Polly New Year's Dinner

Tonight we had a "Culture Night" over Zoom for our school.  There wasn't a big turnout which was too bad (though after spending 6 hours on zoom a day, I am sure many students/families don't want to get back on Zoom in the evening.)  But it was so neat to hear about several families' traditions.

I especially loved my librarian's tradition.  Polly has an annual New Year's Dinner for her family.  Each year a book is chosen to be the theme for the dinner and they wear costumes and have a fancy menu.  She adds photos to the menu to remember each year's theme.  For example, a couple of years ago they had a Lord of the Rings Dinner where they had breakfast, second breakfast or elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper.   They have games or activities that tie in with the book and it sounds like a really fun way to ring in the New Year.

This sounds like a tradition I would like to start when I have grandkids.  It wouldn't necessarily have to be a New Year's Eve tradition, but I love the idea of an annual luncheon or dinner based around a beloved book.  Seriously, such a fun idea.

Lessons Learned:  I love hearing about traditions and this is such a fun tradition to combine books with food and fun and family.  I hope I refer back to this at some point and begin this tradition.

Mike's Grandma Shoes

 My dear stepdad Mike shared this story:

One day in my American Government class in my senior year of high school, my teacher Mr. Robert Smith asked me to stay after class. Oh man, what did I do now?

Alone in class he asked if I was Frances Graves' grandson. I told him that I was. He asked, "Did your grandmother ever say anything to you about me?" No sir, why?

His reply told me a great deal about my grandmother. Mr. Smith came from a very poor family. He and his siblings went to school either in their bare feet or in shoes that were worn out. He had several siblings. Anyhow, he told me that one day my grandmother showed up with shoes for all of the children, and he never forgot her kindness. This was in the 1930's-1040's and times were tough. Don't know how Grandma could afford it. I know Grandpa helped.

Grandma was a school teacher for close to 40 years, and Mr. Smith had been one of her students.

God Knows Service

 About a month ago I was at Seagull Book and they had a  bunch of books on clearance.  Several of them looked good so I picked a couple of them up.  And since I have been busy, they have just been sitting in that bag.  Laurel, Jackie, Sara and I are trying to serve every woman in our ward anonymously...just dropping off a treat or small bag of goodies for a couple of women each during each week.  I had been feeling like I should drop something off to Annie and another sister.  But then a prompting came to include another woman in the ward as well.  And I really only had stuff for 2 people not three.  Then I thought of those books I bought and went to see what I had purchased.  One of them sounded like it might be a good fit for Annie.  So I tossed it in a bag with a small candle and a little (typed) note and dropped it at her doorstep.  Later that day I saw this message on Annie's story on Instagram.

Heavenly Father is so amazing.  I bought the book a month ago.  I planned to keep it.  I planned to give Annie some treats.  But the Lord had other plans.  I think that reaching out in any way might have been a blessing for Annie. I think we can all use the reminder that we are loved and noticed and thought about.  But I think that this gift was more meaningful and much better than the plans I had.  I'm so glad that I had the prompting to give a gift to another sister which meant I had to think of something new to give Annie.  I'm so grateful for the thought (which didn't really feel like a prompting...but I'm sure now it was) to see if I could give her one of the books I had purchased.  The Lord orchestrated it all.  He is so good.

LESSONS LEARNED:  God is orchestrating the details of our lives.

He knows what those around us need if only we take time to listen and to act.

I'm grateful for authors who know how to articulate spiritual matters in a way that touches hearts and answers prayers.