What happened to May?

Here we are mid June fast on the horizon and winter upon our door step. I love the cold weather for everything except arthritis :) . The pumpkins from our orchard are plentiful along with the passionfruit whilst i begin to rebuild my new vege patch. I transplanted a tomato from our little farm and am joyed to see just yesterday the new green shoots of new life after a great many weeks where it struggled alone in the elements......I couldn't help but liken it to life in my mind,however we are not alone we are blessed to have a much more - the presence of God in our lives!
During May I had both my Mum and my Father- InLaw (Pa) visit. It was a busy time of tourist things and sewing things, jam making with our home grown 'rosellas' but best of all my lovely hubby progressed in Priesthood so now he can give us blessings as a family amongst many things!Very special! I kind of feel blessed just thinking about it...having more than just a main stream typical bloke(which he is) for a husband and a father is worth every challenge to become all that we can become. Having all living 3 generations of males gathered during all this made it all the more memorable.
One thing our recent branch conference taught me was "No man is an Island - it has a ripple effect!....Let your ripple be for good not bad" Elder Dirk Smibert June 2010
I have reflected on things that have strengthened me through trials in my life .....and without listening them all (as everyone has them)...I have come to know it is in the trials we grow 'not just in the good times! So true was this revelation to me I was reminded that often in the pitfalls of my life I had moved further and further away from God in my life...maybe i skipped Church for a week or two before it became a habit, maybe i stopped with prayers and reading my scriptures daily until that became a habit........I know that God never left me- I left God during these times. I am glad that..."there is no habit,no addiction,no rebellion,no transgression, no offense.......exempted from forgiveness"Elder Boyd Packer
Well, as a family we began to try to improve in our daily prayer times and scripture study as a family.......i share this not as an advertisement of "We are so GOOD"...quite the opposite "churches are full of sinners not saints- that's why we go!"We are just simple people trying to live a better life in these times when so much in our world is the opposite to good. We are blessed to have found many like minded people at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
ok back to why i am telling you this - a great website which i have a link to on this page 'scriptures4kids' is holding a BOM scripture reading challenge for families...now most people have a bible..........well if you read as a family 8 pages a day I know your family will be blessed.....if you wish to read the Book of Morman which is a book written many years after the bible(new testament) ( a bit like the time gap between the old testament -like Moses times stories and the new testament - Jesus times stories) i know that if you read it the Holy Spirit will reveal to you that it is in fact a true record of God's Word and promise available to us......the Book of Morman is illustrated on 'scriptures4kids website' or if you would like a free copy you can order it through any Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -Day saint Church or buy a copy through Deseret bookstore = DeseretBook.com
One thing about this Church when we joined 12 months ago is I was blown away at how many kids and young teens came along to Church with their families....not just to be a spectator at Church but how active they are in all Church activities. It is not a Church for the faint hearted- it is based on the life and teachings of Christ so - I guess like him we too are not meant to be passive spectators but active participants . All ministy is laity , all unpaid,some say we are conservative- but we prefer to think of it as "Being In the world not Of Worldly things" i hope that makes sense.
Ok so i have rambled today, what can I say...but May came and went but I know if we plant spiritual seeds in our lives that great things will grow and bring 'fruit' in our lives and family. Looking forward to that harvest whilst labouring in the trial of planting and change..........we begin again to read our Scriptures and to grow stronger as a family and individuals. Happy Gardening to you one and all!