A few more memories
Author: Angela
I write so my family will always have letters from home.
Austin
On this quick trip, we focused on visiting just few people and places we knew 20 years ago. The memories tumbled around in my heart as we saw the old haunts, and I felt such gratitude. There were some heartbreaking things we learned and some really happy, full experiences, too. Reunions are often complicated like that.
Behind the scenes
It has been a busy few months preparing for a stake Primary training about temple and family history work. On the day of the training, Paige and I decorated 70 temple cookies, and that was a big job. Thank you, Paige!
Most of the effort to prepare for this evening can’t be shown. Truly, it was not about the pretty cookies. There was a lot of personal and collaborative work. It was a spiritual journey. By the end, I realized this wasn’t “my” training at all. My original ideas for the evening slowly changed to something better, thanks to counseling with my presidency and an enthusiastic high councilor. Answers to prayers came. My small hope for some help from a few temple and family history consultants resulted in around 16 people showing up to teach.
It’s my birthday weekend, and as I look back on my last week of being 47, I can say that it was one of the best weeks. I was with my Sanchez family in the temple, along with Richard, Paige, Daniel, and McKenna. I got to see ordinances performed for people from my own labors in family history research. And towards the end of the week, I believe miracles happened at our training.
Spiritual gifts
I have learned that when I have a big event at church where I will be speaking or leading a discussion, I need to retreat in the hours (and sometimes days) leading up to it. I eat simple foods, and I avoid errands and people. I have spent a lot of time wishing I wasn’t like this, that I could have endless capacity to be with people and lots of energy to do more. But my strengths need stillness to show themselves. It takes quiet to bring order to all that I observe about people and the world. I am always watching and thinking, and I am analyzing behavior and words. I try to think of little things that might be helpful. I love to study and learn. All of this takes a lot of quiet. I haven’t always had the luxury of stillness when I needed it, but during the more busy times in my life, I have learned I can function as an extrovert, too.
I have had to work to understand that my quiet ways are a strength. I admire extroverts! I think they are wonderful.
Maybe you have struggled to understand that your personality unlocks your purpose on earth, or that your gifts are needed, noticed, and enough. I have. And I can tell you that your personality and spiritual gifts are wonderful. Consider their Source!
Dressing up
Happy Halloween! It’s not my favorite holiday, but I have always enjoyed the costumes. Mark dressed up with his friend to go to a Halloween dance with church friends. Cuties.
This wasn’t for Halloween, but I asked Daniel to try on my grandpa’s US Army uniform from WWII this weekend. Wow!
Here is a picture of my grandfather in his uniform.
Did I ever tell you that my grandpa and I got along really well? He had a tough and intimidating exterior, but he also gave me the nickname, Angelina Magdalena and talked to me like a pal. He took me places, Hawaii, Hearst Castle, San Francisco, and good restaurants. I have so many memories, but one favorite was when he picked me up from the Oakland airport and drove me to his house. We listened to his Andrews Sisters cassette and we talked about what his life was like when he was my age. I loved him so much.
One more great video
The angels! 💕
Which one are you?
This film is a depiction of the Savior Jesus Christ appearing to the people in the Americas from the Book of Mormon.
I have three questions for you to think about.
Which person in this short film responds in the way that you would if Jesus came to visit you today?
What do you learn about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ as you watch?
How will you share His love with others today?
A glimpse
The Timothy iteration of Elder Ross is super funny each week in our video calls. He talks about his service in understatements and we have to draw out the things a different missionary might bring up right away. He is serving in Palau on an island called Koror. He welcomes the rain on the hot, hot days, and he is training a missionary and finding plenty of people to teach. His latest video call was interrupted by a little boy (a frequent visitor on his calls) trying to get his attention by stealing his phone and running away with it. There were scenes of a little palm, then ceilings and hallways whizzing past on the screen, and a final interception by another missionary, a hello, and a handoff. This happened twice.
A lot happens during a mission. There are a lot of emotions. There is a lot of heart stretching taking place on both ends of the weekly call.
Children preach
At church, it is children’s sacrament meeting presentation season. Basically, this means that one Sunday a year, our sacrament meeting talks and music are supplied by children. Last Sunday, I attended two meetings where children sang and gave talks to the adults in their congregations.
Here are some quotes that I felt were especially precious and from the heart. (This post will be updated as I gather more during my visits during the next month.)
“Daniel [from the Old Testament] teaches me to surround myself with friends who are brave and obedient.” -boy, about age 7
Speaking of Joseph who was sold into Egypt, “As you have faith and turn to God, you and others [around you] will be blessed.” -girl, age 11
From a girl whose parents divorced recently, “All bad things can become a victory through the Lord.” -girl, age 10
After quoting John 3:16, a girl said, “There have been some times in my life when I have worried about not being enough like Christ, and making too many mistakes, but then I remember that mistakes are how we learn, and how we improve in our lives.” -girl, age 11
With tears, a girl expressed, “When my great-grandma passed away this summer I was having a hard time. Every day before I went to bed I prayed I wouldn’t be sad. Every day I did that, I felt a little better.” -girl, around age 9
“When I show my gratitude in prayer my heart is filled with more gratitude and I feel those blessings more.” -boy, age 10 or 11.
Come in!
I like preparing dinner while this light comes through the windows.
I like Mark’s friends. They are the first among our children’s friends to regularly hang out here. I like the sound of laughter coming from our basement. I like sharing treats with them and having them fill our kitchen. They are funny, so smart, good, and lively.
I like having people of all ages at our house. I keep toys ready for children and food for teens. They also like our video collection. To welcome adults, I have had to let go of concern about what the carpet looks like, or that the floor isn’t mopped, and that I don’t decorate like HGTV, and just welcome people inside. I have changed a lot in my level of hospitality. It is good (for a planner like me) to let go of the tidy plan, and embrace the messy one that allows people to feel loved and allows us to be seen as we really are. Our house has been especially full of friends the past few months. Just saying “Come in!” has a strong effect on friendships.