Week 72

 Dear Scott,

I hope you're enjoying your last week of January, and your last week in Florence, and in the United States, if your COVID test goes well.  Maybe you'll get to serve on the coast again.  I love the ocean!  

I took a screenshot on Thursday to commemorate the 21st minute of the 21st hour of the 21st year of the 21st century.  I'm proclaiming I took it at the 21st second of the minute. :)

On Wednesday the Primary Activity leaders for girls were both sick/in quarantine, so I volunteered to help out.  (That's still one of my dream callings.)  We talked about setting goals for the Children and Youth program, and then played Jeopardy.  Benson basically did the same thing, but with the boys' group.  It's still strange to have only one child attend, and to have all four girls (and Ben) go to Youth Activities in the evening.

Dad and Benson spent some time this week putting together Benson's Pinewood Derby car.  (Dad also helped at least four others cut out their cars.)  Dad had to get creative to make Benson's design come to life, but they were both happy with it in the end--especially on race day!

The race was held virtually, so we logged on and watched as the dens competed.  Benson came in 3rd place for the Bears, but his time was faster than the other dens' winners, so he was hopeful he'd place in the overall race again.  They raced the top three from each den, and sure enough, his car seemed to get faster with each race, and he ended up in first place overall!  He was so happy!  (Dad was so happy, too!)

Right after the race, Dad and I went to the florist to pick up flowers I had ordered for Melissa McCasland's memorial, and went to the church to help set up and practice our musical number.  We decided to do "Ashokan Farewell," since it seemed like something Melissa would choose for herself.  It was a really nice memorial--a great celebration of her life full of service.  I was grateful my eyes were clear enough to see the music when it was time to play.  Her life was extended 10 years beyond what doctors expected of her, due to her other health conditions, and I'm grateful to have known her for those years.

Caytie gave a great talk on Sunday about Divine Nature.  She REALLY didn't want to give the talk, but she gathered up her nerves and did it anyway.  She wrote it on her own and it was excellent, if quiet.

I put the new school pictures up on the desk.  It is amazing to me that 1/3 of my children have senior pictures now...  It's true that you keep growing up.

We love you, Scott!  We miss you, but we're excited for all that you are doing and experiencing.  I miss that you were willing (once you were about 8) to eat every single thing I prepared for dinner (except some zucchini dishes).  I miss your calm, cheerful nature and your peacekeeping efforts. I don't miss the extra laundry... ;)  

Love,

Mom

Week 71

 Dear Scott,

Last week for Family Home Evening we did a cute family tree craft we found on the Gospel Living app, and all we needed were rocks and sticks. :)  On Sunday we did another to go along with "Come, Follow Me," where we all gave a short report about an ancestor.  The kids all found their information on the Family Search website, so it was nice they had a reason to look up stories there. 

Benson competed on the Chess Puzzles team for UIL on Tuesday.  He didn't place in the competition, but I was pleased he was willing to do something that made him nervous.

Thursday had two very high highs and one very low low.  I took Emma to her scoliosis appointment, and after the x-rays, they determined that there has been no change in the last six months.  Since she's done growing, her back will stay as is, and the brace is no longer needed!  She is not straight, but she's acceptable, and she's good with that!  I checked her (and Gracie) out of school for lunch the next day to celebrate.  She wore that brace almost every day since the first week of her freshman year, and is done, with four and a half months left of high school!

(Photo--significance is that the brace is NOT being worn!)

The other great news is that you called to say that you will be heading back to Chile on February 4th!  We are thrilled for you and praying that you stay healthy, and the country stays on track for people to come into it!

The terrible news from that day, which we've already told you, is that I was informed of the death of Melissa McCasland.  (For those who are not Scott reading this, she is a sister in her 40's in our ward who is a good friend of our family.  We spent the 4th of July with them.)  I hadn't even known she was sick, but I knew Fred had tested positive for COVID 19 as of Sunday, and apparently she got it too, and by Wednesday evening she couldn't breathe well and they called a paramedic to take her to a hospital.  By Thursday afternoon, her body had enough and her heart stopped.  She already had fragile health, and just couldn't fight it anymore.  We are so heart broken for Fred, Keith, Shelbylynn, and Sister Rose.  I've been able to help out with planning some of the details for her burial and luncheon for the family (which was yesterday, and is why I didn't write a letter), and a memorial service for her at the church this coming Saturday.

Dad and Benson went to the Frozen Foot campout they've been preparing for over the weekend.  They had to dress and have all supplies (minus the sleeping bags they snuck in) like pre-1840's style.  Dad said he's definitely a novice compared to most of the others there, but they had a great time roughing it, throwing tomahawks, starting fires without matches, watching a beaver get skinned, etc.

Have you been able to read the "inaugural" (for us) Liahona magazine?  I like it!  There is an article by Jean B. Bingham that I've been thinking of.  I was going to sum it up, but here's the quote I like: "Women don't need to wait for someone to tell them what to do with their gifts, talents, and power.  We have the ability to receive revelation for ourselves.  We shouldn't wait to be acted upon; we need to have the courage to act on the revelation that we receive.  Seeking inspiration and responding to that spiritual guidance is evidence that we are drawing upon the priesthood power we have been promised when we keep our covenants with God."

We love you, Scott!  We hope you soak up all the adventures that Florence has left for you!

Love,

Mom

Week 70

 Dear Scott,

I was listening to the Latter-Day Saint Women podcast today, and the guest was Emelia Ahadjie, who joined the church in Ghana in the 80's.  She was employed by the church, and in 1989, she was having lunch with her co-workers (she was the only woman in the office) when they heard on the radio that Ghana was ending their relationship with our church and another one, effective immediately.  Almost right after that, armed guards came into the office to round everyone up, including the mission president there.  Instead of leaving like everyone else, she went into an office and hid.  When they found her, they asked why she was still there, and she said it was because of them--they needed someone to communicate with who represented the church.  So they let her stay and be the liaison.  It took 18 months to clear up the misunderstandings that the government had about the church (mainly that they thought we don't think black people could be saved and that the church was growing too fast and not giving anything back), but she persisted, and the government reversed their position, and now the church is thriving.  She says it has been miraculous to watch the growth, like watching a baby grow up, and now her daughter teaches her Relief Society and her grandson passes her the sacrament.  Her husband was an area authority twice and a mission president.  She continues to work as the Church Communication Director in West Africa, and communicates with kings, chiefs, and others regularly about how the church can help build their communities.  One chief adopted the Light the World campaign for the last two years and reports back to her on how they've served.  It was so good!  I love Africa.

The missionaries came for dinner on Tuesday.  They said their numbers are dropping, because people are being sent to their original assignments.  I'm glad Oregon is such a great place for you, but we're still hoping that you'll get a chance to go back to Chile.  The kids started school again on Wednesday, and hopefully our sleep schedules will be better now.  We need it!  We were getting cranky!

The girls were getting bored on Saturday, so they decided to bake a carrot cake--mostly so that they could put Caytie's little plastic babies on top of carrots, like on the CakeWrecks website.  The cake turned out pretty tasty!

We really enjoyed being invited to watch Kerri and Beau's baptism.  It is always exciting to see people make covenants that you know will help them come closer to Christ.

On Sunday we had our second week of church at noon.  It was also our Ward Conference, which was nice, since ours was cancelled last year due to church cancellations from Covid.  Pres. Monroe asked us to study the Restoration Proclamation, which may become our new memorization project, if we can finish up the Living Christ.  (We have a goal to have that one done by the end of January.)  After Sacrament Meeting, we saw that there were snow flurries in the air, and every kid and many adults ran outside to stand in it and take pictures before it melted almost immediately.  I had a meeting with the Stake Relief Society Presidency, and by the time it was done, all the snow was gone.  But honestly, if that's all the snow we get this year, I'll be happy with that.

Have an amazing week!  We love you!

Love,

Mom

Week 69

 Dear Scott,

It's hard to write about a week that is all muddled together in my brain...

I think this was on Monday, because that looks like enchilada rice on the table, which I made that day.  Everyone grabbed a "writing utensil" and drew on each other's backs, and the one at the chalkboard had to draw what he/she felt.  Suitable dinnertime entertainment for us!

On Tuesday, we started cleaning up Christmas, and Grandma and Grandpa Danielson arrived just in time to help us out!  We got it all put away without falling through the kitchen ceiling, though we did find several items we missed and we clogged the vacuum with Christmas tree needles, but it was nice to have a fresh, clean house again.  We played some games and we went out to dinner at Frankie's, which was delicious (but don't ask Benson, because he wasn't in the mood for anything).  We had some plans for the next day, but it turned out to be super cold and rainy, and no one wanted to venture out, so we stayed in again and played games and watched movies until it was time to take my parents to the airport.  Their flight kept getting delayed, and I found out later that both Love Field and DFW had been shut down earlier in the day for a couple hours "because of Covid 19."  I don't know how that would have shut them both down at the same time, but we're glad they got reopened and Grandma and Grandpa made it home.  Somehow I didn't get any pictures, though. 

(Dad and I stopped at Chic Fil A to get Peppermint Chip shakes on the way home from the airport.  They were so tasty!  We got some for everyone later that week.)

Thursday was the last day of 2020, and it was about 37 degrees with rain all day.  It was for sure a different sort of year.  2021 will also be different, since we're still dealing with this pandemic, but I think we need to be mindful of the things we learned from the past year, and use them for this one.  We've learned new ways of connection, new ways to worship, new ways to learn, and new ways to hope.  We've had more time together as a family, and learned the value of friendships.  We've looked to the past for examples of fortitude and faith.  Now we can look forward with more empathy and compassion and patience.  God is in control, and we have every reason to be optimistic.  But we were definitely ready to celebrate the ending of 2020!  (Which is now officially "hindsight."  Little mom joke for you.)

We had the Palmer family over for waffles for dinner and games.  They have two little boys, so they only stayed until about 9:45, which worked out, because at 10 we tuned in to your mission talent show.  (It was a fun range of talents that were showcased!)  

After your show, we turned on Frozen 2, which took us right up to midnight, so we watched the Dallas countdown and fireworks at Reunion Tower, blew our horns, popped our poppers, threw our streamers, and drank our Martinelli's--and then, to bed!

We all slept in too late the next day.  Of note for Friday--it was Timmy's 4th birthday, and I read a good book.  Tessa started feeling sick with stomach pains, which lasted until Sunday evening.  We were a bit worried about her appendix, but it never got severe, and she only had a slight fever the first day, but her energy was low and she couldn't sleep or eat well for a couple days.  She seems to be all better now, though.  She was able to go to the Temple and Priesthood Preparation meeting the Primary did for her and the others turning 12 this year.  Caytie spoke at it, as the new president of her YW class, to tell them about some of what they do as Young Women.  Now I have all four of my girls in Young Women, and only one child in Primary (which hasn't been the case since you were in Sunbeams, before Emma joined the nursery). 

Now that the rain has stopped and the weather has warmed up, we're taking care of all the exchanges and other post-Christmas things that need to be done.  I'll get your package sent this week!  We love you, and we're excited for Kerri and Beau's baptisms this week.  We pray all goes well for them and you.

Love,

Mom