Ben's Mission to Toronto

 From Ben - 'Heaven's Light" The core moments of this week are... We were able to help a less-active lady's husband heave-ho some wood into their house for the winter.  Elder Hartman was the guy who brought me the wood in a wheelbarrow, and I was the guy that launched the wood through the small window, and had to bend over to do so.  It took about an hour to get all the wood in, and I had been stooping for about that entire time.  It was at that moment that I realized what happens to someone's back if they launch wood through a small window, while stooping over, for an entire hour.  My lower back just about gave up the ghost, and I came to understand the expression of what "back-breaking" work meant. It was awesome to be able to help this Sister though.  During the heave-hoeing I was able to befriend her 4 and 2 year old daughters. They were so adorable. They even helped pick up a couple logs of wood and hand them to me. The two year old had this unbeliev...

From Mom - All Things Considered Dear Elder Smith, On Thanksgiving Monday, after a lovely weekend, I was heading to bed and got hit with a wicked headache. I could tell it was going to be a miserable one, so I caved immediately and got back up and walked into the kitchen to retrieve some Advil. The house was completely dark so the northern lights lit up the sky through our window like a dancing green river All things considered, I was grateful for that headache, otherwise I would have missed the lights completely. I called to Dad and the girls and we stayed out in the back deck for a short time and marvelled.  *** On Wednesday, I went for a walk with Coco and she was attacked by Novah in front of our neighbour’s place. Novah got a good hold of Coco’s back end and started shaking. I was able to get the big dog off by grabbing her by the collar and kicking her, then carrying Coco home to assess the damage. Mia cleaned her up and she stayed in her crate for a day. She’s walking around...

From Dad - Happy Thanksgiving!! Dear Ben, I’m grateful for many things but none more so than my family. You are each so important to me. I hope you feel our love and gratitude over the miles.  This week there has been lots to be grateful for. Your mom is a shining example to me of faithful service and ministering to others. She especially serves our family and drove many miles this week.  Yesterday we drove many miles to get to Cardston. I was so grateful for the opportunity to go to the temple and join the Bectell’s and G&G Smith to share the experience with Lindy going through the temple for the first time.  It was wonderful to be in the temple and connect with family on both sides of the veil. Grandma Smith came up to me and shared that she felt like your uncle David and Aunt Sariah were there. It made so much sense that our family members on the other side of the veil would attend family events especially covenant events.  In Elders quorum  we discussed ...

 From Mom - Best Laid Schemes: In 1785, a Scottish poet named Robert Burns wrote a lengthy piece entitled “To A Mouse: On Turning up Her Nest With the Plow.” I studied this poem in an English class 30 years ago and it’s settled comfortably in my brain as a masterpiece. It might be because he writes in the country vernacular for the poor people of Scotland (I can barely understand it). It might be because it’s meant to be read out loud in a strong Scottish brogue; but I think I love it most for this one stanza … The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men      Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,       For promis’d joy! Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me! The present only toucheth thee: “Gang aft agley” means “often goes awry.”  He compares the lives of humans and mice and thinks that mice are better off because they only worry about the present, whereas we worry about the future. And it’s true we humans create expectations in our ...