The Miracle at the Cavanaughs

Some of you may remember that I had a ton of branches break during two storms this winter. We had them all cut down back in February, and our yard turned into such a disaster. Branches piled up in the front yard on the west side of our property. Branches piled up right outside the back porch near my bedroom. Branches along the fence line. Branches on the east side of my yard in the back, completely obstructing one access way into my yard.

We worked on this project bit by bit. We filled up both green waste bins each week, but we could only fit in a small amount each time. Our home teacher came and helped us when he could and was a huge blessing to us. My friend Keith also came to help us--another huge blessing. But because of all the branches, we couldn't mow most sections of our yard, so the weeds and grass became overgrown and massive. I couldn't bear to look at my yard or walk around. It felt intolerable.

The Lord knew my concerns, and through my home teacher, he brought it straight to the Bishop. In July, there was a massive service project from our ward. I rented one of those giant haul off dumpsters...$300 worth of dumpster.

Bright and early one Saturday, the various quorums of the priesthood came and began to cut up and haul all the yard debris to the dumpster. I was touched to see people coming to help me. When I went out to the front yard, I saw the Bishop crossing the street to help in my yard, and I began to tear up with emotion that he would take time to come and help me, after all he already gives to the families in our ward. Then later I saw one of his counselors, a mighty man that I have come to love dearly, Brother Boynton. Brother Boynton has two children with CF, one of whom (his baby) had just been released from the hospital not long before. That he too took time to come and bless my family also brought me to tears. Every face, every set of hands touched my heart. I felt humbled and hugely blessed. And within three hours, by some miracle (maybe the opposite of the loaves and fishes?) all the huge piles of branches were broken down and compressed (by the wonderful missionaries, Elder Black and his companion) into the dumpster, along with other miscellaneous items that needed to be discarded from my yard.

I don't know how it all fit. I told the kids to remember what it felt like to have such a huge task (one they complained about freely) accomplished for us through the help of our ward. I told them, when you are asked to serve others, remember, especially when it's not convenient, how much this day meant to us. I also tried to show them how this service to our family exemplified the atonement...we did all we could, and the Lord provided the rest, in this case, through the hands of our ward members who were willing to serve.

I snapped a photo as the dumpster was being hauled off...just barely in time!

The bill (received in August---I'm late finishing this post) states that the wonderful members of our ward relieved 3.1 TONS of burdens from our shoulders, and I was shocked and grateful all over again. I recently (in August) wrote a letter of thanks to the ward.

"I wanted to write a note for all the members who helped me back in July to clear my yard of debris, but wanted to wait until I knew how many pounds of storm damage we cleared from my yard. I received the final bill in the mail this week, and I’m deeply grateful to report that thanks to the help of the ward, 3.1 literal tons of burdens were removed from my shoulders as a result of the extraordinary service each of you provided.

I am deeply grateful for your help. A job that we were only able to accomplish piece meal was astonishingly dealt with in a matter of hours. In addition to the physical removal of the branches and obstructions, we are now able to move freely around our yard, cut our grass, and feel even more acutely the love of our ward family. What a great teaching moment about charity each of you provided as I was able to tell my children to remember this day always, whenever they are asked to do some service for others, what it meant to us to have the storm damage cleared away! It was also a living model of the atonement in the real world.

I was deeply touched as I saw each of you, with your busy lives and burdens of your own to carry, come to my home to bless us so immensely.  I thank those who came those who sacrificed time with their family so that they or a family member could assist. I hope that each of you know that your names are written in our hearts and we love and appreciate you so very much. If ever you have need, know that we will be there to the best of our ability.

With love and gratitude,

April Cavanaugh & Family"