One of these little things, was my mother! I do not know how someone so average as me came from someone so amazing, wonderful, and perfect as her. She has always been so aware of all of her kids; their wants, their needs, and their worries. Even when one of them is halfway across the country. This week was so stressful with school and with all of my classes- I didn't even want to think about all of the shopping I had to do. For food, shampoo, make up...you know. All the expensive bathroom products that I always seem to run out of ALL OF at the same exact time. I am on a budget, like every college student here. So I didn't want to think about overspending on make up and shampoo and whatever else after buying my food! But I also know that toothpaste and face wash are things that I just cant live without. (I might could do without the make-up. MIGHT.) I was checking my emails, and I saw a forwarded message from my mom. When I opened it I was expecting some old picture of all of us that she had edited, or a reminder that the rest of my rent for my apartment was due at the end of this month. To my surprise, it wasn't either of these things. It was receipt of a shipment! I kept scrolling down the email, reading the names of all kinds of expensive, quality, name brand make up, shampoos, face wash, make up removers (which I haven't had the luxury of since I left home! I have been stuck with baby oil!), and conditioners. The order was easily over $100, and the only reasons she gave were she thought I would like to have these things, she thought the name of one of the mascaras was cool, and that she loved me. Tender mercy on my stressful, hair ripping week? I think yes. Thank you Mama!
The second little thing this week was a story that I heard. Or rather, remembered. With Tommy going to EFY all summer, I have grown a little more hatred for that camp than I had before. And if I am honest, I have been thinking a lot on my experiences there. Most of which, not very good. But there was one story that I haven't, and probably wont ever forget that I can thank EFY for. Our session director shared it with us on the last day. I keep under my bed a box of letters. Letters from my parents mostly. With all my little siblings always underfoot-my parents and I never found much time to sit down and talk about anything for longer than five minutes. But my mom and I started writing letters to each other, and leaving them on each other's beds. I love those letters. And among them I have a few other important things, my patriarchal blessing, a letter that my dad wrote me when I graduated and left home, notes from girls at girls camp, and lots of conference notes from over the years. In this seemingly endless pile of letters I went to go though this week, I found the story of the peaches. Which was so unbelievably fitting for my life! The story goes like this- and yes, it starts with once upon a time. All of the good stories do.
Once upon a time there was a kingdom by the sea, known for its flowers and trees. The king of this kingdom was loved by his people, and he ruled with a fair and just hand. The king and his queen had not been blessed with any sons or any daughters, and so they had no heir to the throne. The king loved the people, and wanted to leave them with an honest and fair ruler in his place. When the king knew he was dying, he had all of the boys of a certain age come into the palace. Each of the boys were given a flower pot and a seed. The king weakly rose from his bed and spoke softly, "You all have been given a pot and a seed, and the boy who returns to the palace in a months time with the most beautiful peach tree -will inherit my kingdom, and all that I have." The days passed quickly, and with each passing day until the month was through- the king grew weaker. The boys of the kingdom devoted much time and effort into their seeds, and soon they began to sprout. Some started to grow tiny trunks and leaves, tiny branches, and some even began to bloom with tiny peach blossoms.. The boys began to take pride in their hard work, and to show off all that they had cultivated. There was an Orphan in the kingdom who had also received a seed. Despite all that he did for the seed, it would not grow. Day after day he would look at the pot wishing to see a sprout-even the smallest sign that he had devoted even a little time to the tiny seed. And day after day, nothing changed. When the month mark finally came due, the boys of the kingdom all returned to the palace dressed in the best clothes that their parents could adorn them with. Each boy held it pot proudly in hand, showing the healthy sprouts. The king rose weakly from his bed, and began to walk down the line, hoping somewhere therein would be his heir. He walked slowly, looking at each of the plants, and looking into the eyes of each boy. He finally reached the end of the line, and met the eyes of the Orphan. The shaking hands of the boy held a pot full only of soil, when all the others held rich young trees. The young boy's emotions overcame him. "I'm sorry.." he offered. "I did all that I could for the seed, I gave it water and sunlight, and cared for it everyday. I don't know what I did wrong." With tears filling his eyes, the king knelt down and put a hand on the boys exposed shoulder. "My child, you have done all that was asked of you. I have boiled all of the peach seeds. None of your seeds were ever supposed to grow. Now I am sure, that you are the heir to this kingdom. All that I have, I give to you."
Enough of the little things! So in Rexburg, there are these things called cake pops. And people go door to door here selling them like they are the sunday paper. Forgive me, if I don't want to pay a dollar for a cake ball...on a stick. (what is it about sticks that make everything more novel?) We literally have a knock on our door once a week from some random person selling cake pops. After 5 months of saying no and shutting doors. I bought one. I just had to know if the dang cake pops were as good as everyone says they are or even worth selling from door to door. Swiftly following my terrible, money blowing example was Shaeby. Unfortunately, they werent that great. But dont tell anyone I said that. I might get struck down by the Rexburg cake pop God. Yes, that is how much people obsess over them. Its to the point of worship! Until next time.. hopefully I'll have better things to say about desserts on sticks. ♥
