It only matters what I am doing

My thoughts on 35  days on quarantine.

Today we heard ambulances outside our balcony. I counted 15 ambulances. They closed the street across from us for the fire fighters to put out the fire from an old building. Anytime I hear the sound of sirens I get anxious. It reminds me once again that life is fragile and at any moment we could be gone prematurely, especially due to a pandemic. 

We are indeed living a time of crisis but there is nothing we can do for those things we can’t control. The only people who could do anything about it, in today’s fire, are the fire fighters. And that got me thinking; there are a million aspects to life totally out of our control. Focusing on things you can’t control is pointless so why waste your time. 

At a time, such as this, I can’t control what other people do, but I can control what I do. We are keeping ourselves indoors. We are using all our food storage so we don’t need to go out to get anything. For me, I think of it like this: Do your best and have God take care of the rest. The only way I can avoid 100% getting infected with COVID-19 is for me to stay indoors. If I can focus my attention on what I can do to help the situation, that is enough. I should not worry about what others do or not do. I want to be safe, and being safe is up to me. I repeat, It doesn't matter what others are doing. It only matters what I am doing. 

Con amor,

Vero

A letter from sister Wendy Nelson

Thoughts on 34 days on quarantine.

(From sister Nelson)

My Dear Sisters,

I woke up this morning NOT to the shaking of our home from yet another aftershock from the earthquakes we have recently experienced here in SLC, nor to an updated internet view of the mapping of the devastation of the Coronavirus. 

The first image that came to my mind even before I got out of bed was Minerva Teichert’s painting of the woman praying in fields which have been ravaged by crickets. It is called, The Miracle of the Gulls. 

You know that true account. Believers, like you and me, know that the Lord sent numberless seagulls — in the very moment of deepest distress by some, and of deepening faith by others — to devour the crickets and then regurgitate them in the Great Salt Lake. What was the outcome? The lives of some 4,000 pioneers were saved. 

My dear sisters, whom I love more than you would ever believe, you and I are Latter-day women of God, disciples of Jesus Christ, who believe in miracles. Why? Because we know the Source of those miracles. We are perfectly poised to participate in bringing forth the miracle the Lord has in store for the world.  (See Bible Dictionary on “prayer.”)

As you and I continue to pray — and fast as we are able — the Lord WILL send ”seagulls” to devour OUR “crickets” (aka presently, the Coronavirus). 

The politicians and the scientists will do their best to make projections about the days ahead. But — they will not know to factor in “The Miracle of the Gulls.”

Although at this April 2020 General Conference, we will not be able wrap our arms around you, or hear the feelings of your heart, we will be thinking of you — and always praying for you — as you do your work for the Lord that you pre-mortally covenanted you would do. 

A work that makes ALL the difference, helping to gather scattered Israel and to prepare a people ready to receive the Savior when He comes again. 

I pray that each of us will hear exactly the message from April 2020 General Conference the Lord has prepared for us. 

Thank you for your prayers for this unique, “memorable and unforgettable” Conference — because the fight with “the opposition” is real and relentless. 

I leave you with greetings and gratitude from President Russell M. Nelson who loves and honors you, your husband, and your family members. 

With love and faith,

Wendy W. Nelson

Thank you sister Nelson. If President Nelson chose you to be his wife, you must be an amazing wonderful person. 

Con amor,

Vero

Be Still my soul

Today I am sharing what Bianca wrote:

Thoughts on 33 days on quarantine.

Quoting my own child.

"I haven't posted on here in a long time! I hope this finds you well. Recent events have had me feeling a lot of things, and music has been helpful. So I send this out with love! Lately I've had this "ah ha!" moment and fell like God has been teaching me this.. to remember to trust Him. 

A few weeks ago, I had the rare privilege of being on a jog alone in the woods. I was listening to some inspirational music and taking deep breaths in and out. I felt this overwhelming feeling of love from God and these words of comfort to 'remember, thy God doth undertake to guide the future as He has the past." These are lyrics from my favorite hymn and they've been coming too my mind often in all this uncertainty and change. 

Words and intention are powerful! And I keep getting impressions that I need to remember. Everything, even filth, can work together for my good if I choose to let it. Filth turns into beauty in nature. Think of cow poop for example... how that filth actually is turned into fertile ground for growth. I dare say we are in a lot of "crap" right now, and I have no doubt it is preparatory to something beautiful beyond description. Be still my soul... all safe and blessed we shall meet at last." 

Bianca has a beautiful soothing voice and for her and her insights, I am grateful. 

Con amor,

Vero

A blind date to remember

Thoughts on our 32 days on quarantine. 

It was Easter time in April. I was looking forward in getting out of the house to see a cultural show at the Covey Center in Provo, about an hour away from my home. I had two tickets, one for me and one for my daughter Mandy.

The night before the show, Mandy remembered that she had a driving class she couldn't miss and couldn't go with me. I didn't want the ticket to go to waste so I emailed my aunt to ask her if she could contact her friend to see if he would like to use the extra ticket. I didn't even know his name. My aunt had told me about someone she knew but we had not gotten introduced. All I knew was that he came very well recommended by people I trusted.

He responded in the affirmative but he confided with me later that he only did that out of obligation. He didn't want to be rude to my aunt. The next day he came to pick me up. When we got to Provo to eat dinner before the show, Mandy called to tell me that her class got cancelled and that she could come with me after all. We turned around to get her. That impressed me very much because he was so patient. He didn't mind driving all the way back to get my daughter. Mandy was very surprised when she saw Daniel. She had no clue I was on a date.

The three of us enjoyed the show and dinner at a Japanese Restaurant afterwards. I know without a doubt that I was not meeting Daniel for the first time. It was a reunion of sorts. Our kindred spirits knew each other. It felt so familiar that I don't have any other explanation. It didn't feel like we were getting acquainted, It was more like we were being reunited. We knew things about each other without saying a word or explaining. I felt as if i had always known Daniel.

After Daniel dropped us off, Mandy said, "mom, I think he likes you" and that is when my love story gets really exciting! I left something in his car that he needed to return. He came back the next day to return it so we went out again, and again the next day. On the third day is when he proposed. I took it as a joke. I had only known him for three days. We somehow managed to see each other every day until we were married six months later. I am so glad I took the bold initiative to invite him because it proved that it was meant to be. President Monson explained, " There is a guiding hand above all things. Often when things happen, it's not by accident. One day, when we look back at the seeming coincidences of our lives, we will realize that perhaps they weren't so coincidental after all." 

Con amor,
Vero

I miss these people

Thoughts on 31 days on quarantine. 

Life has taught me to be adaptable. We had our calendars all laid out and booked up for months ahead but then something unexpected happened and you find yourself having to completely change everything you had planned.

Here we are at home having to figure out a new plan due to the infamous COVID-19. On one hand, we are missing meetings we had previously scheduled. It means missing events we had hoped and planned to attend. We have to miss out on getting together with people we were looking forward to seeing. I am thinking of a wonderful weeding in particular but it is simply part of life. It is what it is. 

On the other hand, I don’t think there has ever been a time such as this in my life when I have felt the hand of the Lord guiding, protecting and sustaining our family despite of the pandemic.  Today our family connected via zoom. It was wonderful to see all those faces we love so much. We gathered as if we were in the same room. 

This is a time for re-grouping, re-charging, re- energizing, re-connecting, etc. I feel confident this CORONA-19 will soon be a thing of the past, but for now, we need to reach out to those people who need a helping hand. We need to stay connected with those who matter to us. Think about this; today, they are not attending any meetings or going to any sport games or classes. Etc. this is unique for our time and I feel optimistic that there is so much to learn from this crisis. 

There are new things we are learning to do different, like better use of our technology. This is a time to give thanks for those things that we do have and not for what we are missing. For starters, I am grateful for my core beliefs in a loving God who is saddened by what is happening in the world. I am grateful for energy, water, food and shelter. I am grateful for my health. I am immensely grateful for a kind and loving husband, amazing children and beautiful grandchildren inside and out, and for a caring extended family.

 

Con amor, 

Vero 

Vera is one

Thoughts on 30 days on quarantine.

How I wanted to spend this day with our beautiful Vera. I remember vividly this day a year ago. There had been a few false alarms the previous weeks but not this time. Cristi felt she needed to go back to the hospital. I am glad she did, or this baby would have been born at home. During this time, I also found out we were moving to Buenos Aires, a little closer to the U.S. than Manila. 

What a blessing this was for me to have been there. I can't imagine not been able to welcome our newest grand -baby into the world. Today we called to sing  Happy birthday over 6,500 miles away. Oh, how I had wanted to be there in person. To spend this day with our precious Vera would have been heavenly but I feel grateful for the technology that has allowed us to keep in touch since we are not allowed to travel abroad.    

I keep telling myself, nothing can last forever. There have been other pandemics throughout history and somehow people have recovered. I keep hoping that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Despite the fact that we are apart physically our thoughts remain intact. I can't deny that we can't wait to see our grandchildren. How we miss you and wish we could hug you. We pray for you. We think of you dear family. We will get through this! 


Con amor,
Vero

Mommy, I'm hungry!

Thoughts on 29 days on quarantine.

People are posting images to flood Facebook with positive thoughts of Love instead of negativity. What I am sharing is from an email I received today from my busy bee. 

“Have you ever noticed how in the scriptures men are always going up into the mountains to commune with God? Yet in the scriptures we hardly ever hear of women going to the mountains, and we know why—right? Because the women were too busy keeping life going; they couldn’t abandon babies, meals, homes, fires, gardens, and a thousand responsibilities to make the climb into the mountains. 

I was complaining about this to a friend the other day, saying that even as a modern woman I feel like I’m never “free” enough from my responsibilities, never in a quiet enough, or holy enough spot to have the type of communion I want with God. Her response floored me, “That is why God comes to women. Men have to climb the mountain to meet God, but God comes to women where ever they are.”

I have been pondering on her words for weeks and have searched my scriptures to see that what she said is true. God does in deed come to women where they are, when they are doing their ordinary, everyday work. He meets them at the wells where they draw water for their families, in their homes, in their kitchens, in their gardens. He comes to them as they sit beside sickbeds, as they give birth, care for the elderly, and perform necessary mourning and burial rites.

Even the women at the empty tomb, who were the first to witness Christ’s resurrection, were only there because they were doing the womanly chore of properly preparing Christ’s body for burial. In this seemingly mundane and ordinary task these women found themselves face to face with divinity.

So if— like me—you ever start to bemoan the fact that you don’t have as much time to spend in the mountains with God as you would like. Remember, God comes to women. He knows where we are and the burdens we carry. He sees us, and if we open our eyes and our hearts we will see Him, even in the most ordinary places and in the most ordinary things.” Heather Farrell.

I salute all young mothers out there, stay positive. What you are doing matters more than you give yourself credit! 

Con amor,

Vero