Author: Angela

I write so my family will always have letters from home.

Presence

I care about having a welcoming home. I have studied design concepts and worked hard to create a home that reflects peace and comfort. Plus, I clean a lot.

In a video I watched recently about home decor, the narrator said that design principles matter, and cleanliness matters, but there is an intangible quality you find in an inviting space. It is the influence of the owner that creates the final impact of a home. It’s their presence. Think of your grandma’s house, or a friend’s house where you feel loved and accepted. These people and their spaces are the magnet for your heart.

Think of the House of the Lord. The decor and lighting are serene and lovely, but this is only part of the story of why you feel good here. The presence of the Lord is behind the stillness, the light, and the ideas that come to your mind.

Think of the room where you spend the most time, or even your desk. What do you learn about yourself by looking at the objects you choose to display? What messages do you convey in this room or space? Can the Spirit of the Lord dwell there?

I want each person who enters our home to feel loved and welcome. I want the Spirit of the Lord to be here. His presence is the piece that makes all the difference.

Found!

Perhaps you’re like me and can think of something that you lost in childhood and never found. I recall a few things that my children lost, and I found one this week as I moved some shelves in the basement. It was a very satisfying moment to reunite this piece to the set.

As I revamp our home after raising children, I remember and remember.

The words, “dismember” and “remember” can be considered opposites. To “re-member” is to be complete again. Recalling the past and reflecting on the fruits of my parenting adventures brings a wholeness to my life that I didn’t expect.

Remembering is also a religious theme. God wants us to always remember Him. It’s a key to being one with Him, complete and whole.

So, how can I remember Him (be reunited with Him) today?

Welcome, Rudy!

Rudy is Daniel and McKenna’s new dog, and he made his first appearance at our house for our Pioneer Day party. He is a gentle rescue dog, and an answer to McKenna’s prayers.

There is a patriotic parade in our future, and as the family collected costume pieces, Rudy was patient to submit to a bandana. 🤩

Gatherer

When I compare myself to others, my life seems small. When I look at my life by the Lord’s measure, I no longer feel that way.

As one who has made a covenant with God, you are part of the house of Israel. You have been gathered, and you are a gatherer. The centuries-long epic story of the covenant people is building to its climax, and you are a key player.

Now is the time when “Jesus will say to all Israel, ‘Come home.’”This is the message of the gatherers: Come home to the covenant. Come home to Zion. Come home to Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, and He will bring you home to God, your Father.

-July 2026 Come Follow Me Manual chapter, “Jesus will say to all Israel, Come Home.”

President Russell M. Nelson has called this gathering “the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it.”

“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”

-Russell M. Nelson

So creative and industrious

My dad made this rock wall to display my mom’s fairy garden outside her kitchen window.

My parents and some grandkids built this shed before my parents went on a mission. This photo is from April. The property is a lot greener right now.

My mom’s quilt in progress

Leslie’s booth at Vintage Beehive in Sandy

During the past few days I have seen some beautiful creative work by my extended family.

My dad celebrated his birthday, so I went down to visit him and get a tour of his 20+ projects on his wooded property. Rock walls, fire prevention efforts, flowers, irrigation, weeding, building, sifting and moving rocks, digging out stumps, extending flagstone paths, revamping the woodshed, and transplanting flowers are just a few of my parents’ projects outdoors. Indoors, my dad keeps busy writing his book. My parents are always in the middle of an audio book. They are working through their collection of slides from the 1970’s and 1980’s, scanning some and discarding others. My mom is taking a piano course to enhance her skills and continues making quilts, and she and my dad are planning great things for the family reunion next month. I always come away from my parents’ house just amazed by their creativity and industriousness.

I also visited my beautiful niece Leslie at her booth within a new vintage shop. Her skill in creating inviting displays of vintage items is a joy to see. Of course I purchased something special from her booth. 🥰 I’m proud of her.