Beneath the Wraps

          There are so many creative posts to facebook lately, and just as many that are hurtful such as warnings to NOT buy products from the Chinese.   Really?   Someone has the odyssey to promote bigotry during these trying times.   I would think the citizens of China have even less to say about their government than do US citizens.   Though there are Trump supporters and followers many Americans are just as offended by his lack of leadership skills or lack of compassion as perhaps citizens of other countries are ashamed.   In China it is against the law to cross the government whereas in the USA citizens have the right to voice their opinions and even criticize the government without being arrested.   This pandemic is not the fault of the Chinese citizens.   They are victims just as much as anybody.   They did not choose to become guinea pigs of some governmental experience anymore than soldiers...

           As a student, for me personally, it was always easier to receive verbal directions than written ones.   I would do the research for whatever class I had online and discover the assignment was very different from my interpretation of what I thought I had read.   So often I would have to change my sense of direction – sometimes resulting in starting from scratch.   I’m finding the same is true with some of the students who are used to being in public school but are online currently due to the pandemic.           On of my daughter’s friends asked if she could come and film herself performing CPR on Jenna.   That is NOT social distancing.   Jenna does not have that same assignment as she is not currently taking the required health class that her friend has on her schedule.   Her friend seemed certain that she would have to practice on another person – which for me sounde...

Jenna has a friend who is somewhat of a rebel.   She likes to push people’s buttons just to see how far she can go.   Or perhaps not.   That’s just how I perceive her.   She’s not a trouble maker, really.   Just likes to bend or perhaps even break the rules that shouldn’t apply to her. On Thursday she wants to have a party for another friend who is moving out of state and across the nation.   Jenna doesn’t know if she will ever see her friend again and would like to go show her support.   Jenna’s a hugger.   She will not even try to keep social distancing.   I tried to relate our circumstances today to the scriptures we read this morning and the thoughts of her seminary instructor, “   Think about what happens when people don't heed warnings and guidance sent to help them. Think about what guidance and instruction you have received in your life ” I related this to the instructions which we have been given to STAY HOME. ...

              Yesterday we hid twenty plastic eggs for Jenna to find.  The Easter egg hunt has always been a  tradition  for her.  She has participated in at least one hunt every year - and it is usually with someone other than us.  But as we are stuck inside this year and I won't allow her to go further than the mailbox, I decided to create a hunt for her.  We had purchased Easter candy a while ago and also included scriptures and other Easter thoughts so we could include the true meaning of Easter as well. Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to. – Jeffrey R. Holland  His Atonement makes available all of the power, peace, light, and strength that we need to deal with life’s challenges – Sheri L. Dew For the Atonement of the Lord and His gift of resurrection—for this sublime message of  Easter  – Russell M. Nelson To understand the meaning of death, we mus...

Since we have moved to Oregon, the first puzzle I remember having put together was this one by Charles Wysocki. It had worked up rather quickly and Jenna wanted to hang the picture in her room.  It was the first time I remember having glued a puzzle. It remained in her room until the move.  And then it broke or fell apart.  We never did finish this one as we had managed to lose a few pieces.  We still have it I think. We have put other Charles Wysocki puzzles together - each seeming more challenging than the one before. The last puzzle we finished was this one and had included  some progress pictures in this post Now we are working on one which appeared it may have been easier to put together but has somehow become more challenging.  characters seemed further spaced on box than actual puzzle frame by itself was a challenge Roland did a good job putting trees together often the puzzle pieces aren't what we thin...

It is very foggy outside.   Thick white air that isn’t even worth my taking a picture.   I have enjoyed seeing fog from a distance – when the clouds have surrounded the hills  across the way.   It isn’t as appealing when it is right in your face.   When I have  to stay indoors due to the Covid, that is all that my eyes see.   Not that Covid  has a color.   It’s the fog that surrounds me that descends upon us  much like the virus.   It is ugly and haunting.   It reminds me of death.  The breath of every bad disease and aftermath of war.      Fog so much thicker and depressing than what is depicted in this photo Tomorrow is the World Wide Fast .    Just in case the link does not work facebook page Worldwide Fast April 10     Truly touched by all those who have joined and comments and posts.   How awesome it is to see how so many have banded togeth...

                When the schools initially closed, the staff had given the students the impression that they would be back in two weeks.   Our governor then sent out the word that schools would not reopen until April 28.   I would hope not.   I would not be willing to return as an aide.   But just a few hours ago it was announced that the governor stated that all schools will be closed for the remaining of the academic year.   Now there’s a shocker.                        Governor Brown did make the statement to have all beaches and national parks and playgrounds closed.   Anyone caught at said beaches, parks or playgrounds (thus far walking path is still available in city parks – but I expect that will change too) before the nation took a stand on closing the parks – probably a week before.    ...

My sister has been posting landscape pics to facebook.  The rule is the landscape has to be a place where she's been but cannot be in the picture.  I posted these exciting pics of my yard in this  post.  Here are a couple more:   Roland got rid of the bush Roland chopped dead trees and I started a pile This is in millsite.   millsite Jenna in photo on millsite path spring is in bloom I doubt I would make a calendar of my backyard photos as it was suggested.  But here are some that I had collected our first year here and made into a calendar as gifts to send to the family.  My daughter-in-law Jeanie had been upset with me because it wasn't a family calendar which would of included the boys, their wives, and babies.  No, it wasn't.  It was a calendar of Oregon. cover August 2015 April 5, 2015 September 2015 Before we had moved to Tri City  April ...

          The world is different now and will continue – I would hope for the better.   Afterall we are all going through the same thing together – but apart.   Some people are using their time wisely and even grateful for the time of solitude.   Others are going stir crazy and blaming anybody who remotely looks Asian for the pandemic.   Really?   Did history Not teach you anything?   American citizens who might have ancestors who lived in China or Japan or wherever.   American citizens who have never known life other than America but because of their skin type are sent away to “camps” for the safety of “real” Americans.   That very thought makes my blood boil.   How dare we cast blame to an entire population who had as much control over the decisions of leadership they may not even be related to.   And even if they are related, so what?   If I learned that I was related to Hitler or At...

Before the Conference Center was built in Salt Lake City, Utah, the conferences were held at the Tabernacle Center on Temple Square.   There was a running joke among the members that we would have rain that weekend because for a long time that is just the way it was.   We could have nice sunny days but each first weekend in October and April we would have rain. I don’t know what the weather was like in Salt Lake this year, but it rained in Oregon.   Not that it mattered.   We’re stuck inside.   Well, Jenna and I did go for a walk around the neighborhood.   The only people that we saw were drivers and passengers of a few cars that had passed us.   It wasn’t a long walk.   I prefer walking in Millsite than our hilly neighborhood.   I am so out of shape. This year conference was not broadcast from the conference center, but rather an offshoot room in the tabernacle – at least that was my understanding.   Perhaps it was the main ro...