The first leg was to Afton Wyoming to stay a few days with my cousin Chad and his wife, Bethany. They moved there a few years ago and have built a beautiful bunkhouse, that will be used as an air BandB. They have also started their over 8000 sq ft home they will live in once it is finished. They have also bought 3 of the store properties in downtown Afton, where they are in the process of making one, a frozen yogurt/pastry shop, two, a Wyoming country store with high end shirts, bags, and accessories for sale, and then the last, will be a 3 bedroom Air B and B hotel type place to rent out. All of it is gorgeous!!
The weather was to die for, which I knew would be the hardest part of this whole trip. I was HATING Texas weather in the month of August and September - just SOOO HOT. But everywhere we went on our trip was in the high 70's low 80's and perfect. Afton has a temple there also - and I have other cousins that have moved out there also - Wendee and Scott - went to their place too. Another cousin, Owen, and his wife Aimee (with cancer), came up to Chad's for a day, and so we were able to visit and play games with them also. The whole stay was just so enchanting - along with their pleadings and begging for us to move up there by them, made it very difficult for me to leave happy. And I knew it would get harder and harder as the trip went along too - as we would be seeing Idaho AND Utah.
The 2 day drive to Wyoming was a life changer for me. Lately, my private time spent with Del has been the best. Our discussions have been gospel filled, awe inspiring and full of love for me. He was telling me of some sacred experiences he has been having and then was encouraging me to make some changes in my life that I would want to make in order to be able to experience miracles that I was desiring. He has always been an early morning scripture reading, gospel studying prayerfully seeking miracle kind of guy. I am NOT a morning person. I'm not even a faithful scripture reader. But I am now. I made the commitment right then and there, in his truck and during our first day discussion, that I was going to make the change from that day forward. Getting out of bed and immediately dropping to my knees has been a hard habit to start. It doesn't come naturally for me until now, with a new and different perspective as to WHY I'm doing it and to WHOM I am talking has made a world of difference. I have changed my mindset of talking to a Heavenly Father that I have no relationship with to now, looking forward to discussing with Him, my desires and plans for the day - my goals for the day - things I want to do and be better at - ask for His help, and then report to Him at the end of the day how things went. It has been so enlightening to see and feel a difference in how I FEEL about Him now. I think and turn to Him more often during my day, just to confirm what I am doing and being able to maintain the communication with Him in my choices. I'm more joyful in my day - happier in my circumstances and try to appreciate what I DO have instead of wishing for something different or better. It truly was and has been, the beginning of a new part of my life.
So grateful for Del, who has always been the perfect example for me and patient enough to wait for the 40 years it has taken to see some desired changes in his wife - me. All without making me feel inferior, insufficient, lazy or lacking in any way. Only done with love and encouragement - and promises of miracles to come. Truly a blessing.
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