Taking things for granted

October 19,2014
I have decided that most, if not all, of us take things for granted. Elder Taggart and I have decided there will be things after our mission we will never take for granted again. We had a whole conversation about the wonder of a washing machine and a dryer---in our own living space---that will not require quarters or monitoring. We unlock four doors, walk outside and passed three apartments  to get to our washing facility. One night last week we had intended to do laundry but we were out of quarters. Bills in your wallet can't get the clothes washed. Ah--- the wonder of a laundry room within the walls of your own home!

Marina bore her testimony last Sunday about the wonder of our libraries. She is from the Soviet Union turned Ukraine and has been here about 20 years. She has a PHD in physics. As a little girl, her library contained only books of science and history with a twist of propaganda. No novels, no books of poetry or religion. No children's books that could take you away, like Treasure Island. I love Marina. I love her laugh and the way she talks and her two sons (10 & 12) who can't leave each other alone on the church pew. Books have always been a love of mine but I can't have a library card here in Glenview. Since we live in unincorporated Glenview, it would cost me $350 per year to have a library card. Thrift stores abound in good books and other than scriptures, I have little time to read here anyway. But America has libraries---thousands of them--- full of every kind of reading a person could want. Most of us take that for granted. My library within walking distance in American Fork will be seeing a lot of me when I get home.

All of us have families. They may vary as to size and location but we all have a family. A family should be our safe place, our refuge from the world. Lately we have had missionaries dread going home because that is not their reality. A couple of these missionaries are the only members of the church in their family. Parents have disowned them or told them they can come home if they deny their testimonies. For 18 to 24 months they have been out here testifying of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of the true church. They become converted themselves. They watch the miracle of change taking place in dozens of lives as they teach people here and as those people embrace Jesus in their own lives. I guess I took for granted my childhood home where I was always safe being who I was. It makes me want to come home and open my home to all the unwanted returned missionaries.

I chuckled at pieces of mail this week. A grandma sent a letter with an Easter seal instead of a stamp and it arrived. We received 4 Halloween boxes from a mother of one of our elders--one for her son and 3 for elders who never receive anything from home. Another mother of one of our sisters sends letters to two of our sisters and two of our elders who never get mail. Such a little thing you may say.....but this mother has 9 children and three of them are on missions right now. She doesn't take for granted someone else will make sure all the missionaries get a letter. She is proactive and somehow finds the time to write those letters.

We had elders to dinner on Monday night. We had sisters to dinner on Tuesday night. We fixed soup and thought nothing of it. Later we received a note from the sisters. " we were having an off day and then we came to your home where we felt loved and the Spirit so strongly. By coming to your home set the tone for the rest of the night. After dinner we taught our investigator. Missionaries have been working with him for about a year. Because of your love and example to us we were able to teach him in the right frame of mind. He committed to baptism Nov 1st. Thank you for all you do! Thank you for being my grandparents away from home."  I took for granted I was just giving them a bowl of soup. We often forget what is felt in our homes by others.

I took for granted when these Elders and Sisters complete their missions they are done with us. Not so. I received a Facebook chat from a sister who went home last transfer. She wondered if my grandson, who I collect stamps for, would like her whole stamp collection? She lived in Lehi and he lives in Draper.....why not??? I think we will stay connected to all of these missionaries.

We attended a baptism last night. Never take for granted your membership in this church. This young man has been on a journey, first searching for a wife, then a church. He married a less-active Mormon. They were both at a cross-road. The week he was to fast and pray about his decision to be baptized or not, he came down with a horrible flu. He decided the decision could not be postponed, so he fasted during the flu. She also had to decide if she was willing to commit to church attendance and never look back to inactivity. Never take for granted the Light of Christ you radiate once you commit to following Him. It is real. He was baptized and now their sights are set on a temple sealing a year from now.

Last. Never take your friends for granted. Yesterday I jumped in the car with my best friend and companion for our P-day adventure. We stopped at Dunkin donuts for hot chocolate and a donut and then drove to a forest preserve for breakfast and a photo safari. Both armed with cameras we tried to capture the beautiful fall leaves.  We won't be here another fall to enjoy them so we wanted to capture the moment. I capture many moments with this friend of mine. We try not to ever take our time together for granted.

We love and miss you,
Sister Taggart