Beneath the Wraps

             I love to sing but was not blessed with the talent that makes others want to listen nor have not taken the time to develop my vocal ability.   I have joined a number of choirs through the years – well mostly church choirs.   I have joined for more to contribute to body count rather and overall I have enjoyed the company. I know I am not the greatest singer and so it is nice to belong to a body of those who do.           I remember my entire family having joined the stake choir when we lived in Kearns.   We performed twice a year as I recall – once during conference and once the first Sunday in December.   The December performance was always so awesome.   There was always at least one song that would tug at my heartstrings and my eyes would moisten as the male voices would soar behind me.             Our choir director...

  I was not on facebook at all on December 31 or January 2.  It was nice.  So many times I have considered removing myself from being connected but there are aspects I enjoy such as “ Come Follow Me ” and keeping connected with the ward relief society and different community pages.  More pluses than negatives if I will allow myself to look at it that way. The only reason I had turned on my computer yesterday was because Roland wanted to send Randy a card for his birthday – which is tomorrow and will not get to him in time if we were to mail it out.   If my computer is opened I will open the internet and dabble.   Last night I saw a notification from a member in the ward who I have bonded with in some ways but do not always choose to read her posts and wish I would have gone with my first impulse NOT to click on the notification but ignore – but it was Sunday and she often does share inspirational messages.   No, last night was a question and answe...

            Nine years ago today I started my blog.  I explained my purpose and the reason for the title.  The next day I posted about New Years – my goal was to give gratitude with every post.  My posts may have started out that way but I don ’ t think I was diligent.  I don ’ t know.  I haven ’ t gone back to reread every post. Toward the end of the year I was more focused on my mom ’ s needs as she had dementia and I highly suspect that my posts did not always reflect that of gratitude.         At the end of the year I had taken Jenna to the library for an afternoon countdown – counting up to 12:00 and blowing horns.   She had wanted to stay up but had conked out by 11:30.      We had gone to my mom ’ s house New Year ’ s Day 2013.   We played games with my sister and her husband.   Jenna played with her cousins.   When Corey called my mom later on she...

            My first daughter-in-law is a lot more creative and frugal with money than I have ever been.  Both skills I am certain that she learned from her mother who was able to make her husband ’ s paycheck stretch among feeding seven children and providing for medical and clothing needs.  I don ’ t know what her dad did for a living, but I highly suspected that there had been struggles.  I, unfortunately, never got to know her mom as she passed two months after Tony and Rochelle were married.            Roland sent each of the boys a check to use for Christmas gifts this year.   I don ’ t like going to the post office in December as it is.   And we always end up spending more on shipping than for the items themselves. Of course this year presented even more challenges.   For the last couple of years we have sent out gifts to Tony ’ s family and sometimes my sister.   ...

  We are all made of many puzzle pieces   some more complex than others.   Some seem near completion but we don’t really know.   Only God sees the entire picture.   He knows what puzzle pieces go where.     Sometimes He will send people into your life to help you find your puzzle pieces   but the picture is never complete for ourselves   why would it be for another?   If I don’t know about all the pieces that are missing from my life or what pieces will make me whole or tie me to somebody else   what makes me think I can see another’s completed picture?   I can’t.     I know I can only see a small handful at best but I’m not an expert who can always figure out how they connect.   I want to be a good friend.   I want to help others feel more complete.   Especially during this pandemic.   We definitely are living an odd era. God sees the complete picture....

          On Wednesday one of our most beloved ward members returned home after fighting a battle with cancer.  I don ’ t know if she had cancer before she and her family had moved out of the ward.  I first learned about it at the Christmas party last year.  She had lost a lot of weight and told her that she looked good.  That is when she sprung the news on me “ in confidence ” .  She said she had told only a few selected people – those who were her closest friends – which I learned yesterday was just about everybody.  That seemed to be her purpose in life – making each person feel as though he or she was her best friend.           I have referred to her as Aurelia in my blog and so will continue with it.   She was the 2 nd counselor in the Relief Society when my family moved to Oregon in 2015. I think she lived further southeast than anybody as it would take her 45 minutes to just ...

          Last week I had taken Jenna to the church with me in order to wrap gifts for some members in the ward.  Another sister had dropped by the church to donate some games – which Jenna volunteered to take home.  I ’ m not really certain how that came about but we did end up with them.         Thursday night Jenna ’ s Sunday School teacher dropped off a candy filled sock.   Jenna added the small sock to our fireplace ; she said it would be for Bonnie.           It turned out to be a really nice Christmas.   Each of us had three gifts beneath the tree plus the two games we dubbed from Santa Clause. Traditionally we will first open our socks.   Jenna passed them out one at a time.   I noticed my sock was bulkier than it had been before I had gone to bed.   Gloves, toffee, a chocolate orange and a notebook had been added to what I had already put...