Service & Salsa

So my sweet friend called me the other day, and asked me if I still had a lot of tomatoes from our garden. (Yes, we have TONS, and we have no idea what to do with them) She then asked if she could come over and help me make salsa. So, yesterday we spent all day making the most delicious salsa I have ever had. Yummy! In the "FRIEND" (church magazine) this month, the first article is by President Henry B. Eyring about service he recieved right after his mom passed away. He said there are 3 parts of service, and as I thought about it, I realized how much my friend had served me.
1. She felt what I was feeling.
She knew that there was NO WAY in the world that I would ever even attempt to make salsa when I had 3 little helpers at home. She knew how much time & energy it took to cut & prepare all the ingredients, and she knew I didn't have time or energy to do it alone. She knew I had extra tomatoes that I wanted to do something with but didn't have the knowledge of what to do with them.
2. She gave freely.
I didn't have to buy her time, or pay her for her service. I didn't have to pay her for the jalepeno's we used, or for the use of all of her canning goods. She gave freely, and didn't expect anything in return.
3. And, last... there was sacrifice.
She just got done working on a huge project, and I know that she would have loved a free day to just relax, and itstead she gave up her free day to help me. Her husband also had the day off because of the holiday, and she gave up time being with him so she could help me. She sacrificed her time and energy & did all this for me! What a great friend!
We had such a great time visiting and canning, and got to know each other even better. In the end I had 10 beautiful bottles of fresh salsa, an even better friendship, & a bigger appreciation of what our Savior has done for each of us. I am able to apply to my life, that He continually feels what I am feeling, He gave his life freely to me, and there was an incredible & sacred sacrifice, in hopes I would follow Him. Who would have thought, I would learn all this in canning salsa.
While we were canning salsa, her little boy came over, and at one point I looked in the backyard and saw Jackson with his shirt off in our freezing cold weather running around like a crazy kid... of course I yelled (not calmly called)out the window "Jackson put your shirt back on right now, or you will come inside" I love being a mom :)
My blue eyed girl. Hallie just turned 8 months, but I haven't had a chance to do pictures yet, so this is what we have. Morgan & Jackson have more of Brian's eye color, but Hallie's look a lot like mine. I love it. Brian's just happy to have at least one of his kids with brown hair like him. :)