Sand Castles

McKinley and I built a castle in the sand

An excerpt from My Journey From Darkness to Light

by Patricia Potts

As a young girl I once built a sand castle during a camping trip to Bear Lake. It was coming along nicely with a tower, a mote and even little flags when a big bully came along and smashed it. I cried and yelled many a protest, but to no avail. The bully simply proceeded down the beach as he kicked down other sandcastles in his path.
I was so hurt at his meanness that I didn’t even attempt to rebuild another castle. “After all,” I reasoned, “he’ll probably just come along and ruin it again.” The hours passed and soon it was time to leave the lake. I had missed my chance to rebuild my castle and experience the joy it might have brought. Although it was natural for me to resent the interruption in what I had considered a good productive activity, my choice to place blame only kept me from rebuilding.

An Ounce of Salt Clay

For Family Home Evening my daughter Cindy made clay so we could fashion an adobe hut village and talk about the unity of families. After the lesson, I was busy cleaning up after dinner and didn’t notice our grandchildren 4 year old Michael or 1 year old Joshua who were out on the deck pushing salt clay into the webbing of our lounge chair.

When I went outside, I noticed two soft saucer sized clay circles pushed into the webbing. I smiled at their creativity and made a mental note to clean up the mess.

Several days later I began cleaning up the hardened clay that clung relentlessly to the lounge chair. My 10 minute job turned into over an hour. Cindy joined me and it ended up taking an hour total.

When I finally had the chair and the deck scrubbed I thought of how easy it would have been to clean the salt clay when I first discovered the circles on the lounge chair or better yet, put the clay away after we finished our adobe village project in the kitchen area.

So it is with my relationships. I am much wiser if apply prevention through habits like having planning sessions or discuss misunderstandings right away rather than find my feelings of hurt, resentment and fear push themselves into the webbing of my heart hardening and embittering it.

Father in Heaven, please help me remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of salt clay.

The Other Side of the Finish Line

Dan and his friend Ron

Heidi, Dan and Ron

Dan and Heidi both ran in a half marathon near Logan. It was fun to make signs and cheer with my grandchildren McKinley and Ireland and my son-in-law Jason. I like being on the cheering side of the finish line. Way to go guys!!

Rocks in our Sprinkler Trench-Edits in our Book

The sky was black and full of summer stars. Our sprinkler trench was shallow and full of rocks as numerous as the stars. The faint smell of hard earned dirt offered relief from the back breaking work we were engaged in trying to bring water to our barren yard. When we began the project the ground looked submissive and ready to give way to clean white pvc pipes, but little did we know the rocks that lie beneath

Now, decades later as I flipped through My Journey from Darkness to Light, orange and pink corrections on what appeared to be a book ready to go to print reminded me that I couldn’t judge the readiness of a book by it’s cover. Although family and friends had come together to weed and prepare it our daughter, Heidi and son, Joseph uncovered 26 more corrections!

“No!” moaned as I tossed the book on my bed and stood with hands on hips. “I don’t want another delay!”

Then as if the earthy smell of dirt emerged from my senses I thought of our trench. I was reminded that I could focus on the rocks, the dirt or the stars.

Sighing I began accepting that my first 250 copies would just have to wait another 4-6 weeks.

I want to thank all you who have supported me in My Journey from Darkness to Light. With this latest revision I believe the stones will be minimal and the stars more numerous.

OUR NEW ARRIVAL!!!

On Aug. 21, 2008th there was a white package lying on our front porch in the morning and I wondered if it could be her, I had waited for her arrival for nearly a year. I dashed out to pick the square, white, soft package up and bring it to the kitchen. Fetching kitchen scissors I placed the package on the table and cut the side open.

I squealed as I withdrew my new book, “My Journey from Darkness to Light.” I had dreamed of this day for so long that I hardly knew how to celebrate. In the end, I held her in my arms and went out on the porch to danced a bit!

Upon our approval, Amazon will ship our order of 250 copies and it will then be available for just $10.00 through amazon within a few weeks. We hope you all send in your orders and enjoy My Journey from Darkness to Light.

What a beautiful, welcome arrival!!

That is Something You Can Do For Yourself Mom!

“Grandma, can you get me a drink?” four year old, blond headed Michael asked.

“I think that is something you can do for yourself” I responded. Remember, there are cups by the frig and water through the door of the frig. You should be able to reach both of them.”

My response to Michael rang clearly in my mind this morning when I asked my genius daughter, Heidi, to post a blog for me. Her delayed response was “Mom, I think it would be good for you to do that yourself!” she responded knowing full well that she had typed detailed instructions for me and emailed them to me.

I was given a dose of my own philosophy! I guess I’d better watch the words I say around my grandkids. I have a feeling it will come back to haunt me!

And so, I did post my own blog and it does feel good to “do it by myself”.

When was the last time you were reminded that you could "do it by yourself?"

Links of Love

Links of Love
By Patricia Potts

How does a loving Father communicate to his children? Sometimes through links of love. I believe that there are times Father puts a series of events in our path that lead us to greater peace. The two events I want to share were fortunate events. I know there have been other links of love that contained what I thought was unfortunate.

Decades ago when I was 17 I took guitar lessons in the front room of a neighbor I loved it. It was like breathing fresh air for me and I spent many hours practicing. I also imagined what it would be like to be a guitar teacher. Three months following my first lesson I was teaching guitar through community education. I continued teaching privately and when I was 19 Dan and I were engaged. I showed my diamond to my student, Shelly, and she told me her grandparents had a downstairs apartment that they rented for free to couples who would help clean and do yard work. That link turned out to be a giant one for Dan and I as he finished school, worked part time and I went through difficult pregnancies. That connection made it possible for Dan to finish school without debt.

Now, nearly 35 years later another link connects. One of my guitar students had to drop out because of other conflicts so I decided to put an ad looking for new guitar students on KSL.com. My ad was answered by a Becca, a friendly, delightful woman. During our first lesson she somehow mentioned that she really enjoyed going to moon lake. “Sounds like fun!” I agreed then wrote “moon lake” on my ponder page to think and pray about it. I thought that maybe next summer we could go.

The next day I was talking to my friend Darla, and I mentioned moon lake, suggesting that we go up for a writers. Although we aren’t generally very spontaneous, before the day was over Darla and I discussed the possibility with our husbands, Dan and Doug suggesting that they join us for fishing at the end of the week. We cleared our schedules and within 5 days were driving to Moon Lake. I know God was aware that Darla was wrestling with home and professional pressures, I was having a difficult time relating to my son, Doug had been under pressure at work and needed to spend time with his new fishing boat and Dan was on his final training for a half marathon and wanted a beautiful spot to run.

I marvel at how God orchestrated these links of love that met each of our needs as we felt his love though quiet time enjoying shimmering lakes, sheltering trees and healing hills. I wonder how many other links he has given me that have brought me to where I am. Maybe it’s time I start noticing them more.