The New Normal?

There seems to be a new normal going on around here.  The COVID-19 pandemic has us wearing masks in public to help with "keeping the virus from spreading".

Here are a few shots that our family has sent us with their "new look".

Lisa on her way to Costco

Janelle on her way to visit her baby in the hospital

Renee at a doctor visit with her cute baby

Rachel at work

Kristine and Bryce with their newborn twins

I resisted making a mask until it was announced by Costco that you couldn't shop there unless you had one.  

I used this pattern to make my first masks. 

Scott is getting ready to go to the store with his new mask I finished today.

I was happy to find the new mask pattern that is much more comfortable to wear and easier to make.  

Here's the video with the  step-by-step instructions to make the easier mask:

And life goes on.......

Songs of Testimony

Ever since I was a young child,  I have had a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was introduce to the Gospel as I attended Sunday School and Primary and sang the children's hymns. 

This is a picture of me with my older brother, Craig 

Last week when I was in Idaho, I was invited to share my testimony to my grandchildren, ages 9-2.  What better way to bear my testimony than through the words of Primary hymns.

I Am a Child of God

I like how this video portrays that the title of this song applies to everyone -- both young and old.

A Child's Prayer

This song is sung using sign language.  Notice the first verse is a question.  The second verse is the answer.  

We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet

As an adult,  this hymn gives me a lot of peace, particularly during this COVID-19 pandemic.  I look to our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson as he has calmly counseled us with optimism. He invited us to fast and pray for healing and an end to the pandemic.   

As I Walk with Jesus

The video shows examples of how we can "walk with Jesus". The song has a great message found in the chorus: 

As I walk with Jesus to my home above,

He will bless me with His Spirit and fill me with His love,

Change my heart forever and help me clearly see.

I will walk with Jesus, and He will walk with me. 

The Miracle

This song bears a strong testimony of the mission of Jesus Christ 

“The Miracle”

by Shawna Belt Edwards

Jesus walked upon the water.

He stilled the storm and calmed the angry sea.

With His hands He healed the leper.

He made the lame to walk, the blind to see.

He fed a thousand people with a loaf or two of bread.

And when the ruler’s daughter died,

He raised her from the dead.

Jesus is a God of miracles;

Nothing is at all impossible to Him.

But I know this:

Of all His miracles, the most incredible must be

The miracle that rescues me!

Jesus bled and died to save me—

A price that I could never pay alone.

When He rose again, He gave me

The greatest gift the world has ever known!

Yes, I can be forgiven every time that I repent,

And someday He will lift me up to live with Him again.

Jesus is a God of miracles;

Nothing is at all impossible to Him.

But I know this:

Of all His miracles the most incredible must be

The miracle that rescues me,

The miracle that rescues you and me!

© 2018 by Shawna Belt Edwards. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. This notice must be included on each copy made.

Gethsemane

This song is a wonderful way to teach children about the Atonement, 

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

This video show children how they can be like Jesus

I  would invite you to share these songs with your children or grandchildren.   

(Click onto the title link of each song to watch each video on Youtube) 

Grandbaby #11

It's a girl!  She was born to Janelle and Dave.  We are so happy to have her join our family.  She is a miracle baby and we are excited for the Anderson family.  

Yes, she was born during the COVID-19 pandemic.  And no, her name isn't Corona, it's Mary Katelyn.  

Adversity

"Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it. Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping stones?"  Dallin H. Oaks

This morning after watching Music and the Spoken Word on TV, a past BYU Devotional given by Dallin H. Oaks came on.  The speech was titled "Adversity" and it was given on January 17, 1995.  I agree with Elder Oaks when he said that "adversity will come to all." Then he asked, "how we will we react to it?"  I'm hoping that I'm using my adversities as stepping stones and that my adversities are making me stronger.

You can listen to the whole devotional below.  You can skip past the introductions and start listening to the meat of his devotional starting at 4:35.

You can read the speech by clicking here.  

COVID - 19: "The Rules as of Today"

As Scott and I were checking out at Walmart the other day, this sign was 6 feet away from the front of each cash register lane.

Which brings me to this list that Rachel shared with me yesterday.  (Thank you COVID-19)

The Rules as of today:

1. Basically, you can't leave the house for any reason, but if you have to, then you can.

2. Masks are useless, but maybe you should wear one, it can save you, it is useless, but maybe it is mandatory as well.

3. Stores are closed, except those that are open.

4. You should not go to hospitals unless you have to go there. Same applies to doctors, you should only go there in case of emergency, provided you are not too sick.

5. This virus is deadly but still not too scary, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster.

6. Gloves won't help, but they can still help.

7. Everyone needs to stay HOME, but if it's important then GO OUT.

8. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarket, but there are many things missing when you go there in the evening, but not in the morning. Sometimes.

9. The virus has no effect on children except those it affects.

10. Animals are not affected, but there is still a cat that tested positive in Belgium in February when no one had been tested, plus a few tigers here and there…

11. You will have many symptoms when you are sick, but you can also get sick without symptoms, have symptoms without being sick, or be contagious without having symptoms.

12. In order not to get sick, you have to eat well and exercise, but eat whatever you have on hand and it's better not to go out, well, but no…

13. It's better to get some fresh air, but you get looked at very wrong when you get some fresh air, and most importantly, you don't go to parks or walk. But don’t sit down, except that you can do that now if you are old, but not for too long or if you are pregnant (but not too old).

14. You can't go to retirement homes, but you have to take care of the elderly and bring food and medication.

15. If you are sick, you can't go out, but you can go to the pharmacy.

16. You can get restaurant food delivered to the house, which may have been prepared by people who didn't wear masks or gloves. But you have to have your groceries decontaminated outside for 3 hours. Pizza too?

17. Every disturbing article or disturbing interview must start with " I don't want to trigger panic, but…"

18. You can't see your older mother or grandmother, but you can take a taxi and meet an older taxi driver.

19. You can walk around with a friend but not with your family if they don't live under the same roof.

20. You are safe if you maintain the appropriate social distance, but you can’t go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance.

21. The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours, no, four, no, six, no, we didn't say hours, maybe days? But it takes a damp environment. Oh no, not necessarily.

22. The virus stays in the air - well no, or yes, maybe, especially in a closed room. In one hour a sick person can infect ten, so if it falls, all our children were already infected at school before it was closed. But remember, if you stay at the recommended social distance, however in certain circumstances you should maintain a greater distance, which, studies show, the virus can travel further, maybe.

23. We count the number of deaths but we don't know how many people are infected as we have only tested so far those who were "almost dead" to find out if that's what they will die of.

24. We have no treatment, except that there may be one that apparently is not dangerous unless you take too much (which is the case with all medications).

25. We should stay locked up until the virus disappears, but it will only disappear if we achieve collective immunity, so when it circulates… but we must no longer be locked up for that?

Rachel found the list  on this Facebook page.

As long as I'm on this subject, here is a funny picture of Reed Christensen's sister-in-law who got married just before they closed the temples for COVID-19.

Below is a video of talented singers, Home Free, explaining it all......

You can also see the video by clicking here

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

This past Sunday as we watched General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this closing hymn was the highlight of the conference for me.

Templehousegalery.com explains the uniqueness of the presentation of hymn:

The 190th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 2020 featured Latter-day Saints from around the world virtually joining The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in a prerecorded performance.

In addition to the historic significance April’s general conference holds as the bicentennial anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision — one of the Church’s most important foundational events — risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the Church’s official choir could not sing live, as they normally would.

These unique circumstances provided even more value to a recently produced compilation of prerecorded videos of the iconic Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and choirs of Latter-day Saints from congregations across the globe.

At the close of the Sunday afternoon session, the preproduced video of Church members on six continents singing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” along with the Church’s iconic choir was broadcast by satellite and streamed by internet to millions of people worldwide who listened to general conference on Church and public-facing channels.

Latter-day Saint choirs from Accra, Ghana; Mexico City, Mexico; Seoul, South Korea; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Frankfurt, Germany; and Auckland, New Zealand, participated in the almost five-minute rendition of the beloved Church hymn.

Speaking of  being grateful for our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson asked that we fast on Good Friday that our lives may be "normalized" as we are dealing with this "present pandemic"

The church news states:

Latter-day Saints and all others who want to participate are being called to join in a worldwide fast.

“For all whose health may permit, let us fast, pray, and unite our faith once again,” said President Russell M. Nelson in his Saturday evening general conference address. “Let us prayerfully plead for relief from this global pandemic.

“I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened and life normalized.”

This video shows President Nelson's invitation"

As I fasted on Good Friday and listened to this 2015 recording of the  Hallelujah Chorus, I felt connected to my brothers and sisters around the world in a united cause.  

Sabbath Day Worship With a 2-Year Old

On March 12, 2020 our church made this announcement:

As the rapid spread of COVID-19 continues across the globe, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced Thursday afternoon that all Church gatherings—including public worship services and sacrament meetings,......will be suspended immediately. The announcement included no end date. 

A week and a half later I found myself in Idaho welcoming home our twin grandbabies from the hospital.

Saturday was the first day all five Jeppsons were home together.  On Sunday morning I found myself with my two-year old granddaughter while her parents and newborn siblings slept in.  We had a special time listening to songs about Jesus.  The songs brought tears to my eyes as we both learned about the special mission of Jesus Christ.

Enjoy a couple of the songs we watched:

The Miracle is a song written by Shawna Belt Edwards to teach children and youth about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I Will Walk with Jesus is written by Stephen P. Schank.  We can be assured that Jesus Christ will walk with us along the way. When we choose to walk with Him, we find safety,  purpose and salvation.

Double Blessings!

Grandbabies #9 and #10 arrived this month just in time for a Valentine's Day treat.  Baby girl and baby boy joined Kristine and Bryce keeping the Magnusson grandchildren count at an even 5 girls and 5 boys.  We couldn't be more excited!

 Let the fun begin!

A Mission Memory

We have been home from our mission for almost 9 months.  As I think back on the many experiences we had, this reading from the Book of Mormon and discussion with Charles is one of my most precious memories.

 In this video, we are reading from and discussing 3 Nephi 11:15

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

Book of Mormon reading from Kathleen Magnusson on Vimeo. 

Chase's Baptism

Earlier this month, we traveled north to Idaho.....

....so we could attend the baptism of our grandson, Chase.  

We are proud of him and that he has followed the example of the Savior.  

Matthew 3:16
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Acts 2:37-38

37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Click on the arrow to view my favorite depiction of Jesus' baptism

Baptism 

Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott

Music: Crawford Gates

1. Jesus came to John the Baptist,

In Judea long ago,

And was baptized by immersion

In the River Jordan's flow.

2. "To fulfill the law," said Jesus,

When the Baptist questioned why,

"And to enter with my Father

In the kingdom up on high."

3. Now we know that we must also

Witness faith in Jesus' word,

Be baptized to show obedience,

As was Jesus Christ, our Lord.