Thanksgiving 2020

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving 2020. It was definitely far different than we would have expected, but we were grateful to spend time with family and have good food. 

During the week we tried to follow the prophets challenge to remember and post about gratitude. We made a gratitude wall that our kids could post their things and then Shantel and I also shared some things on social media. 

Bruce came to stay with us for the whole Thanksgiving week. We could not go to my parents house, but instead planned to have Bruce, Amy, Kevin and Michael over for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Shantel's parents recently bought new couches and got a turkey roaster with it and were so kind that they gave it to us. They kids helped me carry it up the stairs. 

Here was our Thanksgiving menu. 

I love working in the kitchen with Shantel and so making Thanksgiving dinner with her is so much fun. We really enjoyed it. 

Here are a few things- Cranberry Jello with cranberry, raspberry, pineapple and a host of other delicious things. 

We had two little turkey's in our turkey roaster. 

Here I am cutting it up- we were taking some to my parents as well, so I wore a mask to protect them while I cut some pieces for them.  

Here is the table and the full spread. 

Then the full group picture. 

Plus our brilliant master chef. 

We were all able to share some of the things we are grateful for and here is a picture of the thing I am most grateful for. Shantel and these kids are such a joy in my life. Happy Thanksgiving!

insta-november

It's funny because I either post a LOT on Instagram or I post basically nothing. This month was trending to be a high-volume month anyway, but then President Russell M Nelson invited us to share in a Gratitude challenge leading up to Thanksgiving. An exerpt from his words:

"Expressing his own gratitude for the scientists and researchers who are developing a vaccine for COVID-19, the prophet (a former pioneering cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon) reminded us that “there is no medication or operation that can fix the many spiritual woes and maladies that we face” as a collective global society. These include the vices of hate, unrest, racism, violence, dishonesty and incivility. “There is, however, a remedy—one that may seem surprising—because it flies in the face of our natural intuitions,” President Nelson said. “Nevertheless, its effects have been validated by scientists as well as men and women of faith. I am referring to the healing power of gratitude.”    [...]
First, I invite you — just for the next seven days — to turn social media into your own personal gratitude journal.
Second, let us unite in thanking God through daily prayer."

The posts included below are my effort to follow the encouragement of the prophet and flood social media with goodness and the light of gratitude, the light of Jesus Christ. 

{11.5.20}

Progression- 1, see your siblings in a giant pile of laughter on the floor. 2, come see what it's about. 3, approach with caution. 4, join with enthusiasm.

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I have lots to be grateful for from this past week, specifically. Even in my weaknesses and my inadequacies, there have been many things that have been personal and abundant tender mercies and blessings.

-Exrended family that forgives me and picks up my slack.

-Endless encouragement from my mom.

-Flowers from David

-A caring message from a friend

-Ministering Interviews with my RS president that turned into HER ministering to me.

-Undeserved and abundant blessings of safety for me and my children.

-Neighbors who consistently step in and help me, many times without being asked, and more than I can ever possibly pay back.

-Children that love me, forgive me, make me laugh, hug me tight, and are such good helpers to me.

Plus Christmas 🎄 Movies. Hallmark is coming in clutch with an impressive array of great, warm-hearted Christmas movies right when we need them most. #2020

{11.10.20}

When reading books feels more important than going to sleep, but your body says "I'm tiiiiiiired".

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We've all been there, right?

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One of the things I love most about Lydia's voracious reading habits is that she reads such a variety of books: fiction, nonfiction, chapter books, picture books. We are trying to teach her a love of good literature - which is going slightly better than teaching her the value of going to bed early. 😂😂😂

{11.10.20}

"Yeppie-Yep!" Caleb just starting saying this instead of "Yes" and I hope that he never stops. He also will say "Nopie-Nope" instead of "No" and I'm dying about it. 😂

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Caleb is independent and some days feel like I just follow him around trying to keep him our of trouble- but I LOVE him at this age.

{11.21.20}

Today we gathered to hear the prophet speak and I told my children that if would do whatever he asked us to do- we would be blessed with the things that we need.

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Often I think of the Gospel flooding the earth with light. Light that isn't easily seen by the world but is found in homes and hearts. Steadily growing brighter, connecting in a web of goodness, love, and hope all around the world. To be a part of this flood of gratitude is a blessing; visual proof of the light that is spread around the world.

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I am grateful that light is stronger than dark, that hope is stronger than fear, and that even against insurmountable odds, with God at our Helm, we can overcome.

#givethanks @churchofjesuschrist

{11.21.20}

Gratitude isn't competitive or comparative. You don't have to live in a beautifully decorated house, have a photogenic family, have a healthy body, or have everything figured out in life to be grateful. Even when things aren't really going the way you want, you can find things to be grateful for- and that practice of being grateful will bring healing and strength.

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So as your social media is flooded with things people are grateful for, don't look at those things which you may be lacking and feel discouraged or overwhelmed. Instead look inward to the blessings you DO have and understand that this practice is more for the healing of the individual heart than for the presentation to the group.

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I've been facilitating an Emotional Resilliance class through our stake for the past 10 weeks. It's been such a great class, but one of the key components of the course is to write one thing you are grateful for each day. I've been keeping my gratitude notes, along with spiritual thoughts and impressions, in this small planner. It's been a blessing to me through this whole year. I'm grateful for the tools that have been given to help me recognize and record the miracles in my life.

#givethanks

{11.22.20}

In the last 24 hours, these hands of mine have tickled my children, wiped away their tears, and made endless amounts of food for them to eat. I've brushed my teeth, typed important emails, and completed a thousand other small daily tasks. My hands often crack and bleed in the winter (especially with all the hand washing a pandemic requires) but my hands also often are found serving others.

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I am grateful for these hands.

#givethanks

{11.23.20}

Happy Birthday @lwalker23! With each year that passes I am more and more grateful for her. (Anyone else occasionally call their mom to apologize and thank her for her effort during your childhood- especially after a tough day with kids?) We had to cancel the Taco Birthday Party we'd been planning for six months. (you know, Covid. 😷) But even in that disappointment, we still found a hundred things to be grateful for. Including a weekend of watching Korean Dramas together and of her reading books to my kids.

#givethanks #momsarethebest

{11.24.20}

I am grateful for the examples of gratitude around me. One of my friends posted about how social media isn't such a bad place after all now that things have changed to be so uplifting. I have so many examples of people being grateful and being surrounded by people with that perspective has blessed my life. Among 100 examples I could name:

-My Grandma Walker raised her young children in a home with no indoor toilet (they used an outhouse until my dad was about 5) and water pumped in from a well. When she told me about washing her baby's clothes in orange tinted water, I was immediately grateful for my own washing machine- but she always seemed happy about those early years, too.

-My friend who lost her toddler son, Tui, in a horrible accident. Her broken heart has never ceased to stop sharing her gratitude for Jesus Christ, in public and private ways. Even in the time right after the accident - she was always grateful for the tiniest things I was able to do for her. That example of gratitude has changed my life.

-My brother-in-law, Kevin, has been posting things he is grateful for each day for the whole month. His posts have made me smile, laugh, and leave feeling better than when I came. His good attitude towards his blessings (and hard things) in life have made me want to be more grateful for the blessings I have. His post from November 1 is so in line with President Nelson's challenge- and I'm grateful for Kevin's Gratitude. (Swipe➡️)

I'm grateful for these many examples of Gratitude. #givethanks

{11.25.20}

Each and every day I #givethanks for miracles.

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At that first appointment our opthalmologist said "If she improves significantly in the next six months, it will be a miracle." At that point she wasn't tracking objects and I wasn't sure she could even see my face. We left knowing that we WOULD be praying for a miracle. That miracle has been answered again and again and again.

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I know there are angels surrounding this girl because I have felt their presence and their protection.

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"Remember the great things the Lord has done for you." I can not deny the miracles I have seen in my life.

{11.26.20} 

I am grateful for this week of giving thanks. #givethanks

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From the beginning I was touched by the prophet's words and promises about the blessings of gratitude- but I probably would rather have written my gratitude in a journal instead of posting on social media. But as the week went on- I realized I was feeling connected to people on a different level and that is was exactly what my heart needed.

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-I was able to feel closer to family that we usually spend Thanksgiving with but weren't able to this year. (@rencher_smile's posts made me feel like we were still hanging out together, prepping for Black Friday shopping, and letting me learn from her goodness. And my grandma @zurielknowles who I wanted to go visit in Idaho this week but wasn't able to. )

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-I learned more about dear friends and the things that are important and special to them. (@alimiddleton's post about her rocking chair made me cry big tears and made me grateful for my own chair to rock and read to my children.)

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-I learned fun things about others. (Like @ww35 who was on the BYU Ballroom team! And connecting with @karen942johnson as we dug through each other's old wedding photos.)

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My heart was so happy to see posts from life-time friends that I don't get to see often. (Like @taushamarie

@kaylabhall @bekack and @cassdelahunty who all inspire me with their words.)

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I was reminded of the goodness of the friends and family that surround me (First, @ashmamacooper's post about her bed made me laugh out loud- and then it reminded me of what a good mother she is. I have been blessed by her example many times. And @happyathomeschool inspires me to be the goodness that she sees in me.)

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There are so many more examples than just these- but this morning as I woke up I just kept thinking about how grateful I was for the connections that I didn't even realize I was longing for.

insta-david

{11.22.20}

Today I'm grateful for ingenuity. Austin had been working to save $1.50 each week so he can buy Lucy a Christmas present. He had until December 15. However, he was so excited that he has been putting in all his money each week and this week he finished saving and got the present. Here he is working on getting the present wrapped. He and I had to make a few modifications and take two boxes and make them one to fit the present. Austin is smart, creative and always willing to learn and try new things. I'm glad we could use our ingenuity to make a box that worked. #givethanks

{11.24.20}

I'm grateful for this beautiful world we live in. #givethanks

Self-Reliance Course

 My calling right now is the ward self-reliance specialist (and also stake auditor). One of my responsibilities is to facilitate the self-reliance courses put on by our stake. 

Shantel and I took the personal finance course 2-3 years ago and loved it. It was such a great course. Since then I've had the opportunity to facilitate that course a few different times. For the fall 2020 classes, we found out that they have just released a new course titled Emotional Resilience. I was so excited when I saw that. Given the current pandemic (and life in these times in general), I knew it would be a great course. 

We got a great turnout of people within the ward who were interested and were all set to do a class on Thursday night. Shantel was planning to join my class as well and we were both excited. 

I found out that another ward had a group that wanted to take the class as well at the same time as my class, but did not have a facilitator. However, my class had gotten so big that we could not really add any more people. Immediately Shantel volunteered to facilitate the class. It was so kind of her to even offer. It ended up working out they did need the help, so we both started facilitating the self-reliance class on Thursday nights at 8 pm. 

We were definitely a little nervous about both facilitating at the same time. If Shantel was in my class as a participant, she could step out and help the kids, but not if she was facilitating. We made a chart for our kids with 10 boxes, one for each self-reliance night so they could start working towards a self-reliance prize for staying in bed on self-reliance nights and they did amazing. They stayed in bed and made it possible for us to both facilitate without interruption. 

The course was really fantastic. The principles were so timely and relevant and we both learned so much and felt uplifted. It is so nice to have the spiritual principles mixed with the temporal principles. It is so important do understand how to deal with different emotions and how that can really bless our lives.