Church – Page 35 – Letters from Home

A smiling Alli

One day when I was in California visiting my grandmother, I arrived at her home to find her waiting for me at the door, holding a photograph.

“You’ll never guess what I found while you were gone,” she said.

It was a photograph of her mother, Alli, which she had never seen before. The only picture we had of Alli as an adult is a very serious passport photo. The newly discovered photo was taken at a children’s birthday party in October 1925. She is sitting among the young children, beaming.

It was a sweet moment for us to see a smiling Alli. I keep a copy of this new photograph on my desk. Lovely.
During this past decade of research I haven’t found all of the family information I had hoped to find, but it’s small discoveries such as this photo that fuel my enthusiasm and love for the effort. In my journal I have begun a list of the “coincidences” that have occurred during this project that have brought new information, direction, and a sense that there are angels helping. I don’t feel peace, but an infusion of energy; I feel compelled to keep working, and even with the dead ends, the work is deeply satisfying.

My book grew after I visited California, but April 30th is my deadline.

I found an interesting article about the value of family stories for children. It seems that the time we take at meals and other family gatherings to share family histories can arm our children with a capacity to face difficulties in their lives. Knowledge of family (and the quality time spent with family to learn it) is “the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.” The stories give the children a sense of place and reminds them of the strength that others have shown. The New York Times article is here. A researcher commented in the article, “The [children] who know a lot about their families tend tend to do better when they face challenges.”

I love this thought. Sharing my family history research can help my children today. They can see that their grandparents faced challenges, succeeded in some things, failed in others, but they were REAL and they were strong.

This article clarifies that the value is not just in knowing facts, but the time spent weaving that family narrative into children’s lives that makes a difference.

Monster Hats

My Young Women group just completed several monster hats to donate to the kids who are receiving chemotherapy at Primary Children’s Hospital. We used my sister’s pattern and tutorial. I was especially proud of our 14 year old Mia Maid President, who worked so hard and was there for every step of the process, from purchasing fabric to making the final stitches. Look out world, this young woman is smart, capable, funny, spiritually strong, and she knows how to make warm, fuzzy monster hats.

General Priesthood Meeting and a New Suit

Our traditional pictures at the front door just before General Priesthood and General Young Women meetings may need to find a new location. It’s too sunny!

We bought Daniel a new suit. The salesman asked him where he was going on his mission. Daniel is compiling a list of things that he’s heard lately that you would only hear in Utah. On Sunday we went to Spring Lake to watch General Conference. There were a lot more flowers than we found last week. We roasted marshmallows outdoors. Grandpa let the boys use hatchets. It was a good time.

As we drove home, Mark exclaimed, “I love spring!” I do, too. I have poppies & irises from Spring Lake to introduce into my flower garden today once the April morning shower ceases. Hooray!

General Young Women Meeting Year 5

Paige and I got to go to the Conference Center tonight to see the General Young Women Meeting.

It was a powerful experience. Even the art in the halls and the smiling ushers were special to me. I was so grateful that Paige and I could have this opportunity. When all of those young women began to sing the opening hymn I couldn’t join them. I just tried to breathe and wipe the tears away as quickly as possible.

I watched the General YW President before and after the meeting, walking about and greeting people. This taught me a lot about her leadership style and her capacity to love. People can teach us even when they aren’t speaking to us. She was just a tiny speck from where we were sitting, but I could see how people reacted to her focused attention and how she maneuvered from shaking hands with apostles to hugging a little 12 year old girl. It is a skill to be able to greet so many people in a meaningful way.

I love General Conference season. When I am listening to the apostles and other leaders, gospel living seems well within reach. Their words inspire me to do better.

A Wonderful Story

I’m at 9,300 words in my grandmother’s history. This week I have written about forbidden marriages, ocean voyages, WWII valor, sacrifice, family traditions, family recipes, and a lullaby. I’ve gazed at baby pictures of people I only knew after they had wrinkles. I have laughed, I have cried. I have seen how my great-grandfather looked in Paris and smiled at his beret. My source materials include letters written in the 1990’s to me, copious notes from Grandma’s stories, photographs that Paige took of photo albums and objects, my great-grandmother’s collection of newspaper clippings and photos, slides that I have painstakingly scanned over the years, and previous histories and careful genealogy work by my dad and aunt. I have had a Finnish letter translated. I have hoarded and identified every photo I can get my hands on. We have done some of my family’s temple work. Whenever I revisit family history, it fills my life.

My mom just finished her parents’ history and shared it with us on Sunday. It is a treasure and I came to love my grandparents even more through the reading of it.

The more I learn, the more I see that Norman Rockwell was painting OUR STORY! That little redhead on the top could be my Mark.

Klondike Derby

Images by Matthew Pettey

Daniel has some great Boy Scout leaders. I’m always happy to see photos of what Daniel does when he goes camping. These photos were taken in January at the Klondike Derby. The weather, which had been so bitter cold, decided to warm up to the 30’s for this camp, for which the mothers were very thankful. Evidently, Daniel wasn’t very cold. I don’t see him wearing a coat in any of these pictures.

I don’t have a good scout vocabulary for trying to comment on these photos, but I hear that Daniel did a good job lashing these poles together.

This was a day of competition among Scouts. Daniel’s patrol won first place overall.

They started a fire, which I think is one of the biggest draws to scouting.

No coat, no gloves. He’s a Scandinavian for sure.

Good leaders. Good boys. Good times. Daniel is so tall!

Gratitude

“I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me… for if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27)

One of my weaknesses is that I deal with anxiety, especially in a crowd. I have been praying to know what I can do to become stronger. A few months ago, I was asked to play violin in church several times and I was invited to be in the Broadway review.

I almost backed out of playing the violin in church because of my fears. It’s hard enough to go to church and sit in the crowd, let alone play the violin for them. Then I realized that perhaps these invitations were an answer to my prayers. Maybe I needed to exercise myself a little bit more to regain my confidence. Maybe I needed to be known by a few more people so I didn’t feel so anxious at church.

“My dear young sisters, you need to know that you will experience your own adversity. None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted, and make mistakes. You will learn [that] through overcoming challenges come growth and strength.

“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2010, 124-27)

My experiences playing violin in sacrament meetings and the musical were not easy. These were acts of faith that required everything that I could give. Richard helped me because he was my accompanist. My friends were a help. Mark prayed for me every time I got up to play. I hoped that the music would heal someone.

Here is a picture of me that someone took backstage at the musical last night. After all of the rehearsals and the new friendships gained through my experiences there, I didn’t feel nearly as much fear as I do in church.

“God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but he shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis

“If thou art called to pass through tribulation…know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:5,7)

“He delivereth and he rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven an in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:27)

Mark has not been healthy all month. A few days ago, he broke out in hives all over his body. We don’t know what caused it. It could be a reaction to an antibiotic or just an over-the-top immune response to a virus. He was miserable. It was scary. It was exhausting. We were blessed to find a good doctor. We feel blessed that he has responded to medication and he’s not covered in hives anymore.

“Though it may seem that you are alone, angels attend you. Though you may feel that no one can understand… our Savior, Jesus Christ understands… you are not alone.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2010, 124-27)

We received some thank you notes this week. For me, the written word is the best gift. This has been a difficult week. I received kind notes almost every day this week, and these lifted me. These people were a few of my angels as they took time to write something.

From one of Paige’s teachers:

Usually a note from a teacher is bad news…not so in this case. I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how nice it is to have Paige in [class]. She is a conscientious student who is consistently at the top of the class. Her behavior in class is excellent, which is very much appreciated. Parents play an important role in their student’s success. Thanks for supporting her in her academic endeavors.

From Mark’s teacher:

Dear Angela, I am so sorry Mark is having this problem. (There was more, but it is personal.)

From the pharmacist, who went to war with the insurance company for me so we could get a medication:

I worked my magic. Have a nice weekend! After I picked up the medication, she said, “Now go treat yourself to something nice.”

From a new friend:

What an angel you are! Thank you for … It really meant a lot to me.
Love your friend,

From ward members:

…You have so much to offer…

and

…The arrangement was lovely and was played faultlessly. Thanks for sharing your talents…

From my sister:

Break a leg tonight! ( or maybe not since you will be on a roof…) I hope you are having a marvelous time!

There were many people who reached out in concern, built us up, prayed for us, and helped us through this big week. I believe there were unseen angels there to help, too.

I believe in angels, miracles, and that faith requires work. Through tough experiences, I learn that that we are loved by our Heavenly Father.

The Infinite Atonement

I read this book because I admire the author, Tad R. Callister and because my mom said that she enjoyed it.

Before I talk about The Infinite Atonement, I need to mention another book that I read by the same author called The Inevitable Apostasy and Promised Restoration. I LOVED IT. The strong organization and eloquent writing gave me a wonderful glimpse into a superior intellect and helped me to understand so much about apostasy in the early Christian church. The author draws upon the works of early Christian writers to show the origins of many modern Christian doctrines. It was a healing read for me.

I knew that the author had written another book, The Infinite Atonement, but I decided to wait to read it because I knew it would be doctrinally heavy and probably emotionally draining.

With the kids away at school and the house a little more under control, I felt like I was ready to bring it home from the bookstore. It was an emotional read. I most enjoyed (translation: wept the most during) the middle chapters about the infinite suffering, love, time, depth, and coverage of the atonement of the Savior. The book is also strong in the doctrine of The Fall and the necessity of the atonement.

I was not presented with a lot of new doctrine, but the book helped me to experience a depth of feeling about doctrines that I had mostly experienced superficially. The author’s strong organization also helped me feel the magnitude of the topic.To complement the words of scripture and apostles, the author quotes from Milton, Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, and others to find mankind’s most poignant words for the Savior’s gift.

During the days that I read this, I would go to choir and I couldn’t sing about Calvary because of my feelings. I found myself sneaking minutes to read here and there throughout the day. That was best, because this book needed to be read in measured doses. The margins are full of notes. It was a good inaugural Christmastime read.

Temple Square Christmas Lights

My mom took the boys on a quick, impromptu tour of Temple Square since she had an appointment downtown.

True, the lights are beautiful, but as my Mom explains, the real beauty is the temple.

Mark really liked the scale model of the interior of the temple that they found in the visitor’s center.

The big photos were taken by Timothy. He was proud of this photo of the Christus statue.

Thanks, Grandma, for taking them to Temple Square! It was Timothy and Mark’s first trip to see the lights and probably the first trip that Daniel can remember since he was only two years old when he first saw them.

I am…

httpv://youtu.be/xhYW_td_n04

…so happy to be a Mormon woman.