Beneath the Wraps

      Since I have been married  each ward we have lived in  has  offered a small primary.   When members go out of town  the primary appears to be even smaller.   The primary president had recruited Jaime as  a sunbeam teacher for the next two weeks -  starting the other day.   There were five children in the primary -  more leaders than youth.   They combined the younger children and  older ones for just two classes.   Jaime was not sad to learn  she was not needed after all.

  I remember going to youth conference and taking notes – one or two words at a time.   When I would return to the dorms I would pull out my notes and elaborate on what I remembered based on the words.   I don’t remember things as well anymore and often the words I’ve written don’t ever get made into a sentence or paragraph.   The Roseburg Stake has always had its stake conference two weeks after General Conference. General Conference is great as each talk is recorded and I can return to read or listen, but Stake Conference is not recorded. I have gotten so much out of the virtual conferences rather than in person sitting on hard chairs in a room very far away from the podium.   Each year I have wished the recording would have been available longer than just watching it live.   This year was especially awesome. Only last night’s adult session and the general meeting today were broadcast.   The leadership meeting had to be attended in person and wea...

   Today we watched a YouTube video that my daughter-in-law had sent a link for.   The video itself was only up for two hours but shared the primary program of one of the wards in Syracuse.   The video itself was just over 20 minutes and we were able to watch our granddaughter perform her part along with several others.      Throughout this pandemic I have been quite grateful for the creativity and talents of others as they share parodies or bring so many together to perform in ways that they are not able to do in person such as these   Memories by One Voice Choir ( here ) Chicago’s 25 or 6 to 4 ( here ) Family Lockdown Boogie ( here ) Coronavirus Rhapsody ( here ) as well as many countless others. Thank you to so many who have shared their talents and for the minds behind modern day technology which has made this all possible

          Roland said he wanted to take Jenna to Universal this weekend as it was/is a three-day weekend and Jenna will be returning to school on Wednesday. What?!?!??    Never mind  that we don’t have the money, but the idea of being in a car for over 24 hour drive and just one day . . . no thank you.   I don’t even like going down to Medford which is less than two hours away.   I think the car is to blame for my misshaped body.   Seriously.           A friend suggested to me that I should go to the Circles of Sand in Bandon found here .    I thought it started on Saturday, but the two days left for the summer schedule were the first two days of September which didn’t start until today.           She also told me to go to the “Washed Ashore Gallery ” found here .  Because Roland was looking for a ge...

          I can't even seem to pinpoint the month when Marva and Shelly came back into our lives - or even why. Roland would cram gospel truths down their throats and Marva really did want to learn.  Shelly was more interested in having a father-figure in her life.  Unlike her mom, she is not interested in boys.  But neither of them are in relationships.  Marva is usually quite positive but doesn't know when to give her mouth a rest.  Shelly is too needy and clingy.            I believe the Elders started teaching her in November.  We had set up an appointment in our home.  We were stood up twice when she was having the discussions in our home.  I don't know how many more times she was stood up after they moved her to the church.  In this case, it was Marva who had chased after the Elders rather than the other way around. She begged for them to start teaching her ...

          It is the first Sunday of the year and the year of change as we have dropped an hour.   There will now be two Sunday schools per month, two RS (YM/YW, Priesthood) per month.   Apparently all the organizations except for the primary will meet together on the 5th Sunday.   Primary is still its own separate thing.   Whereas, two hours of primary seemed way too long at times, this one hour deal is like blinking your eyes.   At least that is how it felt today.                     On the first Sunday last year there were 15 children the valiant class alone.   I don't know how many were in the others.   This year we have only two classes: CTRs and Valiants.   There are no Sunbeams this year, and only three Valiants.   Two instructors are definitely needed in CTRs this year - what a wide assortment o...

          Today it was announced in primary that one family has left us already and that another family will be moving Thursday.   We knew the stay for both families being in this ward was only temporary.   But when the first accepted a calling in the bishopric, I was truly excited believing that his family would be living in Oregon for a while - not just only one month more!   What's up with that!   They didn't even say good-bye - I think it was just announced: Oh, by the way.           Two weeks ago there were 15 children in our combined class of valiants. Most of them were visitors.   The amount of all classes combined totaled almost 30.   Today we had 5 in class and 10 in sharing time - and that was with two of the children who are leaving.   Not counting the visitors from two weeks ago, our primary has decreased by a third with the two families th...

            I have the hardest time teaching the old testament to children - the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac or all the lies and deceit that took place and seem contradictory to the message I am supposed to convey.   Yesterday's lesson was on Jacob and the 12 tribes.   The last time our class met, the lesson was on Jacob and Esau.   We related the account of how Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.   Rebecca dressed Jacob in goat skin in order to trick Isaac into giving him the blessing that was supposedly given in Esau's name             It's been suggested that both parents played along as it had been revealed when Rebecca was pregnant with the two that each twin would bear nations but that the elder would serve the younger.   Perhaps Rebecca and Isaac had put on the charade for Esau's sake.   It's still dece...

          Just before we got in the car to come home from church, Jenna had asked me what was wrong.   Evidently, I was wearing an expression of sadness or despair.   Perhaps I should not use quotes as I don't fully remember the conversation, but I'm going to use quotations anyway.   This is only an approximation.           Jenna (playfully joking):   "Are you sad because you don't have choir practice?"           Me (sarcastically;   keep in mind that I DO NOT have a great singing voice and would rather eat than practice):   "Oh, yes.   That must be it"             Jenna: "What's wrong?"           At that exact moment in time, I was dreading money spent wastefully - but I don't wish to share my thoughts with ...

          There is no topic for discussion this week.   No assignment to turn in.   It is the final week and all I have to do is one assessment.   Worked out great as Jenna is off school this week for spring break.   Her spring break is twice as long as any of her friends in Utah. Yesterday, Jenna helped set up for my primary class.   Roland came in and insisted the temperature felt nice.   Nice?   It was too warm.   I could not open the window and so covered the vent with hymn books (as they were   all I could find) Later the primary president nearly praised me for my clever act. I went to the instructors' class.   I don't remember ever having laughed so much in that class before.   It felt nice to share that laughter with those others who attended. I haven't been sleeping well.   I look like a football player w...