Cares of the world

Today I read an article about a woman who escaped from a long term capture under ISIS authority. I actually didn't even finish reading it, because her story was so disturbing, horrific, and heart wrenching. She watched her family be tortured and killed, and then was repeatedly tortured and abused by her captors for months. Those people who do such things are barbarians, and it is hard for me to think that we live in a world where such evil exists and often reigns. 

I'm not sure how to respond, what to do, or how to feel when I read such things. 

I live in a gloriously happy little bubble, I know. And I am so grateful for the stability and serenity that surrounds me and my family -- and always has surrounded me. I have felt so blessed, protected and guided by God my whole life. 

That said, I do also feel compelled to know what is going on in the world around me. And so I read, I watch, and I study. And I find myself surrounded by the stories like the one I described above. When I hear these things, the compassion in me seizes up; I fear, I sorrow, I weep. And the mother in me worries deeply about the future my children must face. How am I to prepare them? How am I to shelter and protect them, while also getting them ready to deal with whatever life throws their way?

There is a part of me that just can't reconcile my fortunate, prosperous circumstances with the horrors and heartaches that belong to so many others. I believe in God. I believe he loves all of his children, and watches over them. I have felt his blessings in my life in inmeasurable ways. But so many others seem to have so little, live such hard lives, and face such personal tragedies.

Yesterday in Sunday school, we discussed the parable of the sower. What does that have to do with anything I've just written? Well, one of the phrases struck me as we were discussing this parable: Jesus explained that the seeds that fell among thorns represented those who were sidetracked by the deceitfulness of riches and the "cares of the world."

Our Sunday school teacher actually talked a lot about the riches and the pleasures of this world, and how easily we get tempted and sidetracked. But I silently reflected on what "the cares of the world" are to me. These heartbreaking tales of others lives are heavy burdens – – cares that way me down sometimes with so much helplessness and sadness. As I pondered this particular wording from this parable, in a figurative sense, I was able to see how my parylizing reaction to the atrocities and calamities around me are like the thorns swallowing up the good seeds of faith in my heart. While I weep and fear and wonder where God is in the lives of these people who are hurting, I am failing to recognize, respect and be grateful for the Lord's unwavering hand in my own life. He is there; He is real; and I feel His presence constantly in my life. There is a fine line between compassion and what I call "borrowing trouble." I want to work harder to stay on the right side of this line.

But I also hope with all my heart that God is hearing and answering the prayers of those who are truly downtrodden, suffering, and broken.

Camille is talking to us

Our baby girl is starting to say lots of fun little words. It is so cute to hear her, and so fun to watch her learning. I just wanted to take a few minutes to write some of her best words…

She says:

Dada, and sometimes daddy. She calls  Spencer daddy also, which he thinks is hilarious. :-)

Mama, finally… It took her a longer time than I was hoping!

Grandma, although it sounds a lot like mama. :-)

Grandpa – sounds like pop-pop

Popcorn – – Also sounds kind of like Pop-pop

She also uses pop-pop to mean soda pop, otter pop or popsicle. I think she just knows "pop" usually means something good. :-)

Go

Hot

More

Baby

No – – This is new, as of today. I'm not sure I'm so happy about it, but it was inevitable.

Natalie – – Sounds more like Nah-yee, and it is so cute! :-)

Hello– – sounds more like heyyo. She looks down her own shirt, and says hello to herself. :-) I'm not so fond of it when she does it to me, but I think she's looking for her binky. Ha!

Ella,  because she absolutely adores her cousin Ella. She talks about Ella even when she's not around. :-)

Up

Help– – She said this this morning, trying to help me make my bed.

Oh, I almost forgot two...

Here-ya-go-- she says this when she's handing me something. It sounds more like heee-go. 

Shoes-- she LOVES shoes and wanders around finding people's shoes and bringing them to their owners. And when she gives them to you, of course she says "hee-go!":) She has brought me as many as four pairs of my shoes while I've been making dinner!

That's all I can think of right now. We sure do love this little cutie, and can't believe how fast she is growing up!

Some pics of our one year old girl

Happy Birthday Wade!

All our Hone family got together again this year at my parents' house, to remember Wade's birthday. He would have turned 44 this week. It was a really special time, being together and remembering some of our best memories with him. :-)

I should have taken more pictures, but the only ones I got were these cute ones of my mom and Camille, decorating the great big chocolate cake we all ate together. Wade would have loved it! His favorite!!

All my brothers went on a hiking trip, up in the back country behind the Sawtooth Mountains. Brian even got to join them at the last minute. (He was thinking he would likely miss, due to his work schedule. But things changed and got less busy, so he got to go! Yay! ) The pictures they took of that beautiful scenery are pretty stunning! Looks like a great place to be.

While they were gone, all of us moms stayed at my parents' house and around there, and got together each day to do fun stuff with the kids. We all went to see a movie one day. Melissa got some free matinee tickets for us. Everyone really enjoyed it, especially Camille, who spent the entire time in the lobby, rolling around on the floor…

The next day, we went to a kids art fair in the park, up in Idaho Falls. They had lots of fun painting and crafting projects for the kids.

The last night we were there, my mom was kind enough to watch the kids for me, so I could go out on a special date with my two best girlfriends from high school – – Amber and Kerri. So much fun!! We celebrated all three of our 40th birthdays, since we all have birthdays within a month of each other. We went out to dinner, then drove around Blackfoot to all our old sites, even swinging on the swings at Casey Park. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, maybe since the last time we all got together. :-)

Through the years, I have sometimes taken it for granted how good I had it growing up. But looking back, I am extremely grateful for these two amazing best friends in my life. From grade school on up, we three were always together! In high school, people used to joke that they didn't know which of us was which, but if they just said Amber Kamber and Kerri all at once, they'd be covering their bases! :-) 

We had our ins and outs, our insecurities, and growing pains, of course. But we really helped each other stay strong and grounded in our mutual faith and love of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We also helped each other grow up, laughing at life's craziness and unpredictability. Our friendship is the kind where we pick up exactly where we left off, every time we see each other – – whether it's been a week, month, or even a couple of years. Looking at these two wonderful, beautiful ladies, I know without a doubt how extremely blessed I am!

We got home from my parents' house late last night, and Brian was unloading his stuff from the camping trip. We were all tired, and went to bed in a bit of a frenzy. But I woke up this morning feeling great amounts of gratitude for the wonderful people in my life, both friends and family, my greatest treasures.