Favorite Memes #18

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Add to that..."Can you please call me when you get a chance?" Our kids REALLY hate that one! LOL

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For Ailey and Bryn! :)

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That is a fact!

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The Rest of April 2021

I guess I will finish up with what happened at the end of April once we were sprung from our quarantine prison! Yes, it feels great!! Of course there is still concern and worry about our kids...none of whom have been vaccinated yet. But yeah... going into Midtown Market and setting up my booth maskless feels absolutely FABULOUS! Especially as the hot flashes just keep on coming. Hot flashes in a mask are torture.

I got to return to my weekly Institute class and that felt AMAZING! I love this class so much and have been going for 8 years now and have learned so much! This year it's Book of Revelation and I definitely don't want to miss that! LOL. 

I have been INSIDE friends houses! No more porch visits! Hallelujah!

My calling is amping up once again. We had a three hour meeting with one of our presidencies and are planning a stake training and a summer activity day camp. I'm still moderating for the Stake Youth Emotional Resiliency Classes. The last two have been: Stress and Anxiety and Understanding Sadness and Depression. 

Work has been busy for me. I am stunned at how much I am selling in my booth and I am so grateful! My happy places these days are working in my garage on projects with podcasts and audiobooks going and arranging and rearranging my booth at Midtown Market. I just love it! Another happy place is working in my flower beds and in the yard. It is so serene and peaceful. This kind of creativity and being in nature is truly filling me with happiness. The sunshine and warm weather isn't hurting either!

Kam continues to do well with his new companion. They are staying busy with lots of service projects and teaching people. He had his first baptism, which was really exciting, on the 24th! It was for a teenage girl. Kam said that his favorite part was standing in the circle of priesthood holders as she was being confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. I thought that was interesting. We got to Zoom in while on our trip to Las Vegas. This ward is Kameron's very favorite so far. The ward has completely enveloped this young girl in love and friendship. He said that it has been really touching to watch. Way to go Princeton, MN! They also got their early curfew lifted after the guilty verdict came in for the Derek Chauvin trial.

Ailey continued to be busy with dance team competitions via video. I'm not complaining! Dance team competitions every weekend are exhausting...for all of us! The high school teams videotape their routines and send them in to the judges. She also got her dance team pictures taken and they are really cute! 

Bryn was named Student of the Month at school! Very cool! She went back to school FULL TIME on the 28th! (Ailey won't go back full time at all this year which is sad.) Her Strings Club for the cello still happens online every Wednesday afternoon.

She has also been a track maniac! She has practices twice a week and meets every weekend. She is loving it though and kicking butt on the track!

Ailey and I cheering her on!

Tyler has been thrown into the thick of things with his new calling: Stake Bishopric Training, Bishopric meetings, Mutual, Activities, extending callings (he was super nervous to extend his first calling but it went well and they accepted. :), 20 mile bike rides with the YM, ward councils, service projects, planning youth conferences, and ALL.THE.THINGS! He is rallying and enjoying it.

He also finally got a haircut! I convinced him to give up Super Cuts (not easy!) and made him an appointment with my friend (and hairstylist) Lyndsey. He came back looking not just normal but looking GOOD! He said that he will keep going to Lyndsey! I also had a hair appointment with her and even did my nails and all the things. I am emerging from my COVID cocoon and getting my Josephina-ness back on track!

We brought the boat in to our boat mechanic to be summerized. Woohoo!! I cannot wait for boating days ahead! We spent the last few days of April preparing for our Las Vegas trip and then we got on an actual plane and flew away! It was THRILLING!!

Reilly and Hunter found a new apartment in a different part of town and are in the process of moving. They also kindly came and house sat and dog sat for us while we were in Las Vegas! So appreciated!

We got our Universal Yum Box from Spain and it was another good one!

We tried:

Spicy Mango Gummies: Amazing!

Lemon Potato Chips: Delicious!

Fried Bacon and Cheese Cones: Amazing! These are like the best Bugles that you have ever had!

Spanish Chocolate Toffees: Nothing special. Tootsie Roll like.

Pistachio Toffees: Okay.

Pine Nut Candy: Crack-your-teeth-hard and not good.

Sour Pineapple Gummy Rings: Best thing in the entire box! FABULOUS!

White Chocolate and Caramel Candies: Kind of like smaller and less delicious M&Ms.

Custard Cream Coradillo: A very good prepackaged cream cake. I would like to try an actual one of these from a bakery in Spain!

Orange Dark Chocolate Bar: Heavenly!

Fried Egg and Sea Salt Potato Chips: Good! Not like the *sweet* egg popcorn we got in another box that was gruesome.

Cocoa Dusted Salted Caramel Truffles: Delicious!

The Spain box was a win! Spanish gummies are the VERY BEST we've tasted! So impressive! Their salty snacks were really good too! So far our favorite boxes have been:

1.) Germany

2.) Italy

3.) Spain

There was a Pink Super Moon one night. We all went outside on our deck and marveled and soaked up all the good energy. Apparently once in a *pink* super moon Ailey will make us homemade chocolate ice cream. :) Try chocolate ice cream topped with crunchy flakey salt. Wow. Sometimes TikTok has good ideas!!

Now that we are back in the swing of things; we are going to have to learn to be discerning of what we allow back into our lives. So far everything (and everyone) is good and worthwhile. This has been a real take away lesson from the last 14 months. Not everything (and everyone) is coming back and we need to be vigilant and purposeful about what does. Our priorities have had a complete and necessary shift and we are all the happier for it!

Spring Book Reviews 2021

1.) My Friend Merlin by Saul Rip

I was asked to read and review this book by a local author. This is 100% not my genre so I read it with a little trepidation and it took me awhile to finish it. Fantasy just isn't my jam. 

From Goodreads:

On the night a cosmic event collides with a thunderstorm in New York City, Zoey and her best friend Emyrus are on their way to a concert when the two girls are caught in the storm and struck by beams of light that burn strange emblems into the ground, initiating a change in both of them. Zoey and Emyrus begin to elicit abnormal abilities leading them on an adventure indicating they both have ties to King Arthur and the realm of Avalon. As magical influences begin to reach the two girls, ancient rivals begin to cross and double cross each other to get closer to Zoey and Emyrus in hopes of rediscovering the magical sword Excalibur. Driven by survival, both girls unwittingly tumble into a journey of self-discovery as they track down clues explaining what is happening to them, and the challenges they must face in order to regain control of their lives.

The premise is an interesting and unique take on Merlin and the realm of Avalon. The action takes off right from the start and I was immediately drawn into the story. The plot is fast-paced and propulsive. There is a lot of action throughout the book. It is definitely a plot-driven novel with short and action packed chapters. I thought the world-building was interesting. I am inspired to read more about King Arthur, Merlin, and Avalon. I think having a deeper understanding of the lore would only enhance my reading experience. Even without that I thought the world-building was intriguing and I enjoyed the magical elements. The plot kept me guessing throughout the book and the ending left me wanting more. The good news for readers is that the cover states that this is the first book of a series.

My Rating: A unique take on the legend of Merlin.

2.) Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

I love a well-written Victorian drama. Elizabeth Gaskell is fantastic and this novel is a classic!

From Goodreads:

Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Wives and Daughters centers on the story of youthful Molly Gibson, brought up from childhood by her father. When he remarries, a new step-sister enters Molly's quiet life – loveable, but worldly and troubling, Cynthia. The narrative traces the development of the two girls into womanhood within the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford. Wives and Daughters is far more than a nostalgic evocation of village life; it offers an ironic critique of mid-Victorian society.

I loved this novel so much with only one exception. The abrupt ending which is sadly and tragically  explained and only makes me appreciate this novel all the more. Wives and Daughters is definitely worth the read. It is chock full of memorable, interesting, and nuanced characters. They are rich and well-developed. There are so many that I loved and so many that I will never forget. The squire and Hyacinth to name a few, and they are only side characters, yet they are so believable. The dialogue is witty and satirical. I laughed out loud many times.

The setting is also memorable. It is vivid and lush. The village of Hollingford in the English countryside absolutely comes alive. The novel is immersive. You feel like you are part of the community and part of the story. Gaskell's writing is phenomenal. The book is long and leisurely...around 700 pages. The action is quiet and subtle. The novel is definitely a character driven rather than plot driven although I was never bored with the plot, pacing, or my time in Hollingford. That said, the plot does move forward in a pleasing way. This beautiful book is to be savored. I am onto reading Gaskell's novel Cranford.

I loved this clever, charming, and highly readable classic.

My Rating: I loved it!!

3.) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

This was my book club's pick for February 2021. I have an upopular opinion. I didn't love this book. It seems the rest of the world does. I am also on the fence with Kristin Hannah. This is the third book of hers that I have read. One was good and two were just okay. She has interesting stories to tell but then something seems to go awry. It's either that her writing falls flat, the plot does, or her characters do. I know I am in the minority here. She is a much beloved author.

From Goodreads:

Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed. For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

This book was depressing and bleak. It started off as an interesting adventure. Homesteading in the wilds of Alaska. Give me more of that! Then the author threw in a dysfunctional family, an abusive father, it's the 1970s (not my favorite time period), domestic violence, PTSD, and depressing event after depressing event. The author attempted to tackle too many issues and the story unraveled for me.

The very best part of the book is the setting. It has an intense sense of place. You feel like you are in Alaska. Give me more of that Alaskan homesteading life and the inherent dangers. Give me more of the preppers living off the grid. But don't give me overwrought drama that tries to force me to feel emotion for characters that are only minimally likeable. I didn't shed a tear.

I also thought the book was too long. The first half was great but then it lost steam. The pacing got weird and there were large time jumps. And...the ending felt implausible. I know that I am one of the few that doesn't gush about this book and that many people love it. My book club loved it. 

My rating: Okay...ish.

4.) The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

I enjoyed McManus' book One of Us is Lying and I was in the mood for something similar. Something easy, breezy, and slightly mysterious. Plus I liked the premise of the cousins, evil grandmother, and a luxurious resort off of the coast of Cape Cod. 

From Goodreads:

Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised . . . and curious. Their parents are all clear on one point--not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious--and dark--their family's past is.

This book was fairly entertaining and a quick read. It did just what I needed it to do. It got me out of a reading slump. It is a YA mystery with a heavy dose of family drama. The story is told from multiple POVs and a dual timeline. It kept my interest. Of course I would have like this same premise in a deeper and darker book but... you know...this was YA.

I always enjoy books about family secrets in a lush and atmospheric seaside setting even if the mystery was solved with a bit of a Scooby Doo ending. "And I would have gotten away with it too if not for you meddling kids!" LOL.

My Rating: Alright.

5.) The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

This is a book that both Tyler and I read at the same time. It was fun, entertaining, and just scary enough. It is the perfect mix of horror and mystery.

From Goodreads:

The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls. Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden.

Tyler and I both really liked this book! It is a great murder mystery with just enough of the paranormal to be sufficiently atmospheric and creepy. I particularly loved the setting of the old motel. I worked at the front desk of a motel in college; one that also had a *haunted* room that no one wanted to stay in. That made this novel an especially fun reading experience for me!

I enjoyed the two POVs and the interesting alternating timelines...1982 and 2017...and their interlinked mystery. Both timelines were intriguing; I was never bored with either one. Both protagonists were engaging. I cared about both Viv and Carly and worried about them A LOT. The plot was suspenseful and fast-paced. St. James does a great job of building tension. The writing was atmospheric and cinematic. This novel would make a great movie. 

I loved it. It was a compulsive read. I had to know what as going to happen next! This is a fun spooky thriller and the perfect buddy read!

My Rating: Fun!

6.) Cranford by Elisabeth Gaskell

After reading and enjoying Wives and Daughters so much I moved directly onto Cranford. This novel was quite different. Rather than being a long saga of a particular character/family; Cranford reads like a collection of short stories about the residents of Cranford, which is a small town in the English countryside, with an abundance of widows and spinsters. Sound riveting? Maybe not riveting but definitely charming.

From Goodreads:

A portrait of the residents of an English country town in the mid-nineteenth century, Cranford relates the adventures of Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two middle-aged spinster sisters striving to live with dignity in reduced circumstances. Through a series of vignettes, Elizabeth Gaskell portrays a community governed by old-fashioned habits and dominated by friendships between women. 

This is most definitely a cozy vignette of life in the English countryside. It is a wonderful illustration of bygone times and small town intrigues. Nothing really happens per se... there is some plot movement... but not a lot. The storytelling is subtle. Our narrator is a regular visitor to the town who we don't know much about but witnesses the goings-on in Cranford through her eyes and perspective.

The characters are charming and likeable even the curmudgeons with all of their many idiosyncrasies. Miss Matty in particular is much beloved. Especially as she navigates the social mores of the Victorian Era and her character's place (and those of her friends) in that society. Although quiet, the novel isn't boring. Gaskill's humor and satire are ever present. While not as enjoyable as Wives and Daughters this is still a warm and inviting classic. 

My Rating: I enjoyed my time in Cranford.

7.) Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

I loved and adored Ready Player One by Ernest Cline but I was a little nervous to read Ready Player Two. First, I didn't want to be let down after such an incredible first book and, second, there are definitely some weirdly mixed reviews. Tyler and I decided to both read this book. Tyler finished it before me and absolutely loved it! That was all I needed to dive in.

From Goodreads:

An unexpected quest. Two worlds at stake. Are you ready? Days after Oasis founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vault, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the Oasis a thousand times more wondrous, and addictive, than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle and a new quest. A last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who will kill millions to get what he wants. Wade's life and the future of the Oasis are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

5 Stars baby!!! I LOVED it! This book was a pure joy and pleasure to read. If you liked Ready Player One; you will like Ready Player Two. I don't know why some people seem to have such an issue with it. I thought it was just as fun and interesting as the first book. I absolutely loved it and didn't want it to end.

I delighted in revisiting the Ready Player One universe and being reunited with some of my favorite characters. Some criticisms state that Wade is different in this book. Perhaps. Unlimited money and power have an effect on all of us; including Wade, but I still felt like he was inherently the same Wade. But Wade with some life experience and not all of it pleasant. I still enjoyed him as the protagonist.

I also LOVED the 80s (and some 90s) nostalgia and pop cultural references. Another criticism is that there are too many. Not to this reader! I loved them all! All the heart eyes for Shermer...the John Hughes world. The book could have stayed there forever. It was PERFECTION!

In this book Wade and his friends are on another quest and I enjoyed every minute. I thought it was fun and interesting. I liked learning more about the OASIS founders Og and James Halliday and their friendship with Kira and Kira's eventual marriage to Og. I was thrilled to be back in the OASIS with the HIGH FIVE once again. 

This was such a fun, entertaining, and action-packed book. I seriously tried to slow myself down and savor it but it was too hard. I couldn't stop. It was too much fun and a perfect escape in a COVID world.

The author's enthusiasm and energy radiates throughout the book. His creativity is off the charts. His innovative world building is a delight! I also enjoyed the themes of the dangers of technology and of escapism. 

I highly suggest making this a multimedia experience. Listen to the audiobook. Wil Wheaton does a fantastic job as narrator for both Ready Player One and Ready Player Two. Also go check out the Spotify playlist for the book. There is also a playlist for RP1 as well. It just added to the whole experience. I got such a kick out of reading this book. It put a huge smile on my face.

My Rating: I LOVED IT!

8.) A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson

I enjoy Sophie Hudson. I read her BooMama blog and listen to her podcast off and on. This is the first book of hers that I've read. I find her incredibly likeable and authentic.

From Goodreads:

There's nothing quite like family--for good or bad. But in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do the people sleeping right down the hall, it's easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane. There's even a little bit of sacred sitting smack-dab in the middle of the ordinary. And since time's-a-wastin', we need to be careful that we don't take our people--and their stories--for granted. Whether it's a marathon bacon-frying session, a road trip gone hysterically wrong, or a mother-in-law who makes every trip to the grocery store an adventure, author Sophie Hudson reminds us how important it is to slow down and treasure the day-to-day encounters with the people we love the most.

This book is a collection of essays and anecdotes about family life in the South. It is heartwarming Southern storytelling with food, family, and faith woven throughout. There is even a recipe section at the end! I loved that! I also enjoyed the spiritual encouragement that is found at the end of each chapter. This was a soothing read; especially during a world-wide pandemic. The book is full of warmth and humor which Sophie Hudson exudes. The sections about her mother-in-law, Martha, were my favorites and absolutely hilarious!! This was a nice palate cleansing read after a few darker novels.

My Rating: A sweet quick read.

9.) Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

This looked to be exactly the kind of book that I enjoy. Cornwall, a crumbling manor house, and haunting family secrets. It was recommended to readers that like Kate Morton and Daphne du Maurier. Check and check!

From Goodreads:

Ghosts are everywhere, not just the ghost of Momma in the woods, but ghosts of us too, what we used to be like in those long summers . Amber Alton knows that the hours pass differently at Black Rabbit Hall, her London family's country estate, where no two clocks read the same. Summers there are perfect, timeless. Not much ever happens. Until, of course, it does. More than three decades later, Lorna is determined to be married within the grand, ivy-covered walls of Pencraw Hall, known as Black Rabbit Hall among the locals. But as she's drawn deeper into the overgrown grounds, half-buried memories of her mother begin to surface and Lorna soon finds herself ensnared within the manor's labyrinthine history, overcome with an insatiable need for answers about her own past and that of the once-happy family whose memory still haunts the estate.

It was good! I enjoyed it! This is a gothic family drama. It is both mysterious and suspenseful. It tells the stories of Amber and Lorna through two timelines (1960s and 2000s) and from both of their perspectives. We learn how Black Rabbit Hall, a decrepit English manor house, with dark secrets and tragedies binds them together.

This novel is well-written and evocative. The atmospheric setting of the Cornish Coast and a crumbling manor house was vivid and enticing. There are flowers growing through the ballroom floor!  I loved the characters of the four Alton children. I was fully invested in each of them. They were wonderful! There is an equally terrible character whom you loathe. The novel has a slightly VC Andrews vibe. The suspense builds as Lorna attempts to figure out what happened to the four mysterious Alton children one fateful summer in Cornwall. 

The book was emotional and addicting. I stayed up way too late reading it! 

My Rating: Good!

10.) Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee

This book came highly recommended from my friend Rebecca. She loved this book and their show on Netflix. I had never heard of them so I watched several episodes and put their book on hold at the library. I really like their style and aesthetic.

From Goodreads:

For the one million-plus followers who turn to Syd and Shea McGee for advice on building a beautiful home and life, Make Life Beautiful is a behind-the-scenes look into how the couple transformed Shea’s small room of fabric samples and big dream of becoming a designer into one of the most successful and fastest-growing interior design businesses in the country.

This book was absolutely not what I expected. I thought it would similar to other design books. Beautiful glossy pictures with some description but it is all narrative. There isn't a single photograph in the entire book. NOT ONE. That is extremely unfortunate and a misstep.

This is not a home design book. It is a memoir. A memoir of famous home designers that reference their many famous projects and homes throughout the book and yet don't include a single picture. They don't even include any pictures of their family or of themselves (besides the cover). Bizarre. Memoirs usually include a few pictures. I had to google projects that were referenced repeatedly in the book and with lengthy descriptions. Irritating. Show me...don't tell me.

Yes, it was interesting to read how they grew their design business and about their non-traditional modern approach to business. I applaud their entrepreneurship and creativity. But I wasn't as interested in their personal life.

The backstory of their relationship and how they built their business is told in a back and forth "He said/She said" format which I didn't love. I wanted more of the business side from Syd (maybe he should write his own book) as well as the design side from Shea.

This was a quick read. I read it in one day. If you are fans of Studio McGee and are already familiar with them and their work you will probably enjoy the book. I would have liked it more if they included pictures of their work to illustrate their design concepts and pictures of themselves/family to feel more personal and relatable.

My Rating: Disappointing.

11.) Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

This was my book club's pick for April 2021. I've seen this book around for awhile. I saw it at my friend Rebecca's house in Wisconsin last fall. I love a good personal development book so I was excited to read it.

From Goodreads:

In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. He transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk. 

The author shares insights that he received and experiences that he had while living as a monk for three years in India. As I knew next to nothing about what a monk's life is like or the way they think; I found this part of the book fascinating. Those were the best parts of the book.

The rest of the book is your typical personal development but with a Hindu twist. The author discusses some of the usual personal development topics like: gratitude, positivity, mindset, habits, purpose, intention, and visualization but with a slightly different take than the usual personal development approach. Then he adds in some lesser known topics like breathe work, meditation, fasting, detachment, and service. I particularly loved the section on fasting (I gained new insights) and the section on service. Meditation is also an area of interest to me. The rest wasn't really new information for anyone who regularly reads self-help/personal development. The truly interesting part was learning about these topics with the twist that it is being presented by a former monk who is teaching you to think like a monk. That is what sets this book apart from other similar books.

My Rating: Interesting

12.) Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I appear to be one of the very few who not only didn't love this book; I thought it was super weird and dare I say it...irritating.

From Goodreads:

For more than a century, The Wind in the Willows and its endearing protagonists--Mole, Mr. Toad, Badger, and Ratty--have enchanted children of all ages. Whether the four friends are setting forth on an exciting adventure, engaging in a comic caper, or simply relaxing by the River Thames, their stories are among the most charming in all English literature.

I wish I was "enchanted" like Goodreads suggests. I was not. I was annoyed. Mr. Toad. Enough said.

My Rating: Not for me.

So Now What?

Blogging about each day of our COVID-19 quarantine was a very helpful coping mechanism for me. Maybe at some point it will be of interest to me to look back and see how things progressed during this time because it definitely feels like a hinge point in history. There is a definitive "before" and "after." But now what? 

I got into a great habit of a daily journaling that I kind of don't want to get out of but at the same time the blog isn't where I want to do it...and also...SNORE. But my kids consult this blog regularly for pictures and family stories and to win arguments...LOL... so I think I will continue to update our activities and goings-on but not in a daily format. Monthly? Twice a month? Who knows? But I am grateful that I made a record of this time. Both for family history purposes and for my own mental health. I wish I could say that COVID was over and I wish that our lives were totally back to normal but who knows when that will happen or even IF it will happen. Ergo...the blog moves on.

COVID-19 Quarantine: Days 396-401

Day 396: 4-13-21 (Tuesday)

Today was a pretty chill day. Not much to report. Both girls are home and busily engaged in their homework. Bryn had track practice and is beyond thrilled to be back! She has her first meet on Saturday. Just adding sports back into her life has improved her countenance by A LOT! There is much less sad tortoise around here. LOL.

Day 397: 4-14-21 (Wednesday)

We found out that Bryn will go back to school FULL TIME on April 28th. Good! Tyler also got a very cryptic phone call from our friend Chris who also happens to be a counselor in the Stake Presidency. He wants to come over tomorrow afternoon to talk to Tyler. Are we nervous? Oh heck yes.

Day 398: 4-15-21 (Thursday)

Tyler found out that he won't be going back to the office now until SEPTEMBER!! That seems absolutely ridiculous especially with vaccines available. At least try a hybrid schedule or something.

So...our friend Chris came over this afternoon. He extended a call to Tyler to be the first counselor in the bishopric. I don't think the word SHOCK describes it adequately. Tyler hasn't even been at church in almost 400 days. Next Sunday was going to be his first Sunday back at church and now he's rolling in as the 1st counselor!?! Craziness. You know how I keep saying that I feel like I am in a parallel universe? Yeah. Further proof! He will be great though and I think it is such an incredible growth opportunity for him. 

Tonight was also vendor night. My booth was down to bare bones. I have sold so much. I am grateful and stressed. But I got it all filled back up again with furniture and smalls and it's looking pretty. Whew.

Day 399: 4-16-21 (Friday)

I finally got notified that I qualify to be vaccinated in WA State. Good grief.

Today we went suit shopping and bought Tyler his first suit since his mission. LOL. That was a pretty hilarious event! We found him a very nice gray suit and even were able to scheduled an appointment to get it tailored in time for church on Sunday. Miraculous! The store where we bought the suit hemmed the pants but suits look SO MUCH nicer when they are tailored. We have a guy near us who does a fantastic job! We were grateful that he could squeeze Tyler in!

Ailey took her driving test and passed! She is official! Unfortunately, I have no photo. But... this has been LONG in coming!! She requested dinner from Zips to celebrate. It is so nice to have a third driver in the house again!! Especially as Bryn has track practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we are in CDA on Thursdays.

Tyler and I did a dark park walk for our date night. It was so pretty. Lots of stars.

Day 400: 4-17-21 (Saturday)

Today is Day 400 of COVID quarantine. Let that sink in. 400 DAYS.

I woke up early to watch the funeral of Prince Philip. I really miss my mom. The royals were one of our "things." We loved watching all of their special events and talking about them. She would have totally been up early watching this while on the phone with me. :(

Tyler got his suit back from the tailor and it looks fantastic!

Bryn had her first track meet and she did awesome! It is really exciting being back in the stands and cheering her on aka screaming my lungs out

Her relay team got 1st place in the 4x400 and she came in 2nd in the 200. So fun! 

Day 401: 4-18-21 (Sunday)

The Johnsons are officially out of quarantine. Life still isn't normal. Ailey and Bryn still aren't in school full-time. Tyler still isn't back in the office. None of our children have been vaccinated yet. But...we are back in the world. Tyler is back in the world. That is HUGE. He went back to church today. He was also sustained and set apart as a member of our new bishopric. He spent all day hugging people and shaking hands so let's hope Moderna does its thing. 

Today was a really special day for our family. Reilly and Hunter came to church with us and were there for Tyler's setting apart. Kameron, Judie, and Joel watched the livestream. The whole day was very emotional and spiritual. The outgoing bishop and bishopric (who we absolutely loved) all spoke and then the new incoming bishopric spoke. Tyler did a great job of just speaking off the cuff...nothing prepared. This is going to be such a great experience for him. Challenging but a really good one. Plus I don't think you could find anyone in that meeting who was more grateful to be there that day than Tyler.

Also being a part of the meeting (after sacrament meeting) where the Stake Presidency sets apart the new bishopric was an extremely neat experience. It is definitely one that I will never forget. I know that Kameron really missed being a part of it. Tyler stayed late as he was being trained and meeting with people. 

Kam made a modification to our family picture. Ha ha!

The girls and I came home from church and we made a special dinner. We recreated yet another Joanna Gaines meal to celebrate Tyler's special day. On her show she did a big brunch episode and Tyler requested that we try a few of those recipes. We made the Hash Brown Casserole and the French Toast Crunch. It was fun cooking in the kitchen with my girls. Both recipes were good!  (We also made buttermilk syrup and had strawberries and cream.) The Hash Brown Casserole is like a cross between Quiche Lorraine and Funeral Potatoes. In our family we are big quiche fans and (in our humble opinion) we have perfected it and we have also perfected our version of Funeral Potatoes. So we came to the conclusion that we like them separate. But we still liked the casserole. We really liked the French Toast Crunch. It requires a lot of steps, which was time consuming, but this was a really good recipe that we will definitely make again for special occasions. It is like next level French Toast.

After dinner the girls and I headed out to the Youth Emotional Resiliency Class at the stake center. Tonight's class was: Real Life Finances. This time the youth split up but didn't break into small groups so I didn't need to moderate my group of kids. The older kids met in the cultural hall and listened to a guest speaker and I got to stay in the chapel with Bryn and listen to the guest speaker for the younger kids. It was once again a packed house. 

While the kids were eating their refreshments another crazy windstorm hit. Tyler said that the power flickered at our house but didn't go out. They sent the kids home ASAP. The power did end up going out at the stake center later that night. There were some trees down again but the storm wasn't as destructive as previous storms. What is even happening? Why are we constantly having all of these destructive windstorms? We are already at 3 just this year!!

Email from Elder Johnson #22

4-12-21

 "...He's back"👀

Oh shoot! Ladies and gentlemen... to quote Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix..."He's Back". Now, I may not be Voldemort but ya gosh dang right I'm back and livin my best life...for now at least haha! But honestly the last week or so has been fantastic! From the missionaries I'm around, to kendama, to the ward here, and much much more! 

But before we get into that, there's a recent event that has taken place in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park to be exact, that has caused some civil unrest. As for my whereabouts, I am a good hour and a half from Minneapolis in a tiny town called Princeton, in the middle of nowhere in the center of Minnesota. My brotha Elder Hamby isn't so lucky and is actually in Brooklyn Center so keep them in your prayers that he and his companion will be kept safe! (I know you're reading this Dallin haha love ya bro.)

Anyway! Our friend Jillian accepted a baptismal invitation this week and is on date for May 1st! She is just the coolest and I have loved getting to know her and helping her strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ! We are soooo excited for her. Keep her in your prayers as well that all goes according to plan!

We finally got approval to do service outside again a couple weeks ago. So my new companion Elder Allen and I put up a post on our local community boards asking if there was anyone who needs some outdoor work done and the posts blew up! The current stats are, 780 likes and 141 comments and 48 shares! Because of that we have set up so many service projects haha! It's sooo cool to help the people out in our lil town. 

Those were the highlights of the last couple weeks! Maybe one day I'll email every week. Guess we will have to find out next week! 

I've been studying a lot about faith this week, what it means, how we grow our faith, how we can strengthen our already existing faith, and what we can do with faith. Now I'm not going to answer all of those questions because I want you all to find the answers to them yourself; but as you ponder those questions, watch this cool video I made for our Facebook page!

Click to watch video

(Give that a nice copy and paste or click to watch it or you can go to my Facebook profile and its got a quote by President Nelson above it and it starts out with Elder Eyring (bald dude with glasses). 

I leave you with this quote from President Nelson, 

"Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life. All things are possible to them that believe."-President Russell M. Nelson

I love you all. Hope you have a good week!

-Elder Kam Johnson

COVID-19 Quarantine: Days 391-395

Day 391: 4-8-21 (Thursday)

Tyler and I both did fine with our vaccinations throughout the night. We didn't even have any issues with sleeping on our arms like we did the last time. The nurse gave us our shots up higher this time and it was perfect. I woke up at 6am with my teeth chattering and feeling achy. But no fever. I turned on the electric blanket on our bed and went back to sleep. I woke up again at about 8:30 am and took some Tylenol and it worked great! I was prepared for two days of feeling crappy but my symptoms were pretty minimal. I was a little achy, had a headache, and was tired for most of the day but that was about it. Tyler had even fewer symptoms. He was a little tired and had a sore arm but that was it. He worked all day and even had online meetings! We were super relieved. We tried to just take it as easy as possible and by the end of the night we were both still feeling okay.

It also snowed today. Twice. Morning and afternoon. The perfect day for Bryn to start track! LOL! I snuggled up and read for most of the day.

Day 392: 4-9-21 (Friday)

So here's the million dollar question: Are we still in quarantine? Yes, for two more weeks while we wait for our immunity to fully kick in. We are feeling back to normal today! Not that we were ever feeling really bad but the achiness and even the sore arms are gone. Our energy levels are still a little low but so far so good!

There was sunshine today! Outside and in my soul! LOL. I'm sure it is weird to literally note the days that are sunny but here in the PNW they are always noticed and noted. The only time I forget and just assume that it will be sunny is mid-July through September. Other than that a beautiful sunny day is noticed and appreciated. Also... I can't tell you what a relief it is to be vaccinated. It's HUGE. The worry for Tyler was overwhelming.

Prince Philip died today. He was 99 years old.

Day 393: 4-10-21 (Saturday)

Today is Bryn's 12th Birthday!! Woohoo!! This is her 2nd COVID quarantine birthday which seems unreal and unfair. Luckily things are much more opened up than last year. She planned a fun day for herself! It started off with dragging us out of bed at 6:30am to drive north to her favorite donut shop for gigis. They sell out fast. They are donuts stuffed with eggs, cheese, sausage, and country gravy. My family loves them. I do not. They also have the coldest chocolate milk in town. That alone is worth the drive!

Gruesome Gigi not pictured. That was snarfed down in record time! LOL.

We returned home and climbed back into our beds and slept for another hour or two. After that we got up and headed out for Bryn's Birthday Extravaganza. She wanted to go downtown and hangout. Something that she (and we) have only done once since COVID began. Her first stop...the downtown mall.

She wanted a day of shopping... Bath and Body Works for good smelling lotions and potions...all the stores...and her favorite...the Nike Store. There she picked out all kinds of running clothes and new running shoes. She was in HEAVEN! Unbeknownst to her at this time was that Reilly and Hunter had stopped in the day before and found her another pair of running shoes and a color coordinated running outfit too. She nearly lost her mind when she saw that waiting for her at home!!

We also got to hang out at the Valley Mall. We went into nearly every store, shopped, and had lunch. Then it was onto Old Navy. After that it was the sporting goods store to get her a new bike helmet. Then it was back downtown for more fun and the piece de la resistance... Lime Scooters! This was was our first foray into riding lime scooters. Kameron is a fan and Bryn had been dying to try them. Perfect timing with that new helmet. I was also equipped with antibacterial wipes to wipe those suckers down. Then the fun began!!

You guys!! They are SO FUN! We started out with one but very quickly needed more! Nobody wanted to share. LOL. We had an absolute blast zipping around all over on those things!! Why haven't we done this sooner?!

Everyone very quickly got the hang of them and we had the best time! Tyler and I are going to have some Lime Scooter Date Nights and Reilly was like, "We are coming too!!" So fun!! You feel like a 10 year old again just having the time of your life. We loved it!!

We had the greatest time!! Great idea Bryn!!

Then it was back home for Bryn's Birthday Dinner and Presents:

She requested take out from the Olive Garden and Strawberry Cheesecake for her birthday dinner. 

There was a *slight* mix up with the breadstick order!! Ha ha!!

Bryn's secret admirer had stopped by too! This kid could give grown men ideas about *romance*. LOL!

This kid is the best and hopefully by her next birthday we can have the big shindig that she so richly deserves!!!

Day 394: 4-11-21 (Sunday)

Today the girls and I attended church in person and Tyler livestreamed while he waits for that immunity to really *kick in*. It was the first time since COVID that our ward has had in person Relief Society. It was nice to be in person once again but weird to be back in RS. My stints there have been very brief.

Tonight at 6pm I attended the Youth Resiliency Course Training. The first class kicked off at 7pm. The topic was: Healthy Thinking Patterns. Ailey and Bryn both attended. The turnout was huge. Way more kids showed up than anticipated. Most of the kids from our stake were all there. We initially had all of the kids meet in the chapel and then the kids 11-15 stayed there and listened to the guest speaker. The youth 16-18 moved to the cultural hall where they were divided up onto groups of 6 with one youth facilitator and one adult moderator per table. I randomly got assigned to Ailey's group. The youth facilitator for our group is my friend's daughter, Lily, who is a senior and has been trained to lead the group. She did a great job! It was interesting! 

Day 395: 4-12-21 (Monday)

Chaos has erupted again in Minneapolis due to the Derek Chauvin trial and yet another police shooting. :( This morning I received multiple calls and texts from people checking on Kameron. He isn't great about keeping people informed of his exact location so many were understandably concerned. Luckily he is about an hour and a half away from downtown Minneapolis. He sent out a group text after I messaged him this morning. He is on lockdown and has a very strict curfew...no grocery shopping...no nothing. One of his bestfriends on the mission lives about three blocks from where the shooting took place and heard the gunshots. Terrifying. We video chatted with Kam and got the scoop on things there. The advice sent out from their mission president to the missionaries this morning was: "Be smart." 

Kirk and I talked to our attorney today. Tyler and I also had two different technicians come out for work on our lawn. One aerated and fertilized it. The other technician came to work on our sprinkler system. A productive day on all fronts.