tired Sunday. As we sat down in preparation for the Sacrament, Sarah was not to be consoled. She would not sit still nor would she stop screaming.

I looked at my wife and told her to stay seated. I took Sarah out of the congregation to the lobby. I held her numerous ways and let her walk around, but to no avail. The screaming and the discomfort of this little one would not cease.

Two weeks ago, my wife had brought a Kelty carrier. Sarah loved her Baby Bjorn, but she had outgrown it. She despises strollers, so her mother decided on the Kelty. They are for the outdoorsy, adventurous types. They look cool and they are designed to change the weight distrubution to your hips (as if my hips need more weight as it is). But the only change in weight I have noticed in this carrier is how much heavier it is than the Bjorn.

But Sarah loves the Kelty and naps in it, so it was time to see if the Kelty would help her rest. I took off my suitcoat, put Sarah in the Kelty and started to pace. After 10 minutes the silence came. I looked back as best I could, but it still took someone else to tell me she was napping.

As I carried my daughter, I thought of the Savior. Each of us caryy burdens far too heavy to shoulder alone. And He shoulders them. We do not always realize it, but he carries them for us.

And it brings peace.