A hard couple of weeks and a miracle

Last Sunday we went to Logan to Caitlyn's single's ward.  They had a
parent's day.  It was very nice.  We had lunch afterwards of pulled pork
sandwiches, coleslaw and baked beans.  The parents brought dessert.  Caitlyn
played a violin medley of hymns and did a beautiful job.  Her roommate of the
same name accompanied her.

Hyeji had a ballet recital.  Roy and I
could not attend because I was in a sewing class with Christine (and
after I told Jieun that, she didn't call Roy)

Yesterday, Nick told me the sweetest story about Effie.  He said that he and Sara have been reading Grandpa Cook's autobiography and so the book was out on his bed stand.  Effie picked up the book and said, "That's Grandpa Cook."  He said that neither he nor Sara had ever shown her pictures of grandpa Cook or told her about him.

We have had an interesting experience these past few weeks.  I haven’t wanted to write any of it in the newsletter because it has been negative and I try to keep the newsletter upbeat. We have witnessed a miracle this past couple of days, so I decided it was time to share (Most of you reading this already know a lot of this story). 

When Roy wants something done, he immediately sets about doing it.  He is not the kind to leave a dripping faucet alone.  When we were building our home, the retaining wall on the west side of the house consisted of ugly, crumbling, cement blocks.  We should have done something then, but we decided to worry about them later.  About 3 ½ weeks ago, Roy decided it was time to do something.  He called a contractor who builds retaining walls and had him come out to give us a quote.  We agreed right then and there for him to do the wall.  Roy said that he had to first talk to the owners of the property (not the renters that live there) and tell them what he was going to do.

Well, the contractor came early the next morning and began pulling out the blocks—before we’d had a chance to call the owners. (Michelle and David)  Sometime after the blocks were pulled out, the owner’s daughter reported to her mother that there were people on the property.  She immediately came down and started yelling at us for being there without her permission.  Roy very calmly told her that we had meant to call her before the job was started but that the contractor had jumped on the job more quickly than we expected.  She didn’t care.  He also told her that the wall—built totally at our expense and on our property would increase the value of her property.  She didn’t care.  If any of you have seen the property to our west—it is completely undeveloped other than a 500 square foot shack that has been there for at least 60 plus years.  There is a short cement driveway that we were planning on using to remove the blocks from their property.  We had talked to the renters and asked them if they could move their boat that has been parked there since the new owners bought the property, which they did happily.  Michelle told the renters they had to put it back on the driveway, or else...  After lots of accusatory remarks from Michelle (Roy kept his calm) the work on the wall was completely halted.  She was also disputing the boundary line (which was established just a year ago when they bought the property) and was asking all the neighbors whether the cement blocks were on her property or ours. 

We began praying at this time for the neighbor’s heart to be softened toward us.

A couple of days later, after attending the temple, Jennie called us and told us the owners were next door with the police.  We headed home instead of running errands as we had intended.  Roy got out of the car and began walking over to talk to the Michelle, David, and the police.  There was also a daughter there who we understood was originally going to live in the current house—after it was fixed up (I think after they examined the house they realized there was no fixing up this shack and that it would be better to let another daughter build a house on it with her husband—keep in mind that there will be nothing done on this for at least 3 more years).

Roy kept his temper as the daughter who has no ownership in the property, said, “Here comes Mr. High and Mighty” in a mocking tone.  He said to the neighbors that he wanted to work things out.  The policewoman who was there said, “He says he wants to work this out, do you really want to put a trespassing complaint against him?”  I think this made them too embarrassed to go through with that plan, so they did not file the complaint.  They did ask Roy to fill out witness papers that would go on file with the police so that if this couple decided to file a complaint later, they could. 

During the next couple of weeks the dispute continued with Michelle writing demeaning and accusatory texts to Roy (all of the texts used the word arrogant).  They also reported us to the city (they wanted us to be fined for putting gravel on their property—too close to the creek).  The city man came out and talked to us and told us that there was not a problem we weren’t too close to the creek, but that if it rained heavily it would probably be good to put sandbags around the gravel.  After discussing this with Michelle and David we were told that we were not allowed on their property to remove the gravel, to place sandbags or for any other reason.  Then they said they intended to call the EPA to report us.  The city man told us not to worry, that any complaint they made to the EPA would come back to the state, then to the city, and right back to him. 

We asked Michelle what it was they wanted from us.  They wanted us to remove the bricks from their property, going through our backyard (our side yard is too narrow) and over the creek—which is pretty much an impossible task that would cause thousands of dollars in damage to our landscaping.  Also, it is pretty hard to pick up bricks that weigh 2000 lbs. each and move them up a 3 foot change in elevation—especially without stepping on their property J A crane was out of the question because of power lines.

Our contractor went to the owner’s home and asked them what they wanted.  He even offered to pay them to use their land to remove the blocks.  It was the husband this time that laid into our contractor and refused to comply with his request.  Our contractor asked him what he wanted of us.  His reply “We just want to make his life miserable.”

We had almost come to the conclusion that we would just leave the blocks there and wait until the owners sued us or made it easier for us to remove the blocks, but Roy tried one more time to talk with them.  This time they agreed that we could have our contractor jackhammer the blocks and use a wheelbarrow to move out the debris—using the 2 feet where the wall would go which was our property.  When he was finished, we were to rake out the gravel and lay sod (they had said earlier they did not want grass as they weren’t ready to develop the property) to cover up any remaining effects of our work.  After discussing this with our contractor, we agreed to do this. 

What we didn’t realize was that our contractor had no intention of jack hammering the blocks.  He felt it was a ridiculous request (which it was).  So he showed up on Thursday and began building the wall.  As agreed, the owners were there to supervise so that we only got on their property as needed.  I stayed in the house so I wouldn’t be too upset at everything that was going on.  I could hear yelling but I was hoping it was just the guys doing the work.  I should have known better.  Roy came home to check on things a little while later and asked if I had been watching.  I said I was trying not to.  He said that the daughter—the married one who is intending to build on the property, was out there swearing up a storm and accusing us of lots of untrue things.  He said that at one point the dad actually turned to her and said that what she said wasn’t true.  That was the first sign that his heart was changing. 

After haranguing our contractor and his guys for the whole morning, our workers got fed up and walked off the job. 

A little while later, Roy got a call from David.  He was in a meeting so he waited to return the call when it was over.  He called fully expecting to hear a barrage of complaints.  Instead David said, “I wanted to apologize.  I think we misjudged you from the beginning.  I think it was your contractor who was the problem.”

 Roy was flabbergasted.  We don’t know why he had a change of hearts (except it was an answer to our prayers).  He may have decided if he didn’t give a little, those blocks would be on his property for a long time, or he may have realized he was being a little ridiculous.  Or, it may be that he didn’t believe us originally when we said we had every intention of getting their permission but our contractor jumped the gun.  In any case, a great burden was lifted. 

David then told Roy that he could remove the blocks at his convenience and use equipment on his property.  Roy asked him if he wanted to be present and he said, “No, I trust you.”  Then he said, “
I see you are wearing a flight jacket, are you a pilot?”  Roy replied that he is, and David said, “We should get together sometime and talk about that.”

I am so proud of Roy that he kept his temper and never once argued with these people.  He disarmed them from the beginning by not fighting back.

When Roy got home we knelt and thanked our Heavenly Father for answering our prayers.  We had truly experienced a miracle.

 On a more positive note: I guess our bishop has wanted Roy to serve in a ward calling for some time.  He asked me a couple of times when Roy would be released from his YSA Stake calling.  I said he was due to be released around April, but judging by the Stake President's personality and his "speed" in releasing other Stake leaders after the three years, I figured he had about another year.  The bishop asked me, "How can I get him for a ward calling.  I need him!"  I told him that he would have to ask the Stake President of the YSA Stake.  Apparently he did that.  We went in for tithing settlement this past week and the bishop asked Roy if he'd been released--it's been no secret that he's been trying to get Roy back in the ward.  We told him we had a meeting with the Stake President on Sunday, so he assumed the release and gave Roy a ward calling.  He told us, "If for some reason you don't get released on Sunday you better let me know. 😉 This morning we met with the Stake leaders of the YSA stake.  It has never taken so long to release either one of us before, but we were in the office with the stake presidency for 30 minutes.  They were obviously disappointed to let him go.  The president said that if it was for any other calling he would have probably bucked against it, but he felt strongly that the calling the bishop was requesting him for was where Roy needed to serve.  The 1st counselor, President Whitworth, also said that it was hard for him to let Roy go, and President King said that the only reason he was agreeing was because he supported the stake president.  They all said that they had learned a lot because of Roy's attitude toward his calling, toward service and his willingness to take on any assignment placed upon him. The words diligent and consistent were used several times in describing him.  I love that about Roy.  He loves to serve, and he is diligent and consistent. I know Roy has mixed feelings, but will be happy to serve where he is called.  I know the bishop is so ecstatic he couldn't wait until Roy was released before extending the call.  Roy told me not to let on to President Bouchard that he had a new calling already because it would really upset him.  

As for me--I'm thrilled to have Roy back in the home ward because selfishly it will make my life easier.  I will now be the one attending other wards and leaving him sitting alone from time to time.  I am already fully engaged in my new calling.  I even spoke in Stake Conference last night.  (Saturday).  It was a short-8 minute talk. The talk will be attached to the email telling you that this letter is ready.  I was nervous, but I felt good about how it went.  Roy gave me a blessing before we left to the meeting.  It was only slightly scarier than speaking in Sacrament meeting because it was the Saturday night session--full to the back and through the first overflow.  This will be a great calling for me to extend myself and get out of my comfort zone (I really like my comfort zone).  I am already meeting lots of people and working on remembering names and faces.  

As you can see, there's been a lot going on around here, but I haven't seen my grand children for a while, so I don't have many pictures.  

I can testify that the Lord has been working in my life--first answering my prayers about what to do with my time, and then helping us with these neighbors.  I am truly grateful as I write this.  I know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers.  I pray for spiritual experiences for all of you.