Beneath the Wraps

          I started this blog on New Years of this year.  I was faithful to write every single day – or almost every day.  But when school ended, so did my once-a-day posts.  My focus had to be on Jenna.  And when school started back up, mom’s memory had deteriorated and so I seemingly started spending more time with her (especially when Corey had gone back to Las Vegas – where he is now registered as a permanent resident in the state of Nevada) and so I still haven’t gotten back to one a day. Perhaps I never will.           Kayla and her two children met Jenna and me at my mom’s on the Thursday of Thanksgiving.  I had gone because it was my day and we had already celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with the family on the Saturday prior.  Kayla brought her kids because Bill wanted to clean the carpets.           They had left the hous...

On January 3 rd I created a post called “What I’m Grateful for A-Z” There have been oodles of posts on facebook by a number of people expressing gratitude on a daily basis.  I put these in alphabetical order as well.  Some are the same as my answers given three days after I created this post.  I admire so many of the statements given: Agency: “I can’t always choose what happens to me, but I can always choose how I’m going to react to it” “A great sacrifice was made and a divine price was paid.” “I’m thankful for all the veterans in my life and for all those who have served and continue to serve this great country.” “passion for our freedoms” Education: “this also goes for choice in elementary and secondary schools” “the ability to learn” Guidance: “I am thankful for a living prophet to lead, guide, and direct me” Health: “It may not be the best, but I am grateful I’m not a slave to bad health” Employment: “I’m gra...

The thing I enjoyed most about Thanksgiving was that each year was spent with a different group of people than the year before – not always.  For the most part our Thanksgiving dinners were intimate.  10 -12 people.  Nothing overwhelming like the 30+ number that my neighbor from across the street likes to have.  The more, the merrier – or so is her opinion.  I prefer less people.           Sometimes we would enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays with various neighbors.  Sometimes extended family.  Sometimes just us.  Each one different.  Each one with positive memories.           I recall one year spending it with a couple who had two children.  I think mom and dad had only three at the time.  The movie, The Jazz Singer (the version with Neal Diamond as Jess Robin), had just gone to the dollar theatre.  It was part of a double feat...

My brother added to his Blog a Thanksgiving list in alphabetical order.   He adapted it from somebody else’s Blog – and now I am doing the same. A        Agency         I am grateful for the opportunity to make choices. And for the freedoms that others have (and continue still) sacrificed so that I may enjoy my freedoms. B         Brothers       I have always been closer to the younger one of the two – but both have been examples to me.   Both are active in Church.   One currently serves in the bishopric while the other will never have a calling – yet he serves in another capacity.   Each are on a quite a different journey.   Both remind me of my dad. C        camera         I have always been grateful for the opportunity to preserve memories through photos and film ...