Beneath the Wraps

One of Jenna’s favorite places to go is the library.  When we lived in our first house, we would often walk to the library.  But as there is so much congestion between our house and the library where we currently live, we don’t have the option of walking to the library anymore.            There have been times when I have gone to the library without Jenna.  Often it will be in search of reference books to answer a question that she has asked either that morning or some time during the week.           Last year I found myself in the poetry section and had checked out a beautiful book called R is for Rhyme by Judy Young.  Unfortunately Jenna does not share my love for poetry right now.  She gets bored with it.  Even the rhymes which she so often does verbally.  She just doesn’t seem to care for reading or writing in rhyme.    ...

          My church calling at this time is in the nursery.   Currently we live in a mostly geriatric ward, and thus our nursery is not really big.   Five children is the most we’ve ever had – and that was with visitors.           Andrea is an only child. She is quiet.   Doesn’t do much interaction with the other children.   Mostly just stands back and observes.   Sometimes she cries for mommy and daddy – but not too often.   She is easy to watch.                     Aden – no relation to Andrea.   They just happen to have similar names. He was our oldest child in our nursery and has started sunbeams just this year.   He is the youngest of four children at home.   Also very quiet.   But than so is his mom.   Aden plays quietly – occasionally says...

          Jenna loves to clean the church and do volunteer work at the storehouse.   She actually makes a game of it and will stock items on the shelves while I pull merchandise from the warehouse.   Theoretically she’s not allowed in the warehouse for safety reasons.           When Roland and I have gone to the warehouse, he always wants to do the freezer and sends me in the refrigerator to put out fruit, vegetables and dairy products while he does the meats.             We all three went out to the storehouse this morning.   Roland went into the freezer and I pulled boxes for Jenna to open and put away.   She’s most comfortable with the bottom two shelves – though she can reach the third one from the floor.   But there is no way she can do the top right now.   Often it is a stretch for me.  ...

         New Years day (for me) has always been the day for taking down the tree – I am usually sad about seeing the holidays come to an end.  This season we put our tree up quite early.  Jenna insisted we put it up the day after Thanksgiving.  I don’t think I’ve ever decorated quite that early before.           It was a nice day.  The tree was in the shed.  Hauling it out would be no problem as there wasn’t any snow build up in the way of the doors or in the path I would trudge.  I was grateful for Jenna’s enthusiasm and brought in all the decorations for her to choose what and where they would go.           The first artificial tree I remember was in a box.  I don’t actually remember it on display.  It was one of those very old silver ones that came with a color wheel – folks could plug in the wheel of fou...

I have two brothers.   Patrick is two years younger than I.   Corey is nine years younger.   Both brothers are quite knowledgeable in the gospel.   Both are quiet.   Both are very forgiving of others.   Both pocess qualities very much like our dad. Both attend Church meetings each week – but each is on a mission that’s entirely different from the other           The eldest of the two currently serves as second counselor in the bishopric. Patrick is diligent and responsible.   Keeps confidences.   He’s organized.   GREAT father! Coveted husband. A good guy whom people respect.   Did I mention quiet?           I am actually closer to Corey than I am to Patrick.   Corey is an actor.   When he appears on stage it isn’t known how quiet he is when he’s not performing.   Corey is very diligent and responsible.   He keeps confid...

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 ...

                   Every year Jenna’s goal is to stay up until Midnight.   To stay up until Midnight would make her so much more mature than she already is.   Only grown-ups stay up past midnight.   Oh, the joys of getting older.           Each year Jenna has conked out around 10:00 or so – not to mention Roland and I – who have somehow turned into old fogies who fall asleep before nine.   This year I actually made it to Midnight.   Jenna was asleep at 11:30.   Face down on the couch.   It was actually quite amusing.           Roland came in to send her off to bed.   I asked my grumpy little girl, “Would you like to me to wake you in half an hour to wish you happy New Year?”   She mumbled and plopped in bed.   I smiled and turned to my Blog.  ...

          I had once heard a story of a racist who was sent to a burn center for her condition.   Life had dealt her a bum deal.   She was in constant pain. She was bitter. And she made it no secret about how she felt.   She quickly gained a reputation in the burn center because of her ill mannered behavior.           All the patients wore bandages – some more than others...   They were all burn victims.   None was able to escape his or her circumstances due to race, religion, or possession of money. They all had to be treated. In time this women was befriended by another patient who was certainly in far worse shape than she – he looked like a mummy as he appeared to be covered with bandages from head to toe.   And yet he had such a great outlook on life.   He taught her how to cope, to listen, and to live.   She enjoyed their visits together an...