And my father dwelt in a tent

It just goes to show that when you sacrifice just a little to serve the Lord blesses you greatly.

Last Wednesday I attended the final planning meeting for the East Stake Aaronic Priesthood Camp (AP Camp) and little did I know that a major blessing was waiting for me. I walked to the church from my house, which is just about a mile from my house, because, in my own little personal protest to the high gas prices, I will not drive somewhere that is a within a mile of my home and I am travelling alone (except for when I am hideously late as I was this morning for bishopric meeting). The meeting went a bit later than I had expected so I asked my brother-in-law, Josh, for a ride home. I was not breaking my rule because I was not travelling alone and we ended up travelling further than a mile. He said he would give me a ride home if I would help him and his presidency load a tent into his truck. I agreed to help and away we went. This tent, a 16' x 32' foot GP Medium tent, took five of us to lift into the bed of the bed of Jolene's truck. As we sat chatting after we loaded it, Josh mentioned the task of storing the tent after camp. The local scout council gave it to the stake to use for camp and did not want it back. The stake was also not very interested in storing the beast only to use it once in a blue moon. Since I had only seen it boxed up, I asked Josh how big it is and he said, "It's a 16' by 32' tent. About the size of a yurt." All of a sudden a little light went off in my head and I asked Josh if I could have it and the other, smaller tent that no one wanted. He said that I could have the smaller one without question but that he would need to ask the stake presidency if I could have the larger one. As I shook President Lewis' hand today before Sacrament meeting, he informed me that the tent is mine. Woohoo!! 512 square feet of free temporary living space. Lesley is on board with living in it while we build our house so we are all set.

I asked Bella if she was excited about living in a tent and she replied in the affirmative. She said, and I quote, "Some people will say, 'I live in a two-storey house'. Some will say, 'I live in a one-storey house. Others will say, 'I live in an apartment'. I will say, 'I live in a TENT!'" Man, I love that girl.

Now we also plan on purchasing a small travel trailer since it will have a kitchen, bathroom, and shower. The bonus is that these are not permanent fixtures so we do not need permits for them. Take that Pima County!

So, once we get it up, we'll invite you all to our tent/trailer warming party. And don't be surprised if you get invited to the barn raising party also.