Returning to church

Today we went back to church for the first time in 4 months. I was looking forward to it. We saw dear and familiar faces. We sat in our lovely chapel. 

But I forgot. 

I forgot to pack my Kleenex’s. 

I didn’t even make it past the opening song. The organ music filled the chapel and the song filled my heart. 

We have sung as a family these past four months. 

But the Spirit conquered my soul and I couldn’t finish the song. I couldn’t finish any of the songs.

My full heart crept out of my eyes and washed my face clean of any makeup. 

And there I was without any Kleenexes. Sniffling and wiping my face in public during the Covid outbreak.  

It’s always the music that gets me first. 

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Baby quilts

I have two more completed quilts. The babies are both here. 

Baby Josie Jane was born July 2nd. 

I love the greens. 

This is Birdie Lou’s quilt. She was born July 10th. 

I love the butterflies

I almost chose a lighter thread, but I’m glad I went with the dark. 

Bundled, ready for delivery. 

Happy birthday dad

July 9th was my dad’s birthday. He would have been 87. He died when Boaz was 6 months old. Josh was just 4. They have no memories of him. 

I worked Thursday and Friday. I sewed Saturday. So today I made a lemon meringue pie in memory of my day. It was his favorite. 

Happy birthday Dad. I miss you. 

Covid part 2

Craig has been fully employed as an essential worker. He works at the hospital. I have been considered an essential worker as well. I work as a pharmacy tech in training. I started this new job the beginning of March. The timing was amazing. 

Once school was canceled, Boaz started working mornings at the stake president’s ranch. He has been moving pipe, learning how to drive, learning how to repair and maintain sprinkler lines, fixing fence and other worthy tasks. When Josh was home, he joined Boaz. 

That little job was instrumental in Josh being reassigned as a missionary. He was able to tell the Stake President repeatedly how much he wanted to go back out. We had to transfer Josh’s records from Colorado to Idaho to manage that particular miracle. I think he was a week away from being told no. 

So I just listed out the first blessing. Josh and his mission. 

Another blessing would be home church. We have been having wonderful discussions in the Book of Mormon. This week I noticed particularly the main emotion of the Lamanites - anger. And their focus was on had offended them in the past. They looked for ways to maintain their anger. Huge parallels to what is happening right now in our culture. It’s line we are living in the being offended olympics. Anger consumes people who mob and riot and destroy anything they can get their hands on. Conversely, covenant keeping people focus on joy and looking forward with faith. It is too easy to fall into the trap of anger. We must choose joy. 

Another blessing is having the sacrament in our home. 

These are two handkerchiefs I got years ago for a solemn assembly. They have become our sacrament cloths as well. I can’t describe the joy in our home as our men unite to prepare and administer in the sacrament. 

Today we got to talk with Josh. 

Another blessing. He is able to teach his high school friend, Vicki, over social media. Covid has challenged missionaries to teach in new ways. Josh and his companion are now teaching one of Josh’s dear friends. Never would have been possible without Covid. 

Another blessing. Josh is one of the rare missionaries who has had three mission presidents. Today he told us about something Elder Cook said during a question answer with stake presidents. Mission calls are always a result of revelation. 100%. Sometimes it has to do with where a missionary needs to be. Sometimes it is about a person the missionary needs to find. But it is mostly about the Mission President the missionary needs. Josh has had three amazing mission presidents who have impacted him in eternal ways. 

Another blessing we have been able to have investigators in our home. I guess this one is not directly Covid related, but the missionaries and investigator has witnessed and participated in our home sacrament and Come Follow Me discussions. 

Another blessing. Craig’s brothers and sisters have a weekly Zoom meeting to keep updated with everyone. 

So for the irritation of the masks and social distancing and closed schools and canceled church meetings and all the other stuff. Today I am looking at blessing that have come. And the blessings are magnificent. 

Again

The badge is back on. 

He is ready to finish strong in SLC South. The land of the aunties. He has two aunts, a cousin and a great uncle in the mission. Two uncles are in the valley, but not in his mission. We will be six hours away. It only four or five months. He was super happy to put the badge back on. He put it back on in the stake president’s office. He is in full missionary mode. 

I am so proud of him I could burst. 

Fishing lures

A guy in line at my work saw my earrings. He said they looked like some fishing lures he has. He said he wanted to bring me some lures and I could have new earrings. 

These are some of my favorites. 

Too funny. 

Covid 19

I am required to wear a mask to work at the pharmacy for the foreseeable future.  I am constantly having to try to deal with foggy glasses. I am a bit hard of hearing, so I can’t watch other people’s lips behind their mask to help me understand what they are saying. We are also behind plexiglass and that is an effective sound barrier. I am still slightly claustrophobic under my mask. I have learned how to deal with these irritants. 

By far the worst part of my mask is now I have a cold sore. The mask transferred the cold sore to under my lip. So now I have two. One in a very weird place. I am wearing a band aid under my mask to protect further transference. I hope I am not prolonging the cold sore with the band aid. 

It feels aweful to the touch. I know I am not supposed to touch my face now, but this makes it harder. I am trying to dry it out with Carmax, which usually works really well for me, but the mask traps moisture from my breath. i feel like it counteracts what I am trying to do with the carmax. 

I know it could be worse. There are so many who have lost jobs during this time. 

Since I am complaining, my work has gone the extra mile and has made traveling outside the county punishable by a two week quarantine for any employee. Craig, who works at the hospital, doesn’t have that kind of Big Brother requirement. It goes away in June. Which I am grateful for because Josh heads to SLC  on June 2nd. More on that later.