Nina and I just got back from the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center (aka the prison). Thursday evening is the normal Relief Society meeting at the prison but because Nina’s counselors were going to be with family, I went with her instead. I’m in the process of being cleared as a volunteer at the prison … just need to attend a training class in January so that I can assist in the future if needed. Today was Thanksgiving so Nina spent the day yesterday baking cookies, brownies, pumpkin bread, and making Rice Krispie treats to take to the inmates and guards at the prison this evening. All of these treats for the inmates have to be individually wrapped and have to be consumed during the meeting. No food can be taken back to their cells. As an activity she took a craft up for the women to do. Once the craft was completed, the women were allowed to take it back to their units and keep it. The craft took a little preparation work. It was a picture of three candles. Then yarn was glued onto the outline of the candles. After that tin foil was pressed down on the paper to make indentations around the yarn. Then using Sharpies colored markers, one colors in the indentations and the result looks pretty much like a small stained-glass window. It’s very clever.

But, the inmates can’t have scissors or play with glue. The Young Women in the ward did the part of putting the yarn on the paper as part of their service project last week. The inmates could then put on the tin foil and color the craft. They had a great time and were particularly happy that they could take the finished product back to their rooms when they were finished.

My part in this was to sit at one of the tables and kind of help keep order. It was very interesting listening to the girls chatter about their day and whatever came to mind. They apparently had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner with real turkey today. They talked a lot about the things they were thankful for. One girl said she was thankful that she was still alive and that if she wasn’t there in prison, she was sure that she wouldn’t have been alive today. They were thankful for family who visited them. They expressed over and over again that they were thankful that we had come up this evening and that we cared for them. It was pretty humbling. Most of them know Nina (she’s been in the Relief Society at the prison for more than two and a half years) and two different girls said to me that they knew that Nina cared for them and was interested in their well being.

Well, I also know that she does as well. She more than cares for them … she is passionate about them and their well-being. Many of these girls have destroyed their family relationships and have little or no contact with family. Others come from situations so dysfunctional that a caring or loving relationship could never exist there. Most of them have had to become manipulative in order to survive and don’t know how to live otherwise. In all of that, Nina truly cares for them and goes far beyond the mark in filling her calling and is a perfect role model for them. I was very thankful to have been there with her this evening.

It has been a day for thanksgiving, for sure. Nina prepared a delightful Thanksgiving meal this morning. We loaded it in the car about noon and drove over to Soda Springs where mother had a lovely table set ready for the feast. And feast we did. We left much of it behind for them to snack on for the next couple of days. Some of the good stuff came back, however. In fact, as soon as I post this I’m going to get a piece of pumpkin pie. That should be a good “night time before going to bed” snack!

We have a white board on the inside of the door to the garage. It’s intended for reminder notes, usually for things that we need to buy at the grocery store. As I was taking things out to the car, I noticed that Nina had begun to make a list of all the things she was thankful for. It is a long list with family at the top (noted by name). Some of our family have gathered in Chandler. Others had their holiday at home. One met with a number of other families at the church for a community dinner. All were safe, warm, well-fed, and having a good time. I too am thankful for family. I’m thankful to be alive. I’m thankful to have been at the prison this evening … and even more thankful to come back out again and come home. I’m thankful for a Heavenly Father and a Savior who love me. I’m getting a bit teary eyed. Time for some pie….