Remodel Your Home Into a Center of Gospel Learning

"The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining." -President Russell M. Nelson, "Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints," October 2018 closing remarks 

These words of President Nelson had a really deep impact on me when I heard them.  I knew he did not mean "remodel" in only one way, but I felt impressed that we needed to make our living room a beautiful space.  I was literally thinking of the temple and how it is not just a spiritually uplifting atmosphere--it is also a physically beautiful space.  

This thought persisted, and those two phrases "transform your home into a sanctuary of faith" and "remodel your home into a center of gospel learning" kept playing in my mind for months.  I talked about it a lot with Allen and we decided to save up to "remodel" our main living area, about a year after this talk was given in November of 2019.  

We replaced our broken front door, installed new flooring (with generous help and instruction from our brother Rich!), and purchased a pretty, white shelving unit that fit perfectly, making better use of our small space.

Look how small that room is!

We could never have done it without Rich--he came for three
days and taught Allen how to install flooring.  It was so kind!

Fast forward four months from when our "remodel" was complete.

We were sitting in our "new," peaceful living room, as Truman and Brigham blessed and passed the sacrament, during the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I felt an overpowering, confirming witness that our Father in Heaven had guided us to "remodel" our home--and that physical, temporal spaces and spiritual, holy spaces can actually be one and the same.  We did not go into debt for this remodel, and we took our time and performed the labor ourselves--to transform our living room into a living ordinance room . . . without ever guessing that we would be partaking of the sacrament and renewing covenants for many months in that very space.

We bought this end table at a thrift store and
Allen sanded and repainted it.  It ended up
becoming our sacrament table.

Allen preparing the sacrament.  Truman is 18 and Brigham 15

Our Father in Heaven speaks to us so subtly, so personally.  I am grateful that I allowed the words of the prophet to pierce my understanding and sink into my heart, leading to a course of action that I never would have thought could even come from heaven.

Remember when Oliver Cowdery said "Here were days never to be forgotten" about those early days of translating the Book of Mormon?  That's how I feel about those sacred Sundays during the pandemic--they were "truly a delight" as President Nelson promised.  As awful and scary and serious and unsettling as that time was--we felt peace each week as we worshipped together at home, and not only on Sundays.

Reflecting on this experience fills my heart with such gratitude!  It also reminds me, five years later, that I need to care for my physical space and clear out clutter, because "all things unto [God] are spiritual" (Doctrine & Covenants 29:34).  

I am so grateful for prophets on the earth.  Listening to their words, with my ears and with my spirit and with my heart, continues to bless my life and help me to feel peace, even in the middle of such a tumultuous world.

January 2020
New floors, rugs, shelving, and TV.  Couch, chairs, 
basket, lamp, tables and curtains from the thrift store

February 8th, 2025

Equinox Vax Talks

Yesterday, September 22nd, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that “all temple patrons and workers are asked to wear face masks at all times while in the temple,” and the letter concludes with a statement about how the church has directly encouraged members to be vaccinated, both now and in the past:

“...our urging church members to be vaccinated and to protect themselves and others from the spread of disease has precedent . . . Please do all you can to protect yourself and others so the work of the Lord on both sides of the veil can move forward.”

I have been asking myself how I would respond if President Nelson and his counselors asked me to do something else.  And then urged me repeatedly to do that same thing?  Would I pay attention?  Would I carefully consider their message?  Would I think of them in the capacity of their callings as prophets, seers, and revelators—leaders who can see things “afar off” (D&C 101:54) that I might not be able to see?

What if they “recommended,” in an official statement/letter, that I made sure I had a year’s supply of food storage?  And then continually urged me to do that in subsequent official publications? If they used language like “do all you can do” to prepare for a time when food might not be available for purchase, so that I would “slow the spread” of hunger and panic . . . How would I respond?

I hope I would take a good, hard look at my food and water storage.  I think that I would probably plant a bigger garden and get some books on how to save seeds.  I might try to figure water collection and purification—there are probably lots of things I would do that I had not considered before. I really hope I would respond with faith and with action, even though I might not see what the First Presidency sees.

When we were in Arkansas this summer, I stopped by my friend Juli’s house for a very brief visit.  In that half hour, Juli said something that has stayed with me. “I am pretty conservative in my views, but I’m also a pretty reasonable person.  I wasn’t going to get the vaccine, but when the prophet said “do all you can do” it really hit me and made me think. I decided to go ahead and get vaccinated.”

I love how Juli described herself as “reasonable.” I think the church’s statements about COVID and vaccinations have been characterized by by both reason and love. There is no element of shaming people or finger-pointing, because if you “convince” someone by shaming them, it is a sign of a broken relationship.

The facts are presented:

• We want to keep temples open

• COVID-19 cases are increasing

• Masks slow the spread of disease

• Vaccines slow the spread of diseases

• The church asked members to be vaccinated against smallpox in 1900

• And against polio in 1957

• [see timeline of church's response to COVID-19]

And counsel is lovingly given:

• Wear masks in the temple

• We urge you to be vaccinated and to protect yourself and others

• Do all you can to protect yourself and others so the work of the Lord on both sides of the veil can move forward

I know I am not the first to see a correlation between the brazen serpent in Moses’ time (Numbers 21:9) and the current debate about COVID vaccinations.  It’s easy to dismiss the comparison because the vaccination seems more socially, politically, and economically nuanced than simply “looking” at a brass serpent to be healed.

But if it was so simple, why did some people refuse to look? 

Many things have changed over the centuries, but I think human nature is still a constant.  I am sure those Israelites had their personal reasons that were important to them:

• He may be a prophet, but he is still just a man 
• I am not a blind follower

• Moses is leader of our people, but he’s not the leader of my tribe

• That’s dumb.  How can you guys believe that looking at a statue will heal you?

• I might still get bitten by a fiery serpent, even if I look

Nephi confirmed the human nature element when he explained

...he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished (1 Nephi 17:41).

Alma had something to say about it, too. 

But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished.  Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.  O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly? (Alma 33:20-21)

So why am I taking time to write all these thoughts down?  Am I trying to “shame” the handful of people who read my blog into getting vaccinated? 

No, guys.  I just want my friends and family (my loved ones!) to be safe.  Not only do I want them to be safe from contracting or spreading COVID-19 . . . I want them to be safe from what might even more more serious: disregarding or justifying away the counsel of a living prophet.  I know it sounds so weighty to put it this way, but I pray that this post may be read in the spirit it is written: with sober concern and genuine love.

I have been listening to a great podcast called “Follow Him” every week, which is a companion to the Come, Follow Me curriculum.  Just a week ago was the CFM lesson about Zion’s Camp, and I taught that lesson again when I substituted in seminary.  I also re-read a devotional that David A Bednar gave about Zion’s Camp and its modern-day correlations.  I learned so much from Brother Scott Woodward on the CFM podcast, from the Come Follow Me lesson, from sections 102-105, and from Elder Bednar. My mind expanded as I recognized correlations between the challenges the church faced in 1834 and the modern challenges experienced by the church in 2021, 187 years later.

I love this sentence from Come, Follow Me:

Rather than questioning the value of this seemingly unsuccessful task, [faithful members of Zion’s Camp] learned that the real task is to follow the Savior, even when we don’t understand everything.

 I also love the thoughtful questions that are always posed in Come, Follow Me:

How can these principles help you in your own trials of faith?

Those early saints who made the difficult, 900-mile, weeks-long journey from Kirtland to Clay County were hoping for an outcome they never saw, which surely tested and tried their faith—Elder Bednar says it was a time of “testing, sifting, and preparing.”  But the saints who followed the prophet, despite the hardship they endured, were able to draw upon the faith they gained from that experience during the hard times to come.

That lesson of following the prophet, even when the outcomes may not be what we anticipate, has never been more relevant than it is today.

In his devotional about Zion's Camp, Elder Bednar shared this quote from President Harold B. Lee:

We are now going through another test—a period of what we might call sophistication. This is a time when there are many clever people who are not willing to listen to the humble prophets of the Lord. … It is rather a severe test.

 Then Elder Bednar added his own counsel:

[This] test of sophistication is the companion to the test of prosperity and ease. How important it is for each of us to observe, learn from, and follow the Brethren.

One reason I wrote these thoughts down is because I want to help my loved ones without shaming or virtue-signaling or I-told-you-so-ing.  I want to show love, compassion, and understanding the way the Savior always does.  But another reason I wrote it down is a reminder for myself. I sincerely hope that I will be humble enough to follow modern-day prophets, even when it is counsel that goes against other beliefs I might hold.  And I hope my friends and family members will lovingly help me to “look, and live” (Alma 33:19) when I am wrestling with doubts, fears, and concerns, as we all do. 

I close with prophetic counsel from Elder Bednar:

At some point in each of our lives, we will be invited to march in our own Zion’s Camp. The timing of the invitations will vary, and the particular obstacles we may encounter on the journey will be different. But our ongoing and consistent response to this inevitable call ultimately will provide the answer to the question “Who’s on the Lord’s side?” 

The times to show are now, today, tomorrow, and forever. May we ever remember the related lessons of testing, sifting, and preparing and of observing, learning from, and following the Brethren.

School's Out For Summer!

We will probably never know how lucky we were to have a pretty much "normal" school year in 2020-21.  Our kids went to school full-time in the Fall, and were able to do everything they would do in a "normal" school year--we quarantined a few times, and watched some wrestling matches on Zoom, but in our rural Idaho community, it was basically a regular year.  

And that means a regular last day of school!  We had friends over, put the sprinkler under the trampoline, roasted hot dogs, painted rocks, and offered up two sacrificial watermelons to kick off the summer season!

Brigham thinks he is so funny . . . 

Amelia, Mollie, and Jaydie

Brigham playing with Luke

Mollie and Macie will be in EIGHTH GRADE next year

All the kiddos!

Hope, Georgia, and I had fun hanging out while the
kids ran around the backyard and played for hours.

Truman and Brigham are both life guarding at Lava Hot Springs again this summer.  Brigham had a three-day stint working at Arctic Circle, our local fast food restaurant, but it only took him one day to realize that life guarding 1-pays more money 2- is more flexible with his schedule for running and mowing lawns, and 3- is about a hundred times more fun.

Truman is gearing up to head out on a mission--his papers are being submitted THIS WEEKEND and my next blog post may very well be about his mission call.  He is saving money, working hard, and is so much help around the house.  Which is good, because he and Brigham are also EATING ME OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME.

Mollie and Calvin spend a lot of time together, and they are such good friends.  In fact, as I am typing this, I just got up from a nap and the two of them made cookies together while I was sleeping.  

And already ate half of them.

I bought the kids Super Smash: Ultimate for our Nintendo Switch and gave it to them on the last day of school.  They all love to play it together.  There's a new sheriff in town: 2021 mom is a totally different video game monitor than 2011 mom.  The kids still can't play whenever they want, but they are playing much more than Truman and Brigham ever did when they were in middle and elementary school.  Fortunately, Truman and Brig don't complain, because they are reaping the benefits of the new sheriff's lenient policies . . . aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, they are always at work, so they don't actually know how much Mollie and Calvin get to play.

We cleaned the church as a family the Saturday before Memorial Day, and it was a very peaceful experience.  Mollie played "I Feel My Savior's Love" in sacrament meeting the next day, and she practiced it a few times while we dusted, vacuumed, polished, and disinfected the chapel.  It was very sweet to perform this easy service together.

Mollie ALSO had her first recital with her new piano teacher, Shirley Harris.  It was in the historic Bear Lake tabernacle--constructed in 1917.  Her talent has really taken off since she started with Shirley in January, and it is such a pleasure to listen to her play.  You can hear both of her songs in the video clip below, and see the original Minerva Teichert murals that are displayed in the tabernacle--the first time I saw them, I literally gasped.

       

Mollie and her fabulous piano teacher, Shirley Harris

And finally, me and the kids spent a day together at the outdoor pool at Lava--Brigham was working, and Truman, Mollie, Calvin (and his buddy Quaid), and I enjoyed the deliciously unseasonable HEAT.  Calvin surprised us all by going down the tube slides for the first time, and THEN GOING DOWN THE SPEED SLIDES over and over.  This is the kid who has not once ever gone on our own zipline in our own backyard. 

Bring on summer!

The Skating Rink is BACK

We moved here in 2008, and our city skating rink was actively being used then . . . but when people lost interest and quit going, the city stopped maintaining it.  I think the global COVID-19 pandemic may have played a part in the skating rink comeback: we all need to get outside to keep the positive vibes flowing!

Mollie and I went together three times in January.  We bought two pairs of ice skates at a thrift store, and borrowed a few more for our first skating rink outing, with Allen and Calvin.  Whew--it's hard on the ankles!  Mollie's skates are newer and more supportive, which is great, because she is a natural!  I am on the prowl for more skates, but we've been making do with the ones we have in the mean time.

Jaydie was at the rink with her dad the second time we went, so Georgia and I made plans to meet up again.  When we did, it was such a sweet surprise when Niki showed up with Hallie!  The three of us moms shoveled off the rink while the kids played, and we ended up staying till the stadium lights came on.  A great way to burn calories in January, with two of my favorite people!

I couldn't help sending the photo we snapped to the newspaper, and was delighted when we made the front page 😂.

Small town living at its finest.

The Simpleness of the Way

We had a fifth Sunday discussion in our ward yesterday, even though it was the second Sunday :).  Our stake presidency made the decision for our wards to return to all church meetings: sacrament meeting, Sunday School, primary, Relief Society, youth meetings, and priesthood meetings, and having church at home is not an option, unless you have individual approval from the bishop.  

From July 8th to the end of December (minus a six-week break in October/November when the COVID numbers were climbing in our county), we had been meeting for 45-minute sacrament services in the chapel, sitting every other row, using extra care and guidelines in the administration the sacrament, with an option to have church at home.  

Since this new move two weeks ago, our bishop has been fielding concerns from ward members about exposure to COVID-19, and felt it would be good to talk about this issue with ward members, so we used the second hour of church to do that.

It was discouraging.

So many people got angry so quickly.  I am generalizing, of course, but the broad consensus of Caribou County residents seems to be, "It's not as bad as everyone says.  We'll be fine.  No one can make me wear a mask."  I was excited for a move to participate more fully in church meetings, but so surprised that most people want to do that without any masks, social distancing, or extra precautions in classrooms.  I am not worried for myself or my kids, but we have many immunocompromised members in our ward, and coronavirus could have serious consequences for them.

This despite such loving and direct counsel from apostles and prophets, like this message from Elder Renlund:

Allen and I came home and knelt down together and prayed for our ward.  We prayed for ourselves to feel love and unity with ward members.  I made a comment in the discussion and said that I had an epiphany while I was shopping at Wal-Mart recently: "If I am willing to wear a mask because I need to come to Wal-Mart, then I should be willing to wear a mask at church--I need to be there far more."

At home, Allen remarked to me that he kept thinking of the story of Moses and the brazen serpent.  It was such a simple thing: look and be healed.  Look and be saved. But some Israelites wouldn't.  They didn't want to be told what to do.  They thought it was stupid.  It was too simple.

It is a simple thing, but not a stupid thing, to wear a mask, to be a little more conscientious, in our attempts to protect "the vulnerable and the disadvantaged."  I don't understand how Elder Renlund's apostolic counsel could be misinterpreted.

...as a Church we will be judged by how we treat the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our societies. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, it wreaks havoc among those who are already disadvantaged. Sadly, responses to the pandemic have been politicized and contentious. Our response need not be.

I don't think anyone is misinterpreting this counsel--they are just disregarding it.  It has become so politicized and contentious.  So many of my friends and neighbors do not share my same sentiments, and I don't want to love them any less or treat them any differently, though it is so hard not to feel saddened and frustrated by some of the things that were said in that meeting. 

I don't want to forget these feelings, or what it is really like, emotionally, to be ten months into a global pandemic.  I don't want my heart to "wax cold," I don't want to lose lovingkindness (one of the best English words, don't you think?) toward my brothers and sisters.  I want to keep my heart soft and open, and try to serve and love the way Christ would. 

It's hard to do, sometimes.  Especially after a year that's been taxing on everyone, in so many ways.  

Last week, I re-read President Nelson's address, "Let God Prevail."  I had forgotten about the challenge he issued at the end of this talk:

As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life.

Today I felt some real comfort when I began to accept this counsel.  I got a notebook, wrote the quote above on the first page, then went to work.  I went through three chapters of the Doctrine and Covenants, and the promises are coming thick and fast.  I want to keep it up, because I really need to be better at letting God prevail in my life.  And I need comfort from the Spirit, to keep on going and serving.

This counsel from President Eyring is bringing a lot of comfort, as well:

The greatest blessing that will come when we prove ourselves faithful to our covenants during our trials will be a change in our natures. By our choosing to keep our covenants, the power of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement can work in us. Our hearts can be softened to love, to forgive, and to invite others to come unto the Savior. Our confidence in the Lord increases. Our fears decrease.

Becca Wears the Crown of Iris

It seems like it might be helpful for myself and posterity (and maybe even a handful of people who frequent this blog) to see the progression of symptoms over the eight miserable days of my convalescence.  I am sorry about the inconsistent tenses of my verbs below.  Some things happened in the past and some are still happening as I write this post.  [Also, "Crown of Iris" is what Siri wrote when I talk texted "coronavirus" waaaaaaaaaaaaay back in March.  I bet Siri recognizes the real word by now, but I'll take a crown of iris any day.]

Tuesday, December 22nd: Started to feel very achy in the evening, about 6 PM.  I had done a pretty rigorous (hashtag humble brag) upper-body workout on Monday, so I thought I was just sore.

Wednesday morning, Dec 23rd: Okay, this is not "workout sore," this is "aches-and-chills sore."  And this incredibly dry and painful throat is telling.  I called the hospital and scheduled a test, knowing that we could not invite DeAnn or the missionaries over for Christmas if I, indeed, had COVID-19.  I got the HORRIBLE nose swab at 1:00 PM (see immediate reaction in the video below--I sent it to Bonnie, who told me that the nose swab was "no big deal"), and then went home to lie down.  

The hospital called while I was napping and told Allen that I tested positive.  It's amazing how psychosomatic sickness can be, because up until that point, I had been fighting off my doubts and willing myself to feel good.  But once I heard the diagnosis, it's like my brain gave my body permission to be unquestionably sick.  I'm making it sound like I was conscious of all these thoughts, but I wasn't . . . I suddenly felt fully awful.  I called DeAnn to tell her and she was very kind and understanding--I was also relieved that she had a Christmas dinner invite from the Blums.

Thursday, December 24th: My back muscles were in agony.  I kept trying to stretch to get some relief, but nothing really helped.  Lots of chills and sensitive skin.  I woke up very early because I had gone to bed at 8 the night before, so I drank some Crystal Light with caffeine and spent the first two hours of the morning wrapping the rest of the Christmas presents, while everyone was asleep.  Then I was pretty much done for the day.  I was taking full strength Sudafed every four hours and kind of moved around in a fog.  My stomach was growling all day--I never lost my appetite and it seems like I actually had more of an appetite, though nothing sounded good.  I took ibuprofen to help with the muscle aches, and it seems like it helped a little.

Mollie also started getting sick, and she had more of a fever than I ever did.  She kept getting chilled and we tried to keep her wrapped up and resting.

Friday, December 25th: Christmas morning, brought to you by Sudafed.  Allen and I didn't stay up too late getting Christmas ready, which was good, because the kids woke us up at 5:30.  I stayed swathed in blankets in my armchair and took pictures and video of the kids opening presents, trying not to cough.  Mollie seemed better already, but stayed bundled up all day and wasn't quite as energetic as she might have been.  Brigham didn't complain of feeling sick until the next day, but he also seemed to have a little less energy than usual.

Christmas was a good distraction from misery . . . it really was a lovely morning and I didn't feel quite as achy.  I even made all the crepes after presents were open.  This became the pattern of the next several days: I felt well enough to be a little active in the morning, and then felt completely wiped out by 10-11 for the rest of the day.  I slept from 11 and 3 and woke up without any more back pain, so that was such a relief.  And Allen smoked a delicious brisket for our Christmas dinner and it tasted so good.  Every bite was amazing, so I must be on the mend, right?  

Saturday, Dec 26th: Got up early and packed Christmas away.  Powered by more Crystal Light and Sudafed.  I told myself I was done being sick.  Allen's bout with COVID lasted about four days, so mine would too . . . right?  Also, I always get Christmas decorations put away on the 26th.  Not because I am organized and on-the-ball, but because I have a small house and I can't stand it anymore.  I had almost everything in the Christmas totes before my body was like, "Nope.  You' done."  

Brigham woke up with a super sore throat, and said he didn't feel good.  By the end of the day, he was wrapped up and laying on the couch, moaning.

Allen, throughout the last four days, had been doing all the dishes, all the laundry, all the kitchen cleanup, and almost all the cooking.  He told me to go to bed and finished putting Christmas away, plus cleaned the rest of the house, plus rubbed my legs and back every time I asked.  I started coughing a LOT on this day, and the cough stayed constant for four days.

Sunday, December 27th: Slept and slept.  So congested and coughy.  I texted my bishop and told him about my diagnosis and asked if we could do the sacrament at home, and he said "yes of course."  

Brigham PASSED OUT after standing up a little too quick, and fell on to our hard floor midsentence.  We had him lie down the rest of the day--he was really looking pale and weak.  Mollie said she felt better, so that was good news. 

I finally started shuffling around after we had a very late church service (like 4 PM) and I made homemade chicken noodle soup.  Allen offered to make it, but he has never made homemade noodles before and, even when I am stricken with the plague, I am still about four times faster than he is, and four times hungrier than he is.  

Faster is not better.  But hungrier is angrier.  And you can take that to the bank.

Monday, December 28th: Allen and Truman went snowboarding, so it was EXTRA wonderful when Susy dropped off homemade chicken noodle soup on my front door!  Two days in a row of nature's remedy?  Yes, please.  Plus, the flavor of not cooking is my favorite flavor--it was such a boon.  Brigham says he thinks he passed out again in the night when he got up to go to the bathroom.  Coughing and congestion persist.  Watery eyes begin and make it hard to read or look at my phone.  My taste and smell DISAPPEAR in an instant at about 7 PM.  It was the same for Allen--he said it was like a switch got flipped and those senses were instantly gone.  His loss of taste was also about seven days after the onset of symptoms, so we had that in common.  

Debbie Hansen brought over some frozen Marie Calendar's chicken pot pies and salad--it was so thoughtful!  She apologized it wasn't homemade, but honestly, it was so nice to have a meal in the freezer that would be ready whenever we would need it!

Tuesday, December 29th:  More watery eyes, congestion,  persistent cough, and no taste or smell.  I kept waiting for my appetite to wane, but it never did.  Melissa Thompson brought us dinner: a beef roast and potatoes and rolls and some kind of caramelly cake that my kids all loved.  Everything tasted like . . .  texture.  It wasn't bad--just weird.  But the texture of that roast was perfect--it was falling apart tender.  Our neighbor Gloria also brought over dinner: an enchilada casserole and bag of chips and salsa.  It was so unexpected and thoughtful--I put it in the fridge for the next day. 

Wednesday, December 30th:  Eight full days have passed and I woke up able to breathe easily, for the first time!  Brigham also felt much better today and said he was all the way healed.  I can taste very strong flavors, but they only taste mild (a dangerous turn of events, because all I want is to taste "mildly" sweet things that are actually super sweet).  But, wow, it feels good to feel good!  Or to just feel NOT BAD.  We ate the casserole from Gloria and it was so good, and nice to give Allen a break from cooking.  

New Year's Eve / New Year's Day: I am still mildly congested and coughing a little, but doing so much better. Melissa brought dinner again on Thursday, and she had dropped off some BodyArmor drinks on Tuesday night, texting me to tell me that they are like magic for helping healing.  And they were!

Another symptom, and I don't know if it is COVID- related: My mouth and tongue are so so dry and sensitive.  My lips feel extra dry and always are stinging--I can't re-apply chapstick often enough.  It may be the usual "dryness" that we deal with in Idaho winters, or the dryness may be exacerbated by COVID, but my mouth just feels very weird and there are often raised bumps on the inside of  my mouth when I wake up or right after eating.  This article seems to confirm that this is a side effect of about 10% of people affected by COVID.  Lucky me.

Wow, we are so blessed with selfless friends and neighbors.  I almost can't believe the kindnesses that have been shown to our family.  It makes me want to look for ways to serve more and be more sensitive to others and the hard times they are facing.  It was a miserable eight days, but filled with blessings in spite of it all.

Two weeks after first symptoms:  I still have a slight cough, triggered by cold air or cold drinks, and am so tired in the afternoons.  No sense of smell whatsoever.

Three weeks after: Feeling so much better!  Pretty much back to normal, except I still can't smell anything.  Taste is a little off, too.

Four weeks later: no sense of smell. I am compulsively taking out the garbage and throwing scented cubes of wax in the warmer.  Is my sense of taste getting worse?  Or is it the same?  I can taste sweet things and salty things, but bread and meat just taste like texture and temperature.  I'm tired of this.

(Five weeks later) Sunday, January 24: I was so excited to get a whiff of my body spray when I put some on before church!  Yay, my smell is coming back. 

But then the next day (Monday 25th) I made five loaves of homemade bread and some pasta with clam sauce, and I could not smell the garlic sautéing, or the bread in the oven.  I didn't notice I couldn't smell them, until everyone kept saying, "Whoa, what are you making? That smells so good!"  Ugh.  

Tuesday, January 26th:  My lips and tongue are so sensitive to anything remotely spicy or acidy.  Ugh again.  Small sores inside my mouth.

2020 in a Nutshell

2020 in a Nutshell 

Whew!  Twenty-Twenty, you were a tough year in so many ways.  The end.

    PS- Calvin (9) was delighted to stop attending school mid-March, which meant he was just as delighted to go back to school for third grade in the Fall.  He is currently into: art, rocks, comic books, and teasing Brigham about how badly the Eagles are doing this year.  Mollie (13) went on her first TWO backpacking trips this year, and it is her new favorite thing.  She is officially a teenager, but unofficially, still the sweetest girl. She loves reading, crocheting, piano, and everything that happens outside.  Brigham (16) almost went insane when social activities were put on hold last Spring, so he bought a Spikeball set and made encouraged the family to play it constantly often.  He was sad that track was canceled, but so grateful to still enjoy a cross-country season this Fall. He excels at everything academic. Too bad about the Eagles.  Truman (19) had his mission papers submitted in early March, and received a special email outlining his COVID-19 options.  He decided to attend BYU-I for a year, and he loves college life!  He is majoring in graphic design and re-submitting papers after the new year. We miss having him home, but it has been so fun to see him grow in so many ways. Becca (41) was incredibly grateful that she and Allen celebrated their twentieth anniversary in Costa Rica last February, before quarantine.  Gardening and landscaping and chickens were extra therapeutic this year, and she has yet to run out of projects.  Allen (43) kept busy at work and at home, and acquired several new tools for building and fixing.  He is restoring a 1978 Honda XL185S, and designing and constructing a greenhouse for Becca.  He is excited for the day when she runs out of projects.

    PPS- We feel grateful for the opportunity to grow so close to one another during the pandemic.  It has not been an easy year, but so many blessings have accompanied our trials, and we recognize that all good things come from our loving Father in Heaven and from our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the source of true, lasting, personal peace.

   PPPS- We did not take any "official" family photo this year, but I like all these ones better, anyway. You can see all our past years-in-a-nutshell here.

January 2020: shoveling driveways

April 2020: Little City of Rocks

May 2020: Backyard

July 2020: Formation Cave

November 2020: Home church

Allen Wears the Crown of Iris

Allen tested positive for COVID-19 on Mollie's 13th birthday.  Dun dun DUN.

On one of our walks around the silica loop during Allen's quarantine

In my previous post, I wrote about how we called off our Halloween Party as soon as Allen knew he was sick.  It was a bummer, but we'll just have to make it bigger and better for next year!

I realized, during the week Allen was home from work, that I am a silver-linings kind of gal.  I was supposed to work the election, I was scheduled to substitute teach one day, and substitute in the high school library another day.  Since I quarantined with Allen, we were out about $300 for the week.  I also missed book club, (my favorite night of the month) and a friend's baby shower (a favorite friend from the aforementioned favorite night of the month).

But my thoughts of what I was missing were pretty fleeting . . . because Allen and I HAD THE BEST TIME TOGETHER.  He was pretty sick for two days, kind of sick for the next two days, and then 100% recovered.  But he still got paid for staying home from work for eleven straight days.  And they weren't just any eleven days: they were the most glorious Fall days I have ever seen: sunny, windless, blue-sky days with temperatures in the 60s.  We went walking every day, ate all three meals together, and played games and read books with Mollie and Calvin (who were also quarantining).  Allen finished framing the greenhouse, rewired our outside light pole so we can switch it on and off and added an outlet there (eeeeeee!), wired his garage TV to the Internet, and winterized the camper.  I cleaned and organized the whole garage, cleaned and organized Mollie's whole room, got rid of tons of stuff, and tried out new recipes I have been eying forever (pumpkin crepes, roast leg of lamb, and nutty-butter cookies). 

Calvin loved being home . . . but not doing homework

On the new silica loop bridge!  Yay!

Home-Improvement Hottie.

Liza Minnelli hatched all six of her eggs on Election Day!

My own chicks are pretty sweet.  I quickly snapped this picture
from where I was reading, too, because I couldn't stand it. 

I debated whether to write about this experience, because COVID-19 is not a holiday.  We have lost three members of our community to this virus so far, all people I know.  The Utah governor just declared a state of emergency this week, because hospitals are getting critically full . . . and Idaho has been following Utah's trend, a few weeks behind.  I don't want to or intend to be insensitive about the very real, often serious fallout from this global pandemic.  

Our family has been impacted financially, as well.  Back in March, when everything shut down, I no longer took care of Jacob after school, which was about $500 of income a month.  I also stopped substitute teaching: another $250 per month.  Having all four kids home from March-May really blew up our regular grocery budget . . . I think we were all eating for two in those early pandemic stages.

But even then, I was looking at silver linings.  We played so many board games together, we did crafts and went on hikes and talked more.  Truman decided to postpone his mission, so we got more time to spend with him.  We did family projects and went on family drives and had church together in our home every week.  It wasn't always a barrel of laughs . . . but maybe at least firkin of guffaws?

It's okay to appreciate the good that comes out of a bad situation.  It doesn't mean you wear rose-colored glasses, and ignore suffering and hardship around you.  But it also doesn't mean that your other kind of glasses are half-empty.  I choose to see them half-full!

In Bishop W. Christopher Waddell's recent conference talk "There Was Bread," he says:

"Jobs have been lost and incomes reduced as the opportunity to work has been affected by layoffs, and the ability to work has been impacted by health and legal challenges . . . We express understanding and concern for your situation, as well as a firm conviction that better days are ahead . . . The Lord does not expect us to do more than we can do, but He does expect us to do what we can do, when we can do it." (October, 2020)

I think one of the most important things I can do is look for those positives, accept blessings in whatever unlikely way they come, and prepare for the future with hope.

Some of the greatest blessings that have come during this whole year are more opportunities to serve others, and more opportunities to be served.  Brenda picked up some groceries for me, Julie dropped off some banana bread and Sprite, with a thoughtful note that said "Sprite was the only thing that tasted good to us when we had corona!" Melissa gave a a half-dozen delicious cinnamon rolls (most of which I ate myself). Susy delivered the most scrumptious homemade coffee cake.  So many people called and texted and offered help.  

The most touching service came from Georgia, who was in the middle of losing her dad to his long fight with multiple sclerosis.  She dropped off a mosquito repellant cocktail Diet Coke from Maverik, knowing I couldn't go there myself.  Crystalized lime is not a flavor I ever want to taste again . . . but my love for Georgia was forever crystalized by her thoughtful, simple act of kindness.  

Thanks to our wonderful neighbor Gloria Erickson, for giving
Mollie and Calvin some amaryllis bulbs and other goodies!
She didn't even know we were in quarantine!

It wasn't hard to enjoy my time with Allen, while he wore the crown of Iris (I wrote back in March about how Siri spelled "coronavirus" the first time I spoke that word into my phone).  He is my best friend, and I feel like a week at home together is the thing that we both want, more than anything.  Thankfully his case was so mild, and thankfully the rest of us were probably asymptomatic (*see below).  I am grateful in my prayers every night that he has such a good job--he worked without benefits for eight years, and I don't think I will ever stop appreciating the difference we have felt in the last four years, as full-fledged employees.  

Evening sunset walk to the reservoir

I only hope I can be as "quick to observe" silver linings when other hardships come, as they surely will.  I have learned that it is wrong of me to think "first hardship, then blessings" is how it always works.  Not every time, but almost every time, the blessings are there, right alongside the hardships--if I have eyes humble enough to see them.  

You know what?  Maybe it is actually every time.

* * * * * * * * * *

*Here are some interesting facts about flu vaccinations, compiled by the Center for Disease Control.  I was looking for a connection between getting a regular flu shot and reducing coronavirus symptoms: both are viral diseases that are transmitted in the same ways.  Only Allen and Truman tested positive for COVID-19, and they are also the only ones in our family who had not gotten a flu shot already.  I thought that was telling, but from everything I've read, it's probably just a coincidence (especially since none of the rest of got tested).  In the meantime, here is what the CDC recommends for this winter:

"It’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter. Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed treating both patients with flu and patients with COVID-19. This means getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever.

"While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, there are many important benefits, such as:

"Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

"Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19."