Category: Life according to Angela

The Father’s good will

Luke 22:41-42

What was God’s will in Christ’s agony?

Doctrine and Covenants 29:5

I have learned that Heavenly Father wants to give us experiences with his kingdom in our lives right now, not just in the afterlife. The following parables in Matthew 13 teach us how.

Life in the kingdom begins with small acts of faith and becomes a beautiful home, providing shelter and protection from the world. Others will be drawn to it, so all kinds of personalities will be in this “tree.” There is room to sit together and figure out life.

Small acts of faith bring great blessings because God is generous. The benefits of the kingdom impact all areas of life, and can bless the people within the believer’s influence.

The kingdom is the source of joy and will require the sacrifice of all worldly things to attain it.

It’s something we must seek, and nothing compares in value. It will be the pinnacle of life’s labors.

Great pains will be given to gather all, but eventually, only those who choose to obey may stay.

So, in whatever way you are experiencing the kingdom of heaven in your life: seeking answers, finding shelter, rejoicing, sacrificing, repenting, feeling pulled away from your old life…this is all part of the plan to gather you home to the Father.

I know His will for us is so, so good, so let’s hold on together.

Amplify

Here are some of my thoughts from a recent study of Doctrine and Covenants 25.

One thing I have misread in scripture with my modern eyes is the instruction to Emma Smith that her “time shall given to writing.” The Lord wasn’t telling her to be a writer or historian while running a 19th century household. Occasionally, she was to write as a scribe for Joseph. She was also to write in preparation to expound scripture and exhort the church.

I have found guidance and wisdom from this section of scripture all my life. One reason I misunderstood what the Lord was telling Emma was because the Spirit was inspiring me to actually be a writer through these words.

This scripture is still instructive to me. Like it was for Emma, my efforts to write help me learn new things. With this knowledge, I can amplify the gospel of Jesus Christ within my circle of influence.

In writing about faith and sharing glimpses of family life on the blog these past 16 years, I don’t think I’ve expressed anything new. However, I have come to see truth more clearly, so I have “learn[ed] much!”

pen pal

I have a sort of pen pal that I exchange texts with once a week. This friend is a neighbor and I see her often, but there is something special about those Saturday check-in texts. For years we have shared a range of ideas, from little experiences to really important milestones.

Here is something that I wrote to my pen pal recently. This is an example of how sharing a story in writing helped me find a lesson from the experience and a flaw in my thinking.

Normally, when I talk to homeschool moms, they are not interested in anything I have to offer, including books that I am willing to give away. I pulled many homeschool books from my shelves this month to donate to DI, but decided to send photos of the books to some homeschool friends first. Within seconds, some claimed books via text, and within an hour, most of them were collected from the house. It took my breath away to see so many of my treasures leave the house, but it felt good to see that they will be appreciated in their new homes. The lesson for me is that the photos of the books, sent via text, were more effective than an open invitation to come take some books anytime. It seems obvious now, but I spent a lot of time thinking people weren’t interested. They just needed details and a deadline. 😄

Thinking about This

I am making some changes this year for Easter at home. There will be more music of the season. I will place a wreath with the purple banner (above) on the front door. We’ll keep the tradition of tiny reminders and scripture readings during Holy Week.

There will be some Christ-centered celebratory decor to remind us of His Atonement and Resurrection.

And of course, we will keep our tradition of a special Easter dinner with our children. There are a few more personal things I will do, and I am looking forward to a great celebration.

learning, impact, independence, beauty

La Petite Maison shop

Studying personality types is interesting to me. I have learned that a perfect day for my personality will involve studying and writing, listening and advising, having a project to work on independently, and some beauty for the senses.

Richard went on an overnight trip with the young men over the weekend. I wanted to avoid my usual pattern of desolately cleaning the house and watching a movie while he was away. So, I planned a weekend of writing, making gifts, eating out, and exploring an antique shop. Becky and Sarah joined me for lunch and shopping. Our time together was so good.

I never got around to cleaning, but I fed my fundamental needs for learning, impact, independence, and beauty.

Weakness to strength

One of the things I did in 2013 was play in the stake musical production. Here I am with Tevye playing Tradition! from Fiddler on the Roof. 🔥

As I paged through a journal I wrote in 2013, I was amazed at the things I did that year. All of our children were still living at home, so beyond the things I recorded in the journal, there were so many meals, so much laundry, and so much driving. One line stands out to me from this journal,

“My favorite sin right now is haste.”

By “haste” I meant that I didn’t take enough time to be still.

In 2025, haste is no longer a favorite sin. I have been given the gift to be still. True, I have less laundry and cooking to do now, but there are a few more dominant forces during the last 12 years that taught me to slow down.

Saying goodbye to Tim, 2021

First, the years of decision arrived for our children with college, missions, marriage, and beyond. I realized that the most important thing I can do for my children is pray for them. And when they ask for advice, I need an arsenal of inspired wisdom. I choose stillness so I can feel assurances of peace concerning my children and to help my children.

In the hospital, 2020

Second, I had poor health for an extended time which taught me to slow down. I was forced to stop filling my life with non-essentials. I learned to sit on the couch and listen to my family. I didn’t miss being busy, so as my health returned, I remained more present and unhurried.

The women who served with me 2019-2024

Third, I had church callings that stretched me to study deeply. We had unprecedented and perplexing issues to handle, so I had to be still so I could see the path forward. I was perplexed so often that stillness became a habit.

This exercise of looking back over 12 years of personal growth shows me that my Father in Heaven works through many means to help me change. He wasn’t the cause of my difficulties, but he helped me to use these obstacles as stepping stones toward rest.

…my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

-Ether 12:27

Unlikely Texas souvenirs

Richard and I made a trip to Texas a few years ago to visit our old home. Poor weather and sad news hounded us in many places we went. Defeated, we stopped in Georgetown during a deluge of rain and I waded into an antique shop, my feet soaking wet through my shoes. I was pretty down, and made myself buy something I would want if I were feeling happier. I chose three framed Currier and Ives prints of winter scenes. Perhaps the snow, which I don’t associate with Texas, was the reason I bought them. Our forever home is a snowy place.

We loved our years in Texas, but on this trip especially, it was clear that you can never recreate the past. And like these sentimental prints, my memories of Austin are a little idealized, preserved in a few printed images, and the people bring them to life!

Something to last a long time

This is one of the baby quilts I am working on. The flowers are hand stitched (English paper piecing method) and appliqued by hand to the white fabric. This probably represents 35-40 hours of work so far.

During the past couple of weeks, I have spent more time than usual working on quilts. I have a monthly meeting of friends where we sew (and talk!) through the afternoon, and normally, this is the only time I give to sewing. This month, being more confined indoors, I have pushed forward with my work on 3 baby quilts in my free hours.

The work that goes into most quilts is significant, so they are gifts from the heart. Jenny Doan wrote this about the journey that a quilt will make in its lifetime,

Quilts have the potential to outlive you by generations. You don’t have to worry about the life they live, or what you planned for them. They’ll find their way. Quilts, like children, may not lead the life you intended, but trust me, they will find a path–and chances are, they’ll change lives as they do.

-Jenny Doan, How to Stitch an American Dream

I enjoyed Jenny Doan’s book. She is the queen of quite an empire and she has a great story.

The Lord’s wisdom is greater

I taught my gospel doctrine lesson on Sunday. I think the discussion was good, but I was prepared to discuss more. This calling at church requires me to let go of plans because class members are so eager to contribute ideas that we don’t have time to talk about every principle in the reading. It’s a good problem to have, right?

Here are a couple of concepts that we didn’t have time to discuss.

First, Satan’s tactics:

Cunning: the use of artifice to accomplish a purpose, rather than open, candid, or direct means; fraudulent skill or dexterity.

Flatter: to soothe by praise; to gratify self-love by praise…or by anything that exalts him in his own estimation or confirms his good opinion of himself.

Stir: to agitate, bring to debate; to instigate by inflaming passions.

-Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

And, God’s wisdom:

I really wanted to talk about the ways the Lord’s wisdom has blessed the lives of our class members. For me, His wisdom is most evident in His timing of friendships, knowledge, and experiences. How has the Lord’s wisdom been evident in your life?