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Category: Life according to Angela
The miracle of the sunflowers
I have written before about our sunflower miracle that began when we sent off our first missionary. The week that Daniel left, the first flower showed up. The flowers continue to arrive, year after year. A couple of times we have inadvertently pulled them out with the weeds, but the miracle continues.
I have gone through an anxious season, and several times over the past few weeks, I have retreated to our backyard to study these sunflowers. I realized a new level of meaning behind my miracle flowers. They remind me that if God can orchestrate flowers to bloom on particular days, He is has a plan to help my family, too. I can trust Him.
Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Matthew 6:25-34
New York City
I had never been to New York City, so Richard took me there this week. We stayed in an Airbnb not far from Times Square, but definitely on a quiet street. We could walk to our shows in about five minutes.
Vacations and major family events are tough to condense into blog posts. Trips planned by Richard are usually so full that it’s impossible to cover everything, and this trip was just the two of us, so it also feels more personal.
Still, I know that Paige will probably like to see her old stomping grounds, and the future me will like this place marker in time showing some of our adventures together, so here goes.
Trip Stats, according to Google maps:
- 12 miles of walking
- 59 miles of driving
- 6 miles of cycling
- 13 miles on the train
- 4,019 miles by plane
- 11 miles on a ferry
- 11 hours of culture
- 8 hours in airports
- 5 hours at parks
A long wait
Our carpet needed to be replaced 11 years ago when we bought this house, but we waited to make the purchase. Tonight, our kitchen is full of furniture, including our grand piano, ready for new carpet tomorrow morning.
This time tomorrow night, that old smelly carpet will be gone. Still, what did I do today? I carefully vacuumed it one last time.
Thank you, old carpet.
20 months
Each month, I add a new house on my kitchen windowsill to mark the time that Tim has served as a missionary. I think of the people he has met, and the many houses he has entered.
This display was marketed as an advent calendar, but the anticipation of placing a new house each month might actually be more exciting than counting down the days until Christmas.
I like to find ways to mark our days. Sometimes it’s impossible to convey all that has come during a period of time, but somehow, these little houses hold my secrets.
Prayer Fog
In my journals from the busiest years of my life, I often expressed frustration because I struggled to concentrate during my personal prayers. In one journal, I used the pages to write out my prayers, thinking that this would improve my focus.
I wish that I had understood that some of those thoughts that snuck into my mind during my seemingly unfocused prayers were God’s way of reaching me.
Also, I understand now that during those elemental prayers, which were scattered and pleading, I was actually creating a relationship with God because I was being real. He didn’t want a formal structure as much as He just wanted to hear from me. My prayers were effective, and I didn’t know it.
So, today I encourage you to keep praying through the frustration and fog. We may not see it now, but heaven is closer and more helpful than we can imagine.
Dream Home
Each year on July 2, I remember this was the day that I walked into our house for the first time and I knew that this was where we should live. It was a unique experience for me, where I suddenly understood the meaning of an old dream. This was my kitchen in the Salt Lake Valley that my dream prepared me to recognize.
I have filled books with our experiences, photos of youth activities and neighborhood parties, and handwritten cards from this era of our lives. It is the neighborhood connections with specific people, including our children’s spouses, Michael and McKenna, that make me I believe that the Lord brought us here.
Sharing faith online
I am trying to be more mindful of what I write online. My blog posts are going through a more rigorous editing process, with most posts simmering for days before I hit, “Publish.”
My religious posts have the most revisions because I want to share uplifting things well.
I understand that not everyone wants to read about church or God. I post religious content on my blog because I know that readers are here by choice. But occasionally, I post something religious on social media.
In May, I shared on social media a talk given by a general authority because it had been helpful to me. A friend left a comment explaining that the talk was hurtful. Both of us took time to communicate about the post in a respectful way. I love my friend, and I told him that his opinions won’t change that.
I was pretty sad that my friend found pain in something that has inspired me. I questioned whether I should have shared the talk, even though it was from a worthy source. I questioned my motives, weighing the pride behind my post against my good intentions. As I thought and prayed about this, I realized many things, and I want to share a few of those things here.
First, personal choices, experiences, and culture influence how people see the same things so differently, but religion is not inherently hurtful. The things that cause discomfort often indicate something we need to face about ourselves. I learned through this uncomfortable experience that pointing someone to the Source of truth is better than establishing truth or proving a point.
Second, there are poor, good, better, and best ways of sharing faith. I acted hastily, as I do sometimes, when I am trying to gain the courage to share. If I had paused, I might have been instructed by the Spirit to share the content differently. Still, God can work with my imperfect efforts. My post led someone to listen to something new. Who knows how this experience will affect my friend’s life moving forward. I hope something positive will come from this, even if it’s just knowing that I still care.
Third, the goal can’t be to please everyone. The goal is to be a light. I want to be a gentle, steady light, not a spotlight focused on myself, and never an interrogation lamp to accuse.
In 1834, the Lord gave some instructions about the Latter-day Saints’ behavior and words in the midst of opposition. While I don’t face the same level of opposition, I think that this is a good personal guide for expressing faith:
Be very faithful and prayerful, and humble before me…reveal [share] not the things that I have revealed…until it is wisdom in me.
Talk not of judgments, neither boast of great faith nor of mighty works…
And behold, I will give unto you favor and grace in their eyes, that you may rest in peace and safety.
Doctrine and Covenants 105:23-25
So, I gather my scattered courage, friends, as I keep trying to shine a light. Sending courageous wishes to you as you do the same. The Lord is working with us.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
Mark 16:20
Structuring home life with children
Over a year ago, someone asked me to write my advice for someone who was a new homeschooler. I haven’t talked about homeschool on this blog in many years, but I had an interesting moment this morning where I not only remembered this email, but felt a strong urge to post it here.
I think most of these points apply to anyone trying to structure home life with children, especially during the summer, so take what you need, and forget the rest.
1. Pray first thing as a family every day. Establish routines for start time, subjects, breaks, and lunch. Consider scripture time a daily subject.
2. Do things regularly with other families. It is good that kids play with children of all ages.
3. Choose a curriculum strong in language arts and math. Have a plan for the year, each month, week, and every day.
4. Steel yourself to criticism from those who don’t understand what you are accomplishing.
5. Go on dates with your husband without the kids.
6. Fill your house with books of all kinds and read, read, read together and independently.
7. Find a friend with whom you can share your experiences so school and children aren’t the only things you talk about with your husband.
8. Plan unstructured time for kids to explore their own interests. Their interests can propel their desire to read, write, and learn how to be proactive learners.
9. Celebrate achievements with certificates or stickers or whatever makes your kids happy. Don’t feel like you have to mirror a public school classroom with big charts, etc. You can do simple, meaningful things to track progress.
10. Go outside together or do crafts when things get too intense in the house.
11. Explore nature, go to museums, run and play, visit the elderly, take art classes, make collections together. Some of the best advice I received was to play with playdough with my children. Your children will need to help around the house, too. You can’t do everything yourself.
12. Look at every subject as a means to increase reading and writing skills.
13. Take pictures and cherish the time together. Don’t broadcast everything on social media. Honor your children’s privacy in learning and development.
14. Listen for and expect the Lord to lead you in small things and big things. Heavenly Father is even more interested in helping your children progress than you are, so be willing to accept answers that aren’t part of your original plan.
15. You can contact me if you want to talk. I was a homeschool mom for 14 years.
Art by Paige, around 2010
Change
Richard has a new church calling as a counselor in the bishopric. I have seen him shine in this role before, and I know that he will do a great job.
I have not been released from my church calling, so Sundays will be extra full for all of us. I don’t mind.