By definition, milestones are evenly spaced, but sometimes we can’t pace and space events. Milestones hurl past Richard and me as we careen towards the end of the 2019. This decade is ending in a whirl of notes, color, celebrations, and plans. I don’t just want to keep up. I want to enjoy each step.
Hopefully these pictures will help me relive these moments when I have more time, and experience the things I had to miss while I chased a milestone down a different road.
This week, the kitchen table in its 104-inch majesty was our repository for stacks of paper for two Eagle projects, merit badge work, hundreds of wedding invitations, and handouts for 40 women for Stake organization training. I really like what all these stacks of paper represent, and neat stacks of paper, some of them so beautiful, were satisfying to see.
Today, though, I am tired. And I hope I didn’t stuff merit badge cards or baptism guidelines in the wedding envelopes by mistake.
That is all I have today. It’s just a full time. (You may know I hate the word busy…)
Our friends are just so kind.
We delayed my birthday dinner to a later night, hopeful that we could spend more time together. After hearing our plans, one of our sons showed us in a variety of ways that this was not where he would like to be.
My reaction when he asked how long this was going to take was to more fully define a line between us. I dug a canyon with steep cliffs, hungry mountain lions hidden in caves, and a raging river below with my words, and retreated to my bed, so hurt that I considered canceling the evening.
“Why do you say one thing when you really mean something else?” The Spirit spoke to my mind. “All you need to tell him is that you want to spend some time with him for your birthday.”
My opportunity came during dinner as my son slumped in the seat beside me, refusing to enjoy the meal.
“I said a lot of things, but what I really meant was that I just wanted to be with you for my birthday,” I said quietly, leaving out the reprimand.
We walked through the mall after dinner and stopped at the Lego store. When he saw my delight at the tiny baby Lego figures, he carefully pulled the box from the shelf when I wasn’t looking, scaled the canyon walls to reach me, ignored the mountain lions of bad memories, and bought them for me.
I think the Lego sparkle babies were his way of saying what he had really meant to say, too.
Last fall, I attended a presentation by the man who produced this video. He made this clothing to help students understand and appreciate how the Israelite High Priest symbolized Christ. I wonder which detail is meaningful to you. For me, it is the names of the tribes of Israel written on precious stones, borne on the shoulders and over the heart of the High Priest.
Tin Tin has been a favorite at our house for a long time. In fact, I wonder why we haven’t thought to do it before now. It’s delightful when a thirteen year old smiles because of a costume.
This week was the last Court of Honor with Richard as Scoutmaster. He prepared a slideshow of the places the boys have been in 2019 and it was impressive. They’ve camped in snow, rain, desert, mountains, and sand.
This was the last song in the slideshow. (The video is not anything. It’s just the only one I could find with the right version of the song.) It was a sweet goodbye to his Scouts who will move on next January to new leaders.
He follows the family pattern in piano study and academics, but he is an original in every way, redefining independence and ability with his own additions. He moves among yard maintenance, serious piano study, frisbee play, steady service, AP classes, and wood furniture design, all without fanfare. Mix that with a his social circle and this begins to describe Timothy.
These were taken at the National Honor Society induction this week.
Dear Parent(s):
The security situation in Chile became more widespread over the weekend, but it was much less volatile this morning. Santiago is the epicenter of the protests, but they have been reported nationwide. The government rescinded the transit fare increase that triggered the demonstrations, but protests continue.
All of our missionaries are safely in their apartments for the evening and are accounted for. They spent the day gathering extra food and water, preparing an emergency bag, and communicating with their families. If for some reason your missionary was unable to communicate with you today, please be assured— your son or daughter is safe and accounted for. I have relocated several missionaries to lower-risk areas over the past few days and continue to monitor their safety round the clock. I am in direct contact with each of our nine stake presidents who have organized their members to provide extra food and support. They love our missionaries and are caring for them as their own sons and daughters. I am also in regular communication with our area security team, our area presidency, the Missionary Department, and the other three mission presidents here in Santiago. We feel the Lord’s hand guiding us as we counsel together.
Most importantly, I am in regular communication with all of our missionaries throughout the day by phone and text.
Last night I was able to speak with all 185 of our missionaries on a conference call. We sang a hymn together and had a kneeling prayer as a mission. We felt peace and assurance that the Lord is watching over us.
Sister Mitchell and I have appreciated your e-mail responses and words of encouragement. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond to you individually, but we appreciate your prayers and support.
May the Lord bless you,
J A S O N J . M I T C H E L L
Mission President | Chile Santiago West Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
From Daniel:
I’m doing fine. We’re in a calm part of the city out in the edges where everyone is more or less well-off and we have basically a moat and three bridges where bad guys could get in. The neighborhood got together and had guards in all the entrances and patrols in the streets. Nearby neighborhoods are taking similar precautions. The lady in the nearby store is our friend and says we can pass by at any hour to get food or water if things get more complicated. We live 2 houses down from a nice member family. All is well. We’re praying for a quick, peaceful resolution to the disturbances. I think it will be a good opportunity for teaching once we’re allowed back out…people will always be able to receive comfort from the gospel.
I’m safe, the Lord protects His missionaries. Pray for the people,
pray for peace.ELDER ROSS
We are not overly concerned or losing sleep about this, and it’s likely that things will continue to wind down. But I want to remember that this is something we prayed about in October 2019.
Autumn has felt compressed this year because of late colors, vibrant, short-lived, and arriving in unison. There was no gradual unveiling, with colors neatly taking turns on the mountains. This year was a carnival, chalk color run, and confetti parade with all the players on stage at once. Life is like that sometimes.