We were able to get a broad picture about what was happening and how dire his situation really was, and even at times, encouragement, by communicating with Daniel, who is on the front lines in his hospital in Glenwood Springs. He meets with his doctors daily for hours at a time, discussing the patients who are afflicted with this disease, so he had a realistic picture of what Joel was going through and what would probably happen next. We've also relied on the medical knowledge and experience of Karl, Jan, Erika and Matt, who is a pharmacist.
There were many times that our hearts were breaking, wondering if Joel was even going to survive until the next day. Somehow, though, I felt that he would make it, even while despairing for his life. I just couldn't imagine a world without Joel in it. However, as days turned into weeks, and he was still unconscious and on the ventilator, I worried that he might never recover. I Googled statistics about recovery from Covid-19 after prolonged ventilator use, and was discouraged by the numbers. Twelve days seemed to be the dividing line between recovery and either death or lifelong disability. Joel was on the ventilator for 15 days. And then one day, all of a sudden, Levi texted and said he is off the ventilator and breathing on his own! Two days later, when we were sure he had weeks of hospital recovery in front of him, Crew called and told us that his dad was home!
Prayer and fasting by our family and friends and literally, people all over the world, lifted him, I firmly believe, and saved him. Heavenly Father knew, of course, what would happen, and it was obviously His will, but I know He heeded the prayers of all those who love Joel and had faith to heal him. It is by the Grace of God that he is in his home, now, surrounded by his family and eating toast and hard boiled eggs. He still has a long road left for full recovery, but Stephanie is by his side and Karl has been amazing in helping them.
~THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH~
So now, in keeping with President Nelson's encouragement to focus on the Restoration this year, I have researched the organization of our church. I thought I knew all about it, but I found some interesting facts that I will share.
On April 6, 1830, six men, Joseph Smith, Hyrum and Samuel Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Peter and David Whitmer, met with approximately 30 believers, in the home of Peter Whitmer Sr. in Fayette, New York, to formally organize "The Church of Christ." At that time, there were six Elders and about 70 members.
Joseph and Oliver had been baptizing people as early as 1829, but there was no formal church organization. It has been debated whether this organization occurred in Fayette, New York at the Whitmer home or in Manchester, New York at the home of Joseph Smith Sr. Prior to 1834, all church publications and documents stated that it was organized in Manchester. In 1834, several church publications began to give the location as Fayette. A headnote in the earliest known version of Chapter XXII of the Book of Commandments says that a the revelation was dictated in Fayette, April 6, 1830, immediately after the Church was organized. When the book was published in 1833, however, it was changed to "Manchester."
Officially, the Church claims Fayette as the birthplace and Joseph's official history, begun in 1838, listed Fayette as the founding place.
The meeting, wherever it took place, was a spiritual event, with visions, prophesies and speaking in tongues. A lay ministry was organized, with Priesthood offices of Deacon, Teacher, Priest and Elder. Joseph and Oliver were each ordained as "an Apostle," Joseph as the First Elder and Oliver as the second Elder.
Several churches at that time were also named "The Church of Christ," so people began to call them "Mormonites." Of course, Joseph wasn't happy about that nickname, so in May 1834, they adopted a resolution that this church would be called "The Church of the Latter Day Saints." In 1838, at Far West Missouri, Joseph announced a revelation renaming the church " The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." In 1851, under Brigham Young, it was standardized to include a hyphenated "Latter-Day." Other churches that broke off after the death of the prophet, such as the followers of James Strang, Joseph Smith III, used the name with no hyphen. That church eventually became the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," and then the "Community of Christ." Today there is only one "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," whose name was revealed by God, Himself, hyphen and all.
Our family visited the Whitmer home in Fayette in 1985. I don't know where Jeremy was in this picture. Maybe he was taking the picture and I was giving instructions.
Our April birthdays are as beautiful as springtime.
Lucy Joyce turned 2 on the 6th
Dallin's birthday was the 8th
Erika's birthday was the 11th
Scott's birthday was the 12th
Kirtlyn turned 16 on the 13th
Victoria turned 1 on the 15th
Tayte turned 20 on the 19th
Sara's birthday was the 21st
Daniel and Connie celebrated their 28th anniversary on the 25th
~OUR APRIL~
The weather has been fabulous. Beautifully warm, not hot, cool breezes, and flowers popping up everywhere.
We've had some interesting skies too. This was taken by Rachel.
The hummingbirds have been hovering around the feeders.
Our April calendar family is the Rebecca and Scott family
April has been all about Covid-19. Of course, we have had a more-than-common connection with this plague as it has struck our family with a vengeance. We, along with everyone else in the country, have been quarantined, socially distanced and isolated. People all over the country wear masks whenever they leave their homes. School has been cancelled for the year, graduations postponed or cancelled, vacations put on hold, restaurant dining rooms closed, theaters closed, no athletic events, even doctor and dentist visits rescheduled for sometime in the future. President Nelson and even President Trump have called for national days of prayer and fasting. President Nelson designated Good Friday as a worldwide day of fasting and prayer, as well as the Sunday before, encouraging people of all faiths to join together to plead for help.
Dad and I have been pretty much confined to our house for most of March and April, so far. I hope May will see a relaxation of the severity of the emergency. Mary has been our quarantine Nazi, frustrating some of the family, but appreciated by Dad...and me too. Dad is sure that if he gets this disease he will die. And he is probably right, so, because he is more important to me than anything or anyone else, I agree to stay quarantined with him even though I miss seeing baby blessings, visiting grandchildren, birthdays, and other things. One time, Jared and Mary were talking about how heat kills the virus and 3-year-old Ethan asked "Mommy you want to kill the virus?" "Yes," said Mary. "The virus makes people sick so we want it to go away." "And then we can hug Grandma?" he asked.
Masks are the 2020 fashion statement! I took about a dozen homemade masks, some made by Kirtlyn, to our hospital even though they were just fabric. They said they were glad to get them for use by staff and visitors not involved in patient care. That way they can save the heavy-duty masks for doctors and nurses who are treating patients. We don't have any covid patients in our hospital, thank goodness, but they are masking and gowning up anyway, just to be safe. In the pictures, in case you don't recognize them are: Phil, Sara, Parley, Shad
Esther, Taylor, Harvey, Allison, Brock, Theo, Devynne, Rose, Alta
Syrina, Emma, Aila
Scary statistics only a week into April. Much worse now. The top screen is Maricopa County, the bottom screen is Arizona.
We really appreciate all those who put themselves at risk to help during this crisis. They are all heroes.
On Tuesday, the 7th, we had a special moon hovering over the earth. I don't know if it was supposed to be red or huge or what, but it was beautiful. I found this picture online, but there are some in Rachel's and Esther's sections that they sent when they went out to look.
April Conference was eagerly anticipated this year, all of us hoping for consolation and help with the confusion and fear of the world pandemic. Also, President Nelson had announced last October that April conference would be a special event that we wouldn't want to miss. He commented that he didn't know when he made that promise that he would be speaking in an auditorium with only 10 people in it. Each of the speakers addressed the worldwide emergency as well as spiritual matters that will strengthen and comfort all of us at this time. President Nelson announced eight more temples, new general authorities and at the end gave us a wonderful, meaningful prophetic blessing. Then he led us in the Hosannah Shout, an acclamation of praise to God for His love and help.
He also proclaimed Good Friday a worldwide day of Fasting and Prayer and invited everyone in the world to join us in pleading for help.
President Nelson also read the Proclamation on the Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Sacred Grove, and announced the change of the symbol representing the Church, from Moroni atop a temple, to the Christus.
Allison and her family came from Washington to visit. Taylor was here for a week before he had to go home, but Allison stayed for two weeks and really filled up Rebecca's lonely heart. They came to visit us, but stayed away from us, of course. It broke my heart not to be able to give those precious babies a hug. I hate that the little ones, Mary's too, think we are a danger to be around. They don't get the difference between danger to us and danger to them. They're going to remember that for some reason they were afraid of Grandpa and Grandma.
One time when Mary's kids came over, they brought Easter egg ornaments for the ornament tree that Rachel gave me, as well as dinner. All our kids have been bringing us food food food! We've hardly had to cook a meal. I started taking pictures, but then it really got to be too much, so I'll just give them all credit for keeping us fed during this quarantine crisis.
We went out to the desert to have the traditional Easter breakfast picnic with them, and of course, we had to stay socially distanced. But it was fun anyway. The kids hunted for Easter eggs, some of which we had put money in. And, that was the joyful day, after our day of fasting and prayer, that Joel was able to go off the ventilator.
On Easter Sunday we Facetimed Rebecca and Scott's home Sunday service with their kids. It was perfect. They had an Easter story and singing. We also had some unleavened bread, that Kirtlyn made, for our Sacrament bread. Then Thomas brought our Easter ham dinner.
Our Easter bouquet of fresh roses.
Thomas and Jenn's kids came over to look for Easter eggs, some of which Maya had hidden and some of which Dad and I hid. Those were the money eggs, of course.
We actually have visitors from time to time, but they have to stay outside and 10 feet away from us. Reygan and Ellie came one afternoon, and Kirtlyn joined them over here, bringing some of her delicious homemade red velvet birthday cake.
Mary's kids come and play on Grandpa's playground now and then.
And Rebecca and Allison and her babies came over to play one day too. We love having all of them even if we have to stay far away.
Joel is home! (Happy parents:-) He was released from the hospital on Tuesday, after Easter. We called to get an update, not expecting anything, but Crew answered Stephanie's phone and said, "My Dad is home!"
We have truly seen a miracle in Joel's recovery. If anyone doubts that it was a miracle from a merciful Heavenly Father, I present these few statistics that I found online as evidence.
Also, Susan Christiansen Maier, who is a nurse and who follows a medical update site, said that the statistics she has seen from NYC and other places show that when people get on the ventilator they mostly don't come off. One hospital in NYC had a 5% survival rate of people on ventilators, men even lower. Another person said that in their hospital they let patients FaceTime their families and say "goodbye" before they go on the ventilator because they know they probably won't survive. Yet they know they will die without it too.
Heavenly Father reached down and scooped Joel up in His arms and saved his life. It was an answer, I know, to everyone's faith, fasting and prayer, but I also know that many who have been fasted and prayed for don't survive. I firmly believe that Joel has important things to do on this earth. Maybe it's just being a husband and father to his four sons and a grandfather to his grandchildren. Nothing is more important than that. For some reason, whatever it is, God granted him life.
After Joel was home and had begun to slowly regain his strength, we got word that Kent had tested positive for Covid-19. Thankfully, he and Jan, who is also having symptoms, are not nearly as sick as Joel was.
Karl had some advice to offer to all of us:
One time, Esther got all her sisters on a video call. They tried to get Rebecca, but she was busy with her babies. Anyway, we were talking about how Joel is doing and how happy we were that he is home.
Even though we don't go anywhere or see anyone, we usually try to dress up a little on the Sabbath. We have the Sacrament by ourselves then FaceTime one of the kids to join their home church.
The 3rd Sunday we FaceTimed Rachel and her family as they blessed Baby Steele. It was a sweet, if sad experience. I was sad that Steele didn't get to have Dad's hands on him for the blessing, but it was very sweet because Logan gave him a powerful blessing. I hope someone recorded it and that he will be able to listen to it when he is older. Check Rachel's section for names.
Aa beautiful, happy family
People all over are making chalk art on their driveways and porches and walls, so I gave the kids some sidewalk chalk and let them draw on our cement. Kirtlyn and Maya
Lindsay, Jared, Alex and Ethan
One day, all the fire trucks and emergency vehicles drove through the neighborhood of Safford, honking, blaring their sirens. It was a fun diversion for quarantined kids...and grandparents. I rushed out but couldn't get a better picture.
On the 20th, we had another scare. Joel passed out in the doctor's office that day and had to be ambulanced to the hospital. They thought he still had fluid in his lungs and that his heart was stressed, so they kept him in the hospital for observation. Until we knew just what was going on, Dad and I and all his siblings were so worried. I prayed with all my heart that they would NOT put him on the ventilator again. We found out later that his sickness was from his infected bedsore. Even after Joel was released from the hospital, he had some severe problems with bed sores. He had two when he left the hospital, one of which healed up nicely. The other one just got worse and worse and became infected and abscessed. They determined at the hospital that it was his bedsore that was causing him to be so sick, but they let him go home the next day without doing anything. The sore kept getting worse and Stephanie called Karl for help to know what to do, and Karl began taking care of it. When Karl got involved, Joel started getting better. Karl gave him antibiotics orally, intravenously and topically. Then, the sore started bleeding profusely and Joel lost a lot of blood. When Karl found out that Joel was still taking blood thinners for the blood clot he had in the hospital, and which had dissolved some time ago, he told Joel to quit taking them. We hope, at this time, May 1st, that Joel is finally turning the corner and will be well soon. We thank the Lord every day for Karl.
Joel and Stephanie are slowly but surely gaining strength, and the boys are doing better too. They each had a brush with the virus but thankfully none of them got it as seriously as their parents. Jan and Kent are also struggling with it, having more trouble than they initially thought. It's a deceptive, devious disease...you think you are getting better then it slams you down, again and again.
We had a lawn-mowing-hair-cutting day toward the last of the month. The Richins and Biggs kids are both so carefully quarantined that they are able to play together safely. Our pool was not ready to swim in at that time, having sprung a leak in one of the pipes and so we need to fill it with a hose. Dad has been getting it ready for summer so kids can play in it. It is probably one place that is safe from Covid-19 because of all the chlorine.
I love to make rose bouquets but they don't last very long once they're cut.
Dad, enjoying a springtime nap
On the last Sunday in April we FaceTimed Esther's home church. Each kid had an assignment that they completed very well, and we enjoyed being a part of it and hearing their sweet testimonies.
Dad checking out the Richin's luxury chicken hotel.
On Tuesday, the 28th, we opened the pool for the first time this year. It really was too cold to swim, and I did not, but Alex couldn't wait. So Mary's kids got in the cold water, shivering but trying to get used to it.
The Biggs kids have enjoyed the cold water too.
Bridger made us a beautiful tray to keep Dad's soup pots on. He gave us a gorgeous cutting board before but I refuse to cut anything on it but bread. So we were using it to put the soup pots on as a way to display it. Bridger decided that he could make something better for the soup pots and he did! It is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you Bridger.
*NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY*
~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~
Bethany and Jovie flew to Omaha at the beginning of April, before everything shut down. They moved back after Palmer finished dental school. They flew, but Palmer drove their car.
Grandpa and Grandma (I don't know what she calls them...Grandpa and Grandma are old-fashioned names) picked them up at the airport and took them home.
Beautiful Jovie at Easter. I think this baby might be a cousin.
One day in the middle of the month, Hannah's bank got word that a SWAT team was coming to apprehend a bad guy who claimed to have a bomb. They were all told to stay away from the windows of the bank, but of course they flocked to the windows to take pictures! Exciting! Notice the snow on the ground.
They woke up Easter morning to a skiff of snow, then got more later. Merry Easter!
But look how green their grass is when they all gathered to roast marshmallows. I'm envious of their grass. I feel sad for Joshua, though, because he is all alone in Indianapolis while the rest of his family is in Omaha. He is quarantined, but working hard from home and still taking pictures, obviously.
Joshua appreciates all different kinds of architecture and takes pictures of various styles. I have to say, though, that my favorite ones are those that look like they are the setting for fairy tales.
~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~
Junie and Lucy Worth enjoying Gilbert sunshine.
Junie "gettin' down" with her Quarantine Coloring book...
Ok. Isn't this so typical? You get them all dressed up in their darling look-alike outfits and they just won't cooperate to take the beautiful pictures you have envisioned that will be heirlooms forever.
This one is perfect, though.
After Joel had been home for a few days, he Facetimed us and we got to finally see our boy, alive and although not well...well on his way to becoming so. We even got to watch him take his walk around his back yard. It made us so happy. What an amazing miracle.
~DANIEL AND CONNIE~
Part of Daniel's herd of cows
After Shannyn, Analynn, Emma and Raymond herded the cows to the pasture, they stopped to have a splash in their creek. Oh well, tough being quarantined in such a paradise!
If you have to be quarantined, and Daniel and Connie are quite strict about it, their little paradise is the perfect place to do it.
They, along with all our other kids, are doing online school. They have had some fun, creative assignments...one of which was Syrina's mask (above) that she was supposed to make from things she had at home. She wore it to the grocery store and someone asked her where she got it.
Raymond was assigned to do an instructional video on how to bake something, so he made a drone cake and told about their family's creative cakes. Alonzo in his online class.
Emma's assignment was to make a video demonstrating Newton's law.
Theo and Rosie with their Quarantine Coloring Books
Emma had a unique birthday party. Since they couldn't gather because of Covid-19, they "Zoomed" three of her friends and had the party by phone. Connie had gone around to each of them and taken them a cake mix and game supplies, so they could all do things together.
Decorating the birthday cake together; playing a game together
One of the games was to find sharks in a sea of Jello...blindfolded.
Easter basket time
Aila wanted to show her grandma that her hair was getting long...like Elsa's.
Aila had fun playing with snap-together toys. She and Papa..."used their imaginations."
Beautiful family all dressed up for Easter, even though they couldn't go to church.
Evidently, Easter eggs weren't enough for Theo. He wanted Christmas! So they set up their tree and put presents under it and had Christmas in April...when it really should be celebrated anyway.
Shadrach just received a promotion at the MTC, as a teaching supervisor, so even though the MTC is not functioning in the same way as before, his job is secure.
~REBECCA AND SCOTT~
Parley loves his Easter outfit, especially the bowtie.
Parley's Quarantine Coloring Book
Lucy likes to put on Grandma Becca's makeup
Lucy turned 2 on April 6th, and got to have a party in Safford!
Scott got to celebrate his birthday on the 12th with Harvey and Lucy.
Grandkids are way more fun at birthday parties than adults.
Scott got a new lawnmower for his birthday.
Bathing in Grandma Becca's tub with popsicles
Mini bakers learning how to make cookies
Wheelbarrow with Uncle DeWitt
Resting after zooming around the tennis courts; playing with Grandma Becca's hair; visiting the Giving Tree
Playing in the hot tub; and enjoying the sunshine
Coloring Easter eggs, finding easter eggs
FaceTime church with Grandpa and Grandma
Ok. These are Polly and DeWitt's co-workers at Sky Harbor, so they are with them every day. It's not just that they don't know the meaning of social distancing.
Polly and her airport coworkers.
Lillian and Kelin
Sunrise fishing
Dallin and Sara
Rebecca is getting her pool all ready for the summer. I think this is Brynlie and Polly.
Harvey and Lucy finally got their quarantine coloring books after a round-about way. I sent them before they came to Safford, but I sent them to their former address, so the books came back to me after Allison had left to go back to Washington. I finally sent them to the right address when they were actually there.
~JEREMY AND ERIKA~
Victoria's first experience with ladybugs
And Grandma Erika's sunflowers
She started walking earlier than her first birthday, which was on the 15th.
And she has Uncle Tayte and Uncle Hayden tightly wrapped around her pudgy little fingers.
Self sufficiency...grinding your own grain
And planting a garden
Reygan and a friend drove all the way to Rexburg, Idaho to pick up a friend from school whose flight home got cancelled due to Covid.
Erika's Easter vignette, complete with an Easter gnome.
Beautiful family on Easter. I love it that they all dress up even though they can't go to church.
Home Church
Victoria's traditional first birthday cake orgy with chocolate-chocolate cake. She loved it!
Date night...a picnic at Sky Harbor, watching the planes fly in. Not as many as usual, but fun anyway.
Jeremy and Erika are converting Tayte's room into a den for Jeremy, complete with a video screen.
They've recruited tiny Victoria to help plant potatoes. You can tell by her tongue that she is really taking this seriously.
There was another special moon on the 26th, this is a picture Jeremy got with his telescope. Carson was also excited to see this moon in his telescope.
~RACHEL AND TONY~
Quarantine Coloring Books
They painted Brynlie's room (I think)
Before and after
Brynlie and Camille making masks
Handsome baby
I love it that he cuddles under the blanket I made for him.
It looks like Steele has Uncle Luke wrapped around his pudgy little fingers too!
A genuine American cowboy
At Rylie's house
The beautiful moon
Find the snake...truly camouflaged.
Chalk art
The Easter Bunny visited Steele's house
As did the Easter Grandma
Easter at the Alder's...I think Brynlie and Camille are watching out the window to see if the Easter Bunny comes. He evidently did.
Easter dinner at the Alder's
Family tennis night...it looks like the only one who isn't playing is the family tennis champion.
One of the perks of living in the desert...just step out your door and build a bonfire for making s'mores.
Brandon making a table for Rylie
Homemake cookies to give to all those who went to Steele's blessing. They held it at Rylie's house and only immediate family, parents and siblings and grandparents (except not great grandparents) were there. The cookies were all homemade and delicious. They brought us some :-P
Steele J.C. Sherwood was given a beautiful, heartfelt blessing by his dad, Logan Steele Sherwood on Sunday April 19, 2020 in the home of Steele's Aunt Rylie in Pima.
Logan was assisted by, left to right: Chad Knight, Logan's brother-in-law; Isabel's dad, Tony Alder; Bishop Teddy French; Logan holding Steele; Logan's dad, Matt Sherwood; Logan's brother, Cody Sherwood.
~ESTHER AND SHAD~
Filling out their menus for the April Fool's Cafe
Marlie feels cheated out of her senior year and graduation. But she tried on her robes anyway...and so did her dad. He looks pretty good in them, I must say.
She and her friends, dressed in their robes, were planning to keep appropriate social distance, but obviously not in the end as they threw up their caps in symbolic celebration.
Even though she won't be having a graduation ceremony, she still had senior pictures taken. And they are so beautiful! Of course they had to be because she is a beautiful subject.
Marlie is making a memory board for Zach who has been her best friend throughout high school.
One of the classes Marlie was taking is beauty school. She's lucky to have such willing subjects to practice on.
Getting ready to play a game. Quarantine perk: board games are back!
Brody needs someone to play ball with.
This looks like someone is toasting bread on Brody's stomach. Obviously it was before social distancing.
The beautiful moon in Gilbert
Chalk art
Coloring Easter eggs
The Easter Bunny came!
All dressed up for their Easter picture
Marlie has been learning to bake during her quarantine time. She even got FaceTime help from her Aunt Rebecca.
Homework assignments??
Or FHE?
Soren's 6th grade teacher brought by an encouragement-during-quarantine packet
The weather has been glorious in Gilbert making it fun to go outside and get out of the house during these quarantine times.
Marlie already got her prom dress since she had been asked to the prom as early as Christmas, but it was cancelled, so she commandeered her semi-willing little brother to stand in for her date so she could have prom pictures.
Beautiful girl
Marlie's friend, who used to live next door, came for a visit with her parents and they put on a Quarantine prom for these two deprived girls. Their dates were their dads and they even had a
6-foot-apart dinner. And, I think they even danced a couple of dances with their dads.
Face timing with the grandparents for Home church
~THOMAS AND JENN~
April Fool! Maya tried to fool her dad with a slice of frosted "sponge" cake.
Quarantine Coloring Books
Jenna's posts about things to do while quarantined.
The Easter Bunny visited their house.
And they dressed up for Easter too
Home church on Easter
With unleavened bread, that Kirtlyn made, for the Sacrament.
Finding Easter eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
Kirtlyn's 16th birthday was the day after Easter, and since her family is pretty strict about social distancing, they had a unique birthday party. She had to answer trivia questions and then she got directions to a friend's house to pick up a birthday gift. The friends came up with creative ways for her to get her gifts from them 6 feet away. She also made her own birthday cake...red velvet.
Besides having to do a lot of schoolwork, their family has been trying to keep each other entertained during this isolation time.
Tie-dyeing shirts; being silly; making cookies
Playing outside; watching movies; doing puzzles (they've done 8 or 9, I think); and making a bird feeder from a plastic bottle
And playing with cousins while socially distancing
Chalk art
I really appreciate Jenn for taking family pictures. She will be forever glad that she did.
Swimming in Grandma's icy pool
Thomas took a turn lifeguarding too.
Maya felt pretty special when her Primary teacher brought her activities and treats.
~MARY AND TYSON~
They got a bunch of baby chicks and have been spending a lot of their quarantine time taking care of them, building them a 5-star resort chicken coop.
Quarantine Coloring Book
They went out on the desert to have a picnic.
Another time they went to Red Knolls for a picnic and to explore.
Chalk art
Elegant, fancy chicken coop. Carson did a lot of research to learn exactly what should be done and how to make it the most comfortable and efficient...for chickens, not boys!
They painted wooden Easter eggs for me.
And colored real ones
At their breakfast cookout on the desert on Easter Saturday.
Easter Sunday picture...all dressed up
Playing with Maya in Grandpa's back yard
The Thatcher teachers' parade. They threw candy!
Tyson and Jared went fishing and Alex was totally fascinated by the fish head that he thought was the coolest toy ever.
Carson took this amazingly clear picture of the moon from his telescope.
On the last day of April, still pretty cold at Riggs Lake, Tyson took his 3 oldest kids fishing. The girls were bundled up, but when Carson let the boat get away from him, he had to go into the icy lake to retrieve it! But if you like fish, it was well worth the trip. Look at their haul!
And Tyson did all the cleaning. I hope it was worth it to him.
While their big brother and sisters were gone fishing, the younger boys had a picnic in our back yard and went swimming.
Then they all played croquet. How long has it been since you played croquet?
~MISSIONARIES~
Albert, in California, continues to be socially distanced, but they do missionary work on line and fill up their spare hours doing other things...like Christmas puzzles :-)
Harrison stays home and keeps his family entertained until he can go back to work.
~SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT~
Ha ha!!
Harrison always makes me laugh out loud with his observations that are so point on.
Daniel's goat is sure that the grass on the other side of the fence is worth the effort!
It's sad to see that this devastating disease has become a political issue.
It looks like Shad has the same hairdresser that I have had all this time of being quarantined.
I believe this...not just with the difficulties surrounding this terrible virus, but in all life's sorrows and suffering, we are refined and gifted with qualities that we would not otherwise have found in ourselves.
~LAST WORDS~
This April has been so full of Covid-19, disappointments, isolation, and even good things like General Conference, springtime, baby blessings, flowers and Easter baskets, that we may tend to overlook the most important thing that happens in April...commemorating the Sacrifice and Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Atonement is everything. It is the reason we are here. It is the reason the earth was created. Everything we do, everything we are, good and bad, is because the Lord made it possible through His Atoning sacrifice. We must never forget. In all we do, all we suffer, all we enjoy, we must remember everything is a gift to us through the Grace of Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven. He invites all of us to "come unto Me, all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Everything we do should be keeping us on the path that leads to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment