O Christmas Tree

 Set up our "cut ourselves" Christmas tree today. Oh boy. It's like half a tree. There is hardly anything in the back, and a huge gaping part on the side, too. It's scrawny and will not hold very many ornaments. We're going to have to be selective in what we hang this year. While it looks pretty Charlie Brown Christmas Tree-ish, I think once we get lights and ornaments on it, it won't be so bad. Here's hoping, anyway.

Very little actual tree parts in the back.

Gaping void on the right.

Shoved in the corner, it might be fine.

Here's hoping.

Post edit: For some reason, I did not take a fully decorated "after" shot. I don't know why. 

Thanksgiving, or Gratitude Day 8

This year's Thanksgiving celebrations were much calmer than last's. Nothing burned, no one was left homeless, no one called with a tragedy. I was grateful. 

We gathered with the DeMartinis at Christopher and Tysen's house for a delicious meal and game playing. Eugene and Sharae's family has had Covid, and while most of them are over it, Sharae is still under the weather, so they stayed home. Eugene came and gathered foodstuffs, then went home bearing a feast, just in smaller portions and to be eaten without company. We are glad they are all on the mend.

After eating, we played Telestrations. Brandt, Crew, and Griffin played, and while I love them all, they aren't super great at drawing. Many drawings were misinterpreted, and many guesses were not even close. At one point in time, I was laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants. I had to stand crossed-legged while I laughed, then make a dash for the bathroom before my bladder exploded. It was a very funny game. 

On this eighth day of giving thanks and expressing gratitude, I will list the first ten things each person in the family says they are grateful for.

Blythe: friends, family, music, writing, Wattpad, good books to read, home, food and water, comfy hoodies, the Cutler's swing set

Brandt: family, school, Dad working (somewhat), house, clothes, warm bed, books, electricity, water, toilet, tech crew, swimming, games (card, board, and video) "I could go on, if you'd like," Brandt said. "I've got lots to be grateful for." Truth.

Kent: health and strength, friends and neighbors, family, good plumbing, warm house, blessings galore, work to do

Katherine: color, sounds, working in the yard, being with people, food glorious food, bike, playing games, animals in all their varieties, good books to read, good television to watch, being a wife, Mom, and Grantie Kake

And just to add a bit of levity to this post (has it been at all serious?), I thought to include a text chain about what to have for dinner. I love it when someone, especially me, can get Christopher.

 

Family Pictures

 Every year, as Christmas approaches, I work on photobooks to give as Christmas gifts. And every year, about the same time, I realize that we haven't taken a really good family picture all year, and we probably should get on that. Today, Mikayla graciously took our pictures, and everyone cooperated to make it a virtually painless process. We went up to BYU, along Lover's Lane. I was pleased with the results and feel like they will be a great addition to the photobooks, as well as providing a picture we can put on our Christmas cards. Thanks to Mikayla for taking the pics, and to Kent, Brandt, and Blythe for complying with my wishes.

This picture is no deceiving--Brandt is well and truly taller than both his parents.

He takes particular delight in calling us both "Shorty" though neither of us are.

He's just tall, and still growing.

We hope Blythe is still growing, too.

Funny tree face.

Funny Brandt face.

Does Kent look slightly guilty?

He should!

Do I look slightly surprised?

I am!

wink wink nudge nudge

Gratitude Day 7

                         

This is our house. It's an old picture of our house, taken about the time we bought it. We've done work, made changes, and it looks somewhat different. But for the sake of this post, this is the representation. I love our home. It is interesting inside and out, it meets our needs perfectly, and it's in the perfect neighborhood (see Day 3). There are things we want to change, improvements that need to be made, but it is ours, we are making wonderful memories within its walls, and it is a haven and refuge from the outside world. It is our little bit of heaven on earth. I am so grateful that the Lord led us here. 

Gratitude Day 6

Today I am grateful for work. Being back in the workforce has been a challenge, but I have been grateful to be able to provide much needed income for our family. Working for the Census and for UPS has been a great blessing, with both jobs coming right when they were needed. I hope to find my next job as soon as I am done with UPS (if not sooner).

Gratitude Day 5

Today I am extraordinarily grateful for my body. It's a bit rounder in places than I would like, but it works so well. I can bike, hike, walk, run (sort of), dance, hug, kiss, cuddle, move, canoe, work, lift, play, smell, touch, taste, feel, talk, sing, hear, listen, swim, breathe easily, sleep, eat, digest, stretch, read, learn, think, laugh and laugh. My body does everything I want it to do, almost always easily and without pain. As my current job requires significant physical effort, loading, hauling, and delivering packages, I am grateful to know I can rely upon it to do the work it needs to do, when it needs to be done. I'm grateful, too, that through the pandemic, I have remained healthy. 

 

Gratitude Day 4

It's the Sabbath. I've so much to be grateful for as pertains to the gospel. Jesus Christ, son of God, bled and died for me, atoning for my sins and providing a way to return home to Heavenly Father. Nothing can compare to his love. I am grateful I have Him as my advocate before the Father.

Jesus Christ was resurrected, and because of his resurrection, I will be resurrected too, and will see those I love so much who have died before me. What a joyous reunion that will be! And Christ will come again to rule and reign in righteousness upon the earth. It is obvious from the wickedness in the world that we live in the latter days. I eagerly await Christ's return and lasting peace on Earth.

I am grateful for the temple, especially this temple that is only two minutes from my house. This year, I have so badly missed being able to be in the temple each week, to feel the peace and spiritual strength that accompanies each visit. I long to return and eagerly anticipate the reopening of temples to all patrons. 

I am grateful for the Lord's chosen prophet on the Earth today, Russell M. Nelson. He is truly extraordinary. I am always encouraged by his words and know he is a man who I can look to in all things, knowing he will not lead me/us astray. He is a man of integrity and spiritual strength, and I feel his love for all members of the Church. I feel the same about all the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. I wish we had similar sorts of men and women in government. 

I am grateful to be able to do home-centered, gospel supported Church each week, and to be able to partake of the sacrament in our home because Kent is worthy of the priesthood he holds. I feel God's love and forgiveness as I partake of the emblems of Christ's death, and am sincerely grateful I can be reminded each week of the need to improve my efforts and strengthen my faith.

It is good to be reminded of all that is positive in my life and the blessings that the gospel brings. I know I am better off with God in my life than I ever would be without him.

Gratitude Day 3

This is my neighborhood. I am surrounded by good, kind, compassionate, generous people who take care of others (including me) selflessly, quickly, and without restraint. Who knew when we bought our house how much we would rely on those (geographically) nearest and dearest to us?

Tree Cutting

Kent ministers to a widowed neighbor, Saneh Echols. We love her. She lives with her son, Willie. Kent is someone who takes to heart the admonition to care for the widows, and has been an excellent minister to Saneh. 

Saneh likes to go cut her own Christmas tree, and some time ago, expressed to Kent a desire to do that again this year. Kent thought that was a wonderful idea, and purchased tree permits for both Saneh and us. Then we needed to go. He wanted me to come along, and I wanted to go, too, but there has been the complication that I am working, even on Saturday. Tree cutting isn't really a Sunday activity, and although I suggested Kent take the kids and Saneh and go without me, in the end, we decided we should all go. 

Today was the day. I worked a shorter route delivering packages, and we were able to leave just after 3:00pm. My mom joined us, and because we were six, we took her car. We prepared with tools, gloves, rope, and a tarp and headed up the canyon to go cut above Heber and Timberlakes. Kent figured that was the closest location, and given the late start, close proximity was important.

While we prepare for tree cutting, we did not adequately prepare for the weather. As we drove higher, we realized that while there was no snow in the valley, there was a fair amount in the mountains. We were all in our tennis shoes without heavy coats, and ill prepared for how chilly it was in the late afternoon as the sun was going down. We were racing against the dark, trying to find trees before the sun set behind the mountain and it got really cold. 

The children gave up the hunt pretty quickly and returned to the car. Grandma Sue, too. Kent, Saneh, and I stomped around in the snow, trying to find good size trees with a good shape, the right size trunk, and acceptable looking branches. We were racing against time, making the search a bit more frantic. We would have liked more light, more time. 

Before it got completely dark, we did find trees. We discovered, when we cut them, that in situ, they looked taller and fuller than they actually were. Our good-looking tree was actually two trees squashed up next to each other, and half of our tree wasn't actually our tree at all. They turned out to be pretty goofy looking. But we had an adventure, an experience we haven't had before (at least, the children haven't had the experience before), and we came away with a fresh, beautiful smelling tree that will likely be just fine once we get it decorated. And we learned a valuable lesson about time management and preparation. Next time we go cut our own tree, we will start earlier in the day, we will have boots and sweaters and heavy coats and hats and thick gloves, and we will bring along hot chocolate in a thermos.

Cut is in the tree, cutting it down.

Doesn't it look nice and full?

It wasn't.

That's several trees all together.

The forest through which we were tromping.

See the sun going down?

Our tree.

It's got a bare back. 

Good thing it will go in a corner.

Rabbit tracks.

We saw a number of different types of animal tracks.

Happy tree hunters.

Happy because they are in the warm car.

Gratitude Day 2

The DeBarrinis: my family of origin and the family I married into. They are good people one and all. I love them, I appreciate their love and support, I am grateful for every minute I get to spend with any of them. And I am grateful that families can be together forever.

School Meme

 

This just hits too close to home.

We have very few nice days at our house.

Also, I read a tweet from Ken Jennings who said, 

"It's called 'remote learning' because of the remote chance my kids are going to learn anything."

Truer words have never been spoken.

Gratitude Day 1

I've been struggling for weeks. I've been at odds with family members, concerned about life challenges, feeling a spiritual emptiness I've never experienced before. It's been soulful unrest for a long time. And what can help? Prayer and gratitude. Funnily enough, I'd come to that even before President Nelson's wonderful message. But I've been talking myself out of sharing anything on social media because I don't want to project positive wonderfulness when it's not been like that. However, acknowledging the Good in my life is not fake and will certainly invite positive wonderfulness where it is much needed.

So Day 1 (I'm behind): These three are my everything. They are challenging and difficult while simultaneously bringing me unmeasured joy, and teach me much needed lessons.

President Russell M Nelson on the Healing Power of Gratitude

President Nelson, our dear prophet, delivered a wonderful message today about the healing power of gratitude. It was just what I needed at this point in my life. I've been feeling spiritually hungry, concerned about challenges, at odds with Kent and the children, struggling with the need to find another job as Kent is getting his business back on track, worrying about money, and lacking a positive outlook about our future. I've just been in a really hard funk. 

I've been making efforts to be more positive. I've been reading the October General Conference talks, being faithful about my scripture study, trying to be more sincere in my prayers. I've been doing my part to apply for lots of jobs, and I've been working to be more patient with the children and with Kent, appreciating all the good things about our family instead of dwelling on the negative. But it's still been hard. I've avoided social media, not wanting to compare myself to others who seem to have it all put together, and staying away from all the political nastiness. 

As I listened to President Nelson's message, I felt like he was speaking to me. In all the upheaval we're dealing with as a society, what can make it better? What can heal us? 

Prayer and gratitude.

President Nelson asked us to flood social media with gratitude, including the hashtag #givethanks, and to say a prayer of thanks. He quoted several scriptures about being thankful.

Psalms 92:1  It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.

Psalms 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

D&C 98:1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks.

President Nelson said gratitude soothes our feelings, and counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems. We should even be grateful for our trials because they teach us lessons we wouldn't have learned otherwise. Prayer, and especially prayers of gratitude, bring forth miracles, something we certainly can use.

President Nelson further suggested that we turn social media into our own personal gratitude journal, expressing what and who we are grateful for, and then see if we don't feel happier and more at peace. 

He then offered a beautiful prayer which I am going to include. I certainly need to feel happier and more at peace, so I am going to take this challenge to heart.

Here is President Nelson's prayer:

Our Father in Heaven, as fellow passengers on Thy planet Earth, we humbly pray unto Thee.  We thank Thee for life and all that sustains life. We thank Thee for the beauties of the earth, for order in the universe, the planets, stars, and all things of eternal significance. We thank Thee for Thy laws that protect and guide us. We thank Thee for Thy mercy and loving watch care. We thank Thee for our families and loved ones, who fill our lives with joy.

We are grateful for all who are striving to combat the COVID pandemic. Please bless them with protection and inspiration. Wilt Thou help us end this virus that has plagued so many of Thy children.

We thank Thee for the leaders of nations and others who strive to lift us. We pray for relief from political strife. Wilt Thou bless us with a healing spirit that unites us despite our differences. 

Wilt Thou also help us repent from selfishness, unkindness, pride and prejudice of any kind, so that we can better serve and love one another as brothers and sisters, and as Thy grateful children.

 We love Thee, our dear Father, and pray for Thy blessings upon us, in the name of Thy Beloved son, Jesus Christ, amen.

Study Posture

I regularly find Blythe in strange postures as she studies.

Seems uncomfortable to me, but she's young and lithe.

At least she's doing school work.

First Day at New Work

I started a new job today, working for UPS as a Personal Vehicle Driver, or PVD. I drive to the UPS hub in Orem, sort a ginormous box of parcels big and small, load up my car, deliver packages, then return to the hub and do it all over again. It is a seasonal position, just through the end of the year, and so far, on this first day, hasn't been unbearable. It's not a job that plays to my strengths, as I have wimpy upper body strength, and I'm must better at personal interactions. The parcels don't need much and I hardly talk to anyone. But it's work which means income which we need. So I'll do it through the end of the year, if my body and the car hold up.

On a funny side note, when he was little, Brandt loved "PUS" as he called it. As we drove around, he would always point out the PUS trucks and get excited if one came to our house to make a delivery. Perhaps it was destiny that I am working for them.

Fortunately, I don't have to wear the UPS browns, the full brown uniform.

I get to wear this somewhat reflective vest and regular work clothes.

It's not glamorous, but it pays decently for seasonal work.

Brandt and the Book of Mormon, or A First!

 Brandt finished reading the Book of Mormon for the first time his very own self. It is such a wonderful thing to see our children grow in righteousness, and we were pleased as Punch that Brandt read his scriptures every night and finished within this calendar year that we've been studying the Book of Mormon. We are just a few chapters shy of finishing again as a family, too. I am always pleased when, before the kids leave for school, one of them will say, "I've got to go soon. Let's read scriptures." Hoorah for gospel growth!

Normally we got get frozen yogurt when we finish reading the Book of Mormon.

Today, however, because frozen yogurt was closed, 

Brandt opted for an Oreo milkshake from Arctic Circle.

Back to the Old Routine

Because I'm between jobs at the moment, many things have quickly returned to pre-work conditions. Cora has wanted me to take her to school which I've done several times. She, Brick, and Kal also want to come to my house after school, just to play and hang out. Today they were over. We had snacks, played a couple of games, and Cora wanted to draw. She drew this wonderful portrait of the two of us. I'm in red with the bigger head and she is in pink with the smaller head. We are holding hands and we both have exceedingly hairy heads. In fact, while our hair isn't very long, it goes all the way around. I just love this picture, and I just love the small person with me in it. 

Here's to not working (for a bit) and being home!