A Parable of the Catfish

There was a man, who like most men, wishes to care for his family in all ways. And like most men then, money was tight. One day he decided to go bass fishing and he needed God's help. He prayed and prayed that God would provide for him fish to feed his family. His family prayed. His church leader prayed. There was faith. The morning to fish was selected, and this man was fishing before sunrise on the local lake. After two hours of casting to no avail, additional prayers were made. Moments later, a fish struck the lure. A fish was on. It fought hard and it seemed big. The fisherman was excited. While bringing the fish to shore, he uttered a prayer of thanksgiving in his heart. His family would eat. Upon seeing the large fish for the first time his heart sank. It was a catfish. The fisherman thought, "What luck, a trash fish. I wouldn't eat that." The fish was spared and thrown back into the lake. Immediately, the fisherman recollected the prayers that were offered on his family's behalf. He began to think of the recipes that he had heard of using catfish. He suddenly realized that the Lord had answered his prayers, yet it was not what he wanted. He wanted bass, not catfish. The Lord provided the fish and the fisherman threw it back. Tears came to the fisherman's eyes. On his knees, at the edge of the lake, the fisherman begged for forgiveness and vowed to never throw back another fish. He continued to fish for another hour and a half. Nothing. Not even a nibble. The fisherman left the lake that day with heavy heart, but lessoned learned.

How often do we receive answers to prayers and determine that the answer was not good enough? Have we ever thrown back the fish?

This lesson hit me very hard today. Very hard.





Today...I was that fisherman.

Bishop's Fireside, Bishop's Cottage Meeting

When I was a young boy, perhaps five or six, I remember going with mom and dad to a Cottage Meeting (Bishop's Fireside) at Sister Helen Holt's home. She lived on a small lane and of course had a ditch in front of her home. At the end of the meeting one of the attendees backed out of the driveway, turning too sharp and dropped their front wheel into the ditch. They cam back in and requested assistance. I have a very clear memory of the priests going out and picking up the front of the car out of the ditch and getting them on their way.

50 years later, Bishop's home, Bishop's Fireside just concluded. Brother Ritchie backed down the driveway and went left off the drive, right close to the road. The middle of his car was literally sitting on the edge of the driveway. Front wheels close to coming off and the back wheels also nearly in the air. Enter the priesthood. Priests, Teachers and of course the strong High Priests. Sure enough, we picked up (not all the way into the air but enough to get it off the asphalt) the back of the car and pushed it back onto the drive.

Just wanted to share this non-coincidence. Love you all.

And so it begins...

Ella, yes our sweet seven year old Ella received her first marriage proposal. It came from a little boy down the street(Jace). It was sweetly prefaced by secret notes left in the mailbox and a few visits to see if Ella could play. I " know you're all waiting for her answer...full of wisdom and thought she said "maybe."

it's about time

ALRIGHT guys. So, of course you all know school has ended and blah blah blah. But Mom tells me all the time I need to blog about it. So here are some accomplishments for my Freshman year at Brigham Young University.

1. I'm done. (technically still a Freshman credit wise, but SH! don't tell anyone. I'm not a Freshman. I paid my time.)

2. I passed ALL my classes. NO failing!
2a. Biology = C- = REALLY happy me. I could retake it, but ... yeah... probably not. Maybe later... if it seems to be important.
2b. Grades: I don't know how much you care about my specific class grades, but I would like to share for 2nd semester.

American Heritage: B
Principle of Biology: C-... you know what? I passed. I passed with better than a D! Cuz my teacher rounds up. :D
Intro to Advertising: A-
Social Dance, Beginning: A
University Chorale: A
The Book of Mormon: A

3. I ended the year with a 3.36 GPA. Biology brought it down a bit... but I don't think it's too shabby.

4. I made some really great friends and got to know some Utah family! :o Cousins, Grandma and Grandpa, JUSTIN AND JODI AND MICHELLE AND BRYCE!! And their lovely families. Everyone who wasn't there should be immensely jealous. We had amazing times.
4a. Grandma and Grandpa Workman are HILARIOUS! I should put up some more quotes. ... Maybe I've put them all up. I don't know....

4b. SPEAKING of UTAH family... EMILY SHEPPARD IS ENGAGED! Wedding is August 17th.
and did you all know Jeff Roberts is engaged also?? YES. YES they both are. His wedding is in June.
these are 2 of my best friends. Hannah and Martha.


5. I officially still have no major. Accomplishment? Not really... but we're getting closer! New ideas are around all the time. I've decided I don't think I can NOT do something in music. It seems so disheartening to think of not having anything music. Now I know that doesn't mean I totally would have to cut music out if I didn't major in it because of course it's everywhere and there are may things to do with it without a degree. Anyways. Catch my drift or not, I'll let you know what's up when I make that decision. :D

6. I went on 2 blind dates. 1 first semester, 1 second semester. Funny enough I knew the 2nd one. He was in my dance class! They were fun...
6b. I went on 3? other dates. all within the last.... 4 weeks of school? Slightly frustrating? Quite possibly. But great much fun nonetheless! 2 with the same guy - he asked once I asked once. You all know. The other was with aNOTHER person from my dance class. Very fun!

7. I participated in DanceSport. I expected to blog earlier about this. It was delightful. My partner and I competed in Swing and we placed somewhere between 16 and 25. We were eliminated the round before the finals. I broke my shoes. It was awesome. I took a picture. And I still used my shoes for 2 more dance tests and threw them away when I could stick my finger through the bottom and touch my foot. :D

8. And I grew up a little bit. What? Did I say that? Not much, I promise. I go home and I instantly revert back to poor little girl that needs her mommy everyday... oh wait... I called her everyday anyways. :) It's fun to have some freedom.

9. I gained a much stronger testimony of the Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and the gospel. My Book of Mormon class this semester was quite helpful in that as well as my ward. Which I eventually learned to quite love and enjoy!

10. I'm scared for next semester because I still don't know what path I'm going on, but I'm going to BYU and that's more than I knew at the end of 1st semester. And it's going to be great!
10b. this is just cuz I forgot. I had a job ALL year long. It had it's ups and downs, but overall it was a pretty dang great job. I even got to use a radio sometimes. I felt SUPER important then. :)

Now thanks for reading! I really love you all so much and I'm so glad to have been able to spend time with all of you. I feel so amazingly blessed to have such a wonderful family as you all. I think about it all the time and I just can't imagine how it worked out, but I'm so grateful it did. We're all SO different, but somehow we all mesh just perfectly when we get together. (for short amounts of time...) :D GOLLY I LOVE YOU GUYS! Have a fantastic day night evening morning life!

Mother's Day

I think Mother's Day is a rather complex holiday. Somehow I think that "Mother" is an understated example of all that we appreciate on this fine day. It's like righteous pride—we know when we feel it, but we don't have a word for it. On a day like today, I'm definitely grateful for my mother, but also for my wife, my sisters, my wife's mother, and women everywhere who make this world the joy that it is. I'd say it's a celebration of women, but all too often I am reminded that woman doesn't mean the same thing as it always has, and therefore, I think it remains too broad a focus. As you see, there is not single spotlight on which to shine a day like today and I am stymied.

Now that I've rambled through my thoughts on the matter, I believe I have come to an apt solution, a renaming of the day that I will preface with the words of President Hinckley: "Woman is God’s supreme creation . . . Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth.”

I have come to the conclusion that, to me, Mother's Day cannot be simply a celebration of mothers, or an attempt to make women feel special, regardless of their station, but it is, in its essence, an opportunity to celebrate, honor, and glorify womanhood.

As I sat through quite a nice sacrament meeting today, I pondered on the traits of glorious womanhood exemplified by the women in my life that I celebrate here today.

This one is feisty. She suffers long, and is busy in good works all the day long. She compromises for no one, and defends her sacred charges without hesitation and without regret. She serves endlessly and has a special ability to know what people need, sometimes before they even recognize it themselves.

This one is tranquil. She faces the world head on, but with joy every moment. She brings peace into the perilous situations, and never settles for something good when she can have something better. She is patient and kind, and has no guile.

Of all my sisters, I think this is the one with whom I have the most in common. This is one earnest and sincere, never hesitating and ever vigilant. She is aware, both learned and teachable, and glories in knowledge and truth.

This one is in the dawn of her womanhood, having practiced and patiently learned from those around her. She is sincere, earnest, and full of love. She envies not, but understand her own role in her life and in the lives of others. She desires only the best and is willing to sift through the rubble to find it as she becomes the woman she wants to be.

This one is is the light of my every day. She is strong, tenacious, and never, ever compromises on the important things. She is close to the spirit, and understands, better than most around her, the role of a woman in our Father's plan. She is steadfast in keeping the commandments, and patient with those who aren't. She is valiant in her callings and glories in motherhood. One of our favourite sayings is that she's a gentle mama bear until someone crosses her cubs.

This one is my mom. She is the woman who patiently, lovingly, serenely guided me through my ridiculous life until the previous woman could pick up and fix the rest. She is serene, full of peace and joy, and, as I've learned as an adult, opinionated in all the right ways. It is curious to me that for so many years, I never knew what my mom thought about insignificant things, but I always knew where she stood on the big issues. One of the great joys of my adulthood has been the opportunity to know my mother as a person rather than as a mother. She's a great mom, but she's a dynamite woman, and a pleasure every moment. I believe she is the very embodiment of Proverbs 31, for truly strength and honor are her clothing, she opens her mouth with wisdom, but eats not the bread of idleness. Perhaps most importantly, her children rise up and call her blessed, for so great is her influence upon them, that their lives are rich and full because they are the people she taught them to be.

Women in my life: I hope this is a day in which you feel the true wonder and beauty of your womanhood. Though it is an inadequate felicitation, Happy Mother's Day, beautiful women.

Chloeism

Ethan lost a tooth.

Chloe said "I want to see the gap in your hole!"

- Posted from my iPhone4

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