Hi I'm Anna | (former )single mother, Love my country, convert, purpose in life, Family History work, Temple worker, Mormon.

Hi I'm Anna | single mother, Love my country, convert, purpose in life, Family History work, Temple worker, Mormon.

This is a post on mormon.org-- 

Merry Christmas Everyone

"Christmas and some of the cherished traditions of the season remind us that we, like the Wise Men of old, should seek the Christ and lay before Him the most precious of gifts: a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Curtains, Contentment, and Christmas", 2012 First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 2012
Topics: Christmas

This Is Our Week In Photos

A Senior sister missionary made these Gingerbread cookies for us

President Hernandez baptized Tony B

Our Branch President and his family

Sister Hutchinson with her companion, Sister Alard, Spanish Hermanas.

Elder and Sister Walser with Sister Hutchinson before she left as she finished her mission in WKM. We are going to miss her!

Where a set of Elders (missionaries) live in Kenniwick,

Lots of Blessings Coming Our Way

Over Thanksgiving holiday we were was given a beautiful oak computer desk from Shannon. She had it in their home and were ready to clear it out of their basement family room. We just got it yesterday, the grandsons, Cody and Jordan brought it over. It is heavy!

Ron and I got the area cleaned and cleared out to put it next to the TV and his computer. Ron's old desk was pressed wood and was coming apart. So, we did a "switcharoo" with his computer desk and he is now using the one I had since he insisted I have the new one. It is lovely and so nice, the nicest I have ever had. I feel so blessed beyond words. Thank you again, Shannon. It is such a nice addition to our home.

Nice and Worth The Read-Priceless

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

- Author Unknown

Grandpa Carlos

It isn't very often that I have dreams about my father, Carlos, aka Grandpa Carlos.
I was observing his work and the workmanship that he was doing teaching other people to know what he knew and his art. The interesting things is that I only saw the results of his work, and not really see him, but it was all about him and his work in a shop setting, the tools, machinery, and his inventions! His students spoke highly of him and praised him and knew he was my father.

It felt good and so real, it filled a need for me to feel his qualities and love for his work. I miss him and Mama. I know they are together busily helping and watching over us, their family; what a blessing.

Thanksgiving Past

The brothers were 8 an 6 in this photo in the front yard at my grandmother's neighbors house.

Charlie on that same Thanksgiving day in San Antonio in their homemade hot rod, with brother Bobby.

My mother, Elena, Charlie and Bobby Thanksgiving Day when I was four years old

This is me with my brother Bobby and cousin Bessie on the same day. It was our last Thanksgiving there before leaving San Antonio since we moved to Chicago that following spring. My brother was being silly and pretended to bite off the ends of the drumsticks to the turkey.

The following year found us homeless after a fire in our attic apartment. We lived with some other family until my parents bought a home in the suburbs. I remember we went to visit my Aunt Alice and her husband and son, and we ate baloney sandwiches for our Thanksgiving meal.

It occurred to me a short time ago that the reason we had sandwiches on Thanksgiving was because we didn't have a kitchen to prepared a turkey like in the years past. Aunt Alice lived in a rented room at that time, so that must have been why we had no big turkey feast that year. It didn't phase us, since the years after that were prosperous and we always had what we needed.