Secret Garden

Shhhh... its a secret, don't tell. Doesn't everyone want a secret garden? Like in the movie, or possibly in a dream. A place where a child can play hide and seek, find unopened doors behind hedges, find secret treasures, dig for gold coins. We have such a small amount of child time, the innocent child time, the pure child time, when our imaginations can run as fast as our two little feet. Well.... this past week, Laura and Sister Winterton found a Secret Garden. They had driven past this vast, beautifully kept garden a few times, then they found themselves driving past a bit more frequently. Curiosity was starting to weigh heavily on these two adventurous red-heads. If they can open the double locked library door with a "fork", they surely can find away to get into the "gardens". Oh how I wish I were with them, I would come up with a cockamamie story to get in. Here's the difference between Sister Missionary' s and a scrapper. They just simply asked the owner if they could go in and look around. How could he say no to... two beautiful red-haired girls with big brown eyes. He couldn't... The very sweet and cautious gentleman, said "Why ... Yes... but please be careful and don't slip on the ice" Wow, that was easy. Maybe with the same wide eyed innocence the Queen would let the snoop around Buckingham Palace.
Oh my ....oh my.....my.. oh my, I got to see the pictures today..... what exquisite beauty, what playfulness, fun, what pioneer adventure. It was better than a movie, because my girl was the "star". There were pictures of Laura and Sister Winterton on old fashioned swings, really old antique swings, big and high, charming and captivating the kind only seen in castles or movies. They looked like children, big smiles and rosy cheeks and long red hair flowing behind them. I asked her...who were the two on the swings? She said '" me and sister Winterton. I could have sworn they were not a day over 5 years old. That is the magic of discovery. The white untouched snow was waist deep. The gates delicately elaborate, and the twinkle in their eyes was pure, childlike magic. Peeking thru the fairy-like gates, spellbound by the intertwined ivy vines creeping up the brick wall, the two Sisters watched squirrels chase each other and run up their familiar trees. Popping in and out of secret holes that only the squirrels know . These pictures I looked at today were magical and in the magic their light so shinned bright. The happiness that comes from with in and glows purely is the light of Christ. While having fun, exploring and observing their light shone brightly. It reminds me of our Brother Jesus in his own garden. Only he was not playing and exploring, but pleading with the Father for all of us so we can return " home" once again . Laura has to give a talk on the atonement tomorrow at Zone Conferance. She expressed her anxiety at not knowing what to say. I reminded her that when Grandpa Cragun went into UCLA Hospital for major cancer surgery , just in case ... his funeral services had been planned. Music, talks, program down to the smallest detail. I asked my Mother what his choice of music was. Mama Sue replied it was all about the atonement. For my Papa to want to center his funeral all around the atonement and what the Savior painfully did for all of us spoke volumes. He wanted everyone to know the importance of the atonement in his life, and what it meant to him. My father, a wonderful man, a "fine figure of a man", full of service to all, wanted to thank the Savior for giving us the opportunity to repent and return unto the fold. Papa knows that it is only through the Savior that we can return to our Father. What a gift we are given. How can we not pray on bended knee, our hearts full of gratitude? The deep gratitude sincerely felt for Christ's suffering on our behalf. In Gethsemae the Savior 'descended below all things' ( D & C 88:16) as He bore the burden of sin for every human being. " as we make the sacrifice to Him of all that we have and all that we are, the Lord will fill our hearts with peace. ( Bruce D. Porter) I am thrilled beyond anything imaginable that Laura is frolicking in secret gardens because of Our Savior in his Garden. As you continue your day, think of Laura and her adventures and discoveries, Secret Gardens and magic. Then thank our Lord for his endless love and pain he endured for ALL of us. Wow...what a thought, we are truly blessed. I looked up endure in the dictionary for my own benefit. Just listen to the definitions of endure: To resist, remain, last, continue , exist, prevail, sustain, service, outlast, carry on, live on, go on, hold on, outlive , bear up, permit, support with stand bear up, be patient, brave face, grin and bear it. These are just a few mentioned. Look it up and see if you could endure what our Savior endured for us. I hope to be taught to scan pictures in this darn computer and let you all see Lolo in the Secret Garden, but you can go to any religious book and see Jesus in his garden. My heart is once again full for the opportunity Laura has to serve. To help repay the debt of gratitude to our Atoning Savior. As always " Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side" and know you are loved. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL , I need to go shovel snow, so much for my secret garden :) Love a Missionary Mom, Kathy
P.S. Papa Cragun is going great, just undergoing shoulder surgery in hopes to improve his wicked tennis serve. What a man.