tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11793383865892069762024-03-21T02:08:27.742-04:00Molly Mormon DemocratDianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.comBlogger379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-27693422623604486232024-02-25T21:54:00.000-05:002024-02-25T21:54:09.162-05:00The Underrated Virtue of DutyThere is one very grumpy lady who I encountered on my mission, who I think of often. She would come to church with her teenage daughter, and sit on the very front row, but she was unwilling to engage with anyone. When I was new to the area, I approached her to welcome her, and she waved me off, saying "I'm only here because I promised Elder So-and-so, who baptized me, that I would come to church."<div><br /></div><div>Now, I'm not saying that is the BEST reason to go to church. It's definitely not! But, as I get older, I've come to realize that being dutiful or doing something out of duty is an underrated virtue. We will all go through periods of "I'm just not feeling it." This can happen in work, relationships, and of course, church. But if we push through those periods, we can get through them, and often realize how valuable that experience or relationship is to us. </div><div><br /></div><div>A wise bishop once told me that his testimony wasn't some steady line that was always increasing. It zigged and zagged with a hopefully (eventual) upward trajectory. I've taken comfort in that during periods where I struggle with things. There are Sundays like today, where I go to church and even though it was a good meeting in many respects, I didn't have some amazing spiritual experience or uplifting conversation. Sometimes I struggle to feel like I belong in a church with a strong emphasis on marriage and children (I have neither, which makes me an outlier in my current congregation). </div><div><br /></div><div>But, wisely or unwisely, I keep showing up. Sometimes it is duty that gets me in the pews, and that's okay. I'm hopefully slightly less grumpy about it than the lady I met on my mission. Eventually it leads me to serving and loving others, which I firmly believe is the purpose of the gospel/church/religion in general.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Note: I don't judge anyone who doesn't find duty a compelling motivator for church attendance or anything else. I'm also certainly not suggesting a Gospel of Masochism where we do things as unthinking drones or drudges. But, I <b>am</b> suggesting that duty can get us through the "not fun" part of something that is important.</i></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-645594992264623362024-01-31T14:32:00.001-05:002024-01-31T14:32:56.704-05:00Solving (One of) The (Current) Mid-East Crisis(es)There is a great joke in the classic Sandra Bullock movie "Miss Congeniality" (well, there are many great jokes in that movie, but this is one of my faves). All of the beauty pagent contestants are lined up to answer questions, and saying the one thing that the world needs. There is a montage of several contestants saying "world peace." Then Sandra Bullock steps up, and when asked what the world needs most, she says, "harsher penalties for parole violators...(*awkward silence*)...and world peace" - once she says "world peace" the audience claps and the announcer looks relieved that she got the "right" answer.<div><br></div><div>https://youtu.be/3st-Hai1y54?si=jL-pQdD1qRuW5pzK<br><div><br></div><div>The joke, of course, is that everyone knows the answer *should* be world peace. Knowing that is the easy part! The hard part, is, as ever, actually achieving word peace.</div><div><br></div><div>When titling this blog post, I wasn't sure if it would come off as flippantly talking about a tragic crisis. For my entire life (4 decades and counting!), there has been some ongoing crisis in the middle east. Currently, there are a bunch of terrible situations happening - Syria continues to be a hot mess, Iran continues to execute human rights protestors, and Houthi rebels are trying to take over Yemen and disrupt international shipping, to name a few.</div><div><br></div><div>But the crisis I want to talk about is the current chapter in the Israel/Palestine conflict. On October 7th, 2023, armed Palestinians slaughtered over 1,000 people and took hostage over 200 more. Many of those were Israeli civilians going about their daily lives. I haven't been able to watch the videos or look at pictures of many of the events, because my brain just can't comprehend the evil in killing/raping music festival attendees, shooting elderly holocaust survivors, and murdering babies. It's important to acknowledge these facts. Even if you think the Palestinian people have some legitimate beefs (and they very much do, in my opinion), we need to live in a world where we acknowledge that this attack was horrific and traumatizing. </div><div><br></div><div>In response, Israeli forces have decimated the Gaza strip. It's estimated that 85% of Gazans have fled their homes, thousands of Palestinians have been killed (including far too many children), and 25% of the population is starving. Just as it is important to acknowledge the suffering inflicted on October 7th, it is important to acknowledge the fact that the Gaza strip is a perilous and horrific place right now. Just like with October 7th, I haven't been able to watch many of the pictures/videos showing the aftermath.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the title of this post, I don't actually have a grand plan of how to solve this. Hamas is likely using innocent Palestinians as human shields in a densely populated area, which makes targeted Israeli strikes an impossibility. Rockets continue to fire from Palestine to Israel, making a ceasefire even more challenging and potentially one-sided if Isreal were to stop bombing Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The only truth that I can conjur up is that genocide does not justify genocide. If you believe an act is evil (and murder is evil!), you have a responsibility not to engage in it. Even if you have been wronged. I recognize that this puts a burden on victims of violence that is unfair and heartbreaking. The only way forward is to acknowledge the pain of your "enemies" - acknowledging that pain is hard. It means seeing humanity in those you have dismissed as fools, dupes, or worse. It means seeking that elusive world peace even when it seems far out of reach.</div><div><br></div><div>I hope to see President Biden's administration do more to pressure Israel - protecting the lives of Palestinian civilians is a moral imperative, even despite the horrific nature of the October 7th attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>For more on this subject, I recommend reading the wise sermons of Dr. Martin Luther King, who taught so eloquently of the destructive power of hate and the creative transformation of love.</div></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-87421019724081371682022-05-28T21:14:00.002-04:002022-05-28T21:14:33.791-04:00Wishing, and Waiting, and Hoping, and Praying<p>Many years ago I was talking to a male friend, and he described one of our mutual female acquaintances as "boy crazy." It irked me at the time, but I let it pass because it wasn't really the time/place to get into a feminist rant (though, with age, I've come to realize that almost any time and place can accommodate the occasional feminist rant). "Boy crazy" is a way to dismiss women for not showing the appropriate level of interest in romantic relationships. Women can also, of course, be described as "frigid" and "too picky" - it's a really fine line to walk between seeming available and being <i>too</i> available - how does one even navigate this? </p><p>As a perennially single Mormon woman, I probably spend too much time wondering about the "appropriate" level of time/thought/energy to my single status - have I given up? Am I obsessing if I spend a few hours swiping through dating apps? No matter what my answer is, it always seems to be the wrong one - I appear to be trying too hard or not hard enough.</p><p>Another experience from a few years ago: I was having dinner with family. The restaurant seated us at an eight person table - two seats for my parents; two seats for one of my brothers and his wife; two seats for my other brother and his then fiancé (now wife), and one seat for me - of course, this only added up to seven, so there was an empty seat next to me. I started to think: is that seat going to be empty forever? Given my current age and the life expectancy of Americans, I probably have another few decades of life on this earth ahead of me, at least. Part of me spiraled a little bit inside during that dinner: am I forever going to be the single one at this table (and all the other tables)? It feels like staring down decades of loneliness as I look to the future.</p><p>Logically, I know I am worthy of love - every human being is. But I can't help but feel like I am missing some essential characteristic that makes me attractive to members of the opposite sex. I don't mean to say that I am the sexiest or best person on the planet, in fact I am far from either. Just, sometimes it hurts to feel like there is no one in my life who <i>chose</i> me - a person who thinks I'm great not because I'm a good friend or because they are obligated to love me because of family connections, but someone who sees a potential future with me. I've never had a serious romantic relationship, and it feels like it must be my fault (and I'm sure, in many ways, it is).</p><p>Of course, part of what makes this hard is that I feel churlish complaining about it. I don't want my married friends/family to feel guilty or bad about being married - I'm happy for them! Likewise, in the grand scheme of life options on this planet, I have by far one of the easiest lives - I have food, shelter, transportation, health, loving family members who care about me, enough money to support myself, etc. It seems silly to complain and moan about my "single blessedness" when other people are struggling with far greater challenges.</p><p>Not to mention, "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" - I know that my self worth is not tied to being found desirable by men. I know this, and yet, still I yearn: I yearn to have a boyfriend/husband to share my life with and lie down with at the end of a long day. I want this so badly it hurts sometimes. And I don't know where to put that pain - it would be a lot easier if I truly didn't care. And sometimes that is what I want - to just be numb to this desire - to have it be taken away would be so much easier than <i>caring</i>. </p><p>I think about a line from the musical <i>Wicked</i> a lot. Idina Menzel's character, Elphaba, is lusting after Fiero, a character who is dating her best friend. She sings a song "I'm Not That Girl" recognizing that she's not the pretty/popular girl who gets the guy. One line cuts me deep each time I hear it: "Don't wish/too hard/wishing only wounds the heart." To me, it speaks of the pain of wishing, with no actual hope of success. I wish I didn't identify with that sentiment. In the meantime, I'll just be over here, trying not to wish (which yes, I know makes me the continued queen-of-non-emotionally-healthy-responses to difficult topics).</p><p>Anyway today this was on my mind - usually I'm pretty successful in pushing it out of my mind and not thinking about it. I don't want it to consume my life, but some days I give in to a pity party and feel sorry for myself. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading.</p><p>Title of this post is taken from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycbgHM1mI0k">great Dusty Springfield song</a>.</p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-77903590778863164262022-05-05T13:35:00.001-04:002022-05-05T13:35:13.302-04:00The (GOP-Court-Majority-Sized) Elephant in the Room<p>Unless you've been living under a rock the past few days, you probably heard that a leaked Supreme Court decision shows a majority on the Court are supporting an overturn of the precedential case <i>Roe v. Wade</i>, which provided a constitutional right to abortion in certain cases. While most observers expected this conservative majority to chip away at abortion rights, the main shocking thing seems to be that <i>Roe</i> is being completely thrown away (and under reasoning I find very suspect, but that's probably a separate post). </p><p>I believe that one of the reasons many Mormons are so Republican/conservative is that there is a strong anti-abortion sentiment among most members. In case you haven't already guessed this from the title of my blog, I'm pro-choice (and I did <a href="https://mollymormondemocrat.blogspot.com/2013/02/both-and-neither.html">another blog post</a> on this topic back in 2013). That doesn't mean I necessarily think abortion is great. If I found myself with an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, I know I would really struggle with what to do - but I think it should be my choice, not the government's. It seems like the height of government overreach to say that government should control the private medical decisions about what happens inside a woman's body. So, I thought I would lay out the "moral" and "practical" reasons I feel that abortion should still be legal here in America.</p><p><b>The Moral Argument for Legal Abortion</b></p><p>If someone needs a kidney transplant, I cannot be forced to give him/her my kidney - even if I *can* do so without causing my own death, the law of the land respects my bodily autonomy enough to say that I cannot be forced to save another's life. Is this a morally complicated issue? Absolutely! But I have control over how my body is used - that is the essence of personal liberty. The same argument applies to abortion. Not even a mother can be forced to save the life of her child by giving up a kidney - similarly, I don't believe a woman should be forced to carry a baby to term.</p><p>There are many circumstances where a woman may consider an abortion - when her own life is at stake, when the baby's life is at stake, when the pregnancy is the result of rape/incest, or many other situations too numerous to mention. My point here is that the woman is an adult, capable of making mature ethical and medical decisions. You may not agree with those decisions (just like you might not agree with me eating junk food) but you don't get to make those decisions on behalf of another person. </p><p>Of course, pro-life individuals will argue that it is the woman who is making a decision on behalf of another person by "murdering" a fetus. To me, the question of when life begins is a complicated one - is a fertilized egg sitting in a petri dish, waiting to be implanted in a woman, a life? I don't think so, and most people would agree that it's not. On the other hand, I don't believe that abortion should be allowed "up to conception" - at some point, that fetus becomes a baby, and I'm not sure when that is, to be honest. BUT, I know that I am much more comfortable with women making a decision on abortion, than with a court mandating that women be forced to give birth.</p><p><b>Practical Arguments for Legal Abortion </b></p><p>Setting aside the moral arguments for and against legal abortion, let's look at the practical arguments.</p><p><a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/infographic/2020/abortion-occurs-worldwide-where-it-broadly-legal-and-where-it-restricted">Research shows that rates of abortion are similar across the world in countries where abortion is legal and where it is illegal</a>. Outlawing abortion doesn't decrease the number of abortions, it decreases the number of safe abortions. One of the consequences of overturning <i>Roe </i>will be women seeking unsafe abortions, and likely dying as a result. How can you claim to be pro-life if the policy you are pursuing results in more death?</p><p>The majority of Americans think that abortion should be legal in some or all circumstances. The most recent poll I could find showed that 32% of Americans think abortion should be legal in all circumstances while 48% said it should be legal in some circumstances - only 19% of Americans think it should be illegal in all circumstances (poll info along with lots of other polls <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx">available here</a>). How are we going to craft laws that allow abortion in the cases where most people believe it should be legal (i.e. mother's health at stake, or as the result of rape) while disallowing it in cases we think it shouldn't be legal? It's really hard to draft a law considering all situations, and it's also going to be really hard to enforce that law. Are we willing to lock up women seeking abortions? Send doctors and medical professionals to jail? Do we think that these actions are the right answer here? </p><p><b>Final Thoughts</b></p><p>Look, you may agree with none of what I said (in which case, kudos for reading this far). That is okay - there are lots of different views on abortion, and it's a complicated moral issue, so there should be lots of different views. But, I would ask you to step into the shoes of women contemplating abortion - think about the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/29/abortion-bolivia-girl-catholic-church/">11-year old victim of rape</a>, the mother of 3 who finds out her baby has a non-survivable medical condition, the woman finding out that a longed-for pregnancy is dangerous to her health, the abuse victim who can't bear to raise a baby with her abuser. There are a lot of these stories out there. You may not think that these situations represent the majority of those seeking abortions, but there are a non-zero number of stories like this. Please have compassion on the women in any situation where they are contemplating abortion, and consider them as people, as human beings with thoughts and emotions and their own unique circumstances. I think they are able to make this difficult decision best for themselves, rather than having it made for them by the government.</p><p>There is lots more I can say on this topic - all the ways we can reduce "demand" for abortions without outlawing "supply," etc. But for now, I'll leave you with this clip from the movie "After Tiller" about late term abortions - this clip is about a fetus developing without part of its brain, and the difficult decision facing the doctor and parents at a late stage of pregnancy. I think about this clip a lot when abortion is discussed. I hope that no one has to go through this agonizing decision, but the only thing that could make it worse is if the government intervened and made the decision for you.</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l9-tTrbjmyw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-72617460302259641382021-08-29T23:24:00.000-04:002021-08-29T23:24:15.772-04:00Road Trip Part 2: Learning about Laura<p>When I was a kid, I read and devoured a set of yellow paperback versions of Laura Ignalls Wilder's books (Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, etc.). I still have those well thumbed paperbacks - I think I read some of them multiple times because I enjoyed the simple pleasures of the world they created. As part of my cross country trip, I decided to visit several of the places Laura lived. While some of the museums were hokey, it was cool to see the actual sites of where the events of the books took place. As I traveled, I also listened to the audiobook of the Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Laura: "Prairie Fires" by Caroline Fraser. I learned a lot about Laura's relationship with her daughter Rose. Rose (a writer in her own right) edited and shaped many of the Little House books. I didn't realize that Laura didn't start publishing her books until she was in her 60s! Prairie Fires was interesting listening as I traveled through the actual geography of the places Laura lived and wrote about, I highly recommend it if you are interested in the context of Laura's life.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bptl9OCAeWbEihwFzJA9oQjAq3qhjzC4ihQLWyoZ3TDDL0AUHGS07c6_TIZP1jRP0JDLVrzK2_kmPQjqkLLsnyCNIooIh2HtzAAEiA7oDVPh61oK5URu8OId5nKQS3OneXu_muQEMls/s4032/20210817_152829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bptl9OCAeWbEihwFzJA9oQjAq3qhjzC4ihQLWyoZ3TDDL0AUHGS07c6_TIZP1jRP0JDLVrzK2_kmPQjqkLLsnyCNIooIh2HtzAAEiA7oDVPh61oK5URu8OId5nKQS3OneXu_muQEMls/s320/20210817_152829.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Laura in DeSmet, SD</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Pepin, Wisconsin</b></p><p>There was a little museum here, which isn't really worth your time (though admittance is only $5). I did enjoy seeing the recreation of "Little House in the Big Woods" - which was literally just at a rest stop at the side of the road and thus free. That is the book I've read most recently. It was also just cool to drive through the countryside, including the swampy area near the river, and imagine Ma and Pa and Mary and Laura in their cabin in the late 1800s.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5zhvv1Z47LZyfbr0LGsQDrJvx8r1W5e83ynFF-q-bxjccLyu1V1s_Pb7YbpYlLCKfidSlSblPTFmCjXNy8O1khwV5D6OzeM72PsanmpFXo4DlXV3fc5DqYZR9ayvxkashpzf1U8wt08/s4608/20210816_165045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5zhvv1Z47LZyfbr0LGsQDrJvx8r1W5e83ynFF-q-bxjccLyu1V1s_Pb7YbpYlLCKfidSlSblPTFmCjXNy8O1khwV5D6OzeM72PsanmpFXo4DlXV3fc5DqYZR9ayvxkashpzf1U8wt08/s320/20210816_165045.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Little House In the Big Woods"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ_QIqR7XIg2yoXqfYy_n3hYqouelMzzmF3YC_XFUqmFdmMKxxkYlrivNF-kblSCS5u4YR8AAnEcd8SIxBemEGIs5F-DQCyhtt_AgupO8VJPgkvF1xHTC3rUZMA9bjAUSGQoWqEj9L3I/s4032/20210816_170715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ_QIqR7XIg2yoXqfYy_n3hYqouelMzzmF3YC_XFUqmFdmMKxxkYlrivNF-kblSCS5u4YR8AAnEcd8SIxBemEGIs5F-DQCyhtt_AgupO8VJPgkvF1xHTC3rUZMA9bjAUSGQoWqEj9L3I/s320/20210816_170715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Out Over the River near Pepin, WI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Walnut Grove, Minnesota</b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7W5xNkE8X9nwgFG4C-1duz-BoKi3NffYK5DsFIFe8RBCrbFpoK6AVMnRtErcQqi7yPY2SBHyW0jP3fZJEN83X7LYkGioKWE1ZrqPnP5wslXbUYxKop_6vtefHM0tdWc6_9heaoFdzO34/s4032/20210817_111914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7W5xNkE8X9nwgFG4C-1duz-BoKi3NffYK5DsFIFe8RBCrbFpoK6AVMnRtErcQqi7yPY2SBHyW0jP3fZJEN83X7LYkGioKWE1ZrqPnP5wslXbUYxKop_6vtefHM0tdWc6_9heaoFdzO34/s320/20210817_111914.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A store Pa Ignalls helped build in Walnut Grove</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>This museum actually did have some artifacts from Laura's and the Ignalls Family's life, as well as numerous artifacts of the TV series (I'm not a fan of the TV series - the few episodes I've seen were too corny for me). The museum area also had a recreation of several buildings in Laura's life. While the museum was run down, it would be worth it if you love the TV show, or are just super interested in Laura.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCQuexyFlFlE9rvESgxme3Kd55U0YCxC72Gh5ydal0P5DcV_zS7YMoiRez4VTzrWp7DmTSr9CRDthU4WhMyWGCku4IZqhgtxPjCiOUv5GDD-HrfPTQdEP1XI8C5usPILVFwqvaoL3IPw/s4032/20210817_102708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCQuexyFlFlE9rvESgxme3Kd55U0YCxC72Gh5ydal0P5DcV_zS7YMoiRez4VTzrWp7DmTSr9CRDthU4WhMyWGCku4IZqhgtxPjCiOUv5GDD-HrfPTQdEP1XI8C5usPILVFwqvaoL3IPw/s320/20210817_102708.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display showing Laura's books in several languages - they've sold all over the world!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4w9O9QnxuK2KVrAm75GRpYofSRRFS68VEHUdfHE8OByB4Qw-fzGQArUCDxWTVq5s8-qV7MFOMFsyuOqvFesM7Y6F0l4Z9QRrX5dSMbzBxUeCB96XQlojM3n66IsErJ3QyjwJbE3Nta4/s2944/20210817_122010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4w9O9QnxuK2KVrAm75GRpYofSRRFS68VEHUdfHE8OByB4Qw-fzGQArUCDxWTVq5s8-qV7MFOMFsyuOqvFesM7Y6F0l4Z9QRrX5dSMbzBxUeCB96XQlojM3n66IsErJ3QyjwJbE3Nta4/s320/20210817_122010.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Eating A Plum On the Banks of Plum Creek (and generally being a nerd)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWs5hy7lgWLrbfPyg9y4kPFEGODYkVPTgUvdiPiLl8YYHBJk9yTs97g1VioVRlw_JZy0Mz2m8KAqmZ4NLj-fuMeE6WfONZDng_FP1hy1He6DFyl47_XfiMdjEj5HSUENkVzX3V_ebxDvo/s4608/20210817_114204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWs5hy7lgWLrbfPyg9y4kPFEGODYkVPTgUvdiPiLl8YYHBJk9yTs97g1VioVRlw_JZy0Mz2m8KAqmZ4NLj-fuMeE6WfONZDng_FP1hy1He6DFyl47_XfiMdjEj5HSUENkVzX3V_ebxDvo/s320/20210817_114204.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of the Dugout on Plum Creek</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>The highlight of the Minnesota stop was visiting the actual site of the dugout featured in the book "On the Banks of Plum Creek." It was a nice area to walk around in and I don't think it's really much changed since Laura's time - I took a nice walk through a nearby meadow and saw lots of butterflies and wildflowers. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_TYy4R-dD72wMf9uyTwu8yWJtaVu4IoeGtGPUYFEs_acYvySQ2OBDkAhj6A5De95hNjMt2w59elpjLDAXnS7TwNdMHsgJo4U8XFgvONHu3J9jAKlIR_XlU6UwGzaWqeWGiZgdQFEW68/s4032/20210817_113601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_TYy4R-dD72wMf9uyTwu8yWJtaVu4IoeGtGPUYFEs_acYvySQ2OBDkAhj6A5De95hNjMt2w59elpjLDAXnS7TwNdMHsgJo4U8XFgvONHu3J9jAKlIR_XlU6UwGzaWqeWGiZgdQFEW68/s320/20210817_113601.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plum Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>De Smet, South Dakota</b></p><p>This the site I probably enjoyed the most from a historical perspective - best tour (given by a high schooler!), and lots of actual historical buildings - the surveyor's house where the Ignalls family lived, the house Ma and Pa retired to, etc. There is also the homestead site outside town where the trees planted by Pa "On the Shores of Silver Lake" still stand.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r3ErCC8naC3GBs3IfwA-ce6c3LUXYH-WcLuCiBS7vaVkiADMw5lwAmFKrny3wMVxhHTVY4eIGU5GLCGBSwJqJ8x0u5jn_xbAiCc-YGHBvQi8AiDbzxiG9VfkYskLBjWZ2A-_Lii7r1w/s4032/20210817_145826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r3ErCC8naC3GBs3IfwA-ce6c3LUXYH-WcLuCiBS7vaVkiADMw5lwAmFKrny3wMVxhHTVY4eIGU5GLCGBSwJqJ8x0u5jn_xbAiCc-YGHBvQi8AiDbzxiG9VfkYskLBjWZ2A-_Lii7r1w/s320/20210817_145826.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surveyor's House, where Ignalls family lived for one winter in De Smet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz31BwgRI-0x4Q_BqudFbIAIkJK6xtkTTS98sql-ZvZDj4pNxTY24j0VZCJDslfvVO_1rvRZe5MU9ccYBWvK91GUMVSlTmKf2vurMI3N7uuaizEm7VD2P98N_kLGEkGOnTTMaXwhKWEQ/s4608/20210817_163320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz31BwgRI-0x4Q_BqudFbIAIkJK6xtkTTS98sql-ZvZDj4pNxTY24j0VZCJDslfvVO_1rvRZe5MU9ccYBWvK91GUMVSlTmKf2vurMI3N7uuaizEm7VD2P98N_kLGEkGOnTTMaXwhKWEQ/s320/20210817_163320.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The House where Ma and Pa "retired" in downtown De Smet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7wXTm2iqiWskAiw9vLCCNIwqWApcA3efnXue3x4qF55WH9CJVC9QPX-ruazV854DDCqZFSb6sg6qifDOFKvjAnyqyugPLhXYPluvA4hP-58R0gbaSE_2tYeOLLQyl_rAVazIFit3Q9Q/s4032/20210817_171950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7wXTm2iqiWskAiw9vLCCNIwqWApcA3efnXue3x4qF55WH9CJVC9QPX-ruazV854DDCqZFSb6sg6qifDOFKvjAnyqyugPLhXYPluvA4hP-58R0gbaSE_2tYeOLLQyl_rAVazIFit3Q9Q/s320/20210817_171950.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the trees Pa planted "on the banks of Silver Lake"</td></tr></tbody></table><p>All the sites are pretty out of the way from everywhere else, but it was still fun to retrace Laura's steps and feel nostalgic about reading the books as a pre-teen/teenager. A nice way to pass the time while crossing the country!</p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-21026711568719818362021-08-25T10:22:00.002-04:002021-08-25T10:22:51.830-04:00Road Trip Part 1: Suffrage Sites<div class="separator"></div><p>Hi Y'all! As you have seen, I have not posted much regarding my sabbatical - unfortunately I have spent most of it reading silly books and procrastinating important decisions. But, a week ago I set out on my epic road trip - covering thousands of miles and practically a whole continent! </p><p>On my way to the main attractions (Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks), I stopped at a few suffrage historical sites along the way. As you all know, I'm a huge nerd for suffrage history, and I've organized/led suffrage walking tours of Washington, DC covering the involvement of Mormon women in the suffrage movement. So, without further ado, here are some pictures and details of the suffrage sites I visited. I'm currently debating whether I want to spend the money to stay in the very ritzy Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, where the suffragists plotted their campaign to get Tennessee to ratify the 19th amendment (Tennessee was the final state they needed to ratify so that women could vote in the 1920 election). </p><p><b>Harriet Taylor Upton's Home in Warren, Ohio</b></p><p>It's a safe bet that most of you haven't heard of Harriet Taylor Upton, but she was an instrumental figure in the women's suffrage movement. She was treasurer of the national suffrage association for over 15 years, and for a period close to a decade, the national association's headquarters was in her hometown of Warren, Ohio so she could run the office. Harriet was also big in Republican party politics, as her father was a congressman. In her (huge) dining room in (tiny) Warren, OH, Harriet entertained 4 Republican presidents. During the 1920 campaign, Harriet was the one who held Warren G. Harding's feet to the fire and made sure he did everything he could for suffrage (at the time, she was the highest ranking woman in the Republican party). </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVQ8a5BcXWNV1S8MffGrZ_8Fa4vu_67er3ymC-hfgLT5KshJYUaKvW53Z0EsLAwtlID5klpI7vn3zZiDNB_c01RB29fJHlIbvnPjV_JxFO7oRFxwBum2kRUH2WIzM7Dl3TzaRvqD3x_k/s4032/20210814_140145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVQ8a5BcXWNV1S8MffGrZ_8Fa4vu_67er3ymC-hfgLT5KshJYUaKvW53Z0EsLAwtlID5klpI7vn3zZiDNB_c01RB29fJHlIbvnPjV_JxFO7oRFxwBum2kRUH2WIzM7Dl3TzaRvqD3x_k/s320/20210814_140145.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet's House!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The house was nice and well maintained by a local Harriet Taylor Upton society (they rent it out for events). While there, I bought a copy of Harriet's "Random Recollections" - some of her memories. I wish she would have written more about her suffrage activities - she barely mentions her treasurer duties, and as an accountant, I am professionally interested. But here are a few of my favorite moments:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9loG2ojdsB3fevQMfIBbKECKREvd9mntvJA_Zjt2bjD0EfHfSBsfmbdWNoKYl6fPwtcjUBcRuMUiNrVHypVQ35zogc2m676f6VnPKkiqJuYS7Sjo46WlAQtQcpS02aolqd4I64eCjKes/s4608/20210814_143048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9loG2ojdsB3fevQMfIBbKECKREvd9mntvJA_Zjt2bjD0EfHfSBsfmbdWNoKYl6fPwtcjUBcRuMUiNrVHypVQ35zogc2m676f6VnPKkiqJuYS7Sjo46WlAQtQcpS02aolqd4I64eCjKes/s320/20210814_143048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet's huge dining room. I swear you could probably seat 30 people comfortably in this room.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>- She woke up Carrie Chapman Catt in the middle of the night so that CCC could help re-enact a funny story Harriet was telling to the other suffragists traveling with them. Harriet was renown for her sense of humor and ability to make people laugh. (pg. 113)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd45tr-tQVt4LITKbxhbSLbkSmGLALHPJTz8h6oV_f3PGSGVPtS788RYXVBx3yaAV1TTDfvV4ncMbUjpo3nGnnraOBmTACoZF5_PlUMMQJGR8j7l-ADnKlOZWRg7NzS2vTRhvae05fnUU/s4608/20210814_142917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd45tr-tQVt4LITKbxhbSLbkSmGLALHPJTz8h6oV_f3PGSGVPtS788RYXVBx3yaAV1TTDfvV4ncMbUjpo3nGnnraOBmTACoZF5_PlUMMQJGR8j7l-ADnKlOZWRg7NzS2vTRhvae05fnUU/s320/20210814_142917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet's study, which displayed letters she wrote and received from Republican Presidents, including Calvin Coolidge</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>- She noted that women had to be "politicians before they were voters." Her memoirs are full of trenchant political analysis that still applies today. "Legislators may be leaders, but more often they seem to be followers." (pg. 106) Writing of an episode where one senator encouraged her to make up stories about another senator to blackmail him to the suffrage cause, she writes: "Why do sensible people put fools - really mentally lacking fools - in office?" (pg 144)</p><p>- She was in the congressional gallery with Susan B. Anthony when Wyoming was accepted as a state, with women enshrined as voters in that state's constitution. Susan B. Anthony said to her "it is the beginning of the end." (pg 107) I have to admit I teared up a bit at that.</p><p>- In describing Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she said "She was humorous, logical, and an agitator. She loved to stir up things, leaving the straightening out to Miss Anthony. She was not an organizer. The agitator in any reform precedes the organizer." (pg. 93)</p><p></p><p>- Speaking of her battle to get Tennessee Republicans to ratify the 19th amendment, she said: "I was to trust them and encourage them and keep calm if possible (it was not possible). And to be hopeful and happy if possible (and it wasn't possible)." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tQ0zWsRofrN3sqtdihPgyUlM8H6o-wXpG9R3xkA-JQ3RICKf_27EW42OogJ7RBNMVNqbjscoPC378ha5zy_5y6XMbOrvlZCANHlpiU4yokkO3MAwSaXjg8pXFHSyLASJIcz8eIFNFtM/s4608/20210814_145443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tQ0zWsRofrN3sqtdihPgyUlM8H6o-wXpG9R3xkA-JQ3RICKf_27EW42OogJ7RBNMVNqbjscoPC378ha5zy_5y6XMbOrvlZCANHlpiU4yokkO3MAwSaXjg8pXFHSyLASJIcz8eIFNFtM/s320/20210814_145443.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet's ashes are buried in her garden - she loved gardening.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>If you're interested in learning more about Harriet, there are two really short episodes of the Mercantile Library's Podcast "<a href="https://mercantilelibrary.com/geniusofliberty/">Genius of Liberty</a>" which talk about Harriet and her contributions - see episodes 9 and 10 (the whole podcast is great - lots of interesting suffrage history nuggets in short bursts!).</p><p><b>Sojourner Truth - Statute (Battle Creek, MI) and Plaque (Akron, OH)</b></p><p>Sojourner Truth is probably someone you already know, but did you know she fought a court case for her children's freedom after they were illegally sold down south? She was also a powerful speaker on behalf of abolition and women's rights. She gave her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech in Akron, OH, and there is a plaque there memorializing where it happened. Kerry Washington performed part of Sojourner's speech in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_i8w2rdQY">this video</a>. There is some controversy over whether the text was modified, as the most famous version of the speech was written down many years after the convention where Sojourner spoke. Currently, money is being raised to erect a statue of Sojourner on this site - you can <a href="https://www.truthstatue.org/donate">donate here</a> if you are interested.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpGRkf1vEk74JZ9Tb535HM5YDm17gIsYrKCxwpuAo607iJuOBbDpF20lUHEZ2wLTVLg72Jh57Uh_ZDshXSuVVZiXpICUtXNeF5sj_PzsbopGGL6eQsOOEszdZeBlJkzgDGKaIcBbXwjo/s1958/20210814_155332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="1958" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpGRkf1vEk74JZ9Tb535HM5YDm17gIsYrKCxwpuAo607iJuOBbDpF20lUHEZ2wLTVLg72Jh57Uh_ZDshXSuVVZiXpICUtXNeF5sj_PzsbopGGL6eQsOOEszdZeBlJkzgDGKaIcBbXwjo/s320/20210814_155332.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaque where Sojourner gave her 1851 speech in Akron, OH</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Sojourner spent the last years of her life in Battle Creek, Michigan, and there is a 16 foot high statute of her there. She's also buried there, but I didn't get to see her grave as the cemetery was closed the day I was there. You can learn more about Sojourner in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sn8CUyvG2k">this TED Video</a> - I appreciated especially her faith in God.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueAubz5k2rDVPxUkiAQOmfVEktEDb9JcNXTaLfKbhyphenhyphenjqyCEpqBBHPSzQCUfSPFuB_Q4VJKAVPj0JhNL2Q9negWDv45UZIKZJRnJY819-C1OxVU7iLy-7jiVUKlWHcvNdVs8O1d9j3Ntc/s3216/20210814_193848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="2586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueAubz5k2rDVPxUkiAQOmfVEktEDb9JcNXTaLfKbhyphenhyphenjqyCEpqBBHPSzQCUfSPFuB_Q4VJKAVPj0JhNL2Q9negWDv45UZIKZJRnJY819-C1OxVU7iLy-7jiVUKlWHcvNdVs8O1d9j3Ntc/s320/20210814_193848.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sojourner's Statute in Battle Creek, MI</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p><b>Ida B. Wells-Barnett Home, Chicago, Illinois</b></p><p>Today this is just someone's private residence, but for over a decade in the early 20th century, this stone townhouse in Chicago (near the White Sox stadium) was home to one of the 19th and 20th century's fiercest anti-lynching writers, who was also a suffragist. Ida B. Wells-Barnett is just an amazing lady, and I was glad I could stop by her house and remember her amazing contributions. If you're interested in learning more about her, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/by/podcast/symhc-classics-ida-b-wells-barnett/id283605519?i=1000477004645">this podcast episode</a> was really good.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4H34ezAKBgqF2X8agzMAaAzg7w_fJ794NHHiTn_Nq_ALYRVSqm7VyU11vY6Y2oxPIdxyIZcqR8rSSUhB-dU3ziqxVCNv2DUV4kmSL21NB5L-XM4gR-X5HcegIJ-OSELyRF59ULdJwUrw/s4608/20210815_113923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4H34ezAKBgqF2X8agzMAaAzg7w_fJ794NHHiTn_Nq_ALYRVSqm7VyU11vY6Y2oxPIdxyIZcqR8rSSUhB-dU3ziqxVCNv2DUV4kmSL21NB5L-XM4gR-X5HcegIJ-OSELyRF59ULdJwUrw/s320/20210815_113923.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida's Chicago Home</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Frances Willard's Home, Evanston, Illinois</b></p><p>Not far away from Ida's home, just north of Chicago, was the home of another legendary progressive activist, Frances Willard. Frances was the head of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) for decades. Her home is now a museum with many of her belongings still there. This tour was really good - the docent leading the tour knew so much about Frances and was able to answer all my questions, I was really impressed - it helped that it was a tour just for me and their new intern.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN6bjIbRhsn5YpScwvn9UrjpU8Mr2U9Xi3crW3H-K_T7okLw9clGYtR9jqCWZoqjGJEbfYaMpZ1wQooJun-G4Atje3zyByc2yDXzf3B2k3ollTePm-nVHxanhzf3FoHtmH_niPFX2tEQ/s4032/20210815_135932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN6bjIbRhsn5YpScwvn9UrjpU8Mr2U9Xi3crW3H-K_T7okLw9clGYtR9jqCWZoqjGJEbfYaMpZ1wQooJun-G4Atje3zyByc2yDXzf3B2k3ollTePm-nVHxanhzf3FoHtmH_niPFX2tEQ/s320/20210815_135932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frances' "cottage" in Evanston</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Frances urged WCTU members to get involved in politics and suffrage. The tour noted that the WCTU got many more conservative women into the movement - the WCTU was a respectable way for women to become more involved in political matters and served as a "gateway drug" to more progressive and radical reforms. For more info you can check out this <a href="https://franceswillardhouse.org/frances-willard/womens-suffrage/">online essay</a> and this <a href="https://franceswillardhouse.omeka.net/exhibits/show/-womanly-liberty---frances-wil">online exhibit</a>. The museum also has an <a href="https://scalar.usc.edu/works/willard-and-wells/index">online exhibit about the clash between Frances Willard and Ida B. Wells-Barnett</a> - Ida called out Frances on her racism.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEvRX1_C8eJWZI9w52pLe-WCfbU9C2MAIhGqykxQWLMcyfftMSfc0udy1DN4kjv_N68OC4_QtKFoQsBrlH_2k3Qq2rqKP88V69lZAhtrPHAeI1KYTG2Rw3rsf_8qTqdgQ4pn-i4RB1gU/s320/20210815_144126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual photo of Frances at work - she wasn't afraid of clutter!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCEU2cqP0f4aIsaYLhtpdqEqV46hpU7XDLfq2veD-FEwvM-3salJ0v71HXPs8hyphenhyphenv2ySJzIlurmKVCYjpDipxxCEhV2bVOTwE-VUywSVjQPjuoL-ICWRwPpUUBx4ZiQsZTshXPungSvTU/s4608/20210815_144137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCEU2cqP0f4aIsaYLhtpdqEqV46hpU7XDLfq2veD-FEwvM-3salJ0v71HXPs8hyphenhyphenv2ySJzIlurmKVCYjpDipxxCEhV2bVOTwE-VUywSVjQPjuoL-ICWRwPpUUBx4ZiQsZTshXPungSvTU/s320/20210815_144137.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frances' Study - much neater than in life!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>While there, I purchased a short book by Frances: "How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle." It was a fun little book (her part was only 80 pages), but there were also some interesting scholarly essays talking about the context of women riding bicycles in the 19th century, which was fascinating.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwEcHE0JNPMZTO1dsXPXKZEM51IRax-_wwDxoZq1horffxEf2cgBG-3LQMKbBxAleVjOdsX-3KFy5Njfq9KAAojHp3zAJR-PIMzlfT7OE8I1_-BPn8tXkgAc6EI4xruBrvO2qtC73hpE/s4608/20210815_144904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwEcHE0JNPMZTO1dsXPXKZEM51IRax-_wwDxoZq1horffxEf2cgBG-3LQMKbBxAleVjOdsX-3KFy5Njfq9KAAojHp3zAJR-PIMzlfT7OE8I1_-BPn8tXkgAc6EI4xruBrvO2qtC73hpE/s320/20210815_144904.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frances named her bicycle "Gladys" because it brought her gladness/joy!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Carrie Chapman Catt's Home, Charles City, Iowa</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGsPn3GpJFYnM3U-HH0qCA58UzPvfARcQGJzKuIGyeiM1zC-GNekJxb40AuleltPXeQiUfRW5YHaWDwsySgFxuCln5HZGfhAmK60r6vdOLufycMR6FDx8jeTTAvmOCJA3i5o2giep9CU/s4032/20210816_134932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGsPn3GpJFYnM3U-HH0qCA58UzPvfARcQGJzKuIGyeiM1zC-GNekJxb40AuleltPXeQiUfRW5YHaWDwsySgFxuCln5HZGfhAmK60r6vdOLufycMR6FDx8jeTTAvmOCJA3i5o2giep9CU/s320/20210816_134932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornfield across the road from Carrie's House</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuFhCpAAUN4c0fTNxzJc50HrWL8iV-92f6i5WnNedcWdl3A8aj9qCq3-3Pvx5Vc6WuE6A9_AxqMn0jcAYb4SnQqZF3g_qBrb_9JL51E6pcimFbEp35g0uDynY37rQUyGLo1flIWzbrfg/s4608/20210816_134027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuFhCpAAUN4c0fTNxzJc50HrWL8iV-92f6i5WnNedcWdl3A8aj9qCq3-3Pvx5Vc6WuE6A9_AxqMn0jcAYb4SnQqZF3g_qBrb_9JL51E6pcimFbEp35g0uDynY37rQUyGLo1flIWzbrfg/s320/20210816_134027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">19 apple trees planted on Carrie's land to commemorate the 19th Amendment centennial last year</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Not surprisingly for Iowa, Carrie Chapman Catt's home was surrounded by cornfields. For those of you who don't know, Carrie was Susan B. Anthony's hand-picked successor and the one who ultimately lead the National American Women's Suffrage Association to victory in 1919 and 1920 (I should note, Alice Paul led the more radical Women's Party at the same time, and deserves some of the credit for the victory too). Carrie was good friends with Harriet Taylor Upton, too. Carrie is one of the suffragists I admire the most, and this was the museum I was most looking forward to visiting because of that. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtpTrAewHFUD3yhSUDbZut0fP2BEQrtBk2yNmqErhjw2MCq6-xkNHpxsIkP_JnEuLfjyEfFN-Cpr-cdAvTwdRplyTlyBMOVXyuY4eaVD539XomAAxGOuawt90QVXzUnCHdK9sVVA4nrQ/s4608/20210816_134143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtpTrAewHFUD3yhSUDbZut0fP2BEQrtBk2yNmqErhjw2MCq6-xkNHpxsIkP_JnEuLfjyEfFN-Cpr-cdAvTwdRplyTlyBMOVXyuY4eaVD539XomAAxGOuawt90QVXzUnCHdK9sVVA4nrQ/s320/20210816_134143.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie's Childhood Home</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This museum was interesting - instead of setting up furniture in the rooms of the house where Carrie grew up, the museum organizers had a local college put together displays walking through her life and quotes inside the house - so it was like walking through a timeline of Carrie's life. Unfortunately pictures were not allowed inside, but I did learn lots of interesting facts about Carrie - she was also a peace activist who met Gandhi! I did like seeing Carrie's "victory dresses" - she liked to commission blue dresses to celebrate suffrage victories.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYjWLCSDFARcKaZrikE_SToK76k3Jy387luxRz-yg7LQEwpoZNGfqT_i8JAwPbd82zJKz7boarNTb80PgTCmaB_Mk7ASSB1IzYIBIqObf7FmHuUgcCrGbVrVw2VGwh_bEkhvxjbv5HBQ/s4608/20210816_133425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYjWLCSDFARcKaZrikE_SToK76k3Jy387luxRz-yg7LQEwpoZNGfqT_i8JAwPbd82zJKz7boarNTb80PgTCmaB_Mk7ASSB1IzYIBIqObf7FmHuUgcCrGbVrVw2VGwh_bEkhvxjbv5HBQ/s320/20210816_133425.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qNxIznP9sC6EqfjRQ-ngfR9fdkmGFUP7xBs-vc7u_Rzglvq-8O7h117WPw7xLLwaRtZhV__r-25-ljQXc5xmahYYijWiYqWM4avRr6EDa2mboBvMKD955AiU2nGl5GjmNAOxB91Vx9s/s4032/20210816_133430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qNxIznP9sC6EqfjRQ-ngfR9fdkmGFUP7xBs-vc7u_Rzglvq-8O7h117WPw7xLLwaRtZhV__r-25-ljQXc5xmahYYijWiYqWM4avRr6EDa2mboBvMKD955AiU2nGl5GjmNAOxB91Vx9s/s320/20210816_133430.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a216jrL_ABBNlktKX8InkBODR6Qi2fYw9-DgdX30irEwPObBIR4vN1pFw9fB4S3iDNDcGcefLM9cv8aLTYZdEiWWXpB1PBsTxJ4F5S6ijrUyPm8e0QK8Zz6ZZAaJ3K8SNXnnJiAyIIE/s4608/20210816_133438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a216jrL_ABBNlktKX8InkBODR6Qi2fYw9-DgdX30irEwPObBIR4vN1pFw9fB4S3iDNDcGcefLM9cv8aLTYZdEiWWXpB1PBsTxJ4F5S6ijrUyPm8e0QK8Zz6ZZAaJ3K8SNXnnJiAyIIE/s320/20210816_133438.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p>In the unlikely event you've made it this far, thanks for reading my travelogue! More to come on the Laura Ignalls Wilder sites I visited, and of course the National Parks I'm currently spending time in. I'll close with a picture of the fireplace in Frances Willard's study, which quotes a <a href="https://poetryexplorer.net/poem.php?id=10119872">poem by John Whitcomb Riley</a>, reminding us to speak well of others - it's an inspiring message that can help us get things done instead of focusing on the negative.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWqiqW8MRkFxxxA2hDbSuxMuP9GJgzYh9e4FpRP0JK8Q5lJnbN84kgnDjxPOkbpaA5tSqB56C0H-bWghkq1rZ9vxtv7Wyt9D0EVnO88rk8fvhRrIzW_hwYuOt77_o8IUuidTwQ4WrCTc/s4608/20210815_143631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWqiqW8MRkFxxxA2hDbSuxMuP9GJgzYh9e4FpRP0JK8Q5lJnbN84kgnDjxPOkbpaA5tSqB56C0H-bWghkq1rZ9vxtv7Wyt9D0EVnO88rk8fvhRrIzW_hwYuOt77_o8IUuidTwQ4WrCTc/s320/20210815_143631.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let Something Good Be Said"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-65930732281393367942021-06-28T11:01:00.001-04:002021-06-28T13:56:20.602-04:00Anybody Have A Map?Starting today, I am taking a 2.5 month sabbatical from work. I haven't told a lot of people about it, because a part of me feels like it's an admission of failure - that I just can't deal with "adulting" like everyone else seems to be able to. The other reason I feel guilty about it is that it's a privilege very few would have - most jobs wouldn't allow you to take this much time off work.<div><br></div><div>All that being said, I hit a wall. Some of it is COVID, but some of it is working for 12+ years at a demanding job with long hours. So, I really need this right now in my life, and maybe that makes me weak - but each of us has moments of weakness, and it's okay to not be okay sometimes.</div><div><br></div><div>As I've thought about what I want to accomplish during this sabbatical, I've realized that there are literally hundreds of things I *could* do - lots of little tasks I never seem to find time for. I'm making a list of those, and my goal is to do one of those things per day. Even little things like cleaning/organizing the linen closet will at least make me feel like I am not wasting this time. It would be easy to let this time slip by in reading/watching TV (though I will no doubt also be doing plenty of that), but it would be a waste to let that be ALL I do with this once in a lifetime opportunity. At the same time, I want to be kind with myself, and realize that not everything on the list may get done, and that is okay.</div><div><br></div><div>With goals and new year's resolutions, I've learned that the simplest goals are the best. I've also learned that I can only do a few goals at a time. Thus, I have three incontrovertible rules that I'm going to stick to during my sabbatical. I don't know if I'll share all of them here, as they are personal, but one of them is to unplug from time wasting apps on my phone. So, over the weekend, I deleted Facebook, Instagram, Jewels, Nerts, and Twitter from my phone. You are probably familiar with the social media apps, Jewels and Nerts are the games I play when I'm bored. I'm debating whether to delete the Kindle app (I might do it temporarily until I read all the physical books in my "to read" pile).</div><div><br></div><div>Social media has been a double edged sword for me for a long time - I'm grateful to use it to know how my friends are doing, especially the ones who don't live near me. But, all too often it becomes a trigger for jealousy/envy and it also lets me pretend to be a good friend without interacting with people in real life. The games apps have been taking up way too much time and are completely useless.</div><div><br></div><div>Other than my "Optional Tasks List" and "Three Incontrovertible Rules," I'm not really setting an agenda for this time. I'm hoping to have fun and not think much about tax accounting. So, it kind of feels like setting off on a journey without a map. The song "Anybody Have a Map?" from the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen has been running through my mind.<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/--F-nTJM4kQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="--F-nTJM4kQ"></iframe></div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Even though the song is about parenting challenges, and I'm not a parent, it really speaks to the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. These lyrics stick out to me:</div><div><div><i>Does anybody have a map?</i></div><div><i>Anybody maybe happen to know how the hell to do this?</i></div><div><i>I don't know if you can tell</i></div><div><i>But this is me just pretending to know</i></div><div><i>So where's the map?</i></div><div><i>I need a clue</i></div><div><i>'Cause the scary truth is</i></div><div><i>I'm flying blind</i></div><div><i>And I'm making this up as I go</i></div></div><div><br></div><div>It is a scary truth to acknowledge I'm struggling and not really know how to fix it or where I'll end up. But I'm so lucky to have this time and I'm looking forward to some great trips I have planned, and skipping basically all of my adult responsibilities this summer.</div><div><br></div><div>As I will have a lot of "free time" this summer - feel free to share recommendations on:</div><div>- Podcasts I should listen to</div><div>- Shows/movies I should watch</div><div>- Day trips or fun places to visit in the DC area</div><div>- Restaurants I should try</div><div>- Your favorite complicated recipes I should attempt</div><div>- Books I should read (although I have plenty of those already)<br><div><br></div><div>Blogging is on the "optional task list" - so you may or may not see more of me in this space this summer. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. I would love to hear from you via text, phone, or email if you have time to catch-up.</div></div></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-74749084370022139182020-12-30T16:53:00.003-05:002020-12-30T16:53:23.410-05:00Carbs of 2020<p>The only New Year's resolution I stuck to in 2020 was baking a new bread recipe every month. </p><p>Yep, I'm doing this. I'm going to bore you with a list of all the new bread recipes I tried, and provide links to the recipes if you are interested. Here goes - they are in alphabetical order because (with the exception of the F-bread) they were all pretty delicious, if I do say so myself, so it's not worth ranking.</p><p>Challah Bread (recipe lost to history - there are a bunch out there via Google): Part of the fun of trying new recipes is also getting to try new techniques, like braiding the ropes of Challah together (I got better with loaf #2).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaCQOWFJnodiC7VaMyCh5Kt_bAM287COAdR0u5AeSGC0TmTxQ3NhLgy267aQISZ4xQ_369wJaa6wZD2Da9hl-9Bv_ORNmykflduIP6fmRWwcXVR72_-cCvE2nHjOOcXDGj3WUEHRRuEw/s4032/20200919_180609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaCQOWFJnodiC7VaMyCh5Kt_bAM287COAdR0u5AeSGC0TmTxQ3NhLgy267aQISZ4xQ_369wJaa6wZD2Da9hl-9Bv_ORNmykflduIP6fmRWwcXVR72_-cCvE2nHjOOcXDGj3WUEHRRuEw/s320/20200919_180609.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at these beauties!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><a href="https://joythebaker.com/2020/02/cheddar-scallion-english-muffin-bread/">Cheddar Scallion English Muffin Bread</a>: I am usually not a savory person, but this just hit the spot - it's really really good toasted, with great flavor. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP6gpFwl9WraXyfJPYJfYFWFIBN2jK528RKctN0-vPiOpu4pYWH8zJvCmExi_p6OkjYTKfC_eggtsIN-1Ir1Z9xcoKDIGTKiPAtN0Rlh9Ar_nxkfY_koWpNN4ukkRVNldQ_D_5YZejJ0/s4032/20200405_153051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP6gpFwl9WraXyfJPYJfYFWFIBN2jK528RKctN0-vPiOpu4pYWH8zJvCmExi_p6OkjYTKfC_eggtsIN-1Ir1Z9xcoKDIGTKiPAtN0Rlh9Ar_nxkfY_koWpNN4ukkRVNldQ_D_5YZejJ0/s320/20200405_153051.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheddar. Scallions. Toasted Bread. #isthisheaven</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Ciabatta (recipe lost to history): This bread was good, but I wasn't happy with how flat my loaves turned out. I did make a lot, so I had enough to share with some neighbors. Will need to work on this in 2021 - any volunteers for tasters?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKDzKZ986_npUi6-_-1kDHQ66HforbroVSlFRZNVMPGMXBdfUnoQ1cu30jhJh9HbwX7vF5zsDmi78NGR6nJ8bAXP39PC0YoCZ3Vdr3pIb9Bn8Jhzwa4_K1yb8uxZRa-jq-Sbf_3KJhhI/s4032/20200216_184316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKDzKZ986_npUi6-_-1kDHQ66HforbroVSlFRZNVMPGMXBdfUnoQ1cu30jhJh9HbwX7vF5zsDmi78NGR6nJ8bAXP39PC0YoCZ3Vdr3pIb9Bn8Jhzwa4_K1yb8uxZRa-jq-Sbf_3KJhhI/s320/20200216_184316.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't look great, but tasted okay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><a href="https://www.goodto.com/recipes/paul-hollywood-s-crusty-cob-loaf">Cobh Loaf</a>: An ode to Paul Hollywood's piercing blue eyes, I thought this was a pretty simple yet tasty recipe - the butter made it super soft and rich.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY3swkhH88koaanPB3gkN0kmdXcaWlaKH03FFC118H2Y-_niN6DnIvUdVCdF21P8MsriR-5BpB5NrLeRiCZJ9ZYfUwl88pMP7I1U71bdC2dypdE7YpLdQq8t6opdnkNlUfWpdcOt-6-M/s4032/20200126_190216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY3swkhH88koaanPB3gkN0kmdXcaWlaKH03FFC118H2Y-_niN6DnIvUdVCdF21P8MsriR-5BpB5NrLeRiCZJ9ZYfUwl88pMP7I1U71bdC2dypdE7YpLdQq8t6opdnkNlUfWpdcOt-6-M/s320/20200126_190216.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's Cob Loaf. Would I get a handshake? Probably not, but tasted alright to me.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/fresh_herb_fougasse_70351">Fougasse</a> (Fail!): being a huge fan of the "Great British Bakeoff," I decided to try my hand at one of the show's easier technical challenges: an herby bread called "Fougasse." It was, as they say, an epic fail. Way too flat, not enough flavor, and just looked and tasted bad. Not a keeper recipe, as it turns out. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAQoB_D8MnyAf0Ifd_VIQAwkiuhpjOgwKc3NRuxuyhLbJZ1VtpIfDuk35rOHMd4gcXXD45jRIFx2lVFbx1FoG2Fi9utTiyyhYg71THYrE_TkFvusqfIE3lE_M6vx7Fc7L_x62TcjCCiU/s4032/20200802_161749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAQoB_D8MnyAf0Ifd_VIQAwkiuhpjOgwKc3NRuxuyhLbJZ1VtpIfDuk35rOHMd4gcXXD45jRIFx2lVFbx1FoG2Fi9utTiyyhYg71THYrE_TkFvusqfIE3lE_M6vx7Fc7L_x62TcjCCiU/s320/20200802_161749.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fougasse Fail - didn't look or taste good. Further evidence I don't belong in the tent!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://thepracticalkitchen.com/easy-focaccia-bread-no-fuss-ligurian-focaccia/">Ligurian Focaccia</a>: Despite making this twice (once for my mom's birthday!), I managed to not get a picture of it. It has a lot of salt, but if you don't mind that (I don't) it's delicious!</p><p><a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/no-knead-oat-bread-recipe">No-Knead Oat Bread</a>: Just like people say they don't have favorite children, I probably don't have a favorite bread, but if there was one of these recipes that I could save from a burning building (or remake again and again), it would probably be this one. Very yummy.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WfudaxJsVGQ4s-WLVI5UHmWxdghk0gFgvFr_szW6NJXR6dkib5v8K6CzmxGZYjv6CvkHmAjF9hHh_D7b8tsLhyKKXhyphenhyphenQCBOVn6oLWNeBHrYvPQMHJU7CbzXbUPWXVnISPvlUjlxb6p0/s4032/20200531_232455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WfudaxJsVGQ4s-WLVI5UHmWxdghk0gFgvFr_szW6NJXR6dkib5v8K6CzmxGZYjv6CvkHmAjF9hHh_D7b8tsLhyKKXhyphenhyphenQCBOVn6oLWNeBHrYvPQMHJU7CbzXbUPWXVnISPvlUjlxb6p0/s320/20200531_232455.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love recipes that don't involve kneading. This is so good, I might have devoured this whole loaf. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11376-no-knead-bread">NY Times No-Knead Bread</a>: This is just so easy - the biggest ingredient it requires <br /><br />is time (essentially a whole day). It's a very very very simple recipe and technique, but yields some delicious bread.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcgwZMiHan4SvzhX5CxU5Oryq42KWdH9spLpqL-a7DF57NprpGl-wBgUaLAWbDiooRn4MNnzYJjnR2BiS8ETrvmexb2xNVbhkCtvAOPax9EWEgEKq92BpHbTwRR74PhMoHdDRAjzu9x8/s4032/20200315_202609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcgwZMiHan4SvzhX5CxU5Oryq42KWdH9spLpqL-a7DF57NprpGl-wBgUaLAWbDiooRn4MNnzYJjnR2BiS8ETrvmexb2xNVbhkCtvAOPax9EWEgEKq92BpHbTwRR74PhMoHdDRAjzu9x8/s320/20200315_202609.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Lazy, Yet Delicious. Loaf</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><a href="https://www.handletheheat.com/no-knead-rosemary-parmesan-skillet-bread/">Rosemary Parmesan Skillet Bread</a>: I didn't get a picture of this one, but it was yummy and flavorful, despite being relatively flat - didn't rise as much as it probably should have.</p><p><a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/swirled-garlic-herb-bread/#bo-recipe">Swirled Garlic Herb Bread</a>: Mine was definitely not as pretty as the picture (needed more herbs, I think) but it tasted great, which was no surprise given how much butter is involved!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0UzDbLKs6qnXDABTXzVvV0SeNFYEWJ1LbylRKhux4vUHi-hJA_6wYFl6CJDhZYW9YizbL-x38wZ7B0vog80bZl0oADCG8pXaEnM2K8CLxP_Q-xAp88Xci-KX-ZeFqFV1pJpLEd-C454/s4032/20201101_191800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0UzDbLKs6qnXDABTXzVvV0SeNFYEWJ1LbylRKhux4vUHi-hJA_6wYFl6CJDhZYW9YizbL-x38wZ7B0vog80bZl0oADCG8pXaEnM2K8CLxP_Q-xAp88Xci-KX-ZeFqFV1pJpLEd-C454/s320/20201101_191800.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swirled, herby, buttery - what's not to like?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><a href="https://bakerbynature.com/white-cheddar-bacon-and-apple-biscuits/">White Cheddar Bacon Apple Biscuits</a>: I pinned this recipe on Pinterest because I like all of these things individually, but wasn't sure if they would go well together, so I was intrigued. Well, they do go very well together, so you should definitely try this recipe!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItRou_2wrG2NVbBum2RzgWveq9qpxxxk-PEvmj9CPExC8GXvvuukJE4FFYjK8W0VGAyiytYbHuMiBYk97NW1RunOqv6jAm8tul9ayndfhwM7BPUYZLTvDxqB7QzJtWoUjDeDmZ57WNOU/s4032/20200719_112529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItRou_2wrG2NVbBum2RzgWveq9qpxxxk-PEvmj9CPExC8GXvvuukJE4FFYjK8W0VGAyiytYbHuMiBYk97NW1RunOqv6jAm8tul9ayndfhwM7BPUYZLTvDxqB7QzJtWoUjDeDmZ57WNOU/s320/20200719_112529.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A full sheet of these beauties.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgHdhmKb0NiLTG6n63HYKaZwl1aIHivbJpR_EIUs32i1plkDcILHN7o2Vn4HYluE4yf_v-SkrxKuFho-PIQIaXaY8cPYKjLYdqS9RzeT4a_eNXc_VpYRJ0qh3K7L97GsQSNO2SoI2TPw/s4032/20200719_112538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgHdhmKb0NiLTG6n63HYKaZwl1aIHivbJpR_EIUs32i1plkDcILHN7o2Vn4HYluE4yf_v-SkrxKuFho-PIQIaXaY8cPYKjLYdqS9RzeT4a_eNXc_VpYRJ0qh3K7L97GsQSNO2SoI2TPw/s320/20200719_112538.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up Close and Personal with One of Our Delicious Friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>For my final recipe of the year, I'm trying my hand at a Nutella babka for my family's New Year's Eve party tomorrow. Here's hoping it turns out well!</p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-83742249284812518462020-12-30T16:03:00.000-05:002020-12-30T16:03:16.372-05:0020 Good Things in 2020<p>As Washington Post humor columnist <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/23/various-authors-describe-2020/">Alexa Petri (channeling Charles Dickens) described 2020</a>: "It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times. It was the season of darkness. It was the season of darkness. It was the winter of despair. It was the winter of despair." </p><p>But there have been some good bits too. So, here is my annual wrap up post (and sorry for not blogging more this year...it's been dispiriting to say the least).</p><p>20. Visiting my company's (brand new) training facility in Florida in January. My last plane flight was to Florida to teach training to our company's new hires. It was fun to be one of the first people to see our new training facility (which has now been shut down longer than it's been open - impeccable timing!).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovQRYYT7kTY73UGJjw4W2qtsXT9hMUwT7xrsjskw8R0PlIv40IXlHMwZsAHQ5Bm6rr04-Dgl3xUJ4BT_ZuDMNGAKWl8k_8MmU27c7UNZdFv0en1h1XHR_DIzuaGnil6j46zjoSjTMJLE/s831/Flying+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovQRYYT7kTY73UGJjw4W2qtsXT9hMUwT7xrsjskw8R0PlIv40IXlHMwZsAHQ5Bm6rr04-Dgl3xUJ4BT_ZuDMNGAKWl8k_8MmU27c7UNZdFv0en1h1XHR_DIzuaGnil6j46zjoSjTMJLE/s320/Flying+Home.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying home to National Airport has the BEST views.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />19. Empanadas Cookbook Club! Also before the shutdown, in January, I had my Cookbook Club friends over and we made (what seemed like) a bajillion empanadas. We even had some dessert chocolate/dulce de leche ones. So good and so fun! I miss having people over and cooking for them.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EVeUI9a7mpvGrLIgsFma8HluvsuPm2Pnff3gS_PyZCZTG21a_teXJZyBLjiyRcwc62bnw_B0YTYjrm_rpMNkELTFLqR90Dt87wORPuBgSZLPBOpiuuRL4-wyi-Nuz6mkMXjXLK35U6w/s1221/Cookbook+Club+Empanadas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EVeUI9a7mpvGrLIgsFma8HluvsuPm2Pnff3gS_PyZCZTG21a_teXJZyBLjiyRcwc62bnw_B0YTYjrm_rpMNkELTFLqR90Dt87wORPuBgSZLPBOpiuuRL4-wyi-Nuz6mkMXjXLK35U6w/s320/Cookbook+Club+Empanadas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empanadas - yum!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>18. (Into) The Woods! I've never been so grateful for the woods/park behind my house as I was this year. Lots of long dog walks and chances to enjoy the seasons changing.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEpKooXaQm_qzdWAjwWCy1P6BTZTYD4hHxR230TPKD6CGC8mqXGs4ptxgAoDQyRCMICLx_i39iu8x_4pnRqKx6La5wOOrAC_Vo1-CkBE6UKiPExJvme0jME3a5w8y6DbOCinx0aj8m8o/s1107/Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEpKooXaQm_qzdWAjwWCy1P6BTZTYD4hHxR230TPKD6CGC8mqXGs4ptxgAoDQyRCMICLx_i39iu8x_4pnRqKx6La5wOOrAC_Vo1-CkBE6UKiPExJvme0jME3a5w8y6DbOCinx0aj8m8o/s320/Woods.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Woods Are Like a Beautiful Cathedral. I Love Trees!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>17. Working from home/being gainfully employed - so many people have lost their jobs during this time, I am seriously lucky that I got to work from home. While I missed interacting with real people, I was grateful to be able to cut down my commute time, save gas money, and most of all, just still be employed.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi623VogFoLYEYtCSDmz_1nlM5k36FFCM7QSkWvRwKXEKCdDdZdF9dWmE68xOgR0uoqpYSFkp0y9JuyKfUj3gvp8EVkgFRzcNgzEZgdpJctqhBjMZT2X36fJo7ZV-ndqcg6MoBOFBVL0/s1107/Working+From+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi623VogFoLYEYtCSDmz_1nlM5k36FFCM7QSkWvRwKXEKCdDdZdF9dWmE68xOgR0uoqpYSFkp0y9JuyKfUj3gvp8EVkgFRzcNgzEZgdpJctqhBjMZT2X36fJo7ZV-ndqcg6MoBOFBVL0/s320/Working+From+Home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "Work From Home" Setup. Luckily I bought a new desk in January!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PTSBwCncipOOON86dOqFDDuvete0-EeDywxp02jsF8mwV-ZmFUjtf2bw06WWSurw-zNCjnVA2FmpEPYYyO7SqnbHV32h8Nhcjf6aZqf6soG2VrFfqtFN9C7KD3E0_2efya1bwhO1wJY/s831/Daisy+Interruptus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PTSBwCncipOOON86dOqFDDuvete0-EeDywxp02jsF8mwV-ZmFUjtf2bw06WWSurw-zNCjnVA2FmpEPYYyO7SqnbHV32h8Nhcjf6aZqf6soG2VrFfqtFN9C7KD3E0_2efya1bwhO1wJY/s320/Daisy+Interruptus.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy likes to interrupt important work calls for playtime. Which is why she is banished to the kitchen while I work upstairs.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>16. MLK Service at National Cathedral in DC. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and I'm so glad my mom and I did it in January before the shutdown. Also late this year my company announced we'll get MLK day as a paid holiday starting in 2021, hooray!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeTJgCABf8FWIBMjNcYt-GNkWUCaeMA27-Qhvmh2F29b6NZnckgvpL7APLuJu5042OvYdbdXbc2gEfbrQmK2g8Y5GfmYJ_2yhHn2vGG_VByAb8nHpw0YW2TwQzd4-hRBMOOODQX8Dd00/s831/MLK+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeTJgCABf8FWIBMjNcYt-GNkWUCaeMA27-Qhvmh2F29b6NZnckgvpL7APLuJu5042OvYdbdXbc2gEfbrQmK2g8Y5GfmYJ_2yhHn2vGG_VByAb8nHpw0YW2TwQzd4-hRBMOOODQX8Dd00/s320/MLK+Day.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating MLK at National Cathedral in DC</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>15. Temple trip to Philadelphia. One of the last "normal" things I got to do before the pandemic was travel with a few friends to the Philadelphia temple in early 2020. I debated whether or not I would go, because it was a busy time at work and it's a long drive, but in retrospect I am very glad I did - great company and a peaceful place to ponder. I have missed the temple during the pandemic.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEq6Mdfo2ztp8GTzbWFIp3-9Ai6k8CnvdXj3TGVPN_P-vmAb4hlsv5J45U_d6-GlFuCiANnMYf26TKKrWZiU6kuyKTx1LZ_AHng3iFCKg-GX4YpFsyYvq0UJixPoElPaaRo6mjzmvYWo/s831/Philly+Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEq6Mdfo2ztp8GTzbWFIp3-9Ai6k8CnvdXj3TGVPN_P-vmAb4hlsv5J45U_d6-GlFuCiANnMYf26TKKrWZiU6kuyKTx1LZ_AHng3iFCKg-GX4YpFsyYvq0UJixPoElPaaRo6mjzmvYWo/s320/Philly+Temple.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peace. Look forward to returning soon.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>14. Trying out new recipes. With more time at home, it was fun to experiment and try new dishes. This <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/italian-sausage-and-kalamata-olive-deep-dish-skillet-pizza/17323/">sausage pizza</a> from the Washington Post has gotten made a few times (minus the olives, because olives are gross).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpH5CLz2aBEIQcYGH-iMPGxcfHfLE18hPyDJfl4t1mitXVuBLOalHaoZMR6ZROXL1Hk5Buma_elXkZm-Lso0t07YznVS7vVDdnpjMlVWc4aVGjrS6Nboyud3sJjepTOUJ_PMWbPkSPTM/s916/Sausage+Pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="687" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpH5CLz2aBEIQcYGH-iMPGxcfHfLE18hPyDJfl4t1mitXVuBLOalHaoZMR6ZROXL1Hk5Buma_elXkZm-Lso0t07YznVS7vVDdnpjMlVWc4aVGjrS6Nboyud3sJjepTOUJ_PMWbPkSPTM/s320/Sausage+Pizza.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>13. Photo contests. I am rather proud of myself for creating two virtual photo contests with friends and family this year - we even had prizes. It was a fun way to share what we were experiencing during this crazy time, even if we couldn't gather in person.</p><p>12. Somewhat Celebrating the Suffrage Centennial. Most of the celebration was virtual, but I did go down and see all the buildings in DC lit up with "suffrage colors" for the anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment. Also got to attend some super interesting lectures and talks online commemorating the event, and read (or at least start to read) some great books about the persons involved. Very grateful to live in a free country where I have the ability to vote (see item #3 below).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAbB8imTo9FUCLN6gWHKsGF-MBMHJYzpNdHbzKqpf4Akdfz_ZA6B-lubJy65dLSGL-hywlu7TLsIMtkoHD2Se2xlftbH5skguqjw-hBRDFsh7qOdwxy8W3zzE4U1C_G7haHJXXfmc3uI/s1107/Suffrage+Centennial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAbB8imTo9FUCLN6gWHKsGF-MBMHJYzpNdHbzKqpf4Akdfz_ZA6B-lubJy65dLSGL-hywlu7TLsIMtkoHD2Se2xlftbH5skguqjw-hBRDFsh7qOdwxy8W3zzE4U1C_G7haHJXXfmc3uI/s320/Suffrage+Centennial.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Archives Building</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>11. Christmas Cookie "Virtual" cookie exchange. I organized a virtual cookie exchange - people swapped recipes and for those friends who lived nearby I did a "dough delivery" service where people could swap doughs. Then we had a virtual baking event and played some Christmas games. I'm grateful for those friends who have participated in the activities I've organized and for those activities they have organized!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrM6_XhDyooPaKJ11GpKiqDsxywwFgDLlXVYAunMLhXGaMXl3c4dbyqil08ISojCwMYesyloZoGcMuE3q70wIuGrBeftfbu4D_ZwgOsym8m_4YYWeuY1B03s18hjNzZboryCtZ-izoE4/s831/Cookie+Swap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrM6_XhDyooPaKJ11GpKiqDsxywwFgDLlXVYAunMLhXGaMXl3c4dbyqil08ISojCwMYesyloZoGcMuE3q70wIuGrBeftfbu4D_ZwgOsym8m_4YYWeuY1B03s18hjNzZboryCtZ-izoE4/s320/Cookie+Swap.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate crinkles, nutella chocolate chip swirls, peppermint sugar, pecan snowballs, and pumpkin whoopie pies! Get in my belly!</td></tr></tbody></table>10. Increasing my "app-itude" - so grateful for the technology that has gotten us through this. Thank you Zoom, Google Meet, Netflix Party, YouTube "Watch2gether" parties, video calls, and so many other things that have made this bearable.</p><p>9. Bread baking. One of my 2020 New Year's resolutions was to try one new bread recipe per month. It's one of the few resolutions I've kept, even with the yeast shortages this year because of the pandemic. I won't insert pictures of them all here, but three of my favorites were the <a href="https://joythebaker.com/2020/02/cheddar-scallion-english-muffin-bread/">cheddar scallion loaf</a>, <a href="https://bakerbynature.com/white-cheddar-bacon-and-apple-biscuits/">apple bacon cheddar biscuits</a>, and <a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/no-knead-oat-bread-recipe">no-knead oatmeal bread</a> (recipes included at links).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivewkNQi4efN57LMYQMwUD8PbFX9wR27G58lyZVzKlZSUgiY9ElpTrvfl2_uCztkQ7rtlRh-8sFnDPU1i45ihiywFfE5okTy4merk_5SWvZjnOuYR4Zsq0cwoOmRMBV8ajx-nCN_w4OyI/s1107/Bread_Oatmeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivewkNQi4efN57LMYQMwUD8PbFX9wR27G58lyZVzKlZSUgiY9ElpTrvfl2_uCztkQ7rtlRh-8sFnDPU1i45ihiywFfE5okTy4merk_5SWvZjnOuYR4Zsq0cwoOmRMBV8ajx-nCN_w4OyI/s320/Bread_Oatmeal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Arthur's No-Knead Oatmeal Bread was SOOOO good.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>8. Discovering cool places close to home, like the Freedman's Cemetery in Alexandria, VA; Hillwood Museum and Gardens and Kenniworth Lotus Gardens in DC; and Harper's Ferry/Antietam/Gettysburg. There were plenty of opportunities to do "day trips" to cool outdoor locations that I normally wouldn't explore because I would be traveling farther away.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoXw8H-JrMBhmtgV1WBPAD0zN8vcffNXoH5z2UG-BsgqIy7xIgciMLIzmpsBFZTfvX05Wpp7G-pEGDPFjh7FZ0i4PCfD98N-3946h4sbXp1dxTNteBF02zZ6dPdjY0nDQPuvbv7STpVo/s1107/Sunflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoXw8H-JrMBhmtgV1WBPAD0zN8vcffNXoH5z2UG-BsgqIy7xIgciMLIzmpsBFZTfvX05Wpp7G-pEGDPFjh7FZ0i4PCfD98N-3946h4sbXp1dxTNteBF02zZ6dPdjY0nDQPuvbv7STpVo/s320/Sunflowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frolicked in a field of sunflowers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69kaea7fv5KaNm677DYaaegUyOZGyiQL0q5An8SE6GQy-ieilXW7QN9P4YtFY2YI6Uxkk9GGr1kQru0gqEbBGUInzjGnrb8fOy3LUIi4IddX6WIZwVac4Y6xJZypr2jfXz_saLvs5Bgo/s1107/Hillwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69kaea7fv5KaNm677DYaaegUyOZGyiQL0q5An8SE6GQy-ieilXW7QN9P4YtFY2YI6Uxkk9GGr1kQru0gqEbBGUInzjGnrb8fOy3LUIi4IddX6WIZwVac4Y6xJZypr2jfXz_saLvs5Bgo/s320/Hillwood.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visited Hillwood Estate/Gardens with Friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfpyyzVcB0p7PeeJ5X0lUcUa77tQqJk4uz3XRTCSCqNKNQ1uelxDp7irNxC3QzJRTzy4tEVfsBScuhDLSbcCn_n_Er_DwwEiWgor61RWNl0LK_H4Vicmqr3LL7OnM62l1vJDeldchdFo/s831/Freedmans+Cemetary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfpyyzVcB0p7PeeJ5X0lUcUa77tQqJk4uz3XRTCSCqNKNQ1uelxDp7irNxC3QzJRTzy4tEVfsBScuhDLSbcCn_n_Er_DwwEiWgor61RWNl0LK_H4Vicmqr3LL7OnM62l1vJDeldchdFo/s320/Freedmans+Cemetary.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freedmens' Cemetery in Alexandria on a beautiful day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>7. Reading a whole bunch of books! As a member of (ostensibly) 4 book clubs, I had lots of opportunities and time for free reading this year. According to Goodreads, I read over 16,000 pages and I'm hoping to hit 50 titles by the end of the year (which is about twice what I read in a normal year). Maybe I'll do a separate post rating all the books, but the "fun" highlight was re-reading the *all* the Miss Marple novels this year.</p><p>6. Serving in the church. This year I've gotten to work with the young women at church ages 12-13. They are a really fun bunch! We've done lots of virtual activities (Zoom pictionary, Virtual coloring event, sharing our favorite YouTube clips, "Among Us" game night, and more), a socially distanced movie night, and an outdoor Christmas MadLibs game. With a new church responsibility coming my way in the new year, I appreciate having this opportunity to get to know them. They are going to do amazing and wonderful things.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TGUJNUK5J1qNCJ8ZlmOufc7E8gSik38MUYG3YB45PzfG-ArCNSqLTjHJp6OYnJCXNxF9NcSQLCTcyArEbUOPxI1mH-VFaiS6MANeC2VcbXcKe7HCUtcPFHOt-ndwRfV5noJ_umknEiQ/s1107/Outdoor+Movie+Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TGUJNUK5J1qNCJ8ZlmOufc7E8gSik38MUYG3YB45PzfG-ArCNSqLTjHJp6OYnJCXNxF9NcSQLCTcyArEbUOPxI1mH-VFaiS6MANeC2VcbXcKe7HCUtcPFHOt-ndwRfV5noJ_umknEiQ/s320/Outdoor+Movie+Night.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor (socially distant) movie night at the church!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzKCNENSie8wKz0_dS1vpSbiYvHGKUPGsmWKg6_-HT-Jyy1ZXhEBNDdzOm622dyToooWywrp9DskXTJBRRHM7DcIpuPskVZ9GboNU1gtWF2cJcCnEGN-9GU-YganSBsrm94CRLY9QIlA/s831/Mug+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzKCNENSie8wKz0_dS1vpSbiYvHGKUPGsmWKg6_-HT-Jyy1ZXhEBNDdzOm622dyToooWywrp9DskXTJBRRHM7DcIpuPskVZ9GboNU1gtWF2cJcCnEGN-9GU-YganSBsrm94CRLY9QIlA/s320/Mug+Cake.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For one of our virtual activities, we dropped off mug cakes for everyone so we could make and eat our treats "together."</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>5. Friend get togethers. We've done socially distanced backyard chats, park birthday parties, July 4th BBQs, ice cream/cookie "dates," and a memorable goodbye party at Iwo Jima - all socially distant/masked. I am grateful for good friends.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvinBGEc3cMX-_RFgral35sB07DqwnIlumBPR7RsVDMUCGc4RJvjRjLJBCevjV3UbOeBW7BLwWGKoorcC5xQX3OPh1wwlvTjwhl1XgZIXjzYFTpEJWmCgBazgI99brByCpQrdWY1LI0c/s831/Blueberry+Raspberry+Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvinBGEc3cMX-_RFgral35sB07DqwnIlumBPR7RsVDMUCGc4RJvjRjLJBCevjV3UbOeBW7BLwWGKoorcC5xQX3OPh1wwlvTjwhl1XgZIXjzYFTpEJWmCgBazgI99brByCpQrdWY1LI0c/s320/Blueberry+Raspberry+Bars.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Blueberry Raspberry Bars for our 4th of July Socially Distant Backyard BBQ</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>4. Lots (and lots) of doggie snuggles. Still very grateful to have a dog, and that she has kindly become a more of a cuddle bug this year for my sake.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3u2aPVXD9N8BdzoG2cqhbR5IIhHJTtW445PbbBfTEGKmNs-7E-_ZGt_QvIr8TBxv2qBk8p1hW7PhHk3XhXE2WP1lvkdyU1nur4fWjGFQGzvu9Prx6V3AKvoGOd6Dfquu5q9lVv6p-_Y/s4032/20201229_094244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3u2aPVXD9N8BdzoG2cqhbR5IIhHJTtW445PbbBfTEGKmNs-7E-_ZGt_QvIr8TBxv2qBk8p1hW7PhHk3XhXE2WP1lvkdyU1nur4fWjGFQGzvu9Prx6V3AKvoGOd6Dfquu5q9lVv6p-_Y/s320/20201229_094244.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking mighty fine after her recent haircut!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>3. Biden won the election!!!! Seriously, looking forward to having a non-crazy man as president. This year I also got to serve as an election worker, which was an interesting experience (not sure if I want to do it again, but it was interesting!).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsSHsspcw1otI9gdivOlTrj7knC4ldJfnOjLHrggRvbAR-lYfI1YuPeUzHXZJANHf_DDy160p8eqCsH6HiYjEfUKE8AHy1hXwdkLXRiRaMPkBpQc1m_b1KHaXVwhylBAbQuok68k6MYU/s958/ByeDon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="958" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsSHsspcw1otI9gdivOlTrj7knC4ldJfnOjLHrggRvbAR-lYfI1YuPeUzHXZJANHf_DDy160p8eqCsH6HiYjEfUKE8AHy1hXwdkLXRiRaMPkBpQc1m_b1KHaXVwhylBAbQuok68k6MYU/s320/ByeDon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My homemade "Bye Don" sign for October 2020.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R3TW35X-pFpoKfYPA1wW4mSDwTIGdIwdRDPDLXx2cun5R0a7GSKcMFgrJ0AVGdfES-7gFiUOl4-7-lyQaouAaZAJtfNnUhyqO7Q3UARjM-1EUrL_BtQXRAN4o0uVGHuUS1aZRyB33t4/s1434/Biden+Elected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R3TW35X-pFpoKfYPA1wW4mSDwTIGdIwdRDPDLXx2cun5R0a7GSKcMFgrJ0AVGdfES-7gFiUOl4-7-lyQaouAaZAJtfNnUhyqO7Q3UARjM-1EUrL_BtQXRAN4o0uVGHuUS1aZRyB33t4/s320/Biden+Elected.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was working on the Saturday they called the election, but I did switch on Fox News to watch them call it for Biden, it felt good.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>2. Week-long getaway to Asheville, North Carolina with my parents. Travel opportunities were very limited, and social interaction was too, so it was nice to get away with my dear parents (and two dogs - theirs and mine) for some time in the woods of North Carolina.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2vVkzyVaFnduLp7pkzHBnl1RjZ87Xn7mTLTMHbZte9N0Pi_90m6U2cwwjlBiHppl7ywvNiZMJ25bHgtG7qC7H6CSZ4C3tFoKXSoCYmlILV6e1mjN8PlS8EmX2Yb5lWuHdGYE7tXuXcY/s1434/Hiking+NC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2vVkzyVaFnduLp7pkzHBnl1RjZ87Xn7mTLTMHbZte9N0Pi_90m6U2cwwjlBiHppl7ywvNiZMJ25bHgtG7qC7H6CSZ4C3tFoKXSoCYmlILV6e1mjN8PlS8EmX2Yb5lWuHdGYE7tXuXcY/s320/Hiking+NC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking to Crabtree Falls near Asheville, NC.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>1. VACCINE IS ON ITS WAY! So grateful for the scientists who have made multiple vaccines happen in a very fast way. Yay, science! The best news about this year is that it's almost over, and that next year will hopefully bring an end to the pandemic, lockdowns, and mass deaths.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sZM5_vfyiS5D756wXbXAF13ZveS_1nENvQ6iq1PVFfGt24hV1MbsCIv63bDI5Md6HoQ8m0EgMDHIKgqK0u4oonZk5kEMbhtN8MFe2shOM-nl7wX_5QmmOlRFyIektfuw6Fz3nuKUE-0/s831/Vaccine+On+The+Way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sZM5_vfyiS5D756wXbXAF13ZveS_1nENvQ6iq1PVFfGt24hV1MbsCIv63bDI5Md6HoQ8m0EgMDHIKgqK0u4oonZk5kEMbhtN8MFe2shOM-nl7wX_5QmmOlRFyIektfuw6Fz3nuKUE-0/s320/Vaccine+On+The+Way.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are several trees in my neighborhood which have "faces" all year round - this year someone cheekily decorated one of them with a mask. But don't worry, Mr. Tree, the vaccine will soon be here!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I hope you managed to find some joy in 2020 - wishing you a very happy 2021 with more of the people and places you love!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOS2lfpwSO3omZ3XQ_kGll-7h7RPdI_X_djD0Y9HxCsQCS09TNznIb2Ejwb4jw_63MUouQeItf19qX_RxjWBWxqSwz1pAgbE5yaCcUAvw0WcdtPScc_850EkW8V_Z586LGRJfAoP6IZo/s1107/2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOS2lfpwSO3omZ3XQ_kGll-7h7RPdI_X_djD0Y9HxCsQCS09TNznIb2Ejwb4jw_63MUouQeItf19qX_RxjWBWxqSwz1pAgbE5yaCcUAvw0WcdtPScc_850EkW8V_Z586LGRJfAoP6IZo/s320/2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's Eve last year - it only looks like I'm giving 2020 the "finger" but if I had known what was ahead, I might have given this year the finger in reality.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-1021099969665910402020-06-20T10:59:00.002-04:002020-06-20T10:59:36.639-04:00What Colonel Jessup Taught Me About Empathy and Race Relations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Experience #1: Growing up Mormon, many of my friends were (and still are) political conservatives. One friend in particular, let's call him Jay, is very conservative. In high school, I liked to push Jay's buttons by imagining hypothetical scenarios that would test Jay's theories of politics. I don't remember what we were discussing (it could have been any number of issues), but one day I went too far. I *do* remember that the hypothetical scenario I concocted was completely beyond Jay's experience, and he replied "there are no *actual* people like that" (to be fair, I was given to dramatics so he may have been right, given that I don't remember the particulars). However, at the time, I remember thinking that this was a failure of empathy on his part - he literally could not imagine someone in the circumstances I described.<br />
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Experience #2: Recently, I was discussing President Trump's decision to hold a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Juneteenth in the wake of mass protests on racial justice topics with a friend. We'll call this friend Steve. I was explaining that this was a very insensitive date and place to hold a rally given current events and the history of Tulsa (see <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/tulsa-race-massacre">here</a> or listen to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/cz/podcast/tulsa-race-massacre-the-promised-land-1/id1313596069?i=1000440022243&fbclid=IwAR3ONoIwlMCYlfsFVLVSyn_o6l_cVBUKSwNz30NR-62CjJtFoOWfAEnEzTw">this podcast</a> if you don't know what I'm talking about). Steve, an intelligent and well-read conservative who was aware of the history, responded with something like "I understand why African Americans are upset, I would be too!" I was momentarily blindsided - he could see their feelings as rational, without feeling the least need to identify with them in their quest to get the rally cancelled (I should note that the President has since moved the rally to the day <b>after </b>Juneteenth).<br />
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<b>What ties these experiences together?</b><br />
A couple of my friends have posted things about supporting police in the wake of large scale protests against police violence following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. I have seen <a href="https://www.lawofficer.com/america-we-are-leaving/">this op-ed "America, We Are Leaving,"</a> by a police officer, floating around social media and I wanted to address it head on, because I feel it represents the same failure of empathy as my stories about my friends Jay and Steve. It also represents those who often respond to "Black Lives Matter" with a discussion that "Blue Lives Matter." Reading through the op-ed, I would describe it as having strong "Colonel Jessup" energy (stay with me here!).<br />
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Colonel Jessup, of course, is a fictional character in the Aaron Sorkin drama "A Few Good Men." In the movie version, (which features peak Tom Cruise) Jack Nicholson plays Jessup, a commander at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Jessup is arrogant and high handed. An enlisted man under Jessup's command, Private William Santiago, has died in mysterious circumstances, and two marines are charged with his murder. Tom Cruise is the marines' defense attorney, Kaffee, and sets out to convince the jury that Colonel Jessup ordered a "Code Red" to torture Santiago for being a snitch, thus absolving the marines of murder because they were just following orders.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9FnO3igOkOk" width="560"></iframe><br />
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In a classic legal courtroom confrontation scene, Kaffee confronts Jessup and draws him out. Jessup eventually admits that he ordered the Code Red, but not before he provides a totally morally abhorrent rationale for strongmen with guns keeping us safe. At one point Jessup says "You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want <b>me</b> on that wall. You need <b>me</b> on that wall....I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it!" Jessup is <b>incensed </b>that Kaffee (or anyone) would dare to question the manner in which Jessup operates - he claims that we need strongmen without morals to protect us from worse threats.<br />
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The police officer op-ed linked above has that same attitude as Colonel Jessup - "how dare someone question the police, we are providing your freedom and you should thank us and go on your way." While this op-ed may be extreme, this op-ed brings forth some dangerous ideas, for several reasons:<br />
1) The police are employed by the people. They should be answerable and accountable for their actions. The fact that this officer is mad that citizens are calling bad police officers to account means that he is prioritizing his comfort and view of himself and fellow officers as "good people" over the very real suffering of the citizens he is sworn to protect.<br />
2) His attitude towards those he arrests seems to be "they deserve this, they brought this on themselves because they are criminals." He remarks that those he arrests have a bad attitude about being arrested (yeah, I would too!). In America, you are innocent until proven guilty, even after you are arrested. One of the things that makes America truly exceptional is that everyone deserves respect and due process of law (it's one of the things our country was literally founded on!). He may not like this, but this officer is required to treat everyone fairly - our constitution and bill of rights gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and rights to fair trial and fair treatment by law enforcement authorities rather than presuming they are guilty because they were arrested.<br />
3) He complains that police "used to be believed" and now have to produce video evidence to support their assertions. Well, there are several cases that might have led to reduced police credibility, including, but not limited to: (a) the case of Walter Scott, who was shot by a police officer who claimed he felt "threatened" by Scott even though video evidence surfaced that showed Scott was fleeing the scene and the officer shot Scott in the back; (b) the case of George Floyd, where one police officer sat on a citizen's neck for nine minutes, and three other police officers watched and did nothing to stop it (and the Minneapolis police department initially claimed Floyd was resisting arrest); (c) numerous videos during the current protests which show police officers initiating violence against peaceful protesters. All of these incidents (and more) have reduced credibility of police and made it harder for us to trust them when they tell us their version of events. Trust has to be earned.<br />
4) The author claims that he has never seen anyone treated differently by cops because of their race. Well, unfortunately, <a href="https://news.stanford.edu/2017/06/05/cops-speak-less-respectfully-black-community-members/">study</a> after <a href="mailto:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0858-1">study</a> after <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3146057">study</a> after <a href="https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20171114_Demographics.pdf">study</a> has confirmed that just isn't true. Black people are more likely to be arrested, more likely to receive longer sentences for the same crime as a white person, and yes, more likely to be shot by cops (even when unarmed). There is systemic racism present in our justice system, and if this officer is unwilling to acknowledge that, then he isn't listening to the Black friends he claims to have.<br />
5) One line of the op-ed claims we live in the "...most violent society we've ever seen." However, violent crime has actually <b>declined</b> since the 1990s crime wave. In fact, from 1993 to 2018, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/17/facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/">violent crime decreased by either 51% or 71%</a> (depending on which database we're using). This perception that we are living a violent society all too often leads us to endorse heavy-handed police tactics against a society that is actually becoming <b>less</b> violent overall. This is endorsed when we emphasize killings of police and point out how dangerous their job is, as if that somehow justifies cops murdering unarmed people. In fact, statistics show that <a href="https://danwang.co/statistics-on-police-fatalities/">it's safer to be a cop now than at any point over the last 50 years</a>. Cops don't even make the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/the-10-most-dangerous-jobs-in-america-according-to-bls-data.html">Top 10 list of most dangerous occupations in the U.S.</a><br />
<br />
I could go on (this article gets me pretty worked up and I've been thinking about it way too much this week), but I'm going to stop here. We (and I'm speaking about "we" the white people here) need to be able to empathize with Black people - until we identify with Black people as much as we identify with cops, and see Black people as full human beings, we are not going to be able to make the difficult changes that need to be made in our society. We need to be just as mad about racism as Black people, even if it doesn't personally affect us. We need to be able to imagine and understand what it is like to be a Black person in America. I'll close with this TedTalk about "How to Be Black" in America. We white people need to feel this experience, and understand it.<br />
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-37178628369404643632020-05-17T12:21:00.003-04:002020-05-17T12:21:54.735-04:00On "Not Wanting to Be Bishop"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the book clubs I'm in recently read the book "The Priesthood Power of Women: In The Temple, Church, and Family" by Barbara Gardner, a BYU professor. During our (Zoom) book club meeting, we discussed whether we think women would ever hold the priesthood. One of the women made the comment "I don't want to be Bishop." It's a comment I've heard many times from female members of the Church.<br />
<br />
Well, ANY member of the church, male or female, who *wants* to be a Bishop probably shouldn't be. Wanting power is pretty antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ, in my opinion - leadership is about service, not seeking for a particular office or calling.<br />
<br />
As someone who personally believes that women will someday hold the priesthood, I really want to engage with this "I don't want to be Bishop" sentiment. Wanting women to have the priesthood isn't about "taking away" something from men. It's not about a power grab where I want women to have control over others' lives. It's about wanting women to have ability to grow spiritually and exercise all their spiritual gifts.<br />
<br />
It's not about ME wanting to be Bishop (I've had administrative callings enough to know I'd be a terrible Bishop) - it's about looking at women who are phenomenal Relief Society presidents and YW Presidents and Sunday School teachers, and saying THEY should be bishops. Wards would be blessed by women serving in priesthood roles.<br />
<br />
Saying "I don't want to be Bishop" I think fails to engage in the fundamental questions: if God loves men and women equally (and I hope/pray that most Church members agree that He does), why do we have a leadership structure that relies heavily on male members of the church? Aren't we missing the wisdom and experiences of many of our members by having a gender-specific priesthood? If the goal is for men and women to achieve exaltation and become like God, aren't women going to exercise the power of God (i.e. the priesthood)?<br />
<br />
That actually leads back to my main beef with Gardner's book. While it had some good insights, I think fundamentally the book an exercise in the mental gymnastics required to reconcile an unequal power structure with equality amongst the sexes. Essentially it felt to me like we are trying to come up with a justification for a system rather than engaging with the fact that the system is unequal and asking God if that's really what he wants. Does God really not want women to be Bishops? If so, why?<br />
<br />
Anyway, it's been on my mind and thought I'd get this down while I was thinking about it.</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-53199953536438542822020-04-05T09:26:00.000-04:002020-04-05T09:26:59.534-04:00Alone But Not Lonely<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, it's day 3,867 of our quarantine due to Coronavirus (or it only feels like it!). I don't know if I'm going to be publishing this post, but being alone with my thoughts means that I need to write down what I am thinking about, at least.<br />
<br />
There was a moment in the most recent Little Women adaptation that hit me right in the feels. Jo March refuses to marry Laurie, her best friend of many years. After traveling to New York from her Massachusetts home, and then returning and losing her sister Beth (it's not a spoiler alert if the book has been out for 150+ years, right?), Jo is reconsidering. Should she marry Laurie? He's a good man and a good friend. In a scene with her mother, Jo talks about knowing that she doesn't "need" a man, but she's still just so lonely.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gQ-she8Xneo" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
I do not know if I am more or less selfish than the average person, but I do know that I think about myself and my own concerns a fair amount. As I've <a href="https://mollymormondemocrat.blogspot.com/2014/10/of-fish-and-bicycles.html?m=0">previously blogged</a>, I do know what it's like to feel lonely and want to be loved, which is why I identified with this scene so much. I'm also someone who spends a fair bit of time wallowing, rather than doing anything about it. I do want to be loved, and sometimes I ache for it. In the immortal words of SmashMouth, sometimes I really wish that someone "loved me for me," and not because they were "required to" by already being related to me. That sentiment betrays my privilege - I am super lucky and blessed to have a very loving set of parents, siblings, and in-laws who care about me.<br />
<br />
Of course, the way I deal with these feelings is to ignore them and not talk to anyone about it (super healthy, yes, I know). Post-traditional singles ward, I spent some time in a "mid-singles" ward for singles older than 31, but right now I am in a "family" ward full of people who are mostly in different life circumstances than I am. This doesn't always bother me, but sometimes I feel my "outlier" status.<br />
<br />
It was a sucker punch to the gut last week when I received an email message from my Stake President that they were advising that no one take the sacrament to people outside their home for the next few weeks. I know it wasn't meant this way, but it felt like a flashing red sign that I don't "belong" in the church. It made me feel like I wasn't important or necessary to the church's functions, and it didn't matter if I couldn't have the sacrament. Obviously the majority of people in our stake live with someone who can bless the sacrament for them, and I'm glad that's the case. I also understand the reasoning behind the request - I don't want to endanger anyone and give them Coronavirus. Ironically, I had decided that I would not ask my ministering brothers to come that week, because they had come last week, but I was still upset about the mandate.<br />
<br />
When I'm at my most bitter, moments like that make me question whether I'll show up to Heaven only to find a "Married People Only" sign (of course, there are plenty of other reasons I wouldn't make it to heaven, ha ha). Our church is devoted to marriage and kids, and it makes me feel less than others sometimes. Even though I believe it isn't deliberate or intentional, I can't help feeling so alone because of this.<br />
<br />
As a single person who lives by herself, I do spend a lot of time alone normally, but Coronavirus obviously means that is multiplied by a factor of 1,000. Now that I'm working from home full time, I can go days without talking face to face with another person (other than brief hellos from fellow dog walking neighbors). Because of that, I've been thinking about this Mary Chapin Carpenter song, Alone But Not Lonely. I don't know how to be alone but not lonely - it's not something that comes easy to me.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CK1qZDwmRJA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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One of our Mormon hymns ends with a prayer that resonates with me - I hope I can have the faith to walk the "lonely road" even if it is hard. And sometimes it is very hard.<br />
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O, Give me thy sweet Spirit still,<br />
The peace that comes alone from thee,<br />
The faith to walk the lonely road<br />
That leads to thine eternity.<br />
(My Redeemer Lives, Hymn #135 in current Hymbook)</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-42276581768344236552019-12-30T16:24:00.002-05:002019-12-30T16:25:03.357-05:0019 Neat Things From 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's time for me to dust off the blog for my "Year in Review" post where I recap my year. As usual, the items aren't in any particular order until the top five. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5rVW6COl_1dHTour3sbbAOwANbd2CHadS1wKIfQzldpuotrbtlGdTmGmHHkvMy-_fVE6hhMl7_SydLfCj9_3uxugFCNyBGiNX8gMNIrGG_qoj16GqTpcoRsevVXWBlpv9cXQWTVUa-g/s1600/NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="687" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5rVW6COl_1dHTour3sbbAOwANbd2CHadS1wKIfQzldpuotrbtlGdTmGmHHkvMy-_fVE6hhMl7_SydLfCj9_3uxugFCNyBGiNX8gMNIrGG_qoj16GqTpcoRsevVXWBlpv9cXQWTVUa-g/s320/NYC.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't it be loverly...to see a great show in NYC?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
19) 2019 started off right, with a trip to NYC with my parents to see one of the best musicals ever, My Fair Lady, at Lincoln Center. We also managed to fit in some museum time, chocolate cake french toast, and my favorite scallion pancakes.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4QTGmd99k87nHe69adTIShceSmkLWemz5JYNvKLAdqJC-iCAanZFYH_9Fhg2tjH8XVVhrjo3h9hS0ceJqAOP4E2VjBc9E-2xHqXq8VdvQ7wC-snLoe_K8cI5ADjTPZd82HOcDcPKVjw/s1600/Hamilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1124" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4QTGmd99k87nHe69adTIShceSmkLWemz5JYNvKLAdqJC-iCAanZFYH_9Fhg2tjH8XVVhrjo3h9hS0ceJqAOP4E2VjBc9E-2xHqXq8VdvQ7wC-snLoe_K8cI5ADjTPZd82HOcDcPKVjw/s320/Hamilton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling because I only paid $100 to see this show the second time, and it was fantastic!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
18) Teaching training in Chicago in January is not my favorite, but I did find a cheap ticket to Hamilton and so I got to enjoy that show again.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplCirosPK3JBputiaM_ZxKjEozPIprsjFJLT7h5_Re9deyHGVDcmZf_FHHYilOysoTA5aXMq-5Ct_V-tlPFkcU1uB8aF5Fk-GIa7U-MlzOFuZwdguaAvkgf3lVZ3DCk7XAGr7HsCWvjM/s1600/TempleGeorgia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplCirosPK3JBputiaM_ZxKjEozPIprsjFJLT7h5_Re9deyHGVDcmZf_FHHYilOysoTA5aXMq-5Ct_V-tlPFkcU1uB8aF5Fk-GIa7U-MlzOFuZwdguaAvkgf3lVZ3DCk7XAGr7HsCWvjM/s320/TempleGeorgia.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlanta Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e7pYCDFgrYzRIuIfFGLmXRoNP3bntxBrjnfgI7TEBY28TvVlktlYoHUXUgqWfoBjpTX8B0umA8R-bPVy9HA0kiiJcPxdyumwL3EGbTYtAKBX9addwVoBsQtVnIEiShS-Lx_hgY2_CNc/s1600/TempleHalifax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1221" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e7pYCDFgrYzRIuIfFGLmXRoNP3bntxBrjnfgI7TEBY28TvVlktlYoHUXUgqWfoBjpTX8B0umA8R-bPVy9HA0kiiJcPxdyumwL3EGbTYtAKBX9addwVoBsQtVnIEiShS-Lx_hgY2_CNc/s320/TempleHalifax.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halifax, Nova Scotia Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRPqAipRjmOolch1BI2UvAA9DsRBuhIhpw-DXAJ26UMU8A0OQt2skSsX3oVTRC5Nvhyphenhyphen45vCfBa-a1wd74Sbu9_p7kV4dh2fVs2Nztj0JATQi0NHbe6R05y4A6Z-hynveWR7CrCBmr7gc/s1600/TemplePhilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRPqAipRjmOolch1BI2UvAA9DsRBuhIhpw-DXAJ26UMU8A0OQt2skSsX3oVTRC5Nvhyphenhyphen45vCfBa-a1wd74Sbu9_p7kV4dh2fVs2Nztj0JATQi0NHbe6R05y4A6Z-hynveWR7CrCBmr7gc/s320/TemplePhilly.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philadelphia Temple - hate the traffic, love the temple itself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
17) Sadly for me, the DC temple remained closed during all of 2019. But I did get a chance to visit several temples while traveling - including Halifax, NYC, Philadelphia, Memphis, Atlanta, and Chicago. Excited that the Church announced the DC temple open house will be in fall 2020, hopefully the DC temple reopens by the end of the 2020 year.<br />
16) The Nats won the World Series! I may have to stop complaining about how bad DC sports teams are (we'll always have our football team...). Baby Shark, Do Doo Do Doo...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yGF-RNGBOEagoIpPKK52Nk05ngMoVyTFAEC_BxmWWUFwQdJ9DXhm6Se_JA-2Jpd6eXeIzDVCM-vm7jqQtyz6Iub1p2XlTdn-w__pnuEV7v7-O3a_7uCbCR_qPZCXUFxnyxDIgYPgl0o/s1600/WestWingWeekly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yGF-RNGBOEagoIpPKK52Nk05ngMoVyTFAEC_BxmWWUFwQdJ9DXhm6Se_JA-2Jpd6eXeIzDVCM-vm7jqQtyz6Iub1p2XlTdn-w__pnuEV7v7-O3a_7uCbCR_qPZCXUFxnyxDIgYPgl0o/s320/WestWingWeekly.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Wing Weekly Taping with my partner in crime, April, who loves West Wing almost as much as me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
15) Went to my last taping of "The West Wing Weekly," my favorite podcast, which is about my favorite TV show, "The West Wing." The podcast is wrapping up in 2020, saddest of days! The TV series is also leaving Netflix in 2020, which makes me glad I have my full DVD set.<br />
14) Attended "Diner En Blanc" for the third year, this time with my friend Hannah.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JruO18nWYVflgJ9EIkUnH0r3wA219e6Cpl993EAsrlL_TZd2CPxMJ6l7J1zmxxGRnHa1XT17uuH8D9RjOveEwmZevhN2qIkvgc-RAkNzlZfQhWgbOHHP_6ZcqsWifz0dS0SGx8urOiI/s1600/DEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1124" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JruO18nWYVflgJ9EIkUnH0r3wA219e6Cpl993EAsrlL_TZd2CPxMJ6l7J1zmxxGRnHa1XT17uuH8D9RjOveEwmZevhN2qIkvgc-RAkNzlZfQhWgbOHHP_6ZcqsWifz0dS0SGx8urOiI/s320/DEB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Diner En Blanc place setting this year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
13) Taught the 11 year-olds at church (for 8 months of the year). We had about 10 of them, and there was A LOT of personality in that room. I always enjoy hearing the perspective of kids on the gospel, because they will tell you what they are thinking.<br />
12) Plenty of baking/cooking adventures - I still like trying new recipes and enjoyed a few meetings of "Cookbook Club" this year. For 2020, my goal is to expand my repertoire of bread baking skills - I know how to make my mom's/grandma's rolls super well, but I want to expand my knowledge of bread in 2020.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uO70Z64fleO_cByBho1H2BYGHqmOpDb_VCzofzN18_-M7XPpYcprf3X5LgEY8CB2ADhc-qs_O-wvaO4zEPk2nKNoMrRTbeXRG6p_91vGKDYh0vtrjJuII6XCrerwu84bou6zIK63s58/s1600/CookingPineappleSoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uO70Z64fleO_cByBho1H2BYGHqmOpDb_VCzofzN18_-M7XPpYcprf3X5LgEY8CB2ADhc-qs_O-wvaO4zEPk2nKNoMrRTbeXRG6p_91vGKDYh0vtrjJuII6XCrerwu84bou6zIK63s58/s320/CookingPineappleSoup.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambodian Pineapple Soup for Cookbook Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOnx8-OHY2wgBnYVT4qGGiGY4r7bEhuxI9EVWkKq3xWItww2YR1n32L4pJGX2fC3EwLW79zIeetxKEkoxuLOEasskJddQnpRh_0kplFK2zM51S1vDQQGAPcEiKbNw6WsEOCzPQQuLFo4/s1600/CookingRolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1124" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOnx8-OHY2wgBnYVT4qGGiGY4r7bEhuxI9EVWkKq3xWItww2YR1n32L4pJGX2fC3EwLW79zIeetxKEkoxuLOEasskJddQnpRh_0kplFK2zM51S1vDQQGAPcEiKbNw6WsEOCzPQQuLFo4/s320/CookingRolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Roll Baking for friends and neighbors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBJvD13k61eJHSe6jAU1-ffqLRK5rAqXgSd44mwy_ll6KKk0Mbw1QKkQi6Bf8NzgHIZfDdp8mhWk4MQvayPwab6ZKaror9rXMiQVdmCoUuTg-O5d78kWsRsn4nssiibOxD3tCNqVQwS0/s1600/PeachStrawberryGallette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBJvD13k61eJHSe6jAU1-ffqLRK5rAqXgSd44mwy_ll6KKk0Mbw1QKkQi6Bf8NzgHIZfDdp8mhWk4MQvayPwab6ZKaror9rXMiQVdmCoUuTg-O5d78kWsRsn4nssiibOxD3tCNqVQwS0/s320/PeachStrawberryGallette.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peach Strawberry Gallette for a roommate reunion feast</td></tr>
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11) Lots of doggie snuggles. Reviewing the pictures I took during 2019: 80% dog pictures, 10% food pictures, and 10% everything else. I hate taking pictures of myself, so maybe I can work on that in 2020? Probably not, Daisy is much cuter than me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TXCYOpomZr5QWOMkJADf9AHd3f8aPdRjz3thf07660DqPi0MGyFB37ovdC5KNtAWbHFdOTuSQ0LlpjlaLC_5yxApv71SYpcWnb3jqnYomI1sDGBNC32OCaDcuWI7x3S4NLCAT8eJfy8/s1600/Daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1124" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TXCYOpomZr5QWOMkJADf9AHd3f8aPdRjz3thf07660DqPi0MGyFB37ovdC5KNtAWbHFdOTuSQ0LlpjlaLC_5yxApv71SYpcWnb3jqnYomI1sDGBNC32OCaDcuWI7x3S4NLCAT8eJfy8/s320/Daisy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's so fluffy I want to die!</td></tr>
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10) Traveled internationally for work. I didn't really get to see much of India, but my Indian co-workers were unbelievably kind and gracious, and it was great to meet them and teach training in Bangalore and Kochi. It was NOT great to spend over 12 hours in the Kochi airport due to flight delays on our way home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfZhUe0bxFS0rC2tFkXeu-Zc7kYNnSR4huKZrdf1LisswVAHuPOyRzKruI8rBOLuCgmNprNZA_IjIrglPe8b8YkMMF5mD3wrF6BoI4P4CEo4i9a9wgUSMx_-yqKbgvfakHTrJ2wZr3ic/s1600/Kochi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1499" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfZhUe0bxFS0rC2tFkXeu-Zc7kYNnSR4huKZrdf1LisswVAHuPOyRzKruI8rBOLuCgmNprNZA_IjIrglPe8b8YkMMF5mD3wrF6BoI4P4CEo4i9a9wgUSMx_-yqKbgvfakHTrJ2wZr3ic/s320/Kochi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Hotel Rooftop Pool in Kochi, India</td></tr>
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9) Last December training in Orlando! My work has had a work training event every year in December for many years, but this year was the last hurrah - my team will be switching to training in Orlando in May for 2020 and future years. Unfortunately that means I won't get to see one of my favorite co-workers, who transferred to Atlanta and is in a different group. Luckily we were able to do one last hurrah at Downtown Disney together this year.<br />
8) Because I neglected to paint or carve my pumpkins for Halloween, I ended up using them to write things I was grateful for during the month of November. It was a fun idea and I may do it again next year, because it really helped me maintain a spirit of gratitude during the month.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR_ZyNYU2DJd3HLlMpMaAusAQhWqKu4BNHtwRDLdpKSLqFPcZnCpWMzvtEen4kN7Sy4Rt4iFRly7wU2M-zaYuft8hfHa_IytdAHjU0IvaZcEs6zBOXz7iuqfkRgGXsPdq8fSokj28x9o/s1600/ThanksgivingPumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR_ZyNYU2DJd3HLlMpMaAusAQhWqKu4BNHtwRDLdpKSLqFPcZnCpWMzvtEen4kN7Sy4Rt4iFRly7wU2M-zaYuft8hfHa_IytdAHjU0IvaZcEs6zBOXz7iuqfkRgGXsPdq8fSokj28x9o/s1600/ThanksgivingPumpkins.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratitude Pumpkins</td></tr>
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7) A new Church calling: teaching Sunday lessons and planning weekday activities for the 12-13 year old girls at Church. It is a time-intensive calling but the girls are sweet and it is good to get to know them.<br />
6) Attended the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing presentation on DC's National Mall. I have been to some cool things in DC, but this was one of the best - they used the Washington Monument as a projector screen to show some of the footage. It was truly EPIC, as the kids (used to?) say.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QdSH-2gP8j7sEBh2QcrStUGrBzNmbevcmqhyqSqOMmwwuCT7qWw23bWJH91Ln8phhGyqXs2mvRGUYX1XLjIB0qDXY2oGNgP2miHjEVOlyDPQ1OiMd7Evkcy4uCX-mDnito4lPvmw0Vo/s1600/MoonLanding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QdSH-2gP8j7sEBh2QcrStUGrBzNmbevcmqhyqSqOMmwwuCT7qWw23bWJH91Ln8phhGyqXs2mvRGUYX1XLjIB0qDXY2oGNgP2miHjEVOlyDPQ1OiMd7Evkcy4uCX-mDnito4lPvmw0Vo/s320/MoonLanding.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon Landing presentation on Washington Monument in DC</td></tr>
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5) Helped to plan "Activity Days Camp" - a three day camp for the 8-11 year old girls at Church. I <a href="http://mollymormondemocrat.blogspot.com/2019/08/mission-possible.html">blogged about it</a> earlier in the year, but it was very fun, and a good excuse to use my party planning traits inherited from my mom.<br />
4) Surprised my family on Christmas Eve by picking up my brother Kevin and sister-in-law Saba at the airport and having them join us for a few days. My parents had no idea, and it was so fun to surprise them!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rPNzG31HlMJbh0NQptt628xCjLQ8J5tPRYROWEsxRXzEWeKogvz3n9-si22YqxAdazNgLGw3piAYqpcrWDR7SzgzqEU4f9Mw0SoXdYxmJjYJTXk-_qGQni-f72oMmy2goMguNacIpJs/s1600/KevinandSaba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rPNzG31HlMJbh0NQptt628xCjLQ8J5tPRYROWEsxRXzEWeKogvz3n9-si22YqxAdazNgLGw3piAYqpcrWDR7SzgzqEU4f9Mw0SoXdYxmJjYJTXk-_qGQni-f72oMmy2goMguNacIpJs/s320/KevinandSaba.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Kevin, and Saba in DC</td></tr>
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3) As the Church transitioned to a 2-hour block of meetings (instead of 3 hours of Sunday meetings!), they also implemented the "Come Follow Me" home study program, encouraging families to study together. Rather than mope about how I don't live with my family and couldn't participate in the home study curriculum, I organized some friends for a monthly discussion group and it has been wonderful to discuss the gospel with friends, something I don't often do.<br />
2) Organized Mormon-themed suffrage tours of Washington, D.C. (to co-opt a popular 2019 song, I am 100% THAT history nerd). It was fun to study up on the subject and concoct a tour of suffrage history that intersects with my Church. There were some tough, smart, and civically-minded women in the Mormon church and we should all know more about them. Someone who is a better writer than me should write a book/articles about it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaIbXIyUEn7M5kR1EiZ9bmW6PIqpt0jpoiwnI9v0BqljImPVL_Wj3yt5cjaUiwmGOtgVhLUeL8-1FkxCqKAaXYiiOOEXO_P687FK0xIClL8D0z9mlkkXI3Q4Y6Sci4-mBZov29quukAs/s1600/SuffrageCookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaIbXIyUEn7M5kR1EiZ9bmW6PIqpt0jpoiwnI9v0BqljImPVL_Wj3yt5cjaUiwmGOtgVhLUeL8-1FkxCqKAaXYiiOOEXO_P687FK0xIClL8D0z9mlkkXI3Q4Y6Sci4-mBZov29quukAs/s320/SuffrageCookies.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookies, part of my suffrage tour</td></tr>
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1) Visited Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, basically fulfilling a life-long dream to travel to the Land of Anne of Green Gables. My book club celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019 and several members decided to travel to PEI to celebrate. It was a magically delightful and beautiful place. After PEI, I journeyed on alone to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, and it was just amazing as well. The world really is so beautiful and, as Anne says "Dear old world, you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZgbT2WacwHQt2lL6E4eJB3vIXntGMXdVpPwRx11emSkHZCc1X3Ax7zYigE0VTI5joh0ZWYNJRLX6yuHJNNm89BWuag6IkYE1golCGUNPgPxQybKVixvZZiCsHy0_o9S7ebJYxnV5DLY/s1600/PEI_Lupine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1124" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZgbT2WacwHQt2lL6E4eJB3vIXntGMXdVpPwRx11emSkHZCc1X3Ax7zYigE0VTI5joh0ZWYNJRLX6yuHJNNm89BWuag6IkYE1golCGUNPgPxQybKVixvZZiCsHy0_o9S7ebJYxnV5DLY/s320/PEI_Lupine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Beautiful Lupine Flowers of Prince Edward Island</td></tr>
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Here's to more memories and fun (and a new President? Please?) in 2020!</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-65116565312805597332019-12-01T20:45:00.000-05:002019-12-01T20:46:25.062-05:00Christmas Quotes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year I am serving in the Church's Young Women organization, working as a class adviser to the young women ages 11-13. They are a fun bunch, and it has been a good (if at times exhausting) calling. For Christmas this year, I convinced the Young Women's Presidency and other advisers to do a craft I have done before (albeit I've never made 25 of them!). We made Christmas advent calendars for each young woman, and included a quote and a piece of chocolate for each day of December before Christmas.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1hf5ROXpUK9vPJAZn1iEzdaJ6F7HRK3Qi8Wq4Kr9eWuTxozzTNIw-rEgBDTXCQi1oIB-hZHEgcPJAYevMirI9aHeufEbq7rzT0ht3WSlelDM_ZGGs5YXwy-uCQPux-DAQ_JOp61QIwk/s1600/20191129_125405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1hf5ROXpUK9vPJAZn1iEzdaJ6F7HRK3Qi8Wq4Kr9eWuTxozzTNIw-rEgBDTXCQi1oIB-hZHEgcPJAYevMirI9aHeufEbq7rzT0ht3WSlelDM_ZGGs5YXwy-uCQPux-DAQ_JOp61QIwk/s320/20191129_125405.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Finished Advent Calendar</td></tr>
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In the past I have made these for a friend or two, inspired by a similar thing that someone once did for me (maybe it was a YW leader? Honestly can't remember). Recently I've really felt it was important for the young women to see their women leaders as LEADERS and to recognize that women can be spiritual examples. So, I wanted to make sure that half of the quotes were from women. It was unfortunately really hard to find quotes by LDS women about Christmas (if you know of any sources I missed, please let me know!). Towards the end, I was Googling "Christmas +" the names of all LDS Relief Society presents and General Young Womens Presidents. So, I'm posting below the quotes we used, along with links to most of the sources.<br />
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This year, hopefully we add another few great talks via the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, scheduled for a week from today. Merry Christmas, everyone!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">"Each year at Christmas we add our witness to that of the shepherds that Jesus Christ, the literal Son of the living God, came to a corner of the earth in what we call the Holy Land. The shepherds reverently approached the stable to worship the King of kings. How will we worship Him this season? Endlessly shopping? Hustling about and adorning our homes? Will that be our tribute to our Savior? Or will we bring peace to troubled hearts, good will to those in need of higher purpose, glory to God in our willingness to do His bidding? Jesus put it simply: ‘Come, [and] follow me.’” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2013/12/glory-to-god?lang=eng">Ronald A. Rasband, “Glory to God,” 2013 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span><br />
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“The wonder and awe of Christmas is just a beginning. Christmas reminds us that the babe born in Bethlehem has given us purpose for living, and what happens next to us largely depends on how we embrace our Savior, Jesus Christ, and follow Him. Every day we invite His Spirit into our lives….We look for reasons to gather, to include, to serve, and to lift, while we learn what it really means to know our Savior, Jesus Christ….Through Christlike and childlike faith we seek Him and we feel His influence.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2013/12/what-happened-next?lang=eng">Rosemary M. Wixom, “What Happened Next?,” 2013 Christmas Devotional</a>)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">"As the Christmas season envelops us with all its glory, may we, as did the Wise Men, seek a bright, particular star to guide us in our celebration of the Savior’s birth. May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in spirit, taking with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Savior.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2013/12/the-real-joy-of-christmas?lang=eng">Thomas S. Monson, “The Real Joy of Christmas,” 2013 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">"How happy I am for this Christmas season to sing songs that have a special message from the Savior of the world for those with aching hearts. I promise you…if you think about the words you sing this season, you will find a divine message tailored especially for you that will lift and comfort you.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2018/12/silent-night-loves-pure-light?lang=eng">Sharon Eubank,“Silent Night, Loves Pure Light,” 2018 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span><br />
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"The Christmas season seems like an ideal time for us to thoughtfully evaluate the status of our own heart. For example, you might ask yourself, “Is my heart prepared to receive the Savior?” At Christmastime we often sing, “Let <i>every</i> heart prepare him room.” How can you prepare room in your heart for Christ, especially during this busy yet wonderful season?... This requires more than just pleasant Christmas greetings that fall from our lips….During this Christmas and throughout the year, our kind deeds and good works are the best indication of our love for the Savior, written in our hearts.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2018/12/let-every-heart-prepare-him-room?lang=eng">Gary E.Stevenson, “Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room,” 2018 Christmas Devotional</a>)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“I believe that each of us can re-create that familiar scenario in Bethlehem in our own lives. We can have a star to follow just as the Wise Men did… The scriptures can light our way, and our testimonies can be a light from within. The voices of angels can be the voices of our beloved prophet and His servants. We can kneel at the feet of our Savior just as literally as the shepherds and the Wise Men, but we do it in prayer. The gifts we bring are our talents. We can shout “Hosanna” like that angelic choir and spread the good news by bearing our testimonies.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/10/by-way-of-invitation-alma-5-62?lang=eng">Betty Jo Jepsen, “By Way of Invitation,” October 1992 General Conference</a>)</span></div>
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“Success in giving joy at Christmas usually involves help from others. It is rarely found in solitary effort. Joining with others spreads the joy and makes it more lasting. And perhaps most important, invoking faith in the Savior, the Creator and source of all lasting happiness, invites the pure love of God, which is the greatest of all gifts and the sure source of enduring joy.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2012/12/the-perfect-gift?lang=eng">Henry B. Eyring, “The Perfect Gift,” 2012 Christmas Devotional</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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“…[W]ithout the risk of new experiences and challenging calls to serve, we fail to grow, and are not as useful in the work of building the Lord’s kingdom as we need to be. Just as the shepherds left familiar terrain in dark of night for a new experience, we are called to leave secure and comfortable settings to serve and to gain experience.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/10/by-way-of-invitation-alma-5-62?lang=eng">Betty Jo Jepsen, “By Way of Invitation,” October 1992 General Conference</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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“...[T]he gift that we celebrate at Christmas is a gift of love—God’s gift of His Son….Our mortal concept of love is a speck of sand on a vast seashore compared to the love God feels for us. His love is infinite and inexhaustible compassion. Divine love fills eternity. It overflows with eternal grace. It reaches out and lifts up. It forgives. It blesses. It redeems. Divine love transcends differences in personality, culture, or creed. It refuses to allow bias and prejudice to stand in the way of imparting comfort, compassion, and understanding. It is completely devoid of bullying, discrimination, or arrogance. Divine love inspires us to do as the Savior did: ‘succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.’” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/christmas-devotional/2017/12/scatter-your-crumbs?lang=eng">Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Scatter Your Crumbs,” 2017 Christmas Devotional</a>)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">“</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Christmas is the season to give forgiveness.</span><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Forgiving others brings peace and joy to our lives….In order to receive forgiveness for our sins, we need to forgive others. Forgiving others allows us to overcome feelings of anger, bitterness, or revenge. And who wants to feel those feelings at Christmas? Forgiveness can also heal spiritual wounds and bring the peace and love that only God can give. Our Father in Heaven wants us to repent and forgive everyone—including ourselves.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/christmas-devotional/2017/12/christmas-a-season-to-love-serve-and-forgive-one-another?lang=eng">Christina B. Franco, “Christmas-A Season to Love, Serve, and Forgive One Another,” 2017 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“Focusing on the Lord and everlasting life can help us not only at Christmas, but through all the challenges of mortality….My message tonight pertains to the only source of true and lasting peace, Jesus the Christ—our Prince of Peace….Jesus taught us how to live, to love, and to learn. He taught us how to pray, to forgive, and endure to the end. He taught us how to care about others more than we care about ourselves. He taught us about mercy and kindness—making real changes in our lives through His power. He taught us how to find peace of heart and mind.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2013/12/jesus-the-christ-our-prince-of-peace?lang=eng">Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus the Christ—Our Prince of Peace,” 2013 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“As we contemplate and celebrate this [Christmas] season, perhaps we can keep several things in mind. One is a little Primary song that many of us memorized and sang as a child. The words are simple but applicable to each of us…. They begin like this: ‘Jesus was once a little child, A little child like me; And He was pure and meek and mild as a little child should be. So little children, Let’s you and I, Try to be like Him, Try, try, try.’” (<a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/2011-12-16/elaine-s-dalton-christmas-presence-54214">Elaine S. Dalton, “Christmas Presence,” Church News, December 15, 2011</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“…I invite each one of us to find, during this Christmas season, a moment in the quiet of our souls to acknowledge and offer heartfelt gratitude to “the Generous One.” Let us consider the compassionate, beloved, and boundless mercy of our Father in Heaven. As we shop for gifts—as we give and receive them—may we also take time to quietly contemplate the bountiful gifts God has showered upon us, His children.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2015/12/the-generous-one?lang=eng">Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Generous One,” 2015 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this season, let us also celebrate all that His birth symbolizes, especially the love. When we see shepherds, may we remember to be humble. When we see wise men, may we remember to be generous. When we see the star, may we remember the Light of Christ, which gives life and light to all things. When we see a tiny baby, may we remember to love unconditionally, with tenderness and compassion. May we open the doors of our hearts and reach out to those around us who are lonely, forgotten, or poor in spirit.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2014/12/christmas-is-christlike-love?lang=eng">Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Christmas is Christlike Love,” 2014 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span></div>
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“At Christmastime we talk a lot about giving, and we all know that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” but I wonder if sometimes we disregard or even disparage the importance of being a good receiver…. Every gift that is offered to us—especially a gift that comes from the heart—is an opportunity to build or strengthen a bond of love. When we are good and grateful receivers, we open a door to deepen our relationship with the giver of the gift…. I hope that this Christmas and every day of the year we will consider, in particular, the many gifts we have been given by our loving Heavenly Father. I hope we will receive these gifts with the wonder, thankfulness, and excitement of a child.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2012/12/the-good-and-grateful-receiver?lang=eng">Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Good and Grateful Receiver,” 2012 Christmas Devotional</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“…I absolutely love sacred Christmas music. If we were to make a list of our favorites, near the top would surely be “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful.” Its “joyful” and “triumphant” lyrics beckon us to “come,” “behold,” and “adore” our Savior, Jesus Christ—the “King of angels.” I feel certain that, as premortal spirits learning of the plan of salvation, we not only beheld and adored but also shouted for joy when He voluntarily and humbly offered Himself as the Savior of the world.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2015/12/oh-come-let-us-adore-him-and-the-plan?lang=eng">Linda K. Burton, “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him—And the Plan!,” 2015 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span><br />
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Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season. We can keep Him in our thoughts and in our lives as we go about the work He would have us perform here on earth. At this time, particularly, let us follow His example as we love and serve our fellowman.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2012/12/christmas-is-love?lang=eng">Thomas S. Monson, “Christmas is Love,” 2012 Christmas Devotional</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“Come unto Christ. Was there ever a more glorious call to action? At this Christmas season, come adore Him, come worship Him, and come follow Him. Receive the blessings of His love. As faithful Saints of the Lord Jesus Christ, we may come unto Christ and feel His peace and know His perfecting power.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/come-unto-christ-this-christmas-season?lang=eng">Carol F. McConkie, “Come Unto Christ This Christmas Season,” Church News, December 27, 2013</a>)</span><br />
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“True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.” (David O. McKay)<o:p></o:p></div>
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“When we serve together, we are all blessed. Dear brothers and sisters, don’t focus on making your service ornate—simply reach out as the Savior would to lift the strangers in your midst. As you serve, you will feel of His love for you. May you be inspired by our Savior’s example as you seek to serve this Christmas season.” (<a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/2016-12-08/sister-burton-encourages-members-to-find-ways-to-reach-out-this-christmas-season-22247">Linda K. Burton, “Reach Out in ‘Small and Simple’ Ways This Christmas Season,” Church News, December 8, 2016</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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“In every season of our lives, in all of the circumstances we may encounter, and in each challenge we may face, Jesus Christ is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction, and engenders enduring peace and joy. Many of our memorable and enduring Christmas traditions include different kinds of lights—lights on trees, lights in and on our homes, candles on our tables. May the beautiful lights of every holiday season remind us of Him who is the source of all light.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2015/12/the-light-and-the-life-of-the-world?lang=eng">David A. Bednar, “The Light and Life of the World,” 2015 Christmas Devotional</a>) </div>
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“The spirit of Christmas is Christlike love. The way to increase the Christmas spirit is to reach out generously to those around us and give of ourselves. The best gifts are not material things but gifts of listening, of showing kindness, of remembering, of visiting, of forgiving, of giving time.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2014/12/christmas-is-christlike-love?lang=eng">Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Christmas is Christlike Love,” 2014 Christmas Devotional</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“The peace of Christmas is “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.”… At this blessed season of the year, we—more than ever—seek peace through the Giver of all gifts. I desire tonight to share just a few of the many ways we can increase the peace we experience this season, throughout the year to come, and throughout our lives. First, like the angels who sang on the night of His birth, we can feel peace as we celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ….Second, like the shepherds who saw the Christ child and “made known abroad” the glad tidings of His birth, we can teach peace to our families and others whom we love. We do so best when we open the scriptures to their minds and hearts….Third, like the Wise Men, we can give gifts of love and peace as disciples of the risen Lord.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/first-presidency-christmas-devotional/2016/12/gifts-of-peace?lang=eng">Henry B. Eyring, “Gifts of Peace,” 2016 Christmas Devotional</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">“The blessed Christmas season turns our hearts in wonder and joy to the steadfast love of the Savior for each one of us. We are also reminded of the love of our Heavenly Parents, who seek our eternal progression and who hold back nothing from the goal of increasing our opportunities to grow spiritually—no, nothing was withheld, not even the life of their cherished and beloved son, Jesus Christ.” (Chieko Okazaki, “Stars: Reflections on Christmas,” Page 1)</span><br />
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“Let us make Christmas real. It isn’t just tinsel and ribbon, unless we have made it so in our lives. Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. It is peace because we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings. It is the time we realize most deeply that the more love is expended, the more there is of it for others.” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2012/12/christmas-is-love?lang=eng">Thomas S. Monson, “Christmas is Love,” 2012 Christmas Devotional</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-54287283600465850532019-09-29T17:01:00.000-04:002019-09-29T17:01:42.784-04:00Raise The Stakes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's the scripture I was thinking about in Church today, even though it had nothing to do with the topics being discussed:<div>
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Isaiah 54:2: <i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212225; font-family: Palatino, PahoranldsLat-Roman, "Pahoran ldsLat", Pahoran, Palatino-Roman, serif;">Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains </span><span class="page-break" data-page="927" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212225; font-family: Palatino, PahoranldsLat-Roman, "Pahoran ldsLat", Pahoran, Palatino-Roman, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212225; font-family: Palatino, PahoranldsLat-Roman, "Pahoran ldsLat", Pahoran, Palatino-Roman, serif;">of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy </span><span class="study-note-ref hidden-163M6" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212225; font-family: Palatino, PahoranldsLat-Roman, "Pahoran ldsLat", Pahoran, Palatino-Roman, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">stakes</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212225; font-family: Palatino, PahoranldsLat-Roman, "Pahoran ldsLat", Pahoran, Palatino-Roman, serif;">;</span></i></div>
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Perhaps you have always considered that scripture to be about the geographic reach of the Church. That is certainly how I interpreted it as a missionary in a far-flung area with few church members. To me it has signified that the "tent" of the church increases in size as more physical areas have missionaries/churches/temples. In my mission area there are still cities without missionaries - this is one way that the church "tent" has the potential to increase in size.</div>
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But as I thought about it today, the scripture can have another meaning that hadn't occurred to me before today. It was partially inspired by reading <a href="https://www.the-exponent.com/youre-sad-i-left-the-lds-church/">this blog post</a> on the Exponent blog. As the author of the post mentions, many members (including me) find it sad when someone leaves the Church. I feel a lot of sympathy with the author - I don't know all her specific reasons for leaving the church, but I am sure it was a wrenching choice, as she describes. </div>
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Yet as I pondered on this author's words, I realized that one reason I was sad was that I feel like the Church will miss the richness of her experience. It's a selfish sadness, but one that I feel whenever I learn someone has left the Church. Even if I'm not in their ward or stake, the Church as a whole will miss out on their insights, wisdom, and experience. </div>
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I wonder if part of "enlarging our church tent" is making room for many different kinds of belief and non-belief. For example, is there a place in the church for those who don't believe the events in the Book of Mormon literally took place on the American continent? How about those who struggle with an all-male church leadership? Or our LGBTQ brothers and sisters who feel like they have to choose between two parts of themselves? I do hope that the tent of gospel love can encompass them all.</div>
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-17404661762442924032019-08-10T19:48:00.000-04:002019-08-10T19:48:14.050-04:00Mission: Possible?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wanted to post about Activity Days Camp, because it was a good time. For those uninitiated, "Activity Days" is the name of my church's activities for girls ages 8-11. For the past year or so, I've been helping to plan these activities. Before we take a break for the summer, we have a day camp for three days, and this year we had an awesome camp!<br />
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The theme this year was from Luke 1:37: "For with God, nothing shall be impossible." As we are near DC (and I have Pinterest) this translated to "Mission: Possible" with a "Secret Agent" theme.<br />
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Our first day was at the church building all day. For the first activity as the girls were arriving, they got "passports" and got to pick a Secret Agent name from a jar of adjectives/nouns.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0mn0G8zJxkUfo2flDVZSIuIFnVH14tFDswi0BzLvu9pgNG3vTQrzhElmEri8-LPXd4FqPGywLPSThYigEdnUOd7dQzKS2U7Pwvc8iEyvxfpqvVDe3IC4urJ3q_M929OhbYr1QUjYLi8/s1600/20190618_230209-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0mn0G8zJxkUfo2flDVZSIuIFnVH14tFDswi0BzLvu9pgNG3vTQrzhElmEri8-LPXd4FqPGywLPSThYigEdnUOd7dQzKS2U7Pwvc8iEyvxfpqvVDe3IC4urJ3q_M929OhbYr1QUjYLi8/s320/20190618_230209-COLLAGE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passports, made out of construction paper and "modge podge"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set up outside the room when the girls arrived</td></tr>
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For the record, my code name was the "Gentle Panda" which was pretty hilarious to me for some reason - maybe it's because panda describes my body physique pretty well. I used <a href="https://onecreativemommy.com/secret-service-activity-days/">this blog post</a> for the badges inside the passports, which also had some good ideas for adjectives/nouns for code names. Throughout the day, we had stamps that the girls got in their passports for each of the activities.<br />
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Our opening spiritual thought was on faith and we adapted <a href="https://mormonactivitydays.com/2015/05/17/faith-in-things-not-seen/">this lesson</a> from MormonActivityDays.com, which has some good lesson and activity ideas. I liked the idea about the apple seeds.<br />
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We then split the girls into two groups and switched between two activities - a cooking class and craft class. The cooking class made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. While the muffins were baking they also did a "secret agent" activity where they had to guess what a fruit was by smelling it (the bowls were covered with tinfoil so they couldn't see what was inside). The craft class got to do two crafts - homemade bath bombs (inside Easter eggs!) and decorating sunglasses with beads/sunflowers/puff balls and hot glue guns. Both activities were lots of fun, and not pictured because I try not to post pictures of other people's children on the internet.<br />
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<b>THE SCAVENGER HUNT!</b><br />
I don't know why, but Primary leadership had asked us to somehow incorporate Family History into the camp, and so I came up with a fun activity (basically a Frankenstein monster of parts of <a href="http://ldsactivitydayideas.blogspot.com/2009/03/family-history_09.html">this blog post</a> and <a href="https://onecreativemommy.com/secret-service-activity-days/">this blog post</a>). The girls did a "Scavenger Hunt" with clues all over the church building. At each clue, the girls got another piece of their "puzzle" which was one of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075JPMT87/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">these blank puzzles</a> that I had traced a blank <a href="http://clipart-library.com/clipart/836311.htm">family tree</a> on to - each girl had her own puzzle with her name written on the back of all her pieces.<br />
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We divided the girls into two teams so they could race and gave each team a "clue box" with helpful resources to solve clues along the way. The clue box included Articles of Faith Cards for each team member, magnifying glasses, invisible ink pens, normal pens, notebooks, small copies of the Children's Songbook, and various decoders mentioned. The girls also got an envelope to collect their puzzle pieces.<br />
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Given that we have some very competitive girls, we laid down the following rules BEFORE handing out the clue boxes:<br />
1) The entire team has to stay together (I didn't want the older girls to leave the younger girls behind).<br />
2) Don't go in the Chapel - there are no clues in there (as I knew the girls would be running and yelling, didn't want them to be irreverent in the chapel).<br />
3) Don't disturb the other teams clues (We had a "purple" and "pink" team - they had to leave the other teams clues where they found them...again, our girls are SUPER competitive).<br />
4) Do the clues in order - don't open clues that you may see along the way to your assigned clue.<br />
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Here are the stops on the puzzle route:<br />
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Clue #1 - Mason Cipher<br />
Both teams received this clue at the beginning as we met in the Relief Society Room. They got a Mason Cipher and a coded message to send them to their next clue (I split the route up so the girls did the clues in different order).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason Cipher and Substitution Cipher</td></tr>
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Clue #2 - Mirror Image Clue<br />
The team doing the clues in order found their next clue at the High Council Room. This clue was printed in mirror image so they had to go the bathroom to read it, and it sent them to the Bishop's office (idea from <a href="https://onecreativemommy.com/secret-service-activity-days/">this One Creative Mommy blog post</a>, but I didn't use her printout but created my own)<br />
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Clue #3<br />
This stretchy word clue (courtesy of <a href="https://onecreativemommy.com/secret-service-activity-days/">this One Creative Mommy blog post</a>) sent them to the fridge in the Kitchen.<br />
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Clue #4 - Articles of Faith Fingerprints<br />
This one was entirely my idea (and I'm pretty proud of it) - I made up some "fingerprints" that had the the Articles of Faith in very small type in between the lines of fingerprints. They had to arrange the fingerprints in order and then flip them over to reveal the message sending them to their next location. The message was "It is time to ACT" - this sent them to the stage for their next clue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEKFISU0cRhtCF1zeRc5HPaOLPvhvTejaSZIpnp0SvmEydIVWY2P2IlBIUXFGI30XcFAUt2kJsWm-PDiOFSEEGTBw9_x5IP1ZDQZvMvt92ExQTHDSoYnCKBvPCm2LAGBOwMsbCcigbUU/s1600/20190617_214106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEKFISU0cRhtCF1zeRc5HPaOLPvhvTejaSZIpnp0SvmEydIVWY2P2IlBIUXFGI30XcFAUt2kJsWm-PDiOFSEEGTBw9_x5IP1ZDQZvMvt92ExQTHDSoYnCKBvPCm2LAGBOwMsbCcigbUU/s320/20190617_214106.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fingerprints Clue!</td></tr>
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Clue #5 - Scytale Cipher<br />
At the stage was a long strip of paper with their next clue - this one was hard for them to figure out, but both teams eventually realized that in their clue box was a paper towel tube, and if they wrapped the strip of paper around it, it sent them to their next destination: the Young Women's room. This was another clue idea from the One Creative Mommy post linked above.<br />
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Clue #6 - Article of Faith Recitation<br />
In this room they had to figure out which two Articles of Faith have the same number of words, and then recite them in unison to the Leader we had stationed in this room - she verbally told them where to go next. For the record, Article of Faith #1 and #12 both have 18 words, and Article of Faith #9 and #11 both have 32 words, so there were two possible answers. This clue was a good place to split the teams, but the team doing the clues in order went on to the Primary room next.<br />
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Clue #7 - Substitution Clue<br />
In the Primary room the girls were given a sheet with values like "B1" - which corresponded to grids in their substitution cipher (pictured above and part of their clue box). Once decoded, this clue sent them to the foyer (we had to specify which one because there are two in our building).<br />
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Clue #8 - Song clue ("Book Cipher")<br />
For this clue, the girls had to use their Children's Songbooks - they were given a series of three numbers (for example, 18-27-4) which referred to the page number (18), word number (27), and letter of the word (4). That series of numbers spelled out their next clue, which took them to the Nursery.<br />
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Clue #9 - Circular Cipher<br />
This was a "wheel within a wheel" cipher, where the clue told the girls to align "A" with a certain Article of Faith so they could decode the clue. Once decoded, the clue led to the Gym.<br />
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Clue #10 - Books of the Bible Footprints<br />
Construction paper footprints had books of the Bible on them - they had to arrange them in order, then flip them to spell out the next clue. We were kind and gave them a hint to use song # 114 in the Children's Songbook, which has the books of the bible in order. This clue sent them to one of the Primary classrooms.<br />
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Clue #11 - Invisible Ink<br />
This clue was a "blank" sheet of paper that had their clue written in invisible ink. In the clue box they had invisible ink pens I got from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MCWH1PQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">this spy set on Amazon</a> (our girls loved having their own pens and notebooks). The pens had a light that revealed what was written in invisible ink, which was a message sending them to the next clue. (Again, this was a good place to split the teams - one team which started with clue #7 was sent back to clue #2).<br />
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Clue #12<br />
At this point, the girls had 11 pieces of their 12 piece puzzle as they arrived back to the RS room, where we started. I told them to each start assembling their puzzle and pretty soon they all realized there was a piece missing. They were loudly wondering where the final piece could be, as I was whispering "Look at the Hymnbooks." They had to be quiet in order to listen to what I was saying to discover the final puzzle pieces hidden behind the hymbooks. I really liked using this idea to talk about the role of the Holy Ghost in Family History work and how we need to listen to the still small voice, who can show us where to find the missing pieces. It was an idea I stole from <a href="http://ldsactivitydayideas.blogspot.com/2009/03/family-history_09.html">this LDS Activity Days blog post</a>.<br />
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This scavenger hunt took A LOT of time - the girls probably spent an hour and 15 minutes on the various clues (especially since I planned the clues to go from one side of the building to the other, so they would use up some energy). Unfortunately we didn't have time for the girls to decorate their individual puzzles with their own family tree, but we let them take them home to decorate. It was also A LOT of work to plan and put the puzzles together - major props to my Dad, who came over the night before camp and helped me organize everything, which meant that I only stayed up til midnight instead of 3 a.m.!<br />
<br />
After the scavenger hunt we had lunch - the girls brought their own but we had snacks and drinks for them as well. While they were<br />
having lunch, some leaders went over to a hallway and set up this:<br />
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SO COOL, AM I RIGHT?!?! This was just red crepe paper (purchased at the dollar store) taped up along one of our hallways. At the end of the "laser maze" was an envelope for each girl which had in stencil: "TOP SECRET MISSION FOR: ______" and then we put each girl's code name (picked at the beginning of the day, you'll recall from above) on the envelope. Inside each envelope was a pack of gum with a label saying "Your Mission is Possible if you CHEWS to accept it" (I am so corny) and a copy of <a href="https://befickle.blogspot.com/2010/03/secret-service-activity-days-activity.html">this secret service activity posted at the Fickle Pickle blog</a>. We played secret agent music (<a href="http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/2010/03/the-detective-party/">this blog post</a> has a good music list, but our girls' favorite was definitely just the Mission Impossible theme) while the girls navigated the laser maze to retrieve their envelopes and filled them out. We even let them do it again once they had completed their worksheet - they liked being timed to see how fast they could do it. This was probably their favorite activity of the day - we let them do it again while waiting for parents to arrive.<br />
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We switched between the laser maze and another service activity tying blankets and making cards for sick kids in the hospital.<br />
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The day went by so fast we didn't even have time for water games, but we did play one at the end where I had the two teams fill a water pitcher with a sponge (water relay). Their "reward" for winning was that they got to try to dump the water pitcher on me - I wasn't fast enough to outrun them and did get wet, but it was so hot that I didn't mind!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-Shirts (Purple is my favorite color, can you tell?)</td></tr>
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At the end of the day, we distributed their T-shirts and custom drawstring bags with their name of them. For the T-shirts, I used customink.com, it was easy even for graphically-design-challenged-me to design a shirt. For the bags, I used iron-on paper to transfer this message to the bags (be sure to flip the message so that it comes out right ways once ironed on - I did the first one wrong!). I was surprised how excited they were to get bags with their name on them - this was definitely a big hit, and they used them for the other days of camp, which made it easy to identify everyone's belongings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawstring Bags (I'm covering up the name...again, don't want to share personal info on the internet)</td></tr>
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Day 1 was the most labor intensive - our other days were as follows, in case you're interested:<br />
- Day 2: Indoor ropes course/trampoline park. While this was pricey, it was a lot of fun (we did it last year and the girls all wanted to go again). After a picnic at a local park, we did "paint your own pottery" at a local store, which the girls also enjoyed.<br />
- Day 3: Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum in DC (the girls LOVED the Metro ride - we had a train to ourselves on the way back and they had A BALL). Then we finished the day with a pizza/pool party at a ward member's house.<br />
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Can I just say, it was fun, even if exhausting? I certainly didn't plan this alone (we have 5 AD leaders, and they all helped, along with parents). I'm glad that Activity Days Camp is only three days (unlike Scout Camp, which is 5 days). I'm sad that, effective tomorrow, I'll have a new calling and won't get to work on Activity Days anymore!!!</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-61933994218764319012019-05-12T18:14:00.000-04:002019-05-12T18:14:00.412-04:00Church Diversity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At the end of March my ward had a "diversity discussion" during the second hour of church. They didn't call it that, but essentially that's what it was - a panel of ward members talking about their experiences in church and how they were different. For reasons passing understanding, I was asked to speak on the panel (actually I think they just figured out who I was from my answers to the "anonymous" survey they sent out - I'm one of the few single people in my family ward).<br />
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Anyway, I thought it was a great idea, but unfortunately if I don't plan and practice what I'm going to say I tend to get emotional when speaking publicly. That happened during the panel, and I'm pretty sure I did a disservice to my cause by being weepy and weak. So here's what I wish I could have said in response to the questions they asked (I'm recreating the questions as best I can remember them).<br />
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<b>What makes you different than other ward members?</b><br />
I am single in a church that constantly emphasizes marriage and family. That *can* be intimidating and make me feel like I don't belong here in a "family" ward.<br />
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<b>What do you wish ward members knew about you?</b><br />
That being single does not automatically mean that I am unhappy all the time. Being single is much better than being married to the wrong person! We need to create space in the church for single people to be viewed as whole and complete individuals. I do want to be married someday, but that doesn't mean I need or want your pity for "coming to church alone." We all make a choice to own our faith and live as our true selves. Single adults are <b>adults</b> and can be treated as such.<br />
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<b>What can ward members do to support you?</b><br />
Be a true friend. I think it is very easy for me to have superficial relationships at church. The kind where I know your name and you know mine, but we don't really talk to each other. I need to be a better friend and minister to those I interact with at church - we can all do better. As I mentioned, pity isn't helpful. I don't want pity, because I don't think it really builds authentic or meaningful relationships with others.<br />
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One of the (few?) good things about appearing on this panel has been the chance to contemplate all of the kindnesses that ward members have shown me over the time I've been in the ward. A ward member invited me to her home during the Sunday snowstorm so that I could partake of the sacrament, because church was cancelled. Another ward member came and literally planted a flowering bush in my yard. Yet another asked me for book recommendations and then discussed with me after reading. Other ward members have dropped off cookies, complimented my clothes, listened to my comments, etc.<br />
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<b>What should ward members *not* do?</b><br />
My friend recently attended a family member's sealing and was asked by the sealer "Why aren't you married?" The sealer didn't know her situation and that she had just gone through a very difficult break-up with her boyfriend of multiple years. She spent time crying in the car after the sealing because it hurt her. While you may think it's kind to say things like "I just can't believe you're not married - you're so great!," comments like these just cause me to wonder, yeah, I don't know why either! Also, marriage isn't a reward for righteous behavior and we shouldn't treat it as such. Marriage is important but plenty of great people don't get married.<br />
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When I was in Young Women's, one of my YW leaders told me that she had received revelation that there was a future husband for me out there. I think she wanted to reassure me that I shouldn't worry about the future, and I'm sure she meant to be kind. However, in the decades since then, it has caused me to question my life path - where is this husband she foresaw for me? Did I take a wrong turn somewhere in life and that is why he hasn't shown up yet? I would strongly urge you to NOT saying things like that to youth, it will mess them up big time.<br />
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<b>Any other thoughts?</b><br />
As a teenager, I sat at a table where a woman in our ward said some very terrible things about gay people. Because it didn't affect me directly, I didn't speak up. I later learned that some members of our ward at the time were gay. I don't know if they were at that table (I don't remember who else was there), but I wish I would have been brave enough to say something, even if her comments didn't impact me personally. Please remember to be kind in all your dealings with ward members.<br />
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*****************************************************************<br />
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The other panelists were so great! We had a Hispanic sister, an African American sister, a very thoughtful man with a son who left the church, and another woman who talked about being an LGBTQ+ ally. Anyway, that is what I would have said if I hadn't been an emotional wreck. Good thing no one has talked to me about it in the weeks since.<br />
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-50531841762179369942019-05-12T17:26:00.001-04:002019-05-12T18:14:19.146-04:00If I was...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
(Contrast with the blog post just posted about how "Mother's Day is not about me" - this is a thought experiment about what if it was...as a sneaky and selfish way of making something that isn't about me to be about me!)<br />
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If I was a mother, I would overshare my baby's every moment on social media. Pictures, first words, witty quips, first bike ride, teenage frustrations, all of it. At the same time, I would be the mom who wouldn't let her kids use social media until they were 18.</div>
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If I was a mother, I would be scared all the time. I'd freak out about colds, skinned knees, school bullying, sleep patterns, etc. While I'd try to hold it in, I'm pretty sure I would be an overprotective and annoying and hypochondriac mom.</div>
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If I was a mother, I'd read bedtime stories to my kids. All of my favorites, over and over again. The house would be full of books. I would be so excited to read the Harry Potter series with them, and devastated if they weren't into it.</div>
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If I was a mother, I would teach my kids to bake. We'd make cookies for the neighbors and rolls at Christmas time.</div>
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If I was a mother, I would tell my kids I love them. Like way too much. An embarrassing too much. I'd write notes on their lunch napkins about how much I love them. They would roll their eyes at me.<br />
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If I were a mother, I'd get super into Halloween costumes and trick or treating. We would do theme costumes.<br />
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If I was a mother, I'd like to think I would be the fun mom, who had the cool hangout house with ping pong and TV in the basement. Who let her kids pick the music in the car, hugged their friends, and listened to their stories. The kind of mom who would surprise her kids with a trip to Disneyland or an amusement park. But really, I have a sneaking suspicion that I would be the mom who forced her kids to take piano lessons, finish their homework, and took them on educational vacations to historical sites. </div>
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But the thing is, I'm not a mother. And I probably won't ever be. So I don't have any way of knowing whether the above is true. I probably shouldn't even think about these things, because it hurts too much. But sometimes I can't help it, especially when it's Mother's Day. I'd be a terrible mom in a lot of ways, but I could also be a good one in some ways too.</div>
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-61826356574589620742019-05-12T17:11:00.000-04:002019-05-12T18:14:34.143-04:00Mother's Day is Not About Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday as I was contemplating the emotional minefield that is Mother's Day, a thought came to me: "Mother's Day is not about YOU." There's a lot of truth to that, in more ways than one.<br />
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First, Mother's Day is about my mom - she is phenomenal! She made the choice to spend her time raising four kids as a full time job, and did great (despite the way I turned out...LOL). Not everyone had a wonderful mother, and some people have mothers who have passed away. I'm so lucky that I have a loving mom, she lives only 20 minutes away, and we have a good relationship.<br />
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Second, Mother's Day is about all Mothers (duh). That includes mothers who adopted, mothers who don't have good relationships with their children, mothers who miscarried, mothers who work outside the home (and those who don't!), stepmothers, and mothers in all shapes and sizes. My friends who are mothers are such examples to me. They deserve recognition for the difficult task that is motherhood - it's a lifelong journey that shapes the destinies of all humanity. We should honor them all the time, but it's nice that they have a special day to be celebrated. Motherhood is important and valuable and HARD, and we should all recognize and support the moms in our lives.<br />
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Third, (and I can't emphasize this enough), I AM NOT A MOTHER. Church talks and well-meaning people sometimes want to say that "all women are mothers (or future mothers)." In some ways, I like and respect that thought - I appreciate that Eve was "the mother of all living" before she had children, and Deborah was a "Mother in Israel" because she led a nation. But, taken too far, this line of reasoning can conflate motherhood with womanhood. Motherhood is important and difficult work and if we water it down, it loses its meaning.<br />
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For example, I love the kids in my Primary class. I want what's best for them, and enjoy spending time with them. But, if my relationship with them is the same as their mothers', then they have a very superficial relationship with their children!<br />
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Motherhood is not equal to Womanhood. I think we do a disservice to both when we confuse the two. I know that some women without children do enjoy this aspect of Mother's Day, and I know that no one can win when writing a Mother's Day talk for church. But for me, Mother's Day works better when we focus on actual mothers and don't confuse "being around children" with mothering said children. It's easy for me to wallow in self-pity, but that shouldn't be an excuse to change the meaning of a day meant to celebrate mothers.<br />
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TL;DR version by a Twitter user:<br />
<i>I don’t want to be told Happy Mother’s Day today because I am not a mother, have intrinsic value outside of being a mother and I think we should celebrate the unique sacrifices Mothers make. THAT BEING SAID I wouldn’t say no to chocolate that just happened to show up at church</i><br />
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Also said much better in this <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2019/05/11/commentary-please-stop/">Salt Lake Tribune piece</a>.<br />
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-14016021391060539662019-03-31T20:57:00.001-04:002019-03-31T20:57:23.300-04:00On Being Radical<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the questions I had as I researched Mormon women and the suffrage movement was what role Mormon women played in the movement after their suffrage was enshrined in the Utah constitution in 1896. Would Mormon women care enough about other women's rights to continue the fight?<br />
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A great resource for information as I researched was <a href="https://www.betterdays2020.com/">Better Days 2020 Utah</a>, a nonprofit organized to celebrate next year's 150th anniversary of Utah women voting in 2020 (suffrage was originally granted in 1870, before being taken away in 1887 and then restored in 1896). One of their <a href="https://www.utahwomenshistory.org/bios/the-silent-sentinels/">blog posts</a> introduced me to Ellen Lovern Robinson, a Mormon and member of the National Woman's Party ("NWP").<br />
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Alice Paul founded the NWP in 1916, to protest and drive towards a federal amendment supporting women's suffrage. Members of the NWP were the first people to protest in front of the White House in an effort to turn President Woodrow Wilson into a suffrage supporter. They began in January 1917, shortly before Wilson's 2nd inauguration, and it was considered a radical and provoking step.<br />
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Respectable suffrage supporters like Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA), were scandalized when the NWP continued protesting after the U.S. joined World War I. It was considered disloyal and treasonous. Alice Paul herself was arrested on October 20, 2017 while carrying a banner with Wilson's own words: "The time has come to conquer or submit, for us there can be but one choice. We have made it."<br />
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Once Alice Paul was sentenced to 7 months in prison, her colleague Lucy Burns carried on the fight and rallied the members of the NWP. Ellen Lovern Robinson came from Utah to join the protesters on November 10, 1917. The protesters were arrested and sent to the Occoquan Workhouse in Lorton, Virginia. Lovern was there for the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/11/10/night-of-terror-the-suffragists-who-were-beaten-and-tortured-for-seeking-the-vote/?utm_term=.e27912b66493">Night of Terror,</a> when suffragists were brutalized and thrown into dark solitary confinement.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5rqdMCrfTfK26A924J25S2bOXvzDhK0x_cO3pDRicgJGGEivDlDJXOzghvO-ls7MYNW1uAPb3YVuIMpqQ31oqm5BFvNpmL_eBW9OVyXo82ZYIFhTdzpqyFVyQv5f8NaIdiTdiuNgD00/s1600/Ellen+Lovern+Robertson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1024" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5rqdMCrfTfK26A924J25S2bOXvzDhK0x_cO3pDRicgJGGEivDlDJXOzghvO-ls7MYNW1uAPb3YVuIMpqQ31oqm5BFvNpmL_eBW9OVyXo82ZYIFhTdzpqyFVyQv5f8NaIdiTdiuNgD00/s320/Ellen+Lovern+Robertson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Silent Sentinels, with Mormon Ellen Lovern Robertson fourth from right.</td></tr>
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I'm grateful for those who were radical enough to get arrested and risk everything for suffrage. It's especially impressive in Lovern's case, when she already had the right to vote, but was willing to fight for others' rights by protesting. </div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-75823433228335243252019-03-21T22:20:00.001-04:002019-03-21T22:20:02.386-04:00The Original "Women's March"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After President Trump's election, a huge women's march was held in Washington, D.C. That march was held on the day <b>after</b> President Trump's Inauguration. It wasn't the first time that women had marched in D.C., however! In 1913, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns organized a massive "procession" down Pennsylvania Avenue on the day before President Wilson's inauguration. They tried to make it genteel and ladylike, and even had an official "program" for the March:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJTXiiQK23JbqEptT_2hyphenhyphenShNQF_gAGGEE0ZHzO6hIuu-9TOn7oG9iMfTdFjRKY-T04fD72pqI7fvjZ7wS-OECk7o3KG3n61SKev90RhfwV2eQwrMkWtbNC7Jf3AGg0sflEoR0h0Fq2Mk/s1600/1913+Procession+Official+Program.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJTXiiQK23JbqEptT_2hyphenhyphenShNQF_gAGGEE0ZHzO6hIuu-9TOn7oG9iMfTdFjRKY-T04fD72pqI7fvjZ7wS-OECk7o3KG3n61SKev90RhfwV2eQwrMkWtbNC7Jf3AGg0sflEoR0h0Fq2Mk/s320/1913+Procession+Official+Program.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alice Paul planned it all with meticulous attention to detail and robust respect for the pageantry of the occasion. She spent over $20,000, which at the time, was an immense amount of money. This graphic lays out the order of the thousands of women who marched in the parade, and the Smithsonian has a <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/document-deep-dive-a-historic-moment-in-the-fight-for-womens-voting-rights-10911/">really good interactive article </a>explaining each part of the parade.<br />
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One of the things that is so interesting about history is that it's all interconnected. Alice Paul and Lucy Burns are the ones who lead the way, and we continue to build on their foundation today.</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-71692023296699308912019-03-20T22:21:00.000-04:002019-03-20T22:21:09.129-04:00Seeing the Colors of the Suffrage Movement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I've given a couple versions of my suffrage tour, I've been grateful that people have reminded me and asked questions that bring women of color into the story. Their contributions are often overlooked, but people of color were vital in the struggle for the 19th amendment, not to mention the continuing fight for civil rights that would follow the decades after the passage of the 19th amendment.<br />
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One of the African American heroines of suffrage and women's rights is Ida B. Wells, who had to fight to be included when many white women were uncomfortable with that and actively worked against it. <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/ida-b-wells-frances-willard-wctu-womens-movement-lynching/amp/?">This article </a>details a bit of her struggle with Frances Willard, leader of the temperance anti-alcohol movement.<br />
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<a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-daughters-and-granddaughters-former-slaves-secured-voting-rights-all-180971660/?fbclid=IwAR3L7G8UtywZOiuNS6VTIV87R2Ldl38jeH1lqTOjU47YAO59ODJFtrFwBx4">This article</a> introduced me to Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who I didn't know anything about until I read the article last week. That article also goes into detail on the many descendants of slaves who were involved in the suffrage and civil rights fights.<br />
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D.C. natives should learn more about Mary Church Terrell, a D.C. heroine of the struggle for equal treatment of restaurants decades before the sit-ins and lunch counter protests of the 1960s. The Washington Post did a series of articles on her struggle to enforce D.C.'s anti-discrimination laws in the early 20th century, which can be found <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/remembering-the-lost-laws-of-washington/2018/02/11/c0184c7c-0f33-11e8-9570-29c9830535e5_story.html?utm_term=.fb8c8975ddee">here</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/stuck-on-a-shelf-or-locked-in-a-safe-dcs-lost-laws-still-packed-a-punch/2018/02/14/6f2a36ee-1191-11e8-9065-e55346f6de81_story.html?utm_term=.8ee602f53627">here</a>.<br />
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I wish I knew more about women of color involved in the Mormon suffrage movement. So far, the only thing I have seen was <a href="https://twitter.com/BetterDays2020/status/1100503549593772032?s=19">this brief Twitter post </a>on Elizabeth Taylor, a Utah African American suffragist. Would love to know more about her and others like her, so if you know of any resources, hit me up!</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-64290449845964726122019-03-18T07:49:00.002-04:002019-03-18T07:49:38.892-04:00"The Better Man"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Martha ("Mattie") Hughes Cannon's life is often reduced to one story - she ran against her husband in an election in 1896. She won, he lost, and she served one term as the first woman state senator in the nation's history. But there is a lot more to her story, including medical school, the trials of being a plural wife, and a stint in hiding in England.<br />
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Utah's PBS affiliate put together <a href="https://video.kued.org/video/utah-history-martha-hughes-cannon/">this video</a> which tells her story in more detail. Utah plans to honor her with a statue in the Capitol's Statuary Hall in D.C. in 2020. I'm grateful for her courage and moxie under difficult circumstances.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisTcf0eTVuj832R1aeblZcCi_vSiH763ouhgtidt4LjYLdHJw_S-_W6mDgBbOFmcxUlaeEXzPNVRZjoNN-gc5ijl2H8pE-_cxHUNEgySkpWhGaR_9XBd7_IJRXhlr3KX6tuhLZzDnCVM/s1600/Utah_State_Senate_in_1897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="833" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisTcf0eTVuj832R1aeblZcCi_vSiH763ouhgtidt4LjYLdHJw_S-_W6mDgBbOFmcxUlaeEXzPNVRZjoNN-gc5ijl2H8pE-_cxHUNEgySkpWhGaR_9XBd7_IJRXhlr3KX6tuhLZzDnCVM/s320/Utah_State_Senate_in_1897.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Utah State Senate in 1897. Mattie is standing left of center.</td></tr>
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One of my favorite details about her election is that in a newspaper editorial endorsing Mattie over her husband Angus, the Salt Lake Herald had this to say: "Mrs. Mattie Hughes Cannon, his wife, <b>is the better man of the two</b>. Send Mrs. Cannon to the State Senate and let Mr. Cannon, as a Republican, remain at home to manage home industry" (emphasis added).<br />
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You can learn more about here by watching the linked video, or reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Hughes_Cannon">her Wikipedia page</a>.</div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-4452598678665107612019-03-17T19:38:00.001-04:002019-03-17T19:38:32.738-04:00Happy Birthday, Relief Society!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My last post was about Sarah Granger Kimball, but really she deserves ALL the posts. She's pretty amazing, and there is so much to love about her story. Sarah was one of the instigators of Relief Society when she and Margaret Cook decided they wanted to form a benevolent society to make shirts for temple workers in Nauvoo in 1842. She was a secure woman in her faith - although married to a nonmember, she remained steadfast (eventually her husband, Hiram, converted).<br />
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Sarah's husband was killed in a steamship explosion while on his way to serve a mission in Hawaii, but she stayed faithful, serving as a local Relief Society President for 42 years! Now, that is what I would call dedication. One of her most ambitious projects was a Relief Society Hall for the sisters to gather and to sell handicrafts. Her Bishop suggested a site for the hall, but she didn't agree - purchasing and selecting the site herself and laying the cornerstone with her own hands in 1868. Built for the sisters of the Salt Lake 15th Ward, it was the first ever Relief Society building in the church.<br />
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In 1870, Sarah was serving as Relief Society President and was one of the instigators of several mass meetings in January 1870, convened to protest the federal government's proposed anti-polygamy measures. On February 12, the Utah territorial legislature voted unanimously to extend voting rights to women, partly as a result of the agitation of Sarah and others.<br />
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On February 19th, at a "Ladies Cooperative Retrenchment Meeting," Sarah said the following (per the minutes, available <a href="https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/part-3/3-16?lang=eng">here</a>):<br />
<br /><i>Said that she had waited patiently a long time, and <b>now that we were granted the right of suffrage, she would openly declare herself a womans rights woman</b>, and called upon those who would to back her up, whereupon many manifested their approval. Said her experience in life had been different to that of many, had moved in all grades of Society, had been both rich and poor, <b>had always seen much good and inteligence in woman, the interests of man and woman cannot be seperated, for the man is not without the woman or the woman without the man in the Lord</b>. She spoke of the foolish custom which deprived the mother of having control over her sons at a certain age. Said she saw the foreshadowing of a brighter day in this respect in the future, <b>said she had entertained ideas that appeared wild that she thought would yet be considered woman’s rights</b>. Spoke of the remarks made by bro. Rockwood lately, who said women would have as much prejudice to overcome in occupying certain positions as the men would in letting them, said he considered a woman a helpmate in every department of life.</i><div>
(emphasis added by me)</div>
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I love that she declared herself a "woman's rights woman"! She also called up the audience to back her up - I love her feisty personality. And I love that she admitted that she had ideas that "appeared wild" with regards to women's rights! More than two decades later, at a 1895 conference celebrating the enshrinement of women's suffrage in Utah's constitution (where she was introduced as a speaker by Susan B. Anthony herself), Sarah would recount how she was a reader of Susan B. Antony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton's paper, "The Revolution," which was published from 1868-1872:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan B. Anthony and Anna Shaw visit Utah in 1895<br />Sarah Kimball is standing and holding a handkerchief in the center, behind Susan B. Anthony</td></tr>
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<i>I read an article ridiculing a little paper that was published in the City of New York called the “Revolution ” in which I saw the names of Elizabeth Cady-Stanton and Miss Susan B. Anthony. I looked at the little article of ridicule and I said “There is something I see in that which strikes me and I want it,’’ and <b>I reached out after the little paper I was very much struck with it. It was very peculiar and said very many strange things</b>, but I learned from that little paper the theory and object they had in view was to create thought, their idea was if you can get the people to talk upon this subject, if you can get them to agitate the subject, agitation produces reform. Now this is going to be a reformation and we are going to do all we can to produce this reformation and we are going to labor in our own way. Now 52 years ago <b>I would not have dared to say the bold, grand things that Miss Anthony said</b>, it would have made me so unpopular and I hardly dared to shoulder it; but the seed was planted within my soul and I have been laboring for the same cause — I felt that it was uplifting, that it was necessary for the nation, and as time rolled on we were very careful. </i>(Emphasis added, read full speech and proceedings <a href="https://archive.org/stream/exponent1895/exponent1895_djvu.txt">here</a>)<div>
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I don't know for sure, but I like to think that one of the reasons Sarah Kimball declared herself a "Women's Rights Woman" in 1870 was due to the influence of reading "The Revolution." I can't think of a better way to celebrate today's birthday of the Relief Society than by celebrating Sarah Kimball, a true pioneer and one of my heroes!</div>
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Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179338386589206976.post-44259705285090939252019-03-10T21:41:00.002-04:002019-03-10T21:41:27.743-04:00Spitfire Sarah Kimball<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the delights of researching suffrage is reading the words of the women who participated in the movement. Sarah Kimball was one of the instigators of the Relief Society in Nauvoo, then moved west with the saints to Utah. At age 73, she responded to an anti-suffrage opinion column published in The Woman's Exponent in 1891. As part of that response, she write the following:<br />
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<i>Women as a rule have listened to the asserting voice of men and have been led by their precepts too long. It has slowly dawned upon woman's understanding that man as a ruler is weak; in many respects very weak and unreliable, (remember we love him still,) and she has been compelled for the good of the great family to explore new paths leading to broader fields of helpfulness. Women will make mistakes, and profit by them, all along the unbroken pathway, but never so fatally disastrous mistakes as men have made while holding exclusive power.</i><br />
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<i>You assert that suffrage advocates take a wrong shoot, start out on leaves, or small branches, and they must change tactics, etc., this reminds me of early Colonial history. Did our forefathers when they struck for freedom, ask their usurping oppressors what shoot they should take, what tactics they should adopt?</i><br />
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In her editorial, Kimball also argues in favor of women judges and women police forces. You can read her whole editorial <a href="https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/WomansExp/id/16575/rec/65">here</a>. There's also a full length article about her <a href="http://signaturebookslibrary.org/sarah-m-kimball/">here</a>. </div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09498579397086960112noreply@blogger.com0