Some Quotes

“The Lord does not ask about our ability or inability, but only about our availability, and if we prove our dependability, the Lord will take care of our capability.” – Neal A. Maxwell

“There is nothing healthier than confidence in yourself, confidence in your Heavenly Father, confidence in others. The only way to achieve this confidence is a clear conscience.” – Unknown

and lastly,

“The escape from a  trial will never be out of the trial but through it.” – Henry B. Eyring

I keep putting off writing because there is so much going on. I know, I know, that is the worst possible reason to NOT write. Yesterday I came across a box with all my pre-smartphone notebooks that had all my to-do lists and notes and thoughts. They were not my journal, nor my college or high school class notes but had basically everything else in them. I realized that I had a lot of great things written in them. So, to get me to write I think I will attempt to occasionally share some of the great quotes found therein. The above quotes were on the first few pages of my notebook from 1998

And now kid quotes

Last week Lizzie hurt her knee while long-boarding. She had to be on crutches for a few days while the swelling went down and the pain subsided. She was on dishes duty and so I encouraged William and Anna to help her out. I said, “If you guys want to be super awesome you can help Lizzie with her dishes.” Anna replied, “Mmmm. I don’t want to be super awesome. I’m ok with just being cute.”

August 10, 2020
On our way home from a date with friends I held Grant’s hand. He was a little distracted in his thoughts and so his fingers stayed relaxed and didn’t curl around mine so I clasped his hand with my other one – just to feel close and connected. I realized that if he died before me I would do the same thing, hold his hand around mine but only then his hand would be cold. I told him my macabre thoughts and he said (no longer distracted), “As long as I have your hand in mine, my hand will be warm.” My romantic heart went pitter-patter. I love that man!

August 10, 2020
Lizzie said, “I feel like I just get happier and happier as I get older and then when I’m old I’ll just die of happiness.” She is pretty excited about her approaching senior year (Covid-19 and mandatory masks notwithstanding) and then college and mission just around the corner.

She also got the best news of her life this week. She has had a lot of things cancelled or postponed because of the pandemic including many of the ACT test dates. She really needed to take it again to improve her chances of getting in to BYU (her top choice school). She has strong grades, a lot of community service, she is the student body vice-president, but her test score wasn’t as good as she would like. BYU announced this week that for this year only they would NOT require an ACT score. Lizzie is so grateful!

July 27, 2020
Grant and I and the rest of the administrators and spouses floated the Provo river. It was a fantastic and relaxing experience. While we were floating I asked Grant his thoughts about fishing.
Me: Do you ever wish you could get into fishing?
Grant: Yes. Except I don’t like hooks…and fishing line. When I get to the water I just want to swim.” I laughed.

July 20, 2020
Lizzie said, while shopping for school supplies, “I wish they put the logos bigger. If I’m going to pay for a Patagonia backpack I want the whole world to know I’m wearing a Patagonia backpack!” Leave it to teenagers to celebrate and embrace worldliness!

That same day we were also shopping for face masks for the school. Because the pandemic still drags on all children have to wear masks to school the whole day. While I understand the science behind decreased transmission rates and mask wearing I still think this is going to be really uncomfortable for children, especially younger elementary aged kids to wear them for 6-7 hours a day. I expressed my concerns saying, “I’m worried about you guys wearing face masks all day. Your poor ears!” Lizzie reassuringly (or not) reminded me, “If girls can wear thongs on a regular basis I think we can handle masks.” She’s right you know. And for the record, we have spent about $300 on different kinds of reusable masks to find the best, most comfortable ones on the planet.

Sam is currently serving as a reassigned missionary in Gilbert, Arizona. He really, really misses Colombia but is trying to have a good attitude despite being stuck, quarantined in his apartment. Thing with Coronavirus are really hot in Arizona and so it doesn’t look like he will be getting out anytime soon. Also, the virus is hitting Colombia hard. As if that wasn’t enough, the political instability is really bad as well. So either way, he likely won’t be returning for a very long time (if ever). When I asked Sam how he is handling it and keeping his spirits up when so many missionaries are suffering from depression right now he laughed and surmised, “I guess I’m too goofy to feel sad. When I feel sad I just think about how funny it is that I feel sad and then it makes me laugh.” He told us that if he is going to have any stage of his life affected by Covid then he is glad it is during his mission. Missionary work may not be what it is in normal times, but it is still the Lord’s work and people are still finding the gospel despite quarantines and shutdowns.

More quotes from this summer:

Me: I’m so done with Trump. (The worst joke of a president our country has ever had.) Grant: Me too. If he is re-elected I am officially becoming a democrat… (30 second pause)…not really. But I will mourn.

While visiting my mom who has always been the height of fashion she said, “I don’ think I’m going to be buying any more high heels.
Me: Really?!?!?!?!? I’m going to record this day.
My mom: Well, I’m still wearing the ones I have and I have every color I could ever need.
I love my mom so much. Especially when I realized that she still loves me even if I will never wear heels or professional clothing. Or suit skirts. Or anything that restricts my movement in any way!