Week 68

 Dear Scott,

For better or worse, this is the last letter of 2020!  It's also the 68th week of your mission.  We hope you and Elder Brustad found fun and amazing ways to bring the Christmas Spirit this past week.

On Tuesday I took some trips to help the kids get their sibling gifts, and I finished up my last deliveries.  Wednesday was our much-anticipated baking day.  I made gingerbread cookies and cake houses to decorate.  I was going to make sugar cookies, too, but this ended up being plenty to keep us busy.

Wednesday evening was the First Annual Roper Family Zoom Christmas Party.  We started with Pictionary, then karaoke, where we had to make up new words to a Christmas song, and then the gift exchange--and we were all grateful for Amazon and free shipping to help make it happen.  (Benson was super patient, being the last one of the grandkids to open his!)  We were so glad you could join us for the end!

On Thursday I took the kids to the same park I took them to last Christmas Eve, and though the weather was really nice again, the wind was pretty chilly, so we didn't hike around to the pond and cemetery, and instead we (meaning everyone except me) played on the equipment, rode bikes, roller blades, and ripstiks, rolled down the hill, and generally ran around until our (meaning my) ears were too cold.  Then we went to Walmart to get some lunch and back-up wrapping paper (which Santa didn't end up needing).  We were amazed to see that most of Christmas had been cleaned up and there were VALENTINES on the shelves instead!  On Christmas Eve!

(Caytie went back to the car to get me this hat to keep my ears warmer a little longer!  So sweet.)

The kids thought it would be nice to have a fancy Christmas dinner, but I knew I wouldn't want to make it on the day, so I did it for Christmas Eve.  We had ham, mashed potatoes, veggies, French bread, and Jell-O with carrots (a very specific request from the girls), and it was all really tasty.  We followed the Light the World suggestion of going around the table saying what we love about everyone, and decided that will probably be a new Christmas Eve tradition, too.  We read our Nativity book (Luke 2, plus others) and then had the sibling gift exchange, and everyone was well-pleased.  The kids had a hard time actually getting to sleep, but once they did, Santa was able to finish up his work and we were all ready for the next day!

Christmas morning was magical (and thankfully not too early).  Dad was happy with his Revolutionary War outfit, Emma got The Child Lego set, Gracie got a new bike, Caytie got an instant picture camera, Tessa got an RC car, Benson got a lap harp (mini dulcimer), and I got a warm blanket and a Munchkin game.  We have been blessed this year, and it is fun to share our bounty together this way.  Dad made pancakes, and we watched Disney's Soul, which was pretty good, and later went to the movie theater for the first time since maybe last Christmas to watch Wonder Woman 84, which was really good.  (Of course, the best part of the day was chatting with you!)

On Saturday we went to play frisbee golf for the first time as a family, and we (mostly) had a good time.  (Maybe one of your siblings didn't get enough sleep this week.)  I think that now we've done it, we'll do it more often.

On Sunday we inadvertently made a rainbow, so we of course had to take a picture!  Church was nice.  I'm excited for the day when we get to have 2nd hour meetings, but we'll be patient until it's safe.  In the afternoon we drove to Joseph's family's church to see Lily's baptism, and then had dinner with them to celebrate Lily and Joseph's birthdays.  My parents, Melanie's parents, and her two sisters and their families were also there.  It was the best way to spend the last Sunday of the year.

I have loved studying the Book of Mormon with our family and on my own for Come, Follow Me this year.  It sometimes surprises me how much there is left for me to learn from that book, but it shouldn't.  I'm so grateful for this touchstone for my testimony, mostly because of how my knowledge of Jesus Christ has grown because of its teachings.  I am really excited for the next year now, studying the Doctrine and Covenants together. I think the Come, Follow Me program has made our family scripture study so much more engaging and meaningful.  It really has blessed us.  And we've ALMOST got the whole Living Christ document memorized--just some touch up to do at the end.  I wonder if we'll take on a new family goal to replace it.

Have an amazing week, Scott!  We love you!

Love,

Mom

Week 67

 (I didn't get this sent on Monday--sorry!)

Dear Scott,

If I had to sum up this week in a word, it would be "deliveries," which is a good way to spend some time before Christmas.  On Monday I took dinner to the sister whose husband passed away and we visited for a while.  On Wednesday I delivered playdough and candy canes to the school of the boy I mentor each week, which we used the next day in a sculpture/pictionary game (online).  On Thursday, it wasn't really a delivery, but it was the Christmas show for my preschoolers, and I gave them all a Christmas gift, including an ornament they had helped make.  After school everyone helped to get teacher gifts ready--we made hot chocolate on a stick and packaged it up individually for all the MANY teachers of all the kids.  On Friday (my birthday and the last day of school!) I dropped off some gifts another sister had given me to deliver anonymously for her, as well as visited with and gave bread to a sister whose mother had passed away.  On Saturday, Dad and I delivered my portion of Relief Society gifts. (We gave them all a bag with an ornament, a cookie, a face mask [the beauty kind, not the pandemic kind], and a note.)  I had taken the Josephine/Nevada/Royce City route, so it took us about three hours to wind our way through the far reaches of our ward.  I was so glad Dad came with me, for navigation and for company!  On Monday we went caroling and delivered some cookies (as you know, since you were with us on Google Meet!).  So now I only have my ministering gifts and dinner for the Stultzes, which I should get done on Tuesday, and all my deliveries will be complete!

We've had some other holiday fun this week, too.  The schools had dress up days, and one was "wear a holiday mask," which is super 2020, but Tessa and Gracie had fun making Santa beard masks with cotton balls and hot glue.

I took Benson to a drive-through holiday "party" at his school (also so very 2020) where he talked to Santa and got a candy cane.  Then they gave us a map of houses that were super decorated with lights, so we went to look at some.

Our favorite was this one in our neighborhood, synched to music:

The girls loved your idea of the Lego Star Wars nativity, and made one, too.

Emma and Tessa had virtual music concerts.  A 5th grade band teacher has to have a LOT of patience.  (Tessa's in the back corner by the doors.  She's actually doing really well, and surprises us with her sight-reading abilities.)

On Sunday we were asked to do a musical number, so the girls sang an arrangement of "Away in a Manger," while I accompanied, Dad played an obbligato on the viola, and Benson was my page turner.  I was grateful we could be part of a musical number this year, with no other choirs to be part of.  After church Benson and Tessa put a gingerbread house kit together, since the other girls had done one with the youth, and they said, "Hurry, take a picture!" so I did, seconds before it fell apart, the candy was consumed, and the rest was nibbled on and then thrown away.

I also wanted a family picture, so we went to the side of the house to get one, where we discovered our hose faucet was leaking water and needs to be fixed before it freezes.  The Lord works in mysterious ways to help us find leaks on a Sunday afternoon.  That evening we went to the Matheneys for a sing-a-long and to eat donuts--it was a rebellious thing to do in Covid times, but we had a great time.

Back to my birthday!  I appreciate how Dad makes it a special day--he had gifts ready to go when we got up, including a sweatshirt, a mug and mint truffle hot chocolate, and a book about the stained glass window at the Rome Temple Visitor's Center.  He also picked up a mint chocolate chunk bundt cake, which was delicious.  We ate it before we headed out to have dinner with my brothers Jeff (down from Canada for a business trip) and Joe.  We met at a diner by the Dallas Temple which served such delicious food!  Then we stood outside and talked for another two hours.  It was a great day.

Last thing!  Before caroling on Monday, we went to the pond, where Jason Baker had set up Gracie's telescope (since we can't do it very well), and we were able to see the "Christmas Star."  Jason got it so we could see the four moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn.  It was amazing!  I wish I could have taken a picture through the telescope, but all I could get was a fuzzy blob star.

All right!  I look forward to the extra calls we get to have with you!  We love you!!!

Love,

Mom

Week 66

 Dear Scott, 

"Christmas is here, Christmas is here--Grab a friend's hand and yank them near!  It's the best time of the year, yeah, Christmas is here!"

Despite the pandemic, we are filling our time with some traditional Christmas activities, though they're not always traditionally executed.  I helped with the Wylie Way Christmas transporting presents people had donated to a central location for pickup.  We've done several Light the World activities, including making snowflakes out of coffee filters and angels out of face masks to decorate a couple sisters' doors in our ward.  My book club had a book exchange, and I'm excited to read the book I got.  I used the rosette iron my parents gave me for the first time, and after some trial and error, made enough to share and eat ourselves.  The girls' troop had a Christmas party and gift exchange while Dad did their Scoutmaster conferences.  Emma's choir had an outdoor concert, where parents of seniors were invited to designated spaced-out seating areas.  It was their first audience of the year!  On Sunday evening the youth had a socially distanced musical fireside, where Gracie played a Jon Schmidt piano piece.  Immediately afterward my parents held a virtual family meeting for all kids and grandkids about the temple and the symbols (not cymbals--grandpa joke!) found there.  Not exactly a Christmas activity, but seeing all the family at once was great.

On Monday night last week we got the Phone Call that Benson had been in close contact with someone who tested positive, so he had to start his quarantine.  They now give them the option of going back earlier if you're willing to take the Covid test and be strict with mask wearing and social distancing, but he wasn't willing to do that, so he's been doing online school, and will continue until Thursday this week, which is his class Christmas party.  His friend was also  quarantined, so they get on Zoom each day to do their work together, which really helps Benson stay on task.

On Saturday morning Dad, Gracie, Caytie, Tessa, and I, along with the troop, the Cub den, and a Girl Scout troop, participated in a neighborhood cleanup.  We were assigned the areas along the creek at the end of our road.  We got 11 bags of trash picked up, which was good, but the best part was that we found a trail leading into the woody area that led to a circle with tree branch arch entryway, with patio furniture set up inside!  We may be back to explore that further.

I've had some Relief Society things keeping me busy.  Four families moved in this week, so I need to get some more Christmas gifts for them, and deliver the others I have ready.  We had our annual Christmas dinner on Tuesday, though this year we had individually packaged meals catered, which we ate on our laps six feet apart.  (I spoke about "tidings of comfort and joy" and Moroni 7 for that.)  I taught our monthly Zoom lesson on Sister Michelle D. Craig's talk, "Eyes to See." (Her important questions: What should I start doing?  What should I stop doing?)  In addition, a sister's husband, another's father, and another's mother all recently passed away, and Sister Stultz had a brain tumor removed today.  Our whole Compassionate Service committee has moved away, so I need to get moving on getting them replaced, as well as re-doing the ministering assignments--again.

We love you, Scott!  Your stocking is hung by the chimney with care, and we think of you and the good work you're doing daily.  We hope Christmas in Oregon is amazing!

Love,

Mom

Week 65

 Dear Scott,

Yikes--I missed a week of writing to you!  I apologize, but it's OK, because I was quarantined for much of that time, and it was super boring...  (For my own record, on Friday two and a bit weeks ago, Dad and I took a pie to Martha Baker after her leg surgery and visited with her for about 15 minutes inside her home, without masks.  On the following Tuesday, Martha thought she might have pneumonia brought on by her surgery, and went to the ER, and learned she actually had coronavirus.  So using the school's system, we went back to the date we were exposed and counted two weeks and quarantined ourselves.  The rest of the family wasn't quarantined, since they didn't have direct contact with Martha.  She, her mom, and her sister all got the virus and were sick for several days, but thankfully now are only tired from it.  No one here got sick.)

On the Monday before we knew about Martha, Dad, Emma, Gracie, and Tessa left for a Venturing Crew camping trip (with Martha's husband, sister, and nieces [among others], incidentally) in Arkansas.  They knew it would be cold and rainy, and it was, but they had a good time, nevertheless.  They found some caves and waterfalls along the trails, and found a boy scout camp with pavilions to camp under on the rainy night.  They got home late Wednesday night with lots of stories to tell.  Meanwhile, Caytie, Benson and I went shopping for Thanksgiving and to the library before finding out I should be staying away from people.  I made a couple more pies and tarts, and they were for us (not to give away), to the happiness of the kids.

We had arranged with Joe and Melanie to have Thanksgiving at our house this year, and since none of us were showing any signs of sickness, they decided they were willing to come.  I had the kids wash and fold laundry while they watched the parade, Dad took care of all the wet camping gear, and I cooked a turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole, and made cranberry fluff "salad."  The Danielsons arrived with pies, rolls, and veggies and we were ready for our feast!  The weather was so nice, so we had the tables set up for kids outside, but as soon as they got out, they were swarmed by wasps!  It was crazy--they were everywhere and relentless.  I've never seen them do that in our backyard before.  So we all ate inside, and then played games, made apple turkeys, watched some movies, drove RC cars, napped, ate pie (!!!), talked to you, and had a pretty nice day.

I took a picture of the turkey as I put in in the oven, in case I forgot to take any more pictures of the feast--which I did:

It was really nice during that week to focus on being grateful, and posting the things on Facebook, as challenged by President Nelson.  It really is an invaluable tool in living a happy life, even in the midst of a world in turmoil. 

We had church at home, but at the last minute found that they were broadcasting the meeting for the first time, so we were able to watch it, which was nice.  On Monday we got out the Christmas things for Family Home Evening, except for the tree, since we threw ours out last year.  The rest of the week was pretty slow.  I cancelled preschool (just in case), ordered my groceries online, got curbside pickup for my library books, and hunkered down.  It was a cold week, so not a bad time to sit and read, but I missed my daily schedule.  I did get to exercise more (tightly bundled up) and I got all the Relief Society Christmas gifts organized and ready to be delivered.  Dad and I snuck out one day and got some pizzas to bring home for lunch.  Oh, we watched the Temple Square lighting concert and the Millennial Choir and Orchestra concert (both online), and they were both amazing.

On Friday, our last day of quarantine, we were notified that the CDC changed their guidelines for people in close contact with positive cases to only 10 days of quarantine instead of 14--so yay!  On Saturday we celebrated by getting and decorating our Christmas tree, along with running several errands that had been piling up.

On Sunday we went to church (yay!).  That evening was the Wylie Christmas Parade, and Benson's Cub Scout den and Dad's troop were in it.  (No masks were required, and there wasn't any social distancing, so...welcome to Wylie!)  Since I was the only one not in the parade, I stayed home, got in my jammies, and made a giant ginger spice cookie.  They all got home just in time for the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

I need to go pick up Benson and Tessa from their piano lessons, and then make some dinner.  I'm glad your package arrived safely!  We are excited to hear from you again tonight!

Love,

Mom