Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving a week ago Saturday.  Because we had planned on being in North Carolina, these kids had planned on being here early. One of the reasons I wanted to go away is so I wouldn't have to cook. But cook I did. 

I am so grateful that they came. We played games, andnd stitched, and ate. 

I have not cooked much since that day.

Maybe this week. 

7 days of Gratitude

 The leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints asked the world to join him in flooding Social Media with Gratitude for 7 days. This is to help the world heal from so many negative and hateful messages. I must say, that it is a joy to read so many thoughts of gratitude on Facebook. I took the challenge, and focused on Facebook, because you have to have a picture with Instagram. From the 1st minute of this challenge, I wasn't sure how I was going to take seeing all the picture - perfect families plastered all of Social Media. Oddly enough, the only pictures I've posted are of my family. 

 I am going to post 7 things I'm grateful for here. They may or may not match what I post on Facebook, but I  practice daily gratitude anyway, so it is not a stretch.

1  My family, of course. They are light in the dark and joy on the grayest day. This includes all of them, my parents, siblings, Wes, his parents and siblings, my children and their children and all of our nieces and nephews. 

2  My students. Words can't describe my feelings toward them and their families. These little people have been through experiences that I have never even thought of. Their parents have made huge sacrifices to make a better life for their families. 

3  I have a habit of making friends with strangers when we travel. They have shared stories, food and their time with me. I love these memories and have decided that God literally puts them in my path. 

4  Women. Mothers, sisters, friends, teachers, leaders. They are role models. They have shared their talents with me. They are inspirational. They are strong and can do hard things. They make the world go around.

5  All the millions of people who voted in the last election. This election needed all the Votes. Every. Single. One. 

6  Books. I read a lot of different things. I love historical fiction. But I also enjoy mysteries, adventures, romantic comedies, biographies and scriptures. I am in a Master's program and have read a couple of text books recently too. They were awesome, once I got used to a different level of vocabulary.  I read a book on Sundays, you know, a churchy book. I love them all. I wish I had more time for reading. But I am also a believer of balance. It is good to read about the lives of others, but I also need to have personal interactions, hobbies, and work.  

7  Last, and most important. I believe there is a God that loves us. He sent His Son. He has given us Prophets to guide us, but most important, He is always with us. In the beautiful world around us, in the people he sends to help us, and in our thoughts- when we listen in the quiet moments of the day.  May you find peace in Him. 

A quiet week

  After what seems like so much noise about the election, it is so nice to have a quiet week. 

Of course the Corona's are driving me crazy. I go between feeling very safe at work and wondering when one of those germ sharing students will come in with it and share it with all of us. I think I'm the only person I know who hasn't had a case in my immediate family. It is a crazy time to live. Just saying. 

But let's move on. We had our annual Veterans Day celebration this year. We did a drive by parade. The Veterans drove by. The kids waved flags while standing in the snow. 

I have to admit I missed seeing my dad pop up in the slide show at school, so I'll have him pop up here.

My dad joined ROTC to pay for college. When he graduated went to Korea and my mom became an Army wife. After his tour in Korea they were moved around the country. My mom was fearless and left her little town in Utah and rolled with the punches. 

Here are some other Veterans that I'm pretty happy to be related to:

My mother's Uncle Joe

My mother's step brother

This my mother's grandmother with Parker and Verna Richards.

Verna is her daughter. I stand in awe of my great grandmother who had 

three of her sons serving in WW II at the same time. 

Can you imagine?

Three stars in the window. 

Three young men who came home.

Parker served also, but I believe he didn't go to war. 

My dad's step brother, who also went to Korea.

And my father in law, who went to Korea also.

They did what they needed to do, really what they had to do. 

I have a second cousin, who has two boys in the Air Force.

They fly some really big planes and have both done tours in the Middle East. Their families make big sacrifices while they are gone. I guess things haven't really changed that much.

 

Election

The election of 2020 did not disappoint. Let me just say that I'm not a Democrat or  Republican, but my views are very liberal and inclusive. I don't love Joe Biden. But I like Kamala. I really don't like the Trumpster. So here us what I look forward to:

We will rebuild relationships with our Allies.

No more governing via Tweeter and Fox News.

No more calling people names.

A President that understands the Constitution. 

A President with a vocabulary higher than a 2nd grader.

The Republican party needs to sit down and regroup.  They need to rebuild and unify. They need to start, tomorrow, and find a candidate who will represent them. 

I said I would be happy when the election and Halloween were over and indeed, it already feels better. 

And Kudos to my great grandmothers who worked for my privilege to vote. 

Halloween and Masks

I realize that I am documenting my school year during Covid. It feels right. I am blessed to have a good little class this year. They have been awesome.  Our attendance was great this week. It could be that we had the party at the end of the week. 

The weather was beautiful, so we had a little Duck, Duck, Goose.  

I am so happy that they get to spend the day after Halloween with their families. It is a pretty hard day at school.

I don't know what came over me, but I posted on Facebook that if you needed a masks, I would make you one. No one has asked for a mask in months. To my surprise, I  had 30 requests. 

Then, not to be left out, these 2 asked for a BYU mask.

So I made 32 masks yesterday. There was a reason I said it. I know that one of these masks is going to that person.

Stay Safe.