Letter to Jesus

          The first December that I had my blog, I created this post which explains our letters to Jesus.  After a while, I added my thoughts to a journal I take out with the decorations each Christmas season.  The journal had been given to my mom.  I don't even know who it was from - I'm assuming it was left at Christmas time as I recently came across an unsigned Christmas Tag.  Someone had written: "use for personal journal, diaries, notes, recipe, addresses and more."  It was still blank when I retrieved it.  

 I started journaling in 2013.  As I was reading through some of it this year, I came across the letter I had written to Jesus.

                                                Christmas 2013  

                         

Dear Jesus,

       There is so much on my mind, I hope that I am able to express it all.  I wrote a few things on my blog - though not with the full amount of detail.  I would like to express. We have been so blessed this year.  And yet there have been times when I've overlooked those blessings - for that I apologize.

       The blessings have poured out all year, but became more obvious to me in September when so many family and friends rallied around us and mom - who was very much alive and spirited during the summer. Thou had sent her an angel named Harold.  He befriended mom and she finally accepted Alta Ridge as her home.  She was so happy - a far cry from where she was when we had brought her there to live.

      

       We had a family party in August.  Mom did a tremendous amount of visiting.  She truly was excited to see everyone and had rattled on endlessly about how and what she was doing.  A week later she was sent to the hospital and Thou prepared all of us to send her home to Thee.  It's true that we didn't wish to see her go - nor did we wish to see her mind deteriorate to a state of non-recognition to vegetation.  We are blessed with happy final memories of her as she stubbornly made her transition to return to Thee.

       We have all been blessed to be there and to support one another and laugh together as we prepared for mom's departure and funeral. It was frustrating watching her hang on for so long without food or water.  But it was pleasing to see that the dementia was being lifted and that daddy was there to escort her to the other side.

       Thou blessed me with a car that pretty much ran on prayer (see here) Thank you so much for allowing me to take [Jenna] to school each morning and to go and visit mom.  I know the car had mechanical problems; I just hadn't know to what extent.

       I thank Thee for keeping the car alive as [Biff] has taken over and it is now working for him though I have still been reluctant to drive it myself (should I have the opportunity)

       Thank you for blessing my boys with wives.  It is good to see each of them so happy.  [Rochelle, Carrie] and now [Jeanie] are certainly welcome editions along with [Tony and Rochelle's] little [Ester]

       It's so good to see all of my boys so happy.  It has been a struggle for [Biff] and as [Jeanie] has also endured some hardships it is really nice to see the two of them so happy together.  And I thank thee for allowing them the opportunity to marry in the temple right away [unlike Roland and myself; see here]

       Last night was the first time in six years that  the boys were able to visit together in person - all three of them.  The first time that all three boys and all four daughters spent Christmas together.

       [Randy] surprised me, taking over a tradition that had been a part of my family.  One that had been started by my great great Aunt Lucy from what I understand.  When Aunt [Trudy] was no longer able to have the family over on Christmas Eve, mom  took over having it at her house.  And that faded out with the entire family making our social in July - though mom and my sibs have tried to remain with get-togethers during the holiday season.  And now [Randy] has started this for us and his sibs.  How amazing is that?

       The greatest thing this Christmas is having had the opportunity of feeling my mom's presence - something I ironically feel more this year than I did last year when I was with her at her house.  I thank Thee for allowing me the opportunity and for symbols.  Have a happy birthday and thank Thee for Thy example and for Thy gift of the Atonement and for all the gifts that we receive on a daily basis - even the one's that [we] don't recognize. Please help me to recognize [Thy] blessings and opportunities that I too may pay it forward.

       Love,  [LaTiesha]

A Two-Way Gift

          I don’t know how it was that we ended up at Cracker Barrell in 2011.  They have nice gifts and marvelous food, not that we could afford it.  I think we were looking for something unique to send to Roland’s family – particularly his mother.  I ended up finding something for my mother instead.

          Mom had a habit of falling asleep on the couch.  The entire time I had lived with her, she was always hot, but after her encounter with dementia, she would always seem to be cold.  I saw the cape as something she could use as a wrap.  It was a red check pattern.  Her favorite color has always been red.  I thought it would be perfect.  Kind of pricey, though.

          Kayla said she had purchased a puzzle book for her but had been searching for something to go with it.  We went halves on each gift.  We made the cape from Bill, Kayla, Roland and myself and the puzzle book from Jenna and Anna.  Kayla was quite pregnant with Gary.

          We had gone to my brother, Patrick’s, to open gifts.  Mom put on the coat after she opened it.  I never saw her wear it after that.  She said she had worn it to Church a couple of times.  But I don’t know . . .

          After we had her in assisted living, and were cleaning out her house, I had removed it from her bedroom closet at the house and put it in her closet at Alta Ridge, hoping she might wear it instead of her heavy coat while inside  (She had kept her coat on in hopes that she would make her escape from the assisted living facility)  I had written her name and room number on the tag. 

          After she passed, I retrieved it.  I haven’t worn it a lot, but have won it on occasion.  I had it on Sunday.  It is warm.  Warmer than the white coat I left behind - hoping that perhaps one of my daughters-in-law might get some use out of it.  Doesn’t appear to be the case.  But I do know my first daughter-in-law wears the coat that mom was wearing when she was at Alta Ridge. 

          In my next post I will share a letter I wrote the year that she passed away.

Ladybugs and Cupcakes

                "Some cultures believe the ladybug is a symbol of good luck.  Having a ladybug land on you can be a magical moment.  White other insects may pose as a threat to humans, animals and crops alike, ladybugs are harmless and even better: they're beneficial.  That is why so many cultures over the centuries have cherished ladybugs, believing them to bring good luck.  They are good luck to farmers" (Why Are Ladybugs Considered Good Luck?, 2016)"

                My mom and dad had purchased ornaments for their children for each year probably until dad's passing.  I still have many of the ornaments that had been given to me though there had been some that did not make it to my 18th birthday. Adding new ornaments to the tree was a tradition that I had wanted to start with my own family.  For various reasons I hadn't incorporated the tradition until 2013, the first year that each of my boys had a wife.   The first ornament that we purchased were 10 ladybugs.  

                But I wanted our ornaments to have meaning and so researched a meaningful reason for having ladybugs for our tree.  I found some reasons and wrote them down to pass onto my children  along with the ornament.  The following year we each got cupcakes.  If I had thought about it, I would have told them that the cupcake symbolizes what one might get at a birthday party and as we look at the cupcake we should think of our Savior whose birthday we celebrate.

                That was our last year in Utah.  It was the last year that each member of our family got his or her  own ornament.  The last two years we have been in Oregon and have sent one ornament per family instead of one per individual.  See here.

Bibliography

Why Are Ladybugs Considered Good Luck? (2016). Retrieved from Pets on Mom me: http://animals.mom.me/ladybugs-considered-good-luck-5881.html

Bless the Sick . . . What a Way to Start a Vacation

            Ever since we have moved into this ward, the folding doors in back of the chapel have been open to allow an overflow - which I haven’t felt was necessary – nevertheless, it has always remained open until today.  The chapel still felt empty – more empty than usual.

            The second counselor made the announcement that half of the ward was out sick.  I think it was more than half, and had actually never experienced such a thing before – or at least it had never been that obvious.  The primary was supposed to sing yesterday, but only four members of the primary were in the congregation at that time.  My student wasn’t one of them.

            A lot of improv was made – particularly on the part of the primary.  It was announced that the young men and young women would remain in the chapel with their parents for Sunday School.  I could see the panicked look on Jenna’s face.  I told her that she could go to primary one last time if she would like.  I think more than half the youth who were actually present ended up in the primary watching whatever video one of the primary instructors had brought with her.  I think there were ten.  Half primary, half YMYW.

            Jenna hadn’t felt well at school on Friday.  She didn’t seem to enjoy the festivities held on the last day of the year.  Turns out she was dehydrated and has been throwing up off and on ever since.  I was actually surprised that she wanted to go to Church.  Neither one of us realized that only a third of our usual attendance would show.  But I do think she ended up having a wonderful time and forgot about her sickness for a few hours at least.

            I have said to her how sorry I’ve been that her “vacation” is at such a crummy start.  She has had quite a healthy attitude about it, though.  Says she is happy to be sick during vacation and not during the days when school is in session.

            We have one family in the ward with a father/husband possibly dying at the hospital.  I have seen glimpses of him from time to time, but he has never made it through an entire meeting since we moved in over a year and a half ago.  His health has been deteriorating ever since.

            He was in the hospital in the big city of Roseburg but was moved to rehab and was complaining about his back.  One of his daughters commented on how depressing and uninviting the rehab seemed to be.  Been there, done that.  Turns out he has an infection in his spine.  Now he is in a different hospital in the large land of Eugene – Oregon’s 2^nd largest city.  I wonder if the infection in his spine is the sam infection that spread so quickly throughout my mom’s bloodstream – or wherever it was.

            The family seems prepared to let him go.  The drive to Eugene is long, but they have such a healthy attitude toward the situation.  At least the kids are now out of school and they can make that journey together.  Wow.  I’m in awe.

            I’m sorry that this season has been so wicked to so many.  My eldest son tells me attendance was down in his ward also.  He said he and his wife found themselves in charge of the entire primary yesterday.  I don’t know how many children they had.

            I know that if I was in Utah right now, I would be miserable with a sinus infection.  So grateful I don’t have that now.  I like having nature’s humidifier just outside my window.  My breathing has been so much better in Oregon.  Not only is there more moisture in the air, but the air is also clean.  No inversion.  That is awesome!

            My wish is that all people may have a speedy recovery and enjoy good health again.

Wise Men

                Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were left with the baby Jesus.  Three gifts.  We associate this to mean that there were three wise men, but we don’t actually know the exact number involved.  It’s highly possible that there could have been as many as twenty, possibly more.  There could have been several caravans arriving from many different directions.

          In the song “We Three Kings,” we assume that they are from the Orient – which makes sense as it had taken at least two years from the time they began their travel until they reached their destination.  When they finally arrived, they weren’t actually a part of the nativity scene that is often displayed today with the wise men and shepherds attending the same event.  Oh, no.  By the time the Wiseman arrived, Jesus was no longer a newborn sleeping in a manger, but a toddler living in a house. (Matthew 2:11)

          When Jenna was younger, we had read a book about the journey of the wise men.  The story focused on one boy who had the opportunity of making the journey with his father and the company they traveled with.  Sadly, I do not remember the title of the book, but I remember feeling a sense of admiration for the journey that had been made.

          I love stories and lessons involving the wise men, and thoughts given such as “Wise Men Still Seek Him” and the beautiful message tied in with relating their conditions and awareness to each of us.  “The Fourth Wise man” (both book and animation) tells us the story of another who had traveled with gifts not mentioned in the Bible.  These gifts actually never made it to the Christ Child as they were distributed along the way. This video is for just over an hour.

        

          I also think about “The Greatest Salesman in the World” written by Og Mandino.  I love the story he tells of Hafid, a young camel boy who has a strong desire to become a salesman.  He is given the opportunity to sell a coat – a beautiful red coat to sell at whatever price he can get.  It isn’t an easy task.  His very first occasion to sell said coat takes place in Bethlehem  - approximately at the same time that Joseph and Mary have arrived.

          After three days in Bethlehem, Hafid returns to his master, humiliated, unaware of the Bethlehem Star.  His master notices the star.  He takes it as a sign, not that Jesus has been born, but for a different reason. Although Hafid was not a wise man per se, he gave unselfishly, which made him wise. Excellent book.

          May we all continue to follow the wise men on our own personal journeys as we seek His Light and follow Him in righteousness.

Holiday Movies'

      At the close of their broadcast, the anchors held up some paddles and asked the audience to play along on "Which holiday movies are fake, which are real?" and would give a title and brief description.  They gave three titles, two of which I'd seen.  I guessed the other was a fake

      I think I have seen every holiday movie created by Hallmark, Lifetime and Family (before they changed their name;  I think they're called Forum now - although we discontinued cable before then - so I don't know if they actually went through with it or not) except for the last two years.

      Roland gets tired of watching the same movies over and over.  And yet the stations show them over and over.  I've seen all the ones  on Netflix but have watched a few from beginning to end; we have started several but then remember - oh, this one was sappy, didn't care for this one,  oh, this one draaaggeeed big time. 

      I have watched the American Christmas Carol (Henry Winkler), the Muppet Christmas Carol (Michael Cain), Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge and listened to the soundtrack of Scrooge and may resort to watching it on YouTube as I am unable to find another recording.

     

      Jenna likes to play a game called "Verbal Blitz" in which a category is given (sundae toppings, names of cereal, toys, etc) in which you have to take turns coming up with names for said category (caramel, marshmallow, hot fudge; Raison Bran, King Vitamin, Honey Bunches of Os, etc.)  I have since invented my own holiday category.  Name the Scrooge.

      Jim Carrey (2009), George C. Scott (1984), Kelsey Grammar 2004), Albert Finny (1970), Rich Little (1979; he actually did all the parts as I recall) Jim Backus (as Mr. Magoo), 

Susan Luchi (Ebby) Cecily Tyson (Mrs. Scrooge) Vanessa Williams (a Diva's Christmas Carol) Tori Spelling (Carol's Christmas) 

and a rather unique  approach of Karrol's Christmas where Wallace Shawn played the Scrooge, but Tom Everett get's the visits from the ghosts . . .

For mor "Christmas Carol" remakes, see this site.

     

Another Concert

          We filmed the Coffenberry Middle School Band Concerts last year.  I had even posted them to facebook and shared with Coffenberry page.  We also filmed the spring concert.  But by then, Rolands phone would no longer communicate with my computer.  My brother-in-law sent him a chip so that we could download pictures that way, but thus far we haven't seemed capable of transferring the footage from the phone's hard drive to the chip.  Thus we didn't film any of it.

          I was taking still pictures with my camera, though I guess I could have recorded some of it.  To start the program, the symphonic band played "The Star-Spangled Banner"  It was awesome!  They did a terrific job.  They only played four numbers and the beginners played six.  I think half of the "beginners" were students in both bands but with different instruments playing in each.

          I am sad that Jenna has lost her desire or ability to communicate in Spanish, but it did do my heart good watching her playing the clarinet.  Way to go, Jenna!

          She said she felt the need to celebrate afterward.  We went to rip-off Ray's to get a cake and went home and played Spades.  I was 90 in the hole at one point.  I don't think I ever managed to get out.  Roland won by a landslide. 

Forget the TV . . . We'll be FINE Without IT

                My mom read a lot but she also watched a lot of TV.  I think more often when her children gradually started leaving and it was just her at home.  So often she would fall asleep and miss the ending of whatever she'd started out watching.  Sometimes the station would be doing a marathon on Jimmy Stewart or Gary Cooper movies and she would fall asleep during one and wake up for another and always felt disoriented about what was going on.  There are a lot of family jokes about her sleeping habits and the TV.

                Jenna and I are okay with not having TV.  We are willing to forgo having networks.  We already got rid of cable, and now have Netflix.  The greatest part about Netflix is no commercials.  But I could do without Netflix as well.  I would want to keep the monitor in order to watch the DVDs we've collected over the years: most of them are Jenna's.

                We do watch the TV because it's available.  Roland, on the other hand, likes having TV.  He wasn't all that excited when I got rid of cable.  But really, it's an expense that we don't need.  The Internet is needed because of work and schooling.  Communication is a bonus perk.  So we were watching TV last night and a couple of our stations gave us a view of a black bar across the screen.  We only had six stations.  We didn't get ABC but did have NBC and CBS. This morning we no longer have access to CBS.  We now have NBC and Comet.  Oh, joy.

                Cool, I thought.  Perhaps we can spend more quality time together.  Play more games.  Practice playing clarinet, drawing, story-telling . . . but I don't think Roland is going to go for it.  It's been less than an hour since he made the discovery and is going through withdrawal.  I thought maybe the weather had something to do with it.  It has stopped raining, but still quite overcast.   

                We've actually done without aired television before.  We spent a lot of time at the library renting DVD's.  That was more practical in Utah than it is here.  The library is still in limbo, but the selection always seemed quite pathetic in comparison to Salt Lake.  

                The stream of water I posted yesterday became a waterfall before Jenna returned home from school.  

Last night about 4:00 pm pacific time

about 10:30 a.m. this morning

Small Lakes and Streams

       I have gained a better understanding for manufactured houses - which seems to be the most popular type of housing in this area.  Everything needs to be raised off the ground.  There are no basements.  It would be impractical.

       I know I can't judge the whole state of Oregon by the few places that I have been, but from what we've seen so far, flat ground does not exist.  It is during the continuous rain that we learn just where all the dips and unevenness exist. The beds that were nearly dried up in summer are now at a fast moving and wicked flow.

       Here are some pictures that I took today.  This is our backyard  . . . this is the land water behind our house.