Life according to Angela – Page 2

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. 😅

Work in progress

I am getting pretty close to finishing this little project, which is based on a very famous painting. I know what it will look like when it’s finished, but it’s still a mystery to me how this is all going to come together. What a metaphor for my life.

I planning for a few months of ward conferences, so despite winter telling me to rest, I have a very full season ahead. My first counselor, on whom I depend so much, is carefully watching over her husband in his final days on earth. These years of serving in our stake callings have not shielded us from life’s challenges. My second counselor Susan passed away suddenly in 2022. Among the women in my presidency, which have changed over time, we have faced milestones along with the challenges. We’ve sent 5 missionaries into the world, had 3 children get married, and had 1 grandchild and one great-grandchild born. We have led during a pandemic and experienced two major surgeries with long recoveries. And now, my counselor’s husband is in hospice care.

There are some challenging days ahead, but if I have learned anything through my service, it is that my Heavenly Father will give me the strength to do what he has called me to do. He is doing the same for my presidency and for you.

Predictable surprise

The past few days I have been clearing away Christmas decorations: three trees, hundreds of ornaments, and even more lights. Textiles and decorations have been cleaned, whisked away, and stored. A room suddenly without a Christmas tree is a shock, isn’t it?

We are all in the midst of this cleaning and resetting process after Christmas. It’s both a chore and a relief. With the end of abundance, we are left with a blank space, so symbolic of the year ahead.

The early adult years for our children when they were able to come home for Christmas masked the reality of the change that was always happening. Inevitably, we move beyond one home base. Some traditions fall away each year as we learn to navigate new roles. But the decorations live in a predictable state of repetition.

When we are all together again for Christmas (maybe in 4 years), the same decorations will probably be on the shelves, walls, and the tree, but the time together will be even shorter. Our home will be a brief stopping place for most of our children who will be busy with family life and careers. How predictable, but surprising when it happens. We will be known by some iteration of Grandmother and Grandfather, and not so much by the titles of Mom and Dad.

As I set up and pack away Christmas, I handle reminders of our lifetime, and even those ornaments that I have passed on to our married children return to memory. So many of my Christmas decorations are inherited. I remember what it was like to visit the homes of my grandmothers when I handle their dishes and pretty things. For me, Christmas decorations are family history, and the ritual of seeing them each year helps me remember religious feeling, the innocence of childhood, and our family legacy.

I’ve taken time to pause and look back, and now I am ready for a new year. The Nativities have been replaced by hopeful whites and shiny silver (once I remove the tarnish). Happy New Year! 😃

Things that helped

After reading through my 2023 blog posts, I’ve decided that I want to end the year by listing one daily, one weekly, and one monthly thing that helped me get through a year which was actually very challenging.

A daily practice that helped:

I took the counsel of President Nelson and I kept a journal of impressions that I had while I prayed, and I acted upon those impressions. This created a leap in progress in my understanding of how revelation works and how interested God is in my life.

A weekly practice that helped:

Friday dates with Richard

A monthly practice that helped:

I tried to do a variety of work in the temple. Richard and I were able to complete temple ordinances for several ancestors with the help of our children, my brother, and my parents.

I have also looked over my reading list from 2023 to see where I have been. I have a special shout-out for Charles Dickins’ David Copperfield and Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.

As I prepare for 2024, I don’t have any major resolutions. I do have plans to keep my good habits, while giving myself the grace to just do one thing at a time, including new things.

Wishing you a gentle look back at your 2023, and a hopeful look forward to your New Year.

Love,

6 years

2017: Paige reminded us that this was the last year that we were all together for Christmas. I think I had steeled myself to the idea of not having everyone around, so I hadn’t kept track. In 2017, there were 6 of us, and now there are 8. 🙂

As we opened gifts together, I enjoyed seeing how thoughtful everyone was. Some had created handmade gifts, and others had shopped to find perfectly matched gifts for a sibling or parent.

Whenever I remember that Mark will be on a mission for the next two Christmases, I stop myself. Why rob from the joy of this moment? Plus, having a missionary is another kind of joy. But mostly, I am avoiding all thoughts about this. Mark is my baking buddy, and he has faithfully helped me decorate the house, inside and out. He is a wonderful companion to me.

It has taken some time to draw Tim back into our family dynamic. The transition from missionary to everyday Latter-day Saint is not an easy one, but we saw more sparkle in his eyes during the past week. Don’t worry, he is fine, he is just adjusting to a huge change in his life. I remember Daniel’s post-mission life, and reminding him that it was worthy work to spend time with family. Tim has introduced us to enjoying seafood and a game called Bang. He also gets a funny happy expression whenever we serve rice at dinnertime. 😁 Mostly, we enjoy his humor and his light.

Daniel and McKenna are fun company. Daniel also plays background piano music as often as he can, and McKenna cracks jokes all the time. Mark and McKenna, being youngest siblings, really speak a similar language, and get along really well.

Paige has always been our traditions keeper, gently reminding us of things we do. One evening while people wrapped gifts in private corners of the house, she and Mike watched year after year of our annual home movies. Paige gave gifts of her art, including two children’s books and this precious portrait of Sparky:

Richard and I are behind in our tradition of preparing the annual Christmas video. This is our 20th year making one. Our show is shorter this year because of less family time, but the events are much more exciting and span the world. Richard and I enjoy the time working on this together and remembering the year. 2023 was full of important events, and we anticipate 2024 will be another big year.

Evening walk

I took an evening walk recently, and the neighborhood is a very different place at this hour. (Ha! Just look at the size of our friends’ yard decoration!) I spend 9 months of the year trying to stay warm, and I call that one of my negative adult traits. When I was a child, I was willing to risk a cold face and hands to be outside. I need to be more like that. I have determined to bundle up and take my winter walks whatever time of day I can.

I love walking in the summer, but there is something about the stillness of the surroundings in a winter walk that really calms the soul.

At odds

My mind is at odds with itself, with a portion wanting to reflect on the year and to write, and the other portion focused on my TO DO lists. My writing energy has gone to several church talks during the past month. Since I love public speaking, I realize that this time devoted to writing church talks is a gift.

Someone asked me yesterday if I had ever considered writing a book, because she would like a copy of that book. (So nice, right?) “Only every day,” I thought. I said something dodgy and moved on.

The responsible side of my brain wins, again and again.

2023 Advent Calendars

Today I began delivering my 2023 scripture advent calendars to my friends. The theme of the calendar this year is prayer.

As I made my deliveries, the walk in the cold air and bright sunlight was lifegiving. This year, I am giving a small rock with each advent, so I was carrying a big bag of rocks, but it got lighter over time. 😂

These scriptures are meaningful to me and show what I have been thinking about this year. I’m not trying to correct anyone, but I want to share light.

Grandson

Paige and Mike are expecting a son, due the first week in April. I think this is the most darling ultrasound photo I have ever seen. (Do I sound like a grandma already or what?)