The Season of Expectation

These pictures are my favorites from the week. We had a lovely time hearing Tim’s concerts and doing Christmas things.

At the beginning of the week, instead of filling my to do lists, I purposely left big gaps for rest. I was a little bit successful, considering it is the season of expectation. I find that Richard and the boys are clinging to traditions a little more this year. “When are we going to bake…,” and, “What Christmas movie will we watch tonight?” Maybe it helps fill in the holes in our family.

Less

This week is music week for our family. We didn’t plan it that way, but there are concerts, lessons, and practice every evening. Christmas carols adorn the air, employ our hands, and fill our souls. With this accompaniment, I find I need less to be whole. This particular season has reminded me that my quest for knowledge and excellence is a little misguided. Alone, these things do not fill me. In fact, I require very little to be truly happy. Family, talking with friends, music, private service and devotion, warm meals, and light are simple needs. I make things too complicated sometimes.

Lessons learned this week

Cinnamon oil does burn your nose and throat if you breathe in the steam while making candy.

True friends find a way to bless our lives, whether we are together or not.

I enjoy having Timothy as an accompanist as I play the violin. He is expressive!

Every Hallmark Christmas movie fits into one of three storylines. And I enjoy them better with the volume down so I can focus on the decorations. Sorry.

Brahms makes a great Santa.

I was a witness to a few miracles this week. God is good.


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

Remembering ancestors

https://youtu.be/yoX88L5Ig7Y

This clip won’t mean much if you have not seen the movie Coco. I didn’t like the movie the first time I saw it, but I now love it.  The look on Hector’s face as he steps on the bridge of flowers makes me cry every time. Because he is remembered.

Our family has a “Hector,” and his name is Jose Sabas Antonio Sanchez. My parents found his grave this year in Merced.

Jose Sabas Antonio’s grave in Merced. All alone – says Joseph S. Sanchez.

I put up the Christmas decorations and realized I needed a new touch this year:

My Great-aunt Susan’s doll sitting on my Great-great-great grandmother Emma Louisa Boyden Ostler’s chair. (1846-1897).

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.