Modesto Mice : An unexpected blessing!

Okay, here it is, our miracle blessing!

And this is how it began. Fred called my attention to a notice on the Pine Mountain neighborhood website: "Piano, free to someone who plays. Must pick it up yourself."

So these are the people behind the ad. This is Phil and his Polish bride of three months. The lady with white hair is Barbara; we know her from many places we've volunteered.

Phil's previous wife died a few years ago and he wanted the piano placed with someone who could enjoy it. His neighbor Barbara placed the ad for them. We saw Barbara a couple of hours later at our Little House herb class. We couldn't jump fast enough.

I played for them, we talked. They were lovely, generous people. But they were leaving for their main home in Nevada the next day! Could Elder Meese put together a moving crew in four hours?

How about borrowing Jim's truck, dolly, and straps? If our neighbor Jeff and our new branch member Bob were available, it might work!

By that evening, voila! We had a home that would be filled with music!

The only funny part of this is that Phil's wife, in broken English, said she didn't want to give up the piano bench (that was serving as their TV stand), even when Elder Meese offered to buy them a replacement. But hey, who can complain??!!

Now, what blessings have come from this?
1. Phil and his wife asked if they could come over for a concert later on.
2. Jeff, next door, has now become a fast friend and invited us to spend the
Fourth with them!
3. Our Seventh Day Adventist friend who plays guitar said we should have a
holiday gathering with playing and singing.
4. Barbara asked if I would consider being a rehearsal accompanist for their singing group, The Pine Cone Singers! They're really professional!

And I have a feeling that's only the beginning.....

I also have an idea for it after our mission. I'm wondering if Kirsten (who has a beautiful singing voice) would like it in their new home. Let me show you the blessing they've seen in the past two months! See the tiny tent trailer in this shot?

It's where they used to sleep...every night. Now it's on the lot of the home they are now renting! If I told you how hard it is to find homes up here you'd understand why it was a miracle that a couple in their 80's had to move 'downhill' and asked if her hair dresser (Kirsten!) and husband might be interested in moving in. This is where she lives now.

It's perfect for the two (soon to be three) of them, and just 'woodsy' enough to keep this outdoor, hiking-and-camping couple happy.

A gift from an ever-watching Father in Heaven.

By the way, they've chosen not to know the sex of this upcoming hiker.

Okay, I just have time to show you a visual of the best story of forgiveness and redemption we have heard in church. It was a testimony given by the owner of this rig:

You may remember us telling about the shortest route up to Groveland called "Old Priest Grade". It's a 14% grade, but it's 1.7 miles versus the 5 mile winding and gentler path on "New Priest Grade". Well, it goes without saying that motorhomes, etc. are NOT allowed on old priest.

You would think this last sign was warning enough to head tourists to the correct road. But... believe it or not, this sign is placed AFTER you have made the turn and committed your vehicle!

So this poor man's GPS was telling him to turn right, and he found himself heading up an impossible climb. Half way up, with a string of irritated drivers behind him, he found a blessed turn out. He said he had never been so scared in his life, and now (in this jack knifed position) he couldn't even get the jeep to unhook!

When the highway patrol arrived, "I was so grateful to see him, I didn't even care if I had to pay the $1,000 fine. I just hoped he could help me get out of this alive. When asked if I had seen the four previous warning signs, I had to answer in the negative. I asked if I should turn around. He said absolutely not; they would then have to close the whole grade for hours. The only choice I had was to keep going to the top."

According to this greatly humbled brother, because he had listened to the direction 'of the world' and was oblivious to the warnings before him, he had put them all in great danger.

After listening to the lessons learned by this repentant driver, I don't think the members of the congregation will ever feel the same about those huge motorhomes mistakenly heading into peril!

So, on that note, have a great week. And best wishes for a happy July from...