You Just Never Know

 

I had a couple of cool experiences this week I want to share along with a recap of our trip up to Niagara Falls.

First as I was cleaning in the kitchen I turned on some conference talks and was struck by one in particular that I know I need to share in relief society next time I teach. It’s Elder Anderson’s Simply Beautiful-Beautifully Simple talk. He goes over two elements of the  the restored gospel:
1. “God’s work of salvation and exaltation—focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities.”
2. “The second element reminds us that the gospel is plain, precious, and simple.”

He then illustrates these elements with four unique stories of church members around the world putting into practice what it means to have divine responsibilities and see Christ’s gospel as plain, precious, and simple.

Each story illustrates one of the following principles of divinely inspired responsibilities:

1. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ

   2. Caring for those in need

   3. Inviting all to receive the gospel

   4. Uniting families for eternity


The first story is about a man named Jens from Denmark who followed a prompting to replace a utility room light bulb and was guided to save a drowning toddler.

The next story is about a ward and stake in Colombia who united together to build a new home for orphaned teenage children.

The third story is about a young man in Cape Verde named Cleiton who started returning to church and brought his family and friends with him. The ward Cleiton is in has over 35 active youth in it largely due to Cleiton’s example and influence.

The fourth story is about a woman in Ukraine named Lydia who got baptized several years ago, dove into family history work and she and her husband have found over 15,000 family names to do family history and temple work for.

I was so struck by these examples of faith but even more struck by the realization that these people are pretty ordinary people. If I’ve learned one thing from studying the Old Testament it is that God can take the most ordinary imperfect people and use them to do His work. I hope I can communicate to the sisters here that God can and will use them to accomplish His work.

Sometimes we read or hear stories that are included in talks in church or general conference and we might think. That’s an incredible story but nothing like that would ever happen to me. And that’s simply not true. That sounds like one of Satan’s lies. I think stories like this happen more than we realize. Sometimes we don’t get to see the full effects though.

Which leads to the next experience I want to share. I received a text from my relief society president in Bountiful this past week. I had texted back and forth with her several times when we lived there but because I served in Young Womens I only went to relief society a handful of times. However during one of those times I said something that had an impact on her and I didn’t realize it.

I had completely forgotten about it but after she reached out and asked about the quote I shared I remember the situation more clearly. It was a lesson taught by a cute elementary school teacher in the ward. I always love watching people teach and seeing their personality and life experience implemented into how they teach. For this woman who loves teaching children she decided to share a children's book with us as part of her teaching. It was a book about journeys and the ups and downs of life. It highlighted nature and animals and I remember part of it illustrated a desert we started talking about how there are times when we might feel alone and wandering in a desert or wilderness. It made me think of something my mission president’s wife Sister Pickett sent me in a message: “the Lord will make a garden out of this wilderness.” And then shared about how often in scriptures we read about people having to wander through wilderness in order to get to gardens or promised lands and it’s similar in our own lives.


 This sweet relief society president remembered hearing Sister Pickett’s quote but couldn’t quite remember the phrasing and asked if I would send it. It was such a sweet reminder to me about being an unexpected example and never knowing the impact our words and actions can have.

I reached out to Sister Pickett and let her know that her words blessed far more than she realized. That’s the most exciting part of this story I think, is that it wasn’t me that really made the difference it was something Sister Pickett said and it has touched more hearts than she realizes.

Sister Soutter’s text to me was such a beautiful reminder of we never know the good we do and the lives we impact. Sometimes we get a small glimpse and I really don’t know if there’s is a better feeling to know that we have made a positive difference in someone’s lives. Makes me think of the hymn that says “each life that touches ours for good reflects thine own great mercy Lord.” I think the following rewording also applies: each life that we touch for good reflects thine own great mercy Lord.


Looking forward to continuing to study that talk and discuss it in relief society next time I teach!

Then speaking of not knowing what will happen. The CMU Crew girls all got tickets to see Colbie Calliat in Ohio and we were planning on driving out together and making a quick weekend trip out of it. That plan got squashed when I checked my email one day and day Colbie had cancelled that tour date. We were bummed to hear it but I was also so glad I checked before we made the two hour drive to the concert venue. I would have been absolutely mortified to drive all that way expecting to see a show and then be told it was cancelled! It would probably have made for a good story but also an embarrassing one.

Luckily though Amanda is the Airbnb and trip planning queen and she and Tanner asked if we wanted to still do a quick roadtrip and head up to Niagara Falls and check that off our bucket list. The other couples had homework and deadlines and weren’t able to come so Jaden and I and Tanner and Amanda set off for Niagara together Friday morning.

It was such a funny whirlwind trip. First of all I don’t think any of us were prepared for how deserted and run down the town of Niagara is. The first house you see as you drive in is pretty much completely boarded up. We saw so many deserted homes and I don’t think it is just because we went in the dead of winter. When we got there we went straight to a little pub called The Griffon. I got a yummy grilled Caesar salad and some awesome sweet potato fries with honey butter sauce and Jaden and Tanner participated in the fish fry day and ordered some battered cod. From there we went to check out our Airbnb which was a little rough around the edges but suited our needs for just a quick overnight stay. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided we might as well go see the falls so we bundled up and drove over. To say it was cold is an understatement. I literally had three pairs of pants on and was grateful for every layer!!!

The falls were beautiful and although our waiter at the pub was shocked to hear we were there at this time of year to see the falls it was pretty cool to experience then partially frozen over and there was next to no one there so we joked that we rented the whole place for ourselves.

We met some funny workers, one guy who took us down an elevator to the lower area to view the falls was especially funny. After you exit the elevator you walk down a long tunnel to get to the viewing area. As we walked out we passed a four wheeler that had a toy baby strapped to the front of it and we all looked at each other like what on earth? I finally spoke up and asked the guy “so what’s the story behind the baby on the four wheeler?” Somewhat nervous about the answer as we walked down a dark tunnel… he said that they find all sorts of toys, baby pacifiers, passports, keys etc. at the bottom of the falls and that for a while when they’d find binkies the workers would attach them to the four wheeler so when they found the baby toy it was “only natural,” to include it as well. I was glad to hear it was just a funny work prank/inside joke. He took a picture of our group and then we went back up to the top of the falls to some other lookout points before deciding we were too frozen to go any further so we circled back to the car.

 

 

 

We had heard from a lot of people that the Canada side actually has the best views but unfortunately Jaden doesn’t have a passport, (we need to fix that) pbut that didn’t stop us. We dropped him back at the Airbnb and Tanner, Amanda and I set off across the bridge and through customs to see the Canadian side. However that quickly backfired because upon arriving at the entrance we were asked to provide proof of a negative COVID test. Probably should have seen that coming but there was no signage so we briefly went through the gate only to flip around and make a U-Turn to go back to the US. I was really hoping for a Canada stamp on my passport and to say that Jaden and I were in two different countries for a little bit but it was only for about 30 seconds.

 

 

 

 

After returning back to the Airbnb to Jaden’s laughter at our rejection from Canada we found a Mexican place to eat dinner at and picked up some doughnuts at the “famous” doughnut place that was recommended on Airbnb. Then we hung out and played games and went to bed. The next morning Amanda had to work for a little bit so after she got done we packed off found a diner for a late breakfast and made our way home. Jade had to be back to teach Elders Quorum so we made it back Saturday evening and were able to go to church on Sunday. 

 

 

 

 

It was such a fun weekend and truly not what we expected at all. Like I said in the beginning you just never know the kind of influence you have or the way life will change. You just have to do what my mom always says and: “enjoy the journey!”


Peaches

• Listening to an awesome talk
• Officially finishing my first block of semester in my MBA program
• Playing games with friends
• Having amazing friends
• Hearing from Sister Soutter
•  Feeling so grateful we didn’t accidentally drive to Ohio for a cancelled concert
• Seeing Niagara Falls
• Taking advantage of living out here
• Being amazed at my willingness to go on road trips. I used to hate them so much 
• Hayes was able to go home after making amazing progress over the weekend. So grateful for the faith and prayers of so many that have been part of his journey. We love and miss him so much!
  

Pits

• Getting rejected from Canada
• Feeling cold to the bone
• Finding out Colbie’s concert was cancelled
• Hearing about the war in Ukraine

Lessons Learned

• You really never know the influence you can have or the way plans can change for the better
• Niagara Falls is a really run down place but visiting in the winter is actually magical,,, and freezing