covid-19, and our first home sacrament meeting

Life today
sure is different
from life a few weeks ago.
This coronavirus
has turned the world
 upside down,
it seems.
Crazy long lines at grocery stores
and empty shelves.
Toilet paper is hard to come by.
Humanity
is showing its panic driven, self-preserving, greed filled worst,
but most importantly
it is showing it's generous, loving, supportive, and unified best.

We spent a week as a family in California to kick off our spring break.
It was our fourth and final day at Disneyland when we got the news that Disney would be closing for the rest of the month.
Social distancing,
quarantine
have been the norm since.



We spent our first weekend
"social distancing"
and in "quarantine"
with home based church
at a cabin with some wonderful family friends.
It felt safe surrounded by a hundred acres of serene, breathtaking nature.
Inside we roasted marshmallows, played games, ate pie, and talked over the world.



And obsessed over the dogs.
It was a love-hate relationship for Brinny and those dogs.
But at the end of our time
the majority of our family
was just in love
and pining
for a dog of their own.



We gathered in the living room of the cabin
for our own sacrament meeting
and later for a come follow me discussion.
Sacrament meeting looked different
with an assortment of cups to bear the water
and half of us in our pajamas
But the spirit was the same.
The ordinance was the same.
The meaning was the same.



Each of the four teenagers shared messages and talks with us.
So uplifting and balanced.
I was grateful to be part of both of our meetings and discussions
at home.
completely edified.



There was a lot of screen playing over the weekend,
as seen above,
but also plenty of nature walks and quading.

Now,
COVID-19.
Man, this virus has changed our world right now,
hasn't it?

Here are just a few things I've taken screen shots of on the internet.
So much information and opinion is floating around.
And information is changing moment by moment.
But I had a friend share this and I liked how it seems to remind us to remember history, keep things in perspective, keep hope, and prepare ourselves at the same time. (though a week later and it is already inaccurate as the death tolls rise with this one.)



Kacin and Brinna's severe asthma put them at high risk with this virus, and in general, we are trying to do our part to stop the spread. However, I have also been feeling frustrated by the panic and the crazy people hoarding supplies and making things more difficult than it needs to be for many people.

Our school district is officially closed through Mar. 27th at the very least. I am pretty excited about the opportunity to have my children at home with me all day and to get to homeschool them for a time. Like I am ridiculously excited! I am making plans and schedules for our days. We are trying to take this crazy situation and turn it into something good for our family.

So as we hunker down with our families, I thought this quote that came in my email was very fitting. "The life of the spirit requires less and less."



And then this has been my favorite thing on the internet right now
(reposted by a friend, not sure the original author).
So beautiful.


And this one along the same lines.



Praying that we all find peace during this time! And especially praying for all those who are severely effected economically and physically by this virus. My heart reaches out to those people and I am praying to know what I can do to help.

the river, and there must be angels

The river has been a place of peace for me this summer.
It was my first summer experiencing the salt river and I went at least a half dozen times. It was the beauty of the desert, the water, the wild horses, the sunshine, the sunset, swimming, relaxing...I couldn't get enough.

By the end of the summer I had become familiar and comfortable on the salt river and we were excited to take all of our children one last time.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite go as expected. Rivers change.



At first we just noticed how low the water was--much lower than normal--and how slow it was flowing. We had dinner plans that night so I was getting anxious to get us moving so I spent a lot of time pulling us along trying to get us to go faster and forcing the teenagers to help to get us going, but we were relaxed and having a good time.

Everyone had connected their tubes together except for me. I prefer the freedom and control of being on my own a little bit, with the group but free to move around.

It was my turn to take Brinna in my arms. She reached for me and I snuggled her in my lap as we pointed together at all of the different birds and trees we were floating by. I knew we were nearing the last section of rapids, but, I've done it so many times, I was comfortable and knew we'd be just fine. We floated ahead of the group.



The thing about the last section of rapids is that you come around a bend in the river and then there they are. There's not a lot of warning. Once you see them you are ready to go through them. When Brinna and I turned that bend, my mind was racing and confused--this did not look familiar at all! The water was flowing differently, there were rocks I had never seen before, and there was a HUGE tree fallen over right in the middle of the water. I was trying to figure out what happened and where we were and how in the world to get through this safely. The way the tree had fallen, there was a narrow path to the right of the branches and if you got through it in just the right spot you could probably safely maneuver through the section, it seemed. To the left of the branches there was also some space to get by the tree, but then there were bushes and reeds and more trees sticking out just ahead of that so you would get hit one way or the other. 

I clutched Brinna in one arm and with the other arm and my legs I tried to maneuver us safely. But the rapids had picked up and the water was moving swiftly and it was difficult to control where we were going, especially with one arm in the water and my baby in the other arm. I realized we were gong to the left of the tree and did my best to get us close to the bank and tried to grab on to a branch or something to stop us so we wouldn't hit the trees and pop our tube or scrap our heads off by a branch because that water was moving quickly I tell you! When I got close to the bank I reached for a reed and that is when my tube came out from under us and we went in and under the water. I got us onto our backs and was able to grasp a reed and hold on for dear life. I reassured Brinna trying to tell her how nice it was to be in the water. She was crying and I was extremely grateful that she had her life jacket on to keep her floating on her back with my left arm around her as I floated underneath her.

It was in that moment that I was clutching to that reed with my sweet little girl in my arms and I looked down the river at what was ahead of us and I had two seconds of panic. Because I knew the severity of the situation. If my right arm slipped from this branch that I was clinging on to, if Brinna was pulled from my arms...there was no way she would make it out safely. There were too many rocks and low branches, the rapids were too swift and too long...I didn't want to even imagine. But then immediately following that moment of panic the word peace popped into my head. And I felt the strongest sense of peace and strength wash over me. Stronger than I ever felt in my life. And I knew if I ever needed angels there with me, I needed them now. I was surprised at the ease that I felt as I held on and floated, surprised by my feelings of calm. I knew there had to be angels there with me. No doubt about it. Watching over and strengthening me and my baby.

I looked back at the rest of the group worried about how they were going to get through. I saw Eric and Kyler jump out of their tubes and try to make it over to me and Brinna. I told myself to hold on tight until Eric got to us. And prayed that the other children would make it through safely.

I tried to put my legs down to stand up at one point, but when I tried to do that the current made it harder to hold on and with Brinna in my arms I felt like I just needed to stay how I was on top of the water and wait until Eric got closer to us.

Eric and Kyler were being pulled by the current, too, but were able to manage near to me. Eric was able to get to a small little bank just a little ahead of me. When he got his feet on dry ground I worked my way to him and handed off Brinna. Oh the relief knowing that my baby was safe!

I struggled in the water for a minute, but was able to stand up and hold onto a branch. Just then the rest of the kids had reached the tree and I looked over to see how I could help them. The teenagers were all out of their tubes trying to protect the younger kids and to move the tubes that were stuck under the branches and surely about to pop! Everyone was being hit and scraped and slipping on rocks and that panic washed over me again as I realized the severity of this situation.

Perry floated closest to me all alone in a double tube. I tried to pull him away from the worst of the branches and as my legs wacked against the rocks I realized the only thing I could do was climb in with Perry and make sure he got through the rapids safely. The other kids were too far away from me and we were all being pulled in different directions.

Once we got through the worst of the rapids, I pulled our double tube to the side of the river (banging and scraping my legs again). I tried to keep Perry calm and told him to wait there while I ran back on the side of the river to see how everyone else was doing. Thankfully, Perry was extremely brave and though he was scared and worried and didn't like what had just happened, he listened and waited. I ran back a ways until I could see the teenagers had pulled the two little girls over to safety and Eric was making his way walking on the other side of the river with Brinna. Thank goodness everyone was accounted for!!

We regrouped back at the river side by Perry. We were all shaken up, scraped, bruised, and had lost shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, a paddle, and a tube...but we were all alive!!! My heart was filled with gratitude for a God that surely sent angels to protect and watch over all of us and allowed us to feel the Spirit and its promptings and comfort to stay calm and to know what to do on the river that day. It could've ended so much worse.

I was probably shaken up the most out of everyone. Maybe because I'm still suffering from ptsd from cancer, but being in a situation like that with my beautiful baby girl was scary stuff!! You could see the road from where we were so I put Brinna in my arms and walked my bruised, cut, goose-egged legs the rest of the way. Everyone else got back on the river until they got to the exit point at the bridge. And Kyler was able to recover my run away tube that was stuck in a tree along the way.



We were over an hour late for our dinner plans that night. But I was glad to be alive so I didn't feel bad about that. Then Eric looked up online to see if there were any warnings or anything about the river. He found this:





Historic and massive flooding indeed! It changed the river. I think we learned to check online before heading out to the river, always wear life jackets, and never get too comfortable when it comes to water.

And hug your loved ones tight because you never know when something could happen.

conference weekend

The tradition of matching pajamas conference weekend continued!

We ironed on a different patch onto each person's hot pink shirt.



Brinn's shirt was just a tad bit big for her. I can't even tell you how hard it is to figure out matching attire for a family in little girls size 2T-mens large and everything in between without spending a bucketload and within a limited amount of time. Shirts from Michaels, pants and shorts from Target, and iron on patches from Hobby Lobby and I was satisfied.

I often hope for a laid back conference weekend, but each weekend seems a bit busy and chaotic. We try really hard to watch or listen to as many talks as possible as a family.



Perry was actually probably the best listener out of all of us. He described conference by saying "The old guy teaches us the gospel." So innocent and sweet from the mouth of Perry. We are grateful for the "old guy" and his wisdom and experience and all of the experience of our church leaders and the apostles.





It was also a very special conference this year because it was the first time for Layla to join me at the Women's session saturday night. I was so excited about the changes that were announced and explained at that session. My daughters are lucky to be growing up and living as members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at this time. There were some beautiful changes in the YW theme and the YW program. So exciting.

I didn't remember to get a picture, but we did get to go out to dinner with Jacqui and Macie--a fun way to celebrate the girls joining us at the women's session.

 I received a priesthood blessing a few months ago and one thing that was said in it was that conference would be a time that I would receive a lot of personal messages for me. And that was so. It was some of the small phrases, sentences, and minor messages that spoke just to me it seemed. Another reminder to me that God is aware of us and in the details of our lives. And I am grateful for every message that pointed me to Him.

"As in our New Testament story, those blessed with sight will recognize that, in spite of everything else this conference tradition may offer us, it will mean little or nothing unless we find Jesus at the center of it all. To grasp the vision we are seeking, the healing that He promises, the significance we somehow know is here, we must cut through the commotion—joyful as it is—and fix our attention on Him. The prayer of every speaker, the hope of all who sing, the reverence of every guest—all are dedicated to inviting the Spirit of Him whose Church this is—the living Christ, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace.

But we don’t have to be in a conference center to find Him."

                     --Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (The Message, the Meaning, and the Multitude)

sundays

a typical sunday in the Allred home in the year 2019 goes something like this:

7-8:30 wake up and get ready for the day
8:30 leave for church to set up chairs and Kacin helps to prepare the sacrament
9:00-11:00 church meetings
11:00-12:00 home and lunch (usually nachos or leftovers)
12:00-2:30 Brinna naps, Perry watches a "church" show (which just means something like veggie tales), the rest of us nap/read/watch a family movie/play/parent-child one on one meetings

2:30-3:00 family calendaring to go over the upcoming week, family business, then "come follow me" discussion
3:00-4:30 clean up the disaster that is our house and prepare dinner
4:30-7:30 dinner and games, often with another family or two (it was one of my goals to invite people over for sunday dinners this year and we have now had 18 families over so far--I'm not much of a cook but it has been nice to get to know more people)
7:30-8:30 kids ready for bed

there's most often a dance party thrown in there somewhere. because what is a sunday without dancing?

and it is usually the day that my kids have to do multiple pushups and jumping jacks for making rude comments to each other.

Layla's baptism photos

Layla and her twin cousin got a whole photoshoot together before their baptisms. I'm glad my sister was able to capture these two as they anticipated an important step in their lives--baptism. However, I looked at them in their white dresses and thought it's not going to be too long before we are doing this same thing in their wedding dresses (what?! no, no, no...).

Layla worked hard to prepare for baptism. She read so much of the book of mormon. We had a lot of discussions about what it means to get baptized and receive the gift of holy ghost. I always worry if my kids are ready to get baptized--I've never wanted them to take that step without understanding what they are doing. Layla had a sound understanding of why she wanted to get baptized. I know she wants to follow Jesus Christ and to live a good life and return to Him someday. When we talked to her about praying and asking Heavenly Father if she should get baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints she told us she has already been praying about it and she knew that's what she should do.

I really do feel like I can't blink or they will be standing there in their wedding dresses.

Layla is beautiful inside and out, through and through. I am so proud of the girl she is and who she is becoming. I'm excited for her to be baptized and to have made those covenants with her Father in Heaven. Love you, our Layla Belle!