Small

...simple acts of service can help us and those we are permitted to influence. Our Heavenly Father places loving individuals on important crossroads to help us so that we are not left alone to grope in the dark. ...Serving others need not come from spectacular events. Often it is the simple daily act that gives comfort, uplifts, encourages, sustains, and brings a smile to others. (Michael J. Teh, “Out of Small Things,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 35–37)

Bridget's birthday is on Saturday- she would have been turning two. I have a hard time with what was supposed to be a celebration of life being a reminder that she is not here. But I want to do something for her. She was just so small, and some may not think that she had much influence. How could something so small be important? Just after she died, a Conference address was given called "Out of Small Things," quoted above.

The words spoken then have been in my mind frequently since that time. I wonder how many of you would be willing to give her a gift. This week, find some small way to show service to someone IN your life. Do something WITH someone who needs you. Find someone in your day-to-day associations WITH each other. Please, no big fanfare! Think of Bridget, how very SMALL she was. Make your acts small, yet profound-just like she was! Then come back and let us know how you gave "Out of Small Things."

If you'd rather keep your service private, that is fine, too. Just DO something. And if you would, please remember Bridget when you do it. This is just meant as way to share how Bridget influenced you and give her a special kind of gift for her birthday. I really do understand if you might want to keep your acts private, so while I'd love to hear about your experience, the main thing is to just do some small thing-- which will have a much greater influence than you might ever know.

Hot

Well, summer started off cool and wet. Now it's getting hot. Good thing our city just opened a new fire station which will serve our neighborhood!





Today was the open house. There was cake and cool water to drink. Cool, like "this is neat" kind of cool. For some reason, the kids don't seem to think ice can come in a "circle shape." So I was commissioned to take this photo of the rare commodity.

Instead of a ribbon cutting ceremony, they had a hose cutting. We got there after they'd already done the job. Or did we? "I cannot tell a lie. I did not cut down the cherry tree!"

We were able to see a lot of heroes today. The fire department has responded to our calls for help in the past. We hope that no one ever needs them, but we know sometimes emergencies happen in life. So it is nice to know there will be a team a little closer to home in case the occasion ever arises again.

We even met one of those heroes who actually responded the last time we needed help. Chris from the life flight team was at today's event. She was one of the life flight doctors that took care of our little girl when she had her crisis event. The life flight helicopter was even there. It was bittersweet to see it. The kids were fascinated by the helicopter -- especially the windows that could open and close. And what do you know, there is even a little fire hydrant just outside that window!

So for all the things out there too hot for us to handle, our hats go off to the heroes we saw today!