Category: Life according to Angela

Upon the kitchen table

This is what was on our kitchen table this morning:

  • A plant, still sitting in the Christmas pot I decided to use a year and a half ago, “just until I found a different container.”
  • License plates for a new car
  • Ballots for Richard and Daniel, and a new adult driver license for Daniel
  • A trophy for Mark, signifying three years of great concerto performances
  • A note from Jordan High, telling Tim he has been selected as the Instrumental Music Sterling Scholar
  • A packet of information about graduation
  • A college flier
  • A laptop
  • A tray left over from the meal we took to Richard as he recovered from his scuba trip
  • Various place mats in disarray
  • Mark’s James Herriot book
  • A recipe and containers for a pasta salad I am making for a funeral this weekend

I am having a couple of rough days with my health, so I just picked up a few things to put away today. The table is large and can hold all the magnificent evidence of our lives. It’s unlike me to glory in the mess, but I kind of like this one. It shows that we are moving forward.

Recap

This was the week Richard went on a scuba diving trip, the boys played their piano concertos to an audience of two, and our tree erupted into every autumn color. Paige and Michael helped harvest the last apples before the frost. Mark took up baking again, and I started playing Christmas songs on my violin in earnest.

Favorite memory? The concerto performances.

11:30 friends

You may remember my goal this week to call, safely visit, or write to someone each day at 11:30. What you may not know is how hard it is for me to initiate a call. It’s one of the hardest things I ever do. Once we’re talking, I am fine, it’s just getting courage to interrupt someone’s day that’s hard.

Monday, I didn’t think, I just called, and that helped. My conversation with sweet Pat was long overdue and we talked as long as we wanted.

On Tuesday, my 11:30 communication was via email to someone and it needed to be full of details (not my favorite), but it’s what this friend asked me to do. I had missed my window of opportunity to make a phonecall, and moved on. Just before dinner, Anne called unexpectedly, and we ended up talking for a long time about deep things, not business. It’s like my morning laden with details was canceled.

Later, after a borrowed appliance kind of blew up in front of me, I sat at my window and watched the sunset and tried to calm down. Charlene chose this moment to stop by with her mask and a big bag of homemade cookies. We talked in the yard for a long time as the light faded from color to gray. The timing of this visit was angelic.

Today, at the allotted time, before I could pick up the phone, Gisela called me, and we talked for an hour about facing difficulties, the Supreme Court, misadventures in doctors’ offices, and some other things.

I have had more true conversations with friends in three days than I have in a long time. I have only had to dial the phone one time, and Heavenly Father delivered an army.

I have a plan for who I will call tomorrow. She’s a dear. They all are.

It’s easier to love my neighbor when…

…I don’t know their preferences on politics and television shows.

…I stay away from social media.

…I speak to them in person.

…I cease to label them.

…I don’t replay hurtful situations in my mind.

…I use the phrase from Pahoran to Captain Moroni, “It mattereth not,” when somebody speaks in ignorance about me or mine.

…I work on becoming closer to God, and pray for the gift of charity.

…I do something nice for them.

There have been times in my life when I have loved more than I love now, and the key was to be with people, listen to their stories, and do all I could to help them. I have made a commitment at 11:30 each day to reach out to someone, to have a real voice conversation, or to be helpful. I am still struggling to regain my health six months past surgery, but sick or well, I can make a phonecall or write a letter.

Be thou my vision

In the Book of Mormon, Jesus visits the people of the Americas. He teaches His gospel, and gives commandments, just as He did among the Jews. I like this verse,

“And ye see that I have commanded none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.” (3 Nephi 18:25)

Today, I thought about the words, “Come unto me that ye might feel and see.” This is an invitation to a tangible, sensory relationship for the people of the Americas who met him. I like to think it is also an invitation to anyone. As we come, He enhances our ability to feel and see.

He will help us feel His love for us and for others. He will increase our depth of feeling, so we can be better ministers to others and comprehend greater truths.

He will help us see beyond fears, pain, and limitations, and expand our vision for our existence.

As we give ourselves to Him through our obedience, He becomes our vision, the lens through which we see the world, and the heart and guide by which we feel the safe path through the darkness. I am thankful for a Savior who helps me to feel and to see a little better day by day.

Shuffling

Last week we sold our old black 1999 Toyota Sienna. It sold immediately after we listed it, and the emotions caught us a little by surprise. I guess it symbolized the adventures of raising our kids. It was a hassle-free car, with very few repairs needed during the past 18 years we owned it. I gave it a good pat and said thank you before it left our house for the last time.

During the past few months we have sold the van, Richard’s car, and three trailers, but Timothy fills in the spaces with his hobby cars. One of these must go before the snow arrives.

Tim’s Covid cars: lots of ventilation and only room for two people.

Join us for church online if you like

Daniel has been asked to speak in church on Sunday, Oct 11 at 9 am, Utah time. Church is now live-streamed via YouTube, so as different and new as this seems, I am inviting you to tune in to our sacrament meeting tomorrow. (Link to the channel included beneath picture)

Daniel will be giving a brief report on his mission and a gospel message.

Mark will be speaking, too.

I don’t know how long this link will work, but this was the meeting: (link no longer works)

https://youtu.be/IymgXDkpJJA