Photos

I've been a bit remiss with this blog. I've been on a huge learning endeavor in regards to education and reading and writing as I strive to become a better teacher. I've made considerable growth just from where I was two years ago. Sadly this little blog of mine had to take back burner.

However, my goal this Christmas break was to learn how to teach writing in a better way to little 8 year olds. If I want them to write better, I told myself that I need to write more.

That said, I'm leaving 2020 with photos instead. I didn't take very many as I sat and relished the moment of having our grandbaby and MOST of my kids with us. It was simply glorious.

Christmas break began with a quick trip to Ferron. This was a run/hike I went on one morning. It was absolutely beautiful with cool, crisp, clean air.

Nate accompanied the sister missionaries on a Christmas song. Thanks to some pretty remarkable technology, we were able to "zoom" in and watch.

The cutest baby in the world; no biases here.

Our traditional Christmas meal of Korean bulgogi was moved from Christmas Day to Christmas Eve since we were losing KJ and baby to the other inlaws. It was a great present to me. I LOVED not having to make a meal on Christmas day.

Nate left behind a bag for us open on Christmas (or any other time . . . We chose Christmas Eve). In September while he was busily getting ready to leave home for 2 years to bring people to Christ, he was also exemplifying Christ's attributes of thoughtfulness and kindness by preparing that bag for us. It was a bunch of random gadgets from work but I was touched that he was thinking of us months in advance.

I also discovered a shared family photos album where Nate had uploaded some photos from his mission. He hasn't been as diligent with attaching photos to his weekly email as Erik did. I was extremely happy to peruse and save.

Goodbye Brighton

Good morning! I hope you all had a fantastic week!

We had transfers on Thursday, and I am now serving in the Peoria ward in Aurora. I didn't realize how nice my other apartment was until coming here. It's still pretty good, but I now wake up at 2 in the morning to hear our neighbors screaming at each other, or the cops show up at our complex. We don't have a washer or dryer, the shower randomly switches back and forth between scalding hot and ice cold, and I'm back to not having a car. It's honestly been a lot of fun, but it's a very different place than where I was just at.

I'm now with Elder Gulbransen and Elder Stastny. I came in with Elder Gulbransen; we actually spent the first night in a hotel together. Elder Stastny is leaving on Thursday to go back to his original assignment of Durban, South Africa.

The ward here has a lot more older people, so it's very difficult with COVID because many can't go to church. Many of the ward members won't answer calls from us either, so it will be a lot harder to get the system going that we did in my last area. We're going to have to be more creative, but it will be good to have that challenge.

The Christmas devotional was awesome! For those that didn't watch it, I'd encourage you to go back and do so. I loved all the talks, about "swaddling" others during hard times, about appreciating the true Gift of Christmas, of how the Savior's birth brought about the reality of many people's hopes and dreams, and of our Prophet's message about the symbolism of His birth. I am so grateful to celebrate His birth, the birth prophesied of by countless prophets throughout history. I know as we ponder on the gifts He's given us, and on how He is the Gift we can give to others, that we will feel more peace, and that our Heavenly Father will help us find opportunities this Christmas season to share about Him with others. I promise that if you are bold this season in testifying of your love for the Savior, then our Heavenly Father will help you feel His love and you will have joy in Him. I say this in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen. 

- Elder Leary 

On the 12th Day of COVID . . .

There was a great surprise.

12 rolls of toilet paper
11 ounce of Clorox
10 mandarin oranges
9 ripe bananas
8 ounce of cheese
7 cans of soup
6 slice of bacon
5 rows of Oreos
4 cubes of butter
3 macaroni
2 chips and salsa
and a loaf of Grandma Sycamore's white bread!

I took some liberty to make that little song work. 

But seriously. This is the third time in 4 years that we've received such an abundance on our doorstep, but this time the good elves revealed themselves. People are so good. Especially the people at Beehive Wireless whom Erik works for. They take such good care of him. He worked for them the summer before his mission and he impressed them so much then that they immediately hired him back. 

Erik joined the COVID club and Beehive wanted to make sure he was taken care of EVEN THOUGH he lives with his parents who are pretty capable people. We put Erik and Ash (she had a slight fever) in isolation for a week until tests came back. Tyler, Alex, and Ash negative. Erik positive. I opted out since I had no symptoms and it had been 9 days since Erik's exposure when they all decided to test.

His symptoms were a mild cold.

Satan sure unleashed a good one this year. The "last days" always conjured up images of war and fires and earthquakes and drought . . . Okay that pretty much sums up this year if you consider civil unrest and rioting as a form of war. However, I never imagined something so small could take down an entire planet. I never dreamed I would be wearing a mask and hiding from people. I never imagined the backlash among friends and neighbors that could come over "to wear a mask or not to wear a mask."

If Satan's intentions were to create division, he's sure done a pretty good job. Even within my own home this past week it's been pretty divisive and ugly at times. That is not the Lord's way.

I've never been more grateful for the presence of the Holy Ghost in my life as I have been this year in navigating some pretty turbulent times. I know the decisions I make with regards to my own health and the health of my family have brought peace to me. I've received that quiet witness that we're going to be okay. That is the Holy Ghost confirming that my decisions are good ones. 

I choose to live by faith, not fear.

I'm also grateful for a prophet I can look to for guidance. Our government leaders at times have asked us to do some hard things. One of the articles of faith that I live by is that I believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. President Nelson also lives by this article of faith because I've watched him as he too quietly obeys, honors, and sustains these government mandates.

There is hope. There is victory around the corner. 2020 has certainly been a year of ups and downs. For our family, the ups far outweigh the downs. 

Be a pineapple: Stand tall. Wear a crown. And be sweet on the inside.

Thanksgiving!

Last week we got up do some fun service. On Wednesday we got to go to Barr Lake and put up Christmas lights all over. I generally don't think Christmas decorations should go up before Thanksgiving, but this year was definitely an exception. Thanksgiving morning, we got to go to the cemetery and get all the snow off the graves and dig out the grass covering them so they'd look nice. On Friday and Saturday we had the awesome idea of taking around plates of cookies with Light the World calendars to the ward members. We left them at the door and ran, and had a little note on them that said to do the same thing to three of their neighbors. It was a lot of fun, and we're hoping that they'll help light up their neighborhood around them. 

Thanksgiving was super cool. We had that service, and then had a devotional as a zone which was a lot of fun. The stake had ward members bring food, and the Stake President dished us all up and sent us home since we're no longer allowed to eat in churches with COVID restrictions. That night, we got to watch The Fighting Preacher over zoom, and it was kind of weird to watch a movie again, but it was a lot of fun. 

It is now December, and that means today kicks off Light the World! We have our p-day today because we used yesterday to get as many people as possible to sign up for Light the World. I want to share something I came across this week, and I'd encourage you all to go read Daniel chapter 5 to read the whole story. The king throws this feast, and during it, this writing shows up on the wall. He asks all these wise people to interpret it, and none of them can. His wife, the queen, ends up telling him to ask Daniel, and Daniel is able to interpret it. However, what I love about this is that the king, when he goes to ask Daniel, says that he knows he is a man of light and understanding. I LOVE this idea that Daniel's reputation had preceded him as a man of light. He had stood out by how he acted and his devotion to God, and it was seen as Light. I'd invite you all to be known as People of Light this Christmas season. Serve others, show them love, be an example, and invite people to learn more about Christ this Christmas season. I know as you do so, the Lord will pour out blessings upon you and those you serve, and I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

All my love,
Elder Leary