12/10/23

Super busy week getting ready for the ward Christmas party, then digging through insurance nightmares, and now we're all fighting off colds, but the weekend has been cozy and more peaceful, getting to see Anne's madrigals sing at Temple square, being in the temple, and binging on Hallmark movies while I caught up on so.much.laundry. We've had a bit more snow after rain washed away a lot of that first storm, but the last few days the sun has been out again, which feels so nice, even with highs in the 30's.🥶 I LOVE this time of year! It's been so heart-filling to gather--for the ward party (even for the hours of prep!), for concerts, and for celebrating. People are so full of goodness. We had the best birthday visits this week (we try to visit all the sisters the week of their birthday)--first the sweet Sandall's who ALWAYS have such fun attitudes about life. Their lives are tricky with health struggles and lives of changed priorities, but now that they're reveling in great grandchildren, and have seen so much, they have such a good way of laughing at life and enjoying things. Our next visit was to Heidi Bailey, who was just widowed last year, and her widowed neighbor Iris was over for their weekly "Wednesday movie night" where they get together for dinner and a movie. They had us cuddle in on the couches with them, showed us their latest favorite comedian skits and had us laughing & wishing we could join them all the time! Life is SO much better together! For the ward party, Bishop asked our RS activity committee to pull it together, but Tricia is planning Josh's wedding, and we suggested at least putting a new person in charge. We got Stephanie, a new member in the apartments, just moved here from Oregon (ironically, her bishop there was in our GA ward!) after a recent 3rd marriage. She's a bit eccentric, and loves to make a lot of comments at church, and she had never been in charge of something like this, but she had a great vision for a "Shepherd's Night" where we dressed as shepherds, brought blankets to eat on the floor picnic style, and ate charcuterie board style dinner of meats, cheeses, flatbreads, and olives that would resemble food they would've had waiting for the birth of Christ. As such an awkward person myself, I LOVE seeing how we all can succeed in our own ways. Larissa in our ward, also eccentric, but SUCH a hard worker, and so devoted, when she was asked to be our service committee chair, asked if she could do it on a trial basis, because she wasn't sure she was cut out for it. She is one of the new additions to the ward, and has hated not knowing everyone's names/where they lived, so she took it upon herself to make a giant (bulletin board size) map of the ward with velcro nametags that everyone can wear. She has us put them on in RS, and had some ready for the ward party, and she LOVES it! Of course, most of us feel silly, and the older ladies on the back row threaten to switch theirs all around just to be funny, but we are getting to know each other better. Larissa did what she could do, Stephanie did what she could do, and awkward or not, we all bring what we have and we're all better for it! Now, you know our traditional ward, and some people were a bit wary of our party (even complaining to the bishop) and maybe some stayed away because they didn't want to dress up or missed a formal sit-down dinner, but seeing Stephanie be able to succeed at something new because of so many supportive people and hard workers, and seeing bonds formed in that time together was better than any level of fancy. As I alone hunted down the old Christmas trees in the church attic above the stage last week, everything seemed a bit daunting, but once we all got together, with so many hands there to help and so many good ideas, I was amazed at how much we could get done. The decorations and food turned out great, and just sitting around on our blankets singing Christmas carols together brought everyone together in good and happy ways. It was all the picture of Elder Gong's quote: "We come to the Inn as we are, with the foibles and imperfections we each have. Yet we all have something needed to contribute. Our journey to God is often found together." That gets truer to me ALL THE TIME: "Our journey to God is often found TOGETHER." Even a podcast I was listening to about growth mindset said they've found that the most effective way to bring growth is not for an individual to have that growth attitude or belief, but for a whole classroom, or group or community to share the belief that we can grow and progress. It's such a ZION principle, that as much as we may try anything on our own, there is really a multiplier effect as we work together and do a better job of making room for each other. So excited Emily found out she's headed to Santiago Chile next semester, and that they told her on her birthday!! Jane's birthday is tomorrow, and she wants... wait for it... a HERMIT CRAB!!!! Monet's mom did all the research on lowest-maintenance pets, and this wins, so we'll see how pet #3 goes for Jane. Hope you get to have tastes of Christmas there, and know how much we love you!! Love, Mom