Category: Life according to Angela

Favorite Things I Use All the Time

Favorite Things 2018: daily use edition

  • Four Heart Rechargeable Hand Warmer: the reason I can attend church in some comfort. Helps me feel my fingers so I can play the violin, too. (Thanks for the recommendation, Susan.)
  • Native deodorant coconut vanilla scent: It’s expensive but it doesn’t have weird ingredients. (Online, Target)
  • Day Designer planner (Target): I love it for the weekly gratitude section, the big three goals of the week, and a notes section where I keep a weekly prayer list.
  • Voluminous Mascara by L’Oreal: better than Great Lash
  • CeraVe lotion: for face, neck, and hands
  • Cover Girl lipstick #425
  • Pilot Precise Uniball pens (extra fine point): they remind me of my dad and I like a good fine line.
  • Crocs: still the best house shoe. Unfortunately.
  • Post it note assorted flags: I use these as bookmarks, especially in the scriptures. You can still see the text through the clear plastic.
  • Metallic sheen cardstock: for  invitations, gift tags, and handmade cards to make people feel special.

Wonderful, Counsellor

This week’s BYU devotional was given by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I am glad I listened to it. He acknowledged the grief over the tragedy at BYU this week and pointed us to the scripture in Isaiah which lists some of the titles of Christ, “Wonderful, Counsellor…,” with an emphasis on the title of Counsellor. He also recited every word of the hymn, Where Can I Turn for Peace? His words were healing. I learned during his talk that joy is a state of being. Joy is a godly focus, not just happy, fun feelings. He invited us to study the sources of joy spoken of in the scriptures and to share the joy in Christ with others.

After the devotional, I put the letters J-O-Y on the wall. This will be a record that God inspired a prophet today to remind us of joy.

 

I chose these advent calendar scriptures and their order in 2015 for someone who was suffering. This year, I am sharing them online. Here is the scripture Elder Bednar quoted at the BYU devotional:

 

This is the scripture for December 5. We rejoice in Christ.

Missionary message

Daniel (Elder Ross) sends us lots of sunset pictures because they are important to him. So I include them in this post. Here is something he shared with us in a letter this week.

 this week I’ve been studying scriptures about the Savior. I start with one of the prophesies about his birth or life, and then follow the footnotes or chapters as I feel. It’s been so special, and I have a greater love and respect for my Savior. Truly this time of year is a time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
A lot of the prophesies about His birth can be found in Isaiah. Isaiah has some scary stuff for us since we live in a different era and don’t understand a lot of the literary techniques they used, nor are we used to having our mortal destruction prophesied so literally and frequently. But I was struck by two things.
First, many times it says “But His hand is stretched out still” or something similar. In the footnotes, it explains that in spite of [everything scary and destructive], the mercy of God is always available. A lot of people that we have talked to say they feel like God only asks things of them and never answers … We need to recognize that God is a perfect parent. If His hand is extended empty to us, it’s not because it lacks a gift. It’s because His work and glory is to lift us up! Don’t forget that. Men are that they might have joy. The footnote on that “Joy” talks about ETERNAL blessings. We might have moments where we don’t feel joy, but we can be sure that God has greater things in store for us.
Second, the phrase “God-fearing” came to mind. At first, why would we want to be that? He’s a father, and we know that those who rule by fear, well… they aren’t so good. But reading about the people of Ammon, we learn that they did not fear death. They would suffer death in the most distressing manner rather than risk sinning again. I think that’s more what the phrase means. Less fear, and more focus. A God-focused people. Because when we focus on Him, we KNOW that we will be okay. We know that He has a plan that will work for each one of us if we choose it. We don’t need to fear the world because He is on our side. -Elder Ross

 

 

This is the scripture I chose for Dec. 4. Our Savior wants us to be where he is. No wonder life requires so much, and no wonder we need his grace. -Angie

Spring Lake Thanksgiving


New rock walls under rain showed their deeper colors and cleaner surfaces, and with a backdrop of new spruce trees and freshly gathered leaves, vintage decor reminded us of loved ones now gone. Little feet ran to familiar haunts as small hands appeared from below, reaching for good bites to eat. Men discussed the carving of the birds as women finished whipping potatoes and set out fruit and rolls. A cousin confessed she had been looking forward to eating this pie for weeks. Quiet readers emerged from the corners to fill plates before retreating again, and tween cousins, too full after appetizers, chose the smallest portions. Each in turn, we named something we are thankful for. I heard myself say with a cheer and hands held high, “I am thankful for a missionary!” There were quiet declarations and strong, and all were sincere. And just like that, the meal was over, the many hours of labor, consumed in minutes. This year, we didn’t wait to serve the pies.

While parents slept, Grandma gathered children for gingerbread house decorating. And the Christmas season began.

Dark so early, we slowed down as the sun sank and we watched Charlie Brown Mayflower Voyagers and snickered through Snowball Express. This year, we delayed watching White Christmas and visited instead. As we should.

This year, we stayed two nights, cuddled under handmade quilts and fleece blankets, without alarm clocks. Blessed rest.

Home again, the busy task of decorating began, one box, one string of lights after another, until the house was full of cheer. And thoughts of Daniel were everywhere, in the ornaments, the food, and the music. Tears are not incompatible with joy. Tim took an early morning drive in the first snow with a driving instructor, and I mailed my last Christmas package as the post office opened. But mostly, we stayed home, feeling peaceful and bright.

Boulders, a Wedding Crasher, Pimpernel, and White Gloves

A month and a half ago, the mudslide at Spring Lake looked like this. But after more rain, it became clear that this mud was also full of boulders and rocks. My dad is a master with rock walls. The mountain couldn’t have gifted these to a better recipient.

(The family has been trying to dig out trees from the mud to save them.)

 

While the men and boys worked on the dirt and rock project, I organized the library at my parents’ house. The Sanchez family is a family of builders, minus me. I just like to be zen and organize decor.

I crashed a wedding gathering this week so I could see Paige as a bridesmaid at the Salt Lake temple. I sat in the sun on a bench on the south side of the temple, warm and bright, and couldn’t imagine anything I would rather be doing. I didn’t take any photos of the wedding party because I wanted the moment for myself. Plus, I shouldn’t have been there. The less evidence the better.

A friend took me to see this play this week and we ate Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints. Delightful. Except I can’t erase the guillotine scenes from my mind. HOW did they do that?

Mark had a band concert this week and Tim was a guest artist since they needed trombones. Ha! He and his two friends sat at least a head taller than the middle school kids. But he had his own dressing room with pizza. Mark has taken to wearing white gloves when he plays his trumpet. He is pretty dapper sometimes.

Two Weeks of Music


The boys had two very busy weeks of performances, from jazz band to piano recitals and piano concerto performances.  Richard took me to the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera production of Candide because he knows I like Opera.

With two children grown and gone, I see the little things such as reading, the arts, and music are part of my most precious memories. I have no regrets for the resources and time spent on lessons and books.

To watch a child do something well is one of the supreme joys in life. 2018 has been full of these moments. Well done, my children. You bring me joy!

Thanksgiving Wall Hanging

It is finished! It took me five years to complete it. I would work on it a few weeks each year, get frustrated, and put it away. Now I have a folk art decoration that is not my usual style, but I love it. I love Thanksgiving. I love the colors of autumn. I love gratitude in all its forms. I love praising God and feeling his love for me. I love time with my family during this season.

 

Powerful gratitude

I have mentioned that my 2018 planner has a section to keep a weekly gratitude list. Here are some highlights from my gratitude lists for October:

  • the violin
  • acceptance from friends
  • the Old Testament class about Eve, the Fall, and the Temple
  • kitchen is painted
  • large chips and queso with Richard at Costa Vida
  • trip to SLC to look for art
  • Spring Lake home preserved from mudslide
  • my friends at quilt group
  • Tim’s Frisbee awesomeness
  • surprise notes of gratitude
  • family room painted
  • Pioneer Woman chocolate Texas sheet cake
  • my violin students
  • happy missionary letters
  • the smell of apples and cinnamon in the kitchen
  • feeling needed
  • a fairy garden in my neighborhood!
  • Mark’s room painted
  • dinner with friends
  • Someone is willing to carry a package to Daniel’s mission home.
  • Mark honored as patriot of the month
  • listening to Harry Potter audio books while painting with Mark
  • sweet visit with an elderly sister
  • courage to reach out to a prickly pear kind of person
  • protected while driving
  • Truth shines through Book of Mormon passages as I try to make sense of a friend’s struggles with church doctrine and practices.
  • Helaman 14:30-31
  • the Book of Mormon
  • velcro command strips
  • Excedrin
  • 2 band concerts for Timothy
  • writing
  • La Caille in golden fall light
  • sewing with a friend
  • the song from Coco, Proud Corazon
  • Tim playing Rachmaninoff at the recital. Wow!
  • Natalie Arcilesi, our piano teacher
  • Youth leaders and teachers Steve Souter, Roger Christensen
  • Dean Brockbank, new YM president
  • Janine
  • Gisela
  • Reva
  • honestly needing nothing

My heart has been a bit heavy this month with feelings of loneliness, fragility, and rejection. I have had mouth ulcers and possibly toothache. But looking at this list, I can say it has also been a very good month.