Davids Thoughts on giving, love and leukemia

Today as we celebrate Christ’s birth, I can’t help but reflect on what the Savior of the world has done for me in my life.  The times that I felt he helped me are countless. One that stands out in my mind quickly goes back to a Christmas when I was 10 years old.  My family had hit a hard year and it was that Christmas that I really first felt and started to understood the Christmas spirit. My family was served by many other people, to ensure that my brothers and sisters and I had a Christmas. My siblings probably could recall the facts better than I. What I recall is that over the Christmas week 29 years ago, there were multiple other families that dropped gifts off at our house anonymously. As a kid it was fun to get the gifts.

As I have grown older and created a family of my own, April and I decided to pass it forward, so every year for Christmas we anonymously secret Santa different people, for fun.  The miracle for me wasn’t getting the extra gifts 29 years ago for Christmas. The miracle is that the person that did those Secret Santas for my family 29 years ago, taught me the true meaning of Christmas.  To be observant and watch for those in need and to love others as he would of loved him. Each year, my kids love buying for strangers and then taking them to strangers houses and knocking at the door and then running to the bushes as fast as we can.  I love the memories of hiding in a dark bush with my daughters, huffing and puffing, but trying to be quiet so no one hears us as they answer the doors. However the best gift are the moments, after we have left the presents on the door and we are driving away, the air in the car is still and quiet.  There is a warmth and a peace that makes the night a sacred experience for my family. All the kids feel the spirit of Christ and know that they are on his mission to serve and uplift others.

I am grateful for the people that left gifts on my families door 29 years ago. Some of them are probably no longer on this earth and the actual present is long forgotten. What is remembered is the lesson they so very clearly taught me.  Hard times come upon all of us, but when they do, the savior will be there through other people to help you. You will eventually be healed. And then when you are healed, it is then time for you to go help someone else.

Five days ago when Lane was diagnosed with Leukemia.  I thought, He is a boy that is always laughing and joking. Every time I would go to his house, I would see him at the doorstep, greeting us.  

When the news broke that he had Leukemia. I am not sure if he comprehended it and the challenges that lie ahead for him.  I personally cried when I heard the news, because I thought about the challenges that happened to my family when I was 10. My heart broke for Lane. He has already been through a lot.  I am confident that there will be a day and time, it could be 1 year, 10 years or 29 years from now where Lane will be healed. He will then be the one that will see someone in need and go help him.  It is then, we will stand in aww and wonder with amazement, and be able to confess that we know that Christ lives…

I know that Christ lives and loves each one of us.  

I love your family and am grateful to be part of it.

Merry Christmas,

November 2018

I've decided that I wear a lot of different hats as a mom. Soccer mom, band mom, volleyball mom, cheer mom... Well I think I wore all those hats this months and will continue to wear them for several months or perhaps even years to come. 

Carmen was selected for All County Band this year. It's an honor to be selected. They spend an entire day learning music that they saw for the first time that morning and then performed a concert that evening. It's a big lesson in sight reading. The concert was great! 

Aliza worked super hard to get her round off/back handspring and did it!! She is amazing. Every time I watch her tumble, she makes it look so easy, like anyone could do. But I've seen the months and months of practice it takes to grasp one of these skills. 

And I attended several soccer games for both Dallin and Charlotte. I don't have any pictures of them playing, because it was probably the coldest season I've ever sat through. I was too cold to move from my chair during the games. David coached Dallin's team and they both loved it. David has such a natural ability to always make things fun, yet teach skills at the same time. 

Aliza's most anticipated birthday ever, finally arrived. She turned 12!! We didn't do too much to celebrate other than presents and cake. She had just had her cheer placements  and barely dodged her last primary sacrament meeting presentation. 

She's such a beauty and has the kindest heart. She fights for what she knows is right. She works hard and sets goals for herself.  She quiet, yet a deep thinker. And she's happiest when she's cheering. 

David serves on the high council at church and had to speak in the Waynesboro ward one Sunday. This is the ward I grew up in and my family still attends. So I decided to tag along. My sister was even there! And my mom, sister and I all matched, so we had to take a picture. 

November felt like the month of the Temple for me. I went in Brazil, then I went to the Philadelphia temple with some great ladies from my ward. And then later in the month David and I took Aliza to the Columbia Ohio one for her first trip to the temple.  It's always amazing to be at the temple, but being there with two of my daughters felt pretty special. 

Aliza played the prelude music in church one Sunday before Sacrament meeting. It was beautiful and I loved watching her share one of her talents. 

Since David has been home a whole lot these past few months, he's been able to really lend a hand around the house. He does the dishes every night after dinner, he helps drive kids to their various activities and he even helps with homework. He made these sight word flash cards for Dallin and was helping him practice. It's been a huge adjustment to have him home, but I could really get used this. It will be hard when he returns back to work after school is done. 

Yes, he's six and he still comes in our bed in the middle of the night. But I can't resist his cuteness!

I posted earlier about our front yard makeover. Here's a finished picture. It's not the best picture, but you get an idea. 

We hottest Thanksgiving at our house this year. We had a big turnout! I didn't take a single picture, but I stole this one from my aunt. It's my grandpa petting Koda. I never imagined him being a dog person, but he took a real liking to Koda. 

My parents had a football party for the UVA/Virginia Tech game, since we are divided family. It was super fun to be together for such a big game. And it was a devastating loss for UVA when they lost due to a fumble in overtime. I guess the 15 year streak of losing to VT will continue on for another year. We'll get 'em next year for sure! 

 I think every post has to include a picture of Koda. He loves me the most! 

Our ward had a persona progress night to celebrate all the things the Young women have accomplished for Personal Progress. Each girl prepared a table with things that represent themselves. 

Aliza's was full of cheer stuff, of course. She has only been in YW for two weeks, so she really hasn't gotten into personal progress yet. 

Carmen had volleyball stuff, and her clarinet. She also included a poster that she had been working on for one of her value experiences. I think the glue may still have been wet on it! 

And lastly we took a drive over the Stuanton to drive through the Gypsy Hill Park Christmas lights. This replica of the Washington DC temple was built by my dad in, I think, 1988. I remember him building it in our basement. It has appeared at the park lights every year since then. I didn't realize that it was still around, but once I learned it was, I knew I wanted to take the kids the see it. 

And driving to Staunton warrants a visit to Wright's Dairy Rite for dinner! It's an old diner where you still order your dinner from a phone at your table. 

Brazil Days Four and Five

On Friday we left Rio and flew to Sao Paulo.  From there we decided to test our true adventurous selves and rented a car to drive to Campinas. This certainly a lesson in communication. I am not a good navigator and doing it in Portuguese was even more challenging. Lets just say we both got a little frustrated, but we made it there okay. That evening we went to the Campinas Temple. I wrote my thoughts up about it on Facebook, so I'll just share what I wrote.

My thoughts about a small part of my trip to Brazil: Today was such special day. One that I’ve looked forward to for 16 years. From 2001-2003 I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Campinas, Brazil. This time of my life and this place will always hold a place in my heart. I love Brazil and the people here. 

In 2002 the Campinas Temple was finished and dedicated as a House of the Lord. Once a temple is dedicated, only members of the church can enter. But prior to the dedication, an open house is held, inviting the public to come inside. It’s a great opportunity for all to see and learn more about the temples. During my mission, I was part of that open house. I was a missionary that welcomed those wonderful Brazilians and showed them around this special and sacred place. It was an opportunity I’ll never forget. 

I remember thinking that I wanted to get married there myself or at least return someday with my husband. While I wasn’t married in this temple, I was married and sealed to my husband in the Washington DC temple and it has been a blessing to us ever since. While there are 100’s of temples around the world, I have often thought about this temple and have wanted to return for many years. But with children and life, it was just not an easy trip to make. But today, after 16 years, I finally made it back! 

It wasn’t easy to get there. It required months of planning for someone to watch our children, a 10 hour flight, renting a car and trying to find our way through the 3rd largest city in the world with a slight language barrier. It was not easy to get checked in with the front desk and once inside, we still really weren’t sure where we were supposed to be. Remember the language barrier… I’ve been able to remember just enough Portuguese to get us by. Once inside we still needed help in English at certain places in the temple, and this didn’t come easily. Slowly but surely we made it to the place I most wanted to return, the Celestial Room of the temple. This is the most sacred room there, and it’s beyond immaculate. 

Once inside this room, I could not hold back my tears anymore. I was so happy to finally be back at that special spot. I couldn’t help but think of our Heavenly Home. The place we are all striving to return to someday. Even though I had spent day after day inside that temple, many years ago, I didn’t remember too much of it after 16 years. But inside, it felt so familiar and the memories came flooding back. I think our heavenly home will feel the same way. While we don’t remember our premortal life, we know it was wonderful and we know we want to return there. The journey back is not easy! It requires a lot of hard work and faithfulness. But once we return and are welcomed back into the arms of our Heavenly Father, how great will be our joy! My words are not adequate enough to explain was joy I felt just by being back at the Campinas Temple. It gave me a small glimpse of how amazing that day will be when I see my Savior again.

And another great joy was seeing the bus loads of people that had traveled over 9 hours to spend their weekend there in the temple. The sessions were so full that they had to bring in extra chairs! The place was bustling with faithful members of the Lord’s restored church here on earth. The work will go on!

The next morning we drove to some of my areas. Castelo was my very first area and I was certain I'd be able to just get us around and be able to show David everything. However, it all seemed so different. Familiar, yet different. I was able to find the church first. And there were some sisters outside the gate waiting for the Bishop to arrive and unlock it. So I struck up a conversation with them. Turns out they were there to set up for a ward lunch and invited us to come! We helped them set up for a little while, but then left. I had other places I wanted to see. Plus,  I had to be back in Sao Paulo that afternoon to catch my flight home. 

The Castelo ward was my first area and the by far the wealthiest area I served in. The church building there was very nice compared to the homes we met in in my other areas. 

This was where I lived! Well, in the little house in the back of this one (the fundos). But this was the gate I entered through everyday to go out and serve and to return and rest.  We also drove out Santa Barbara Do'este, which was my favorite area. It was a very busy day and the town was super crowded. I also realized how different it was to get around by car vs. walking everywhere. It was difficult to get to see everything I wanted to show David. But we went to the town center where I did a lot of contacting. And then drove down the street I lived on. I was in this area for 9 months, so I knew my way around pretty well. Then we drove out to some neighborhoods that we did a lot of work in. Then we were out of time and needed to head back to the airport. Prior to our trip I had tried to find some people I knew so we could visit, but wasn't successful. My mission was before Facebook and I lost contact with most everyone I knew there. It's sad to think about all the people that meant so much to me, and now I have no way to get in touch with them. But still, it was amazing just to be there in those special places again. 

I bought a few souvenirs to bring home. This bag was full of guarana for the kids. I prayed the whole flight home that they wouldn't explode on the airplane. They made it home safely and the kids loved drinking the Brazilian soda. 

And Dallin wore his new soccer jersey for several days before we made him take it off. 

 Whew, what an awesome trip! I'm so grateful and feel so blessed to have been able to return to my mission and to visit other parts of Brazil that I've always wanted to see.

Day 3 - Brazil: Jeep Tour

On day three in Brazil, we took the morning easy and relaxed. David actually had some school work to do to get ready for the following week. But that afternoon we booked a jeep tour through Tajuca National Forrest. It's the largest urban rainforest in the world. Urban meaning it's in the center of Rio de Janeiro. It just so happened that we were the only two on the tour and it became a private tour with a guide who loves photography. So he also became our personal photographer. I think I have more pictures of us on this day than any other day. 

Our first stop was here, where he made us get out and we started hiking! David and I both looked at each other a little confused, but just kept walking. We had not come prepared to hike through the forest. I was wearing flip flops for peats sake! We ended up hiking for only about 10 minutest and came out at this little waterfall, where the jeep was waiting for us. 

Isn't he so cute?!!

We continued up the mountain to a Japanese Pagoda lookout. I can't remember the history of it, but of all the amazing viewpoints we had been at this week, this one definitely offered the best view. 

 After the rainforest tour, we arrived at the Botanical Gardens. Even though we were there in early spring and nothing was flowering yet, it was still beautiful and peaceful. 

At this point our tour guide was really getting into it, and had us walk away from him holding hands like this. I love it! 

I wish I could remember the names of all these cool trees. This one was used anciently for places of refuge. See how I was able to climb in and hide in the one spot...

And this tree is what Brazilian hardwood floors are made from. You could see the inside of the tree and how the wood was a very deep red and sort of oily. I'm sure those floors would be gorgeous! 

An early bloomer

And some of the tallest bamboo I've ever seen. 

After our jeep tour ended we walked a couple of blocks down the road from our hotel to a yummy churrascaria for dinner. And a dessert so yummy I DID lick my plate. It was a Ferrero Rocher dessert.  Then we enjoyed walking the beach back to the hotel. There are all sorts of vendors and people along the beach. I had introduced David to the Nutella filled churros on our first night there and he was hooked. But we spent the rest of the week looking for the guy who sold them and never found him again.