#GiveThanks

I continue to be amazed at the many blessings that we, collectively, are receiving during this quarantine year.  I am thankful that our prophet has reminded us how to improve our perspective on life and increase our peace with the following prescription:

"Over my nine and a half decades of life, I have concluded that counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems. No matter our situation, showing gratitude for our privileges is a fast-acting and long-lasting spiritual prescription. 

Does gratitude spare us from sorrow, sadness, grief and pain? No, but it does soothe our feelings. It provides us with a greater perspective on the very purpose and joy of life."

After months of negative messages on social media, overnight my Facebook feed became a source of joy and comfort. This is because of the invitation from the Lord through our prophet to #GiveThanks.  Who would have thought that this change could have impacted so many so quickly.  Of course, the answer is Our Heavenly Father who directed President Nelson to offer this invitation to the world.

President Nelson invited us to post our gratitude on Facebook for 7 days.  I have enjoyed this so much, that I do not want to quit.  I have much more than 7 things to be grateful for.  It certainly has changed my perspective.

This was one of the many blessings that we received in the past two months.  Once again, we found that the restrictions of the continuing pandemic of Coronavirus continue to have silver linings.  When we see them, we also see the hand of God in our lives.

Our Socially Distant Primary Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving Day

Early this year, we scheduled our Condominium Clubhouse to hold our Thanksgiving Dinner.  This was the year that we expected to have nearly 40 family members for Thanksgiving.  As we navigated through October, the count of Coronavirus Cases in Utah kept climbing.  Temporary restrictions were put on social gatherings outside of your household.  It became clear that we would not be able to hold our dinner at the Clubhouse.

The governor rescinded his restriction of gatherings in our homes for Thanksgiving but gave great caution.  We tried to respond accordingly.   With the growing concerns, several of our family members decided against coming to the Thanksgiving Dinner.  Others in fact contracted the Coronavirus, making their participation impossible.  Fortunately, none of them had any significant complications from this illness.  In the end, our participant list was reduced to 17 individuals and we decided to make it work in the safest way possible.

We planned three tables seating a maximum of 6 individuals in three different rooms and kept all foods on a common serving area. The meal was served by a few individuals with gloves and necessary precautions.

Debbie's Thanksgiving favors for this year, prepared with Beckie and her children

Children's Table from two households

7 at this table, including little Emily

Five at this table, including Tom

Separate Serving Area, bottled water, separated sides

Masks being worn except when eating

Paisley came over for pie and then violated social distancing with her cousin Olivia.  We tried!

When we were all done, we felt that the adjusted plans went well and were safe for all involved.  The side benefit was being able to spend more quality time with the fewer number of individuals that participated.  We missed the others, but enjoyed very much those who were with us.  As much as we enjoy the concept of having much of our family together, there are blessings in smaller gatherings.

Halloween and Birthdays

Our Halloween included a birthday celebration for our grandson Asher.  We celebrated with his family in a safe and enjoyable way.

River and his family on Halloween

Asher enjoying his birthday books

When we came home we enjoyed our only Halloween visitors, Pollyanna and her family.  Again, quantity was replaced with quality visits.

Aria and Paisley on Halloween

Pollyanna with a pumpkin in her womb

Debbie carved a Jack-O-Lantern for us

It looked really good at night

McKenzie contracted Coronavirus in October and ended up losing her birthday party. We were able to celebrate her birthday in our new traditional way, by Zoom.

Birthday book

We did managed to get back out after Thanksgiving to a few family birthdays:

Joseph turning 16

Hudson turning 4

Other Adjusted Activities:

Other activities have been also impacted over the past months. We have been able to still continue with opportunities to serve others and associate with our family.  Debbie held her second monthly DUP meeting over Zoom, with additional sisters able to participate.  The treat that was hand delivered to the door of each sister inspired Debbie for a similar treat to share with our ministering families.

We have still been able to attend live plays at Hale Centre Theater.  Arriving early made it look like we were alone, but the theater filled up after we arrived.

Alone in the Theatre

A few more arrived, but all in masks

Able to enjoy with necessary precautions

We went to the viewing and watched the funeral on-line for our dear friend Elwin Burke.  His wife had passed away just a few months before.  His love for her was so strong that he lost his will to live.  Less than 3 months later they were reunited on the other side of the veil.  A special ending to an amazing love story.

Other Service Opportunities

I continued to help moving others.  We finished up the move of Michael and Kari as they finally moved into their new home in Nibley, Utah. 

We are now in the process of helping our ministering family, the Russons, to move into an assisted living facility.  This is the time to call in the big guns to help.  The full-time missionaries have called us a few times to find ways to help us.  I asked for their help and they were just what we needed.  The photo below shows them after giving their help.

Strength to help those too old to do it themselves

Ben asked me to help him with transportation to redeem the coins that he had saved this year, which was quite a haul.  It seemed a little different to see a masked man giving coins rather than taking them.

Ben cashing in his coins at the store

As the Coronavirus count escalated, we have been asked to only attend our sacrament meetings by Zoom from our homes.  So, once again, we are blessing the sacrament in our homes.  Although we miss the association with our ward members, we also love administering this special ordinance in our home setting.  The photo below shows our new sacrament table setting, sharing it with the nativity scene.  We feel that these are compatible neighbors that brings additional meaning to remembering "Him".

Remembering His Birth is part of remembering Him

Finally, we continue to have the privilege to serve my dear mother.  As she is in her 91st year, she is having more problems with her balance and sore knees.  She has found a wonderful companion with her new walker.

Increased mobility for a special lady

For me personally, one of the greatest blessings of this year has been to complete the second draft of my personal history, all input into my publishing software.  It is now in review by my sweet mother and wife before finalizing the third draft.  This work has caused much reflection on my life and reminded me of so many blessings from my Heavenly Father. It has made it easier for me to Give Thanks. 

At the same time, Debbie has finished some of her personal history projects. We hope to include these as Christmas gifts. We give thanks to the blessings of the slowdown caused by the Coronavirus.  We find that all things have a purpose and once we discover the blessings that come, our perspective in life changes.    This occurs especially when we #GiveThanks.

A list of those things that I have been able to give thanks for on social media so far:

1- Our prophet, who invited us to share our gratitude

2- My sweet wife, who is the love of my life

3- My Savior, Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement

4- Our 17 wonderful and diverse children and all that they teach me

5- The Book of Mormon and the fullness of the gospel that it contains

6- My good health that allows me to serve others

7- All of our posterity, including our son and daughter in laws and our grandchildren

8- My dear mother, who we are privileged to be with each and every day

9- My two missions, in Brazil (as a young missionary) and in Europe and Germany (Sr. mission)

10- The privilege to participate in Family History, one of the great passions of my life

11- Temples and eternal covenants

12- The example of my brothers and their spouses

13- The international scope of the Church and my privilege to be part of so much of it

14- The amazing leaders and associates that I had during my career and their influence on me

15- The example of Joseph, husband of Mary, and men everywhere who love their wives and children

16- Musical talent that is shared with others, especially available during the Pandemic

17- The Sabbath Day which was given to us from a loving Heavenly Father, a delight! Blessings from my Heavenly Father are everywhere.  My acknowledgement of them blesses me! 

18- Technology that has blessed us in unimaginable ways, including individuals that otherwise would not be able to participate with us in family gatherings and Church meetings.

19- The blessing of the ministering focus of the Church, allowing us to serve as the Savior serves those who are numbered and named in the Church and all others that we feel prompted to serve.

20- The Holy Ghost, who reveals to me, not only truth, but the direction that I should follow in my life. This resulting personal revelation is one of the greatest of my blessings.

21- Our ancestors who embraced the gospel so that we could have the privilege to be raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

22- The stewardship that I have received on this earth. I have been given sufficient temporal resources, health, time and testimony to be able to serve God's children on this earth. This allows me to consecrate my life to my Heavenly Father. 

23- My father, who was born 104 years ago on December 12, 1916. His faithfulness in the gospel and dedication as a missionary provided an example for me and all of his posterity.

Blessings from my Heavenly Father are everywhere.  My acknowledgement of them blesses me!