Well this has been an interesting week in Rozet! We had a major hailstorm pass through on Monday. It was BAD. I loaded up the kids in the suburban and I looked up at the sky and said, "holy cow, those clouds are wreaking some serious havoc a few miles down the road. We better hurry before that storm hits hard!" So, we drove on to Gillette. Got our shopping done and on the way home, the black clouds were gone, but the wind hit us hard and I had to slow down on the interstate to 50 just to stay on the road, because it was blowing HARD. I know now, that the gusts where up to 100 mph!!! But I just thought that it was wind and that it blew the storm clouds away. I had no idea the HAIL it dropped in its path shortly before. I was fixing dinner and my friend Kristin Jones called and asked us if Brandon could come help her. She had just gotten home and her kitchen windows had all been blown out. Her basement was flooded. And her kitchen was full of glass and water. So B rushed over. I fed the kids and loaded up their bikes so they could ride while I also helped clean. We learned that storm dropped tennis ball to softball sized hail just miles past our house, and in Moorcroft. So many people lost windows in homes, cars, garages...Many things were ruined. I was so thankful that it had skipped our home. But felt so bad for all of our friends that it hit! Needless to say, FHE was on service and helping our fellow beings.
Then in Gillette it was the NHSFR all week. Nacona's oldest daughter Nalynn was in the barrels and poles. She did AWESOME! She ended up taking 2nd in the barrels and winning reserve champion. She took 16th in poles over all too. And she was rookie of the year for the girls! Pretty awesome for anyone, especially more so because she is only a freshman! So we got to go to Linda's and have a bbq with Ace and Timber, Frank and Emily, Chae and his kids, Glenda Kay and Tom, Nelda Rae and Jerry, Nacona and Will. And of course all the kids. It was so fun. And it was fun for Brandon too. He felt like he fit right in. I loved chatting with Timber. She is such an amazing mom and person. So glad I got to know her more. Plus her little family is so stinking cute! Lots of fun!
Today at church Bro. Williams gave a talk that really touched me. I wanted to put up the jist of it. I am sure I dont have it all correct, but I loved the stories so much. One was as follows:
A woman, we will call her Marge, and her husband, lets name him Bill, were sitting down to breakfast one morning. They were watching a new family move in across the street. The next morning Marge was watching this young mother hang some clothes on the line. Marge commented to Bill, "she really needs some different detergent. Or someone needs to teach her how to wash clothes better. Those are so dirty!" Bill didnt say anything. He looked up from the paper and grunted. This conversation went on for a few weeks with Marge always saying that her clothes were still so dirty. Well one morning Marge sat down to breakfast and mentioned to Bill, "wow, someone must have shown her how to wash clothes. They are so clean!" Bill looks up at her and says, "I got up early this morning and washed OUR windows!" I love that! Really makes you think!
The other story goes like this - ooh I found the whole story on line so here it is!
Mr Miller's Grocery Store in Idaho - Red Marbles
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?
'H'lo, Mr Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus 'admirin' them peas. They sure look good.
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?
'No, Sir. Jus 'admirin' them peas.
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr Miller
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?
'All I got's my prize marble here.
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked
'Not zackley but almost.
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr Miller told the boy
'Sure will. Thanks Mr Miller.
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
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Years later Mr Miller died
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.Mr Miller - Inspirational story
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho .
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles
The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
I love love love this story. I hope that my life will be remembered for kind deeds. For service. For love like Mr. Miller had shown!
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