The Weeds

We planted trees. Lots of trees. Ten golden oaks. Fifty blue spruce. We planned for them. Measured things out, knew exactly where they'd go. We prepared for them. Enhanced the soil for better water retention. Dug perfect little wells to hold that water. We built cages for them, to keep the deer and rabbits away. We put a water tank in the pickup to keep them moist. We did everything we could to ensure that we'll have happy, healthy trees for years to come. Imagine our surprise when we checked on them, only to find them absolutely covered in weeds. Weeds and alfalfa. Covered to the point that it was a good thing there were cages, so we knew where to look! We spent Husband's day off weeding the trees. All day. It was serious. Now they're free again. Something to stay on top of, for sure. Nice to know what the weeds are capable of.

The Parallel:

Just like we did everything we could for our trees, our Heavenly Father will do everything he can for us. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the weeds get in. We have to be vigilant. We have to stay on top of things. Cages may protect us from the "big" things, but the weeds get in. We live in a world where we have to be aware. Awake and ready for a little weeding, every day.

The Cheat

The rock is in bloom. The smells are incredible. It's beautiful. Alfalfa, flowers and natural grasses wave in the wind. One variety of grass I'm watching is called cheatgrass. It grows in bunches, tall and soft. I love to watch it move. Sadly, I know what it is to become. A prickly, stickly, thorn in my side. Or in my socks. In a few months, I won't be able to walk through the field without attracting hundreds. Or at least tens. They'll wedge themselves between my socks and my shoes and poke mercilessly. Until I stop. Take off my shoes. Take off my socks. And pick them out. One. By. One.

The Parallel:

Sometimes, doing the wrong thing seems harmless. Not a big deal. Poor choices are like cheatgrass. They seem innocent and fun. But they are what they are. By nature, they'll grow. Prickly and Stickly. They can't help it. They'll poke mercilessly. And we'll wish that all we had to do was sit down, take off our shoes and pull them out.

The Pressure

I went up to turn on sprinklers the other day. One line hadn't been open this year. We opened it up and got it all flushed out. We put it back together and turned it on. The last pipe wouldn't seal. We tried again. And again. Same result. Then the thought came... give it less pressure. I decided to go open another line and get it going. Then back to the first line. We lined it up and got it ready again. This time, we took it easy. Opening things up one turn at a time, over a period of several minutes. Perfect. Pressure built slowly, and the pipe was able to seal itself. We opened it up and it worked like a dream.

The Parallel:

In life, as we build upon the Rock, things are given to us slowly. We learn line upon line, precept upon precept. Here a little and there a little. As we grow and understand, we are given more and more, until we see a bigger picture. As we show that we can be good stewards of the information and understanding that we have, we are trusted with more insight. Sometimes we forget, and have to slow down. But He is always there to help us. To relieve the pressure til we're ready for a little more. They call Him a Shepard...maybe He's a Farmer too.

The View

The view from the rock is amazing. Initially, I noticed the view from the lower part of the property. It was great. I could see everything for miles around. Then we hiked up on the rock. The difference was astounding. From the top of the rock, I could see so much more. Views I didn't know I'd been missing. I can't wait to enjoy the sights for the rest of my life.

The parallel:

The view from the Rock is much different than the view from the world. In the world, we tend to get caught up in the little things around us. Life is busy. A foundation on the Rock gives us a perspective that we wouldn't have otherwise. Being able to view things with an eternal perspective gives us the strength, the extra push, to be able to tackle and overcome the obstacles that we face. Prophetic advice to build on the Rock gives us more than just a better view. It gives us the desire, the knowledge, the tools, and the support to navigate mortality successfully. So grateful for the view.

The Realization

Early on, I learned that this place would bless our lives. As we began to visit our land, to work it, to improve it, I began to receive insights. Lessons all around me. In everything. I would have a thought, and it would be followed by a connected thought. Different, but connected. Example after example. I knew that through this place my Heavenly Father would teach me the things I needed to know to truly build my house and my life on the Rock.

Lesson after lesson. Running through my mind. Profound. Most still forgotten too quickly. Hence, my decision to record those lessons. I want to remember them. I want to learn from them. I want to relearn from them. I want to never forget. I have been blessed beyond measure in my life. I want to build on the Rock. Literally, and figuratively.

The Search

When (then, not yet) Husband and I began our search for land to build a new home on, there were several things we had in mind. We wanted something in the country. A quiet place to raise our children and grow old together. A place with room to grow a garden, maybe have a few animals. A place to explore and enjoy. A place to listen to the birds in the morning, instead of neighbors and traffic. A place where we could teach the kids the value of work, the way that we learned it. A place where we could help life slow down.

Life is different in the country. People are different in the country. Priorities are different in the country. That's what we wanted.

We looked at piece after piece of property. Mostly just farmland. With power lines running over head, or neighbors too close. Then we found it. The perfect place. Country feel, but just 10 minutes from town. In the community where Husband had grown up.

There were several pieces of land available. The lower property was being farmed... the upper pieces were covered with sagebrush and rocks. We were immediately drawn to the upper land, one piece in particular. The lower part of the acreage had been farmed at one point, so we knew it would work for a garden. And the upper part was covered in a huge rock, complete with caves and crevices. Perfect for growing children and their imaginations!

Something happened when we climbed up on that rock. I was filled with peace. Like I don't remember being filled before. It was amazing. Everything felt so right. This was the place. The place our children would explore and enjoy, learn and grow, grow up and visit with their children.

We made an offer. It was rejected. We left it alone. I was sick. We continued to look for another place. We came back to the butte. We still knew it was the place. We made another offer. And bought ourselves a rock.