2020 Annual Update: A Tale of Thanksgiving

Dearest Friends, 

As I write this, our little family is gearing up for our first Thanksgiving as strictly a foursome. We had plans to head to St. George to be with my parents and extended family (and officially meet the newest member of the Suite Clan -- Celeste's new baby boy Celtin. But like most plans for 2020 -- from cancelled trips to D.C., Vegas, San Francisco and beyond -- things change during a pandemic. And yet, amidst the chaos, hurt, heartache and trials of this past year, I find myself with so much to be grateful for. Likewise, I have been so buoyed up by the #givethanks movement flooding social media channels via (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints President Nelson's) challenge. 

So while I have not participated specifically in the daily posting, let me add to the movement of gratitude with the following family uodate (in the manner of gratitude and thanksgiving,) and because it's going to take more more than one sitting -- so depending on when you start reading this, you may need to check back for updates to complete the whole log. 

So let's begin: I'm thankful for my Family. 

And that starts with my #1, Daniel G. Mangum (or cher danny as I like to say.) Danny has been a rockstar at work. He got a promotion at Mountain West Small Business Finance last winter and is now their Chief Operating Officer. I've watched him make tough decisions for the company -- and coordinate with a host of different personalities to make decisions that help protect the MWSBF employees and the company's longevity. He cares so deeply about his team and Mountain West's employees overall -- especially with all of the changes and added precautions needed for businesses to run safe in this "new normal" (and what does that phrase even mean these days?!?!) 

He hasn't spent much time at his favorite Crossfit Box this past year -- but like a good portion of Americans, has managed to overhaul and update our *home gym. While the beginning of the pandemic found us keeping Uber Eats + Door Dash alive and well, thankfully Danny has also embraced his new hobby of cooking. He likes to do it, and is GOOD at it. Which is a plus on so many levels -- especially since we're currently in the "take three days to cook for Thursday's meal that will be consumed in 15 minutes." So I'm extra grateful he's taken on the bulk of meal planning and execution. It also helps that we recently went through a major home remodel -- so our kitchen is a bit of a joy to be in. 

Danny is definitely the more fun and patient parent (gender stereotypes be damned!) He got our family into mountain biking this past year. And we also tried a bit of glamping and camping. Fun Fact: I am better at glamping than I am at camping.  Even more Fun Fact: I am best at hotel-ing. He and Holden have made a goal to ski 15 times this season, and have already kicked off the year by hitting Brighton on Friday (Nov 19th). 

 

I'm glad I married my best friend. We're seeing a lot more of each other since he's primarily been working from our home office. I love that he's around so much more. He's funny and fun and has the greatest giggle in the world. And yes, I said giggle. 

More coming soon -- but my fingers need a break... 

*our basement family room now housing not only a treadmill, but friend's old elliptical and gently used rower. 

Mother's Day Memory

I don’t know my actual earliest memory of my Mom, but one that is imprinted in my brain is from naptime when we lived across the street from (what my kids now call) “The Red House.” The Red House is actually the house on Eastwood Drive that my mom grew up in, I also lived in my youth, AND where we were living when both Holden and Zoë were both born.

But my memory is from the house kitty-corner to The Red House. In the upstairs bedroom, on what seemed like a GIANT bed, I remember nap-time: my mom reading to me (not sure what story), but cuddled up together in that bed and just hearing her voice, and feeling her body and not having a care in the world – except trying to decide if I wanted to escape sleep more than I wanted to cuddle.

I imagine this image is the one I think about most often because it was imprinted multiple times over. I think back on that moment (or perhaps moments) frozen in time and now, as an adult can wonder: Where was Cassandra? Was Celeste with us, and I just didn’t realize it? How is it that I could feel like I was the only other human in the world at that moment. Just me and my mom.

I don’t remember my time as a newborn – but I do remember time with my newborns. The exhaustion and feeling that you’ll never be the same since you are responsible for another human’s well being. I think about my mom being in “that time” with me. To this day, she says does not remember “the hard parts.” But from my own experience, I can recall on them for her. But I also understand as children age, that work shifts into something even harder--in a different way.

There are so many other memories—the majority involve food.  There’s a reason when I cook or bake something I’m proud of, the highest honor of achievement my children bestow are the words, “This is almost as good as Mama Suites.”

She's an incredible example of service. I firmly believe that the work of social justice is "Women's Work." (Obviously it should be Men's too...but that's a different blog post).

My mom is not one to paint a sign and march at a rally, but she's one to visit the sick and elderly and widowed -- to take in meals and go about her life doing the work of Jesus in realtime (and He was like the ORIGINAL Social Justice Warrior).

I’m grateful for her example.

I'm grateful she gave me life. 

I'm so thankful for my mother. 

2019 Recap: The Things People Say