Sacrament Tray

 One of the blessings of having church at home is the opportunity to partake of the sacrament at home. It is very different from church and I think really helps teach children about the sacrament. Last month, Lydia was so thoughtful and had a big idea to make a sacrament tray that we could use at home. She worked on a cardboard sacrament tray and was keeping it a big surprise (I really had no idea what she was working on). However, she kept having trouble getting the handle to stay. Shantel and the kids went up to Morgan one day and Lydia convinced Scott to help her make a sacrament tray. Scott spent a whole day with Lydia making a beautiful sacrament tray. It is a beautiful wood tray with a metal handle. 

A few weeks later Lydia surprised me with her gift. It means so much to me. First to Lydia who was so thoughtful to give it to me. I love that she was thinking about the sacrament and about how to serve and be kind. Also to Scott who spent a whole day working with Lydia to make this try. We were so excited for our next "church at home" week so that we could use the tray. I know that the sacrament helps us to become clean each week as we continually try to improve. Sometimes trying to be "perfect" each week can seem overwhelming. However, I like to think that as I take the sacrament, I promise to keep trying and not give up when I do make mistakes. If we keep trying, if we don't give up, then little by little we can become like God. I love this picture with Lydia and am so grateful for her. 

COVID-19 Pandemic - 1 Year Mark

March 11, 2021 marks the official 1 year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the last 365 days, our lives have been different. In some ways, drastically different, and in others, differences you might consider minor. Yet, I am certain that this last year will be a life event that will stand as one of the historic turning points in history that I have lived through. This will join September 11, 2001 as life defining historic events. 

By mid-January last year I had heard of COVID-19 and was reading articles about this virus in China. By February, it was clear that it was coming to the United States. By March 8, the virus was the lead topic of every conversation. However, it was March 11 that changed everything. The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Then Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the Jazz game was cancelled first, then in the blink of an eye, the entire NBA was suspended indefinitely. That was the day that it became real for everyone. Real in the sense, that this was going to impact our lives, it was going to change our lives. On March 12 and 13th, the rest of the sports world including the NCAA tournament came tumbling down. In a minute, everything was cancelled. Grocery stores were overwelmed with demand for food and reduced hours. Restaurants were closed, and events were cancelled. 

Friday March 13 was the last day I went out to a client for work. We were told that on Monday we would be working from the office, socially distanced. Schools were closed starting on Monday March 16. I was working in the office that day, although, no one was really working, we were all discussing what was happening. Then we found out that we were to start working from home. March 16, 2020 was the last time I worked from the office. It has now been an entire year working from home. 

The amount of uncertainty during those first few weeks of the pandemic is hard to describe. There have been so many things we haven't done. Yet we have been blessed, and we are fortunate. A vaccine has been developed, cases are finally (ever so slowly) declining and there is hope on the horizon. Our family has been cared for during this time and we have been together and happy and healthy. 

Yet, there are so many images that will remain with me forever. Most of all, those trips in March and April to the grocery store with the look of uncertainty in the eyes of everyone. Then seeing everyone in masks everywhere we went since then. Even now, it is hard to believe this is the world we live in. Hard to believe how everything can change in one instant. 

Caleb Birthday

 Here are some highlights from Caleb's birthday week. 

Birthday bags to get something fun every day. 

The week before Caleb's birthday we were asking him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, expecting him to say, Dinosaurs or Wild Kratts or something like that. Then out of nowhere he said he wanted a frog cake. It was totally unexpected because he had not been into frogs or anything. But from that point on, all the way through his birthday, he was very much into a frog themed birthday. Shantel made a beautiful pond with frogs in it that turned out super good. 

We let all three kids sleep in the same room that night and threw a bunch of balloons in so it was super fun for Caleb when he woke up. 

Crazy to think that Caleb's birthday party was one of the first things impacted by COVID-19 last year as we decided not to get together with everyone (Shantel's parents came by, but it was scaled back). Caleb opened presents and had a ton of fun. This party too was of course scaled back for COVID-19, we just had the Haderlie cousins here. 

Shantel did decide to take the kids to the pool (which they had not done in a year) and they were so excited. 

Happy Birthday Caleb!