I set my handmade snowflakes all over the house. Their delicate beauty reminds me that each person, each talent, each personality trait, and each hour to enjoy them is unique and should be treasured. Happy New Year, everyone.
Words to match the season
Richard and I were awake early Christmas morning when the snow began to fall. It was a perfect Christmas setting. More things than snow affected my heart this year. There were moments of deep spiritual peace, happiness, some melancholy, satisfaction, and searching. Memories had full expression as I nestled in blankets near the Christmas tree. Here are some of the words that have found meaning for me over this Christmas break.
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!-James Montgomery, Angels From the Realms of Glory
With the end of the year comes a lot of introspection for me. I wonder if I am better than I was last year. I wonder if I have contributed enough of myself to others. I wonder if I CAN change my poor habits. It was during some of these thoughts that I really listened to the lyrics of the Christmas Hymn above. “Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great desire of Nations…” I was being reminded to look beyond my plans and thinking and look to the Savior. “Brighter visions beam afar…” With him, all things, greater things than I can imagine, are possible.
…But [she] kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. -Luke 2:19
Timothy was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood just before Christmas. There were 3 generations of family represented in the room. A week later, Paige received her Patriarchal Blessing. This time, past, present, and future generations mingled in the words of her blessing. Each of these sacred experiences I will keep in my heart for a long time.
If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care. -Elder Marvin J Ashton, Ensign, May 1992.
I learned to love several more people in 2014. This required throwing away some of my hasty judgments about their motivations and choices. I was humbled several times as I learned about challenges that they face, mostly in silence. I learned again that loving people is less about merit (mine and theirs) and more about vision. We love who people really are, not the things that hold them down.
And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! -Charles Dickins, A Christmas Carol.
I was a little stretched and had some grumpy Scrooge moments as we were inundated with things to buy and things to bake and places to be. I heard the words of Dickens about the reformed Ebeneezer Scrooge, “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well.” Had we kept Christmas well? I sat down and wrote the things that we did that really mattered. This winnowing of memories helped me to see that we had.
I have many hopes and dreams for 2015. At the close of the 2014, I am so thankful for music, lyrics, literature, family, and scripture that helps me keep the season in proper perspective.
That’s Christmas to Me
Timothy is Twelve
We love this boy.
The year-end photo swap
I’m trying to compile pictures for 2014 and I’m relying on lots of sources to do it. There has been a big exchange of photos among my sisters, a brother, and friends. These are some of my favorite finds this month.
A few of my questions
I am finishing my reading of the Doctrine in Covenants in the next few days. I decided to read with a few questions in mind. In my study of the Book of Mormon I am focusing on other questions. Here are my D&C questions:
Topic: Missionary work
- Am I called to the work?
- How can I share the gospel?
- What are some words of encouragement as I do this?
Topic: Priesthood: What are the differences between…?
- Priesthood keys
- Priesthood power
- Priesthood authority
Wow. I have found some beautiful answers. I have found many answers. I read the D&C this time using the Gospel Library app on my phone and tagged the verses that apply to these questions. I am not very technical, and I was pleasantly surprised on Sunday to see that all of my annotations and tags are saved on my lds.org account so I can access them on my computer and print them, etc.
It’s funny how we think we know everything when we are young. The older I get, the more I see that I have to learn and the more I want to study. Is this what they call the beginning of wisdom?
What do you do?
This is some of what I did last Thursday:
Cleaned the kitchen
Taught Mark about graphing, the Mycenaeans, and possessives ending with -es
Studied
Prepared food
Helped Tim memorize something
Made a dessert for a work party
Stood in line at the post office
Took Mark to the library
Went shopping
Gave 2 haircuts
Hemmed a tux for Daniel
Wrote a letter
Attended a work party
Attended a parent meeting at the high school
Attended a school band and orchestra concert
At Richard’s work party that night a female engineer asked me, “What do you do?”
I replied with a smile, thinking of all I did that day, “I stay at home.”
I guess my simple answer made her worry about my self esteem, so she told me it’s the hardest job in the world to stay at home.
Being respectful of her decision to work as an engineer, knowing that not all people have the option to stay home or the desire to stay home, and not agreeing that my life is hard, I mumbled something like, “I’m not sure about that…” and changed the subject.
These conversations are exhausting. Any job would be difficult if I didn’t embrace it, but staying home is exactly what I want to do and I love it. Maybe I need to frame my answer so people didn’t feel like they need to reassure me while downplaying their own contribution to the world. 🙂
Still, still, still
A few nights ago I stayed up late working on a Christmas gift and felt the stillness and peace that is familiar to me at this time of year. There can be a big to-do about the worldliness of Christmas gift giving, but I find that giving gifts and making gifts (sometimes late into the night) is the best way for me to celebrate the generosity of the Savior. Spending late nights working on projects gives me some quiet time to distance myself from the busy days and to think about people I love. This is why I like to make gifts.
I have a dream of being able to make fabric dolls with sweet embroidered faces. I have poured over books to learn techniques and styles but I haven’t made an attempt to sew one yet.
Many years ago I had a friend whose close family member was dying of cancer. I watched her pain and anger and deep sadness with empty thoughts. I had nothing I could offer in wisdom and empathy. My sympathy sounded tinny when I tried to voice it. She avoided company and conversation, so words were not really an option anyway. I went to a local boutique and found a handmade doll and left it at her home. Years later I received a note from her about the doll.
I have to tell you your kindness to me when my [family member] died was the most amazing gift you could give me. I’ve spoken on grief a couple of times here – go figure!! – and I always bring the doll you brought me as an example of a wordless expression of love when there were NO words that would have made me feel better.
I experienced a lot of pain and had three major surgeries in my early twenties. One time my mom brought me a handmade doll to hold in the hospital. It was the perfect gift when I was separated from my children and had empty arms.
The other day I found some pre-made doll bodies at the craft store and I bought one. I figure that this will be a good entry-level project. It just needs some embroidery, hair, and clothes. This will be the year that I begin to make dolls. I won’t accomplish it before Christmas, but I hope to be a doll maker by next Christmas.
I’ve noticed that children don’t appreciate a handmade doll as much as grown-ups do. I won’t be the weird aunt who gives unwanted, imperfect handmade dolls to her nieces. My dolls will be for people full of cares and worries and pain.
I have a tender list of people who I think could use a doll to hold right now. Did your heart just leap because you know that you are one of them? Perhaps I don’t know what you are going through, but I hope you have a better day today.
A Must See #SharetheGift
Some pretty photos
Our friend Susan came to our home to take some pictures of Paige to be featured in a mini film for From Cumorah’s Hill. These are some of the shots that she took.
