Author: Angela

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

War chapters

Sometimes life is going just fine when I arrive at the war chapters in the Book of Mormon and I feel a little inconvenienced. On happy days there is rarely something in these chapters for me, so I read the words and move on.

This time as I have been reading the war chapters, life has been more complicated. “Oh, great,” I thought, “just what I need right now, stories about war.”

I was wrong. I have needed those war chapters during February 2024. I have needed the words of resolve that were uttered during those icky times. Concrete examples of faith. A script for how to face a daunting task. Reassurance that it will all be okay. Heroes. Miracle stories.

The editorial lens of Mormon is fantastic in these chapters.

Joseph Smith is a prophet.

This book brings me unto Christ.

I love it all. Even the war chapters.

Finished Dresden Plate Quilt

I began making this quilt right after Tim left on his mission. I let the finished quilt top sit for 9 months before fixing a problem with the outer border, then there was a major delay having it quilted. I was in no rush to finish it until last week when I just snapped and got this thing done at the expense of almost all of my responsibilities. It is made from scraps from my sewing projects and the fabrics go together pretty well because I like what I like. Each fabric holds a piece of our history.

stitching

I had a friend who did a lot of hand applique work on her quilts. She said she had time to do it as she sat with her husband who liked to watch crime dramas. I cross stitch in the room with the boys as they watch football. There has been a lot of football this winter.

I am also making a baby quilt to hug our grandson when I can’t be with him.

A tender day

Today I have some tender feelings about Tim leaving home again. This morning I helped him carry out a couple of boxes and a duffel bag he is taking to his new apartment and we said goodbye in the dark street before he left for work. I’ve had some tears throughout the day, but I’ve also felt gratitude for the tender mercies that led to this moment.

We’ve loved reconnecting with Tim these past 3 months since he returned from his mission. He is delightful company, so funny and musical and capable, so we will miss him. But hello, since we live close to Provo we will see him soon.

For the first couple of months after his mission he worked some odd jobs, including raking leaves, moving furniture, building shelves, building and selling Christmas trees, and shoveling snow. Since early January he has worked full-time in a cabinetry shop in Provo. He builds custom cabinet doors. This move to an apartment in Provo is more progress in his search for the next right step after his mission.

Tim will attend BYU in the fall, but since he would like a career in cabinetry, he is taking time to explore that career before he launches into college. Tim thinks through decisions thoroughly and chooses his own sequence and pace. This has been his pattern since he was a little boy, and he is a remarkable person because of it.

I am so proud of our Tim.

Work spaces

Sometimes the simplest changes make a big difference. I have been focusing on some of my work spaces and habits.

I realized that if I sit at the kitchen table to study, I am much more likely to write notes and impressions. I am less distracted in the kitchen than when I study on the sofa, so I moved my books to a kitchen shelf for easy access. This is where I begin my day.

I have learned that a single office space for myself isn’t ideal. My adaptable study space in the kitchen is great, but I also like my secluded work space in the basement for writing (complete with a space heater). There is something powerful about a dedicated work area. At this basement desk, I have trained myself to focus on writing only. This desk has some paper, a few pens and pencils, and a stapler, and I am surrounded by books. There is nothing to set up, and I just turn on the computer and go.

I have another desk in the bedroom where I can store important papers and it’s easy to keep very tidy.

One of these days I will reclaim my sewing work area in the basement. What is it about a sewing space that invites clutter?

And yes, if you are counting, I have admitted to having 4 desks in my house. This arrangement is working really well for me right now. 😅