"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
Well, week two of quarantine saw us being slightly more productive. Mostly that means that I was stress-baking every favorite treat under the sun. And then eating them. Bread, biscuits, brownies, yellow chocolate chip cake, regular old chocolate cake, and lots and lots of cookies.
But we tried to be better about getting outside. I was definitely more structured about schoolwork for Calvin (the other three kids, I am happy to report, are pretty self-motivated and start on homework right when they wake up), and I added some serious exercise (hiking, running, pullups) to my eating-baked-desserts regime. Hopefully week three will see more exercise and less desserts.
Allen and I took Mollie and Calvin on a hike up 90 Percent Ridgeline, one of my favorites.
I made this cairn last Fall--it made it through the winter!
This was on a solo hike up Chester Hill (S Hill) on Tuesday.
Oh, the sun felt so good!
Calvin has been working hard on schoolwork, reading, and drawing. He absolutely LOVES being out of school, and does all his schoolwork with a smile on his face, because he is home his level of productivity/willingness for homework is all over the map. He and I have been playing 2-player games together--the other kids have been, too. In fact, as a family, we have been playing a lot of board games, and Mollie and I beat the boys twice in a row at Code Names.
Code Names. We've played it so much, it's starting to cause fights. Basically the litmus test for what makes a game good.
Another fun thing happened this week: I was on Facebook at the exact moment when Soda Sip and Queen Bee Soapery posted a fun scavenger hunt. They left five or six bars of soap and Soda Sip gift certificates at different locations around Soda Springs. Mollie and I went to the first location from their photo, but someone had beaten us, so we zoomed over to Octagon Springs and EUREKA! I took Mollie to Soda Sip for a free hot chocolate, and am enjoying washing my hands for 20 seconds with my new, pretty bar of soap.
Winner, winner! at Octagon Springs
You can't help washing your hands when you have soap this beautiful!
Every morning this week has been sunny, and every afternoon has been cold, spitting snow. Wednesday was especially yucky weather. But around 7:30, Brigham said, "Mom--look at the sunset! Let's ride our bikes down the reservoir." I told him I was too tired to ride my bike, but that I would meet him there in the car. We drove down the road and saw one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.
I don't want to moralize too much, but the thing about yucky, wet, snowy, cold days is this: The sunsets at the end are even more spectacular.
But even better than the sunset: Ana and Isabel were there, too, taking pictures! They are two exchange students from Spain and Germany who have been staying with a family in our ward and who have become such a fun part of young women and of our high school. They told me that they would be flying home to Europe in a few days, so they were driving around, getting photos before they left. I was SO GLAD to see them and get to say goodbye. Social distancing was thrown to the wind and I hugged those sweet girls so tightly. They really are special--I'm so glad they came here!
Good call, Brigham!
Isabel (senior) from Germany on the left and Ana (sophomore) from Spain on the right
Today we joined many of our family members and friends in a worldwide, interfaith fast "for relief from the physical, emotional, and economic effects of this global pandemic" (in President Nelson's words). I was very proud of the three big kids for doing a full fast. I know it was especially hard for Brigham--who is in a constant state of fat-burning from all his running (this week he logged 41 miles).
Today has been spiritually uplifting all-around. We celebrated the life of Allen's uncle, Dan Clark. The funeral was broadcast to family members: we listened to it on a Bluetooth speaker connected to our phone. We feel thankful for technology--but far more thankful for Uncle Dan's good life. Hearing family members share stories of their loving husband, father, grandfather was very moving, and there was lots of laughter mixed in.
Uncle Dan
Church at home was also pretty great--Truman gave the lesson and bore a simple, powerful testimony. He is expecting a mission call any day, and we are so proud of his decision to serve others and testify of Jesus Christ. We all need our Savior, and the peace He offers, no matter our circumstances.
The kids love Zuko coming to church.
It's been very sweet to have DeAnn join us every week
Allen played "Come Unto Jesus" for our closing song. It was so beautiful, I thought I would use technology for sharing, too.
We are excited to hear messages of hope about our Savior at General Conference next week, and to celebrate his life, death, and Resurrection during this Easter Season. We are so grateful to know, on days like today, that families can be together forever.
