New Year, Joy

 Spending time with the family has been great. Celia had her wisdom teteth removed and healed okay. She was a trooper and I am so proud of her. We had a grand time doing pre christmas, Christmas with a lot of family members at different times, and post Christmas shopping. Bri was home for a week and we loved playing games, going for car rides and doing our usual things we like to do,. We did get some business done, car registrations and Real IDs. We also had fun eating out and making meals at home made for great mealtimes bonding together.I mad Begian waffles and used my new kitchen knives and chopper for poreaparations. We had Lucilles and Claim Jumber, Chipotle, and subway. We looked for parks to eat at and places to walk and danced a lot to Just Dance 2021. There were puzzles completed and a lot of love everywhere we turned. I tend to be optimistic and love my bubble, but I am aware of the hardships around us and within our family. The sacrficies and tough times really do amplify the good times and make us feel grateful. I am counting my blessings and good things in life as a presciption for healing as the prophet advises. I'm looking for ways to comfort others and understand their situations from the experience my hardships and trials have helped me to unnderstand. Visiting  Teaching via duo isn't as great, but it helped to talk and see one another. Bri bore his testimony via zoom, and it was neat to go to church in person to see it. Also, I couldn't help but notice how asscesible it was to hear him in this testimony, it could reach may more people that couldn't attend in person for one reason or another. I need to be grateful for every great opportunity and time that makes me happy even if it looks different than before, and I will find more joy in the year to come.

It turned out Okay

November was full of things and people to be grateful for. The Prophet asked us to show gratitude and we were already counting our blessings. I did participate in the social media 7 days of #givethanks and so did Brian and Emmy.  We loved having Emmy come visit and during our Thanksgiving Dinner and while black friday shopping and running around in the van, we did give thanks.  Celia was complaining of a sore throat so we decided to warn the grandparents of that and they chose not to come to Thanksgiving dinner. It was a good call, Brian and Joseph fells sick the day after thanksgiving which we later found out was Covid 19. It felt a little scary and surreal to think we would have it in our family. 

We tested and the wait to find out was long. I had felt much better when I received my positive result.  We did do good to social distance and not gather for Thanksgiving. Its so hard to break outour routines for prevention's sake, but it proved to be the right idea. It was sunny and clear and beautiful weather all the time we were home. The car was a refuge to keep us away from others, yet able to see outside. We weren't able to see Spencer for two Sundays, but he did well and seemed pleased to see us again when we visited last.  Celia didn't get to go to school for 5 full days, but we managed and it seemed more about family and chilling which is always nice.  Brian did some Zoom and took some calls, but mainly it felt like an extended Thanksgiving break. Joe is getting back into Door dashing again and with more restricitons for staying at home, maybe business will pick up.

It seems like it would be a terrible things to experience all we have these past few weeks, but we are fine and we are blessed. I've been decorating. nesting and wrapping presents. Also, sending Christmas cards and its a nice outlet for me. I love color and creativity and I love to express it. I've done yard work as well, raking leaves with the kids, planting a Blue Spruce tree and some fun grasses. It makes me excited about being in my yard and being home, which is what I need right now. I'm looking for the beauty and greatness of where I am planted and so far, it is going well. Christmas will be great with Emmy visiting once again and spending time with immediate family.