Bountiful Blessings

Twice a month we get two baskets of great fresh produce with an organization called Bountiful Baskets. It's been a great blessing for us; providing us with terrific produce for virtually pennies; $15.00 for all of the above produce! This group is non-profit and based on volunteers who participate in a buying co-op and anyone in the valley can participate. Every two weeks we meet at a near-by park early in the morning and pick up our goodies! It kept our grocery bill down a lot this last summer when our garden was supplementing us as well. I made a deal with myself to stick to what I got from BB and not buy any additional produce. It helps me ration it out, use it up, or plant other things in the garden!!It's awesome. The organization is growing like crazy in these economic times but it seems there are still people out there who don't know about it.
My new calling has offered me many blessings through service this last month - hence no blogging time!! I am so thankful to be able to notice and appreciate my blessings. Even more, I am grateful to be able to have enough in my own "well" to share my time and service with others. I attended a seminar in January that spoke to the healing power of service. One counselor stated that he regularly prescribes "5/50" of service to his patients who suffer with depression. It includes the following prescription:

One act of service be done daily
It can last no more than 5 minutes
Cost no more than 50 cents
It must be totally anonymous and illicit no recognition
It must be written down.

The patient then re-reads the service journal entry each day, re-reading the past days of service until 50 entries have been made. The therapist stated that service actually (chemically) affects the brain and allows people to grow in their own self worth! What a great by-product.
I am assisted in serving others both by my great husband and by terrific women who model for me what true compassion and caring looks and feels like! I am humbled by their caring and concern. I recognize my own heart and see that I have a long way to go to be like those whom I serve with.

Wedding warning - - - fast approaching!! I can't believe that Jennie and Kyle's big day is SO close! Yikes!! They got their marriage license this week and Jennie is going to the Temple this coming Saturday!! Wowee! She celebrated with a terrific bridal shower a week ago where she was literally "showered" with gifts from great friends and family. The food was amazing - thanks Jenn (Jennie's sister-in-law!) and the games and fun were just perfect (thanks Barbara and Catie!) I guess this is really happening now. Jennie and Kyle have a wedding "chain" that they count down everyday. I should probably get one myself! I love watching them. I will miss having them around all the time. Can't Kyle just move in upstairs?!?!?! Truly, the plans are moving along quickly. The familyroom is overflowing with items and we are adding to it daily. Wow, there is a lot entailed in giving a big party!! What fun!
Jennie is indeed one of my Bountiful Blessings. I am so proud of her, happy to be with her and amazed at her! I see pieces of me in her and I want her to rise above me and be better than I am, I see portions of her dad in her and smile that they are so much alike. And finally I see her Heavenly Father in her and see the potential that she has.

Day-planners, calendars, to-do lists.....
It seems I am always looking at, writing in, carrying one, or checking on the next task. What did our fore-mothers do without one?!?! I am grateful that I am willing to set them aside and enjoy days like.....
The Saturday we dropped everything and ran away to Oatman and enjoyed the bed-races!! Day-planners and calendars are a great tool, but building relationships bring far more blessings than a checked-off list!! What a blessing it is to realize this!