Give Thanks

I really needed the Give Thanks invitation from President Nelson, where for seven days I focused on what made me grateful, big or small. And it was great to see what other people posted. The whole tone of social media changed.

I know this is still hard, and people are still sad. But maybe this can run parallel to that, in giving us hope that bad times will end again.

First and foremost, our family is healthy, we have a home and comforts, and we have the gospel.

This makes it a good time to share pictures from our recent photo session with Wallin Photography.

I am grateful for the resiliency and strength of these children as they navigate a strange school year, no primary or Young Mens and rarely seeing friends or cousins or grandparents. 

I am grateful for a recent 17th wedding anniversary with this handsome man.

I even posted about the neighbor's trampoline and swing set, about my sewing machine, and about fun shows to watch. 

And I'm grateful for news a vaccine is coming. Let's get this pandemic over!

Sundays

 

I was obsessed with this puzzle. Our neighbors gave it to us, and I brought it out on a Sunday as a possible family activity. But soon it was just me struggling to find where the blue oceans fit together and where the tinier pieces of countries all went. 

Got it all put together after three days, and a teeny tiny piece is missing -- the piece containing three New England states. I probably swept it up accidentally.

On another Sunday, the kids and I curled up with Disney+. Often during naptime/quiet time they are all watching different shows on different devices. But some of my best memories with my family were when we all watched a movie together.

I am always trying to make Sunday a different kind of day than the rest of the week. I want it to be a joy for the children, not a "we can't do this or we can't do that" kind of thing. 

But I pray every single night that we will be allowed to go back to Church full-time soon -- especially primary. 

JB snuck this photo of me using the Come Follow Me primary lesson online to show the kids a scripture video while trying to expound on our reading from this week. They scattered pretty soon after.

Hopefully, they will remember the good about this time together.

 

Be of Good Cheer

I had a draft I wrote in August that I don't think I should ever post. It was written in a time of a lot of anger and frustration and sadness over decisions by our city and school board. I picked myself up and kept trudging along.

This past week and a half was rough again. I have done lots of crying over politics, the pandemic, school board decisions, and sad things happening to family members.

"How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can't, at least not in the moment," said Joseph B. Worthlin in 2008. But he said we can say, "Come What May and Love it," when we remember an eternal perspective.

I spoke Sunday in church about how we can be of good cheer during trying times. And it was all I could do not to cry the whole time. I know I am not alone in these feelings, which helps. But also makes me sadder when I know we are all sad, and I can't control it!

I started the talk by telling the story of our adventure on the Route of the Hiawatha (blog post here).  Andrew and I were nervous on the high trestles. But when we focused on pedaling on the path, and didn't obsess over the perceived danger, we got through it. Sometimes James was nervous in the long tunnels. But Max would encourage him, "It's almost over, it's only dark for a little while."

I'm trying to focus on humor and gratitude and remembering how I can be a good influence in my own home, even when I cannot change anything happening in the city, state, country or world.  

But most of all, I repeat, "This too, shall pass." The trestle and the tunnel will end. 

And in the end, while leaning into faith and hope, we will have a changed nature. We will be more empathetic and compassionate for others. And the next trial will perhaps be easier to bear, knowing we got through this one.

 

Halloween

I am really glad to keep traditions going during the pandemic. Traditions and rituals keep children sane. It helps their mental health when everything else is so uncertain. 

Millie was Sleeping Beauty from the dress-up bin, Andrew was Cal Kestis from the Jedi Fallen Order (he had to keep reminding me) (and the fabric came from cousin Aaron's birthday party last year), Ben was a multi-sport fan (that's my Cardinals jersey from high school), and James went back and forth before deciding on Spider-Man from our bin.

We went trick or treating and felt completely safe.  To make sure others felt safe, too, we all wore face masks and I had hand sanitizer in the stroller. Some homes were dark and undecorated or had a message to skip them. Many homes had a bowl of candy out or a table out with packaged treats. We knew of a couple homes where they said we could ring the doorbell. Two neighbors who skipped still had some treats they brought by our house for the kids. They were so nice to do that, because these kids had huge bags of candy.

I've been picking up wrappers for days.  I saw a post online that said if you want to take from your kids' stash, leave the wrapper behind. They'll think they ate it because they never throw those away.

Max is not in any of our Halloween pictures, but he got to see a couple friends that day and I'm glad.

And Millie carried that skull with us. She has tried to put it inside a dress, too, and call it her friend.

Fall Break at the cabin

 October is a great time to be in Southern-ish Utah. Nice weather for hiking, and beautiful aspen leaves. And the cabin wasn't rented, so we got to be there with cousins! 

We stopped at Bryce Canyon National Park on the way there and back for a quick look at the views. Andrew is in 4th grade so we have a free national parks pass.

One day we went over to Grosvener Arch and Kodachrome Basin State Park.

The next day the older cousins and dads hiked the Willis Creek Slot Canyon.

While they did that, the youngest went with the moms on a ride through Dixie National Forest. We saw lots of yellows and pretty views, but I think the brilliant reds and oranges had already faded, and at the top the leaves had already fallen. But the kids love to ride in the side-by-side. Millie and Spencer even got drowsy.

The best part of the cabin is the kids just play and play. They build with sticks by the creek and imagine new games on the big rock by the driveway.  

We roasted marshmallows and played games inside at the big table. We ate great and I read books and talked and laughed.

Vice Presidential Debate

This month the University of Utah hosted the vice-presidential debate, and I was credentialed to be there for our morning shows.

I had to have a background check, and get a Covid test and follow lots of protocol and rules to be in the secure perimeter. Oh, and I had to give myself the swab in my nose and throat to test for coronavirus! That was not my favorite.

I got there before 4 AM to park and then ride the shuttle to the spot with Secret Service and then pass through to the media tent. I was the only one for a while in this huge tent full of desks and TVs and cords. Most people were there that night for the debate (though it never filled up).

I took this photo with the timer. I was supposed to wear the mask, even being the only one there.

Later they made me change to one of their official medical masks. There were boxes of the masks and buckets of  hand sanitizer all over the place. My boss asked me if I felt unsafe but I never did. Everyone inside the perimeter had tested negative for Covid. We all had to have a green wristband.

Here's what Kingsbury Hall looked like as the sun rose. Those risers were all set up for lots of TV cameras and national crews. I met folks from CNN, Fox News, and USA Today.

There were so many signs and banners all over the place. I think they expected more national attention and media pictures of the campus, but it was so locked down. 

They gave me a bag with University of Utah 2020 VP Debate swag on the labels, like these T shirts, cups, buttons, stickers, more hand sanitizer, etc.

I took that picture around 2:30 or 2:45 PM when I finally got home.

More recommendations

Books

News of the World -- I was fascinated by the tale of a man who traveled from town to town in Texas and read out loud newspapers to crowds after the Civil War. It's going to be a movie with Tom Hanks, go watch the trailer. 

Things You Save in a Fire -- Katherine Center. A female firefighter moves to a new city and learns about forgiveness and love.

Happiness for Beginners -- Katheine Center. A wilderness backpacking trip changes two lives.

The Lost Husband -- Katherine Center.. A widow moves to her aunt's goat farm. I like how this author is easy to read but still has these nuggets of good lessons to learn about self and others.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before/PS I Still Love You/Love Always Lara Jean -- the trilogy was really fun and I did not put it down.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan -- I am in the middle of this one and haunted by the footbinding scene, but fascinated by the concept of "Old Sames."

The Hound of the Baskervilles -- such a good classic book. I hadn't read it in years, and am reading it this month for my virtual bookgroup. Some of the details are coming back to me with "ahHA moments (I love a good mystery book)

Rebecca -- same as above! Such a suspensful classic. I'm reading this for my neighborhood bookgroup. A new version of the movie is coming to Netflix soon.

Origami Yoda -- this is a whole series that Andrew loved. Princess Labelmaker, Fortune Wookie, etc. And it has crafts in it as well as the story.

Timmy Failure, Didi Dodo, and Dog Man are all great series for 9 year old Andrew and his love of graphic novels like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians -- I'm reading this series out loud to the little boys at night and they like it. Quirky asides about writing at the beginning of each chapter. Parallels in tiny ways to Harry Potter.

Movies

The Lost Husband -- Netflix. Josh Duhamel did a good job.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before -- just cute, what can I say.

Spies in Disguise - voices of Tom Holland and Will Smith. My little boys loved this when it came on TV and so I keep it on the DVR. A spy gets turned into a pigeon. "Why am I eating food off the ground? And why does it taste AMAZING?"

Fashionably Yours -- Hallmark. A nice surprise to see the guy showing the girl she could stay in the big city and not go to a small town. Background movie while you do something else.

Cloudy With a Chance of Love -- Hallmark Drama. I love/hate seeing how movies and TV shows depict a newsroom or TV station. This wasn't too far off the mark, but I sure would love a wardrobe department and daily catering. And the main anchor was a self-absorbed ham at first, but never a creep or jerk like in other shows.  

Hearts of Christmas -- Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. A NICU story line that was sweet.

The Lost Valentine -- Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Betty White is the widow of a WW2 soldier missing in action for decades. I cried. I've covered a story of a local family finally getting their uncle's remains.  

TV Shows

The Right Stuff -- Disney Plus  I am only through one episode. Some reviews don't like all the focus on the bad stuff the guys did. I loved the Astronaut's Wives Club and I love the early days of the space program. (Seeing it all in Seattle at the museum last year was just so thrilling.)

Fancy Nancy, Sophia, Elena, Barbie, My Little Ponies, Pinkalicious for Millie, depending on her mood. She insists the boys can't watch, too, because they are girl shows.

Star Wars Rebels and Clone Wars -- Ben has been through these series on Disney Plus twice now.