January APPs!
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Between Christmas last month, a move to a new house, and setting up the Airbnb, we placed over 100 orders on Amazon in the last three months. Mind boggling a little, since that’s just orders, not total items. An earlier month this year while we were in California, we placed…zero. I much more prefer the no spend lifestyle and find much more contentment there, but we’ve found ourselves here right now. With so many new purchases, I’ve got some product discoveries to recommend. My wholehearted belief with product recs is, if you don’t need it, don’t buy it. The things on this page will not make you happier. They are simply tools. If you are in need of one, great. If not, carry on. In no particular order:
This laundry hamper. In our previous house, our little laundry room was in the closet of a bedroom, and everything was on one level. I could walk there in about 6 steps from my own bed. Our laundry room now is in the basement of a two story house which means I’m now carrying laundry up and down multiple sets of stairs. I needed laundry baskets, and workhorses. Enter these, which are huge, vertically oriented, have straps at the top for easy carrying up and down stairs, waterproof, and neutral enough to not have to be hidden away.
Bubble bath. Natural, local, great bubbles and comes unscented! A fraction of the price of the fancy brands (this one is $14 for 32oz) and a huge bottle made to last.
This was our first year we got an artificial Christmas tree and we might never go back. We have this one and are so happy with it. (It was $199 when I bought it in November) Sparse branches, modern looking, reusable investment, and the best part, no needles to vacuum.
Beautiful little salt cellar. I really love sea salt. Daniel got me two specialty sea salts in my stocking at Christmas, that’s how much I love it. This salt cellar is marble and sits on our counter, it’s under $20 and is beautiful and functional.
One of the few other things that earned prime real estate on our counter: this knife set. These knives were made for me. (Also on sale at the time of this writing for $75!)
I’m packing lunches for Trey the first time every day now, which is my reality for many, many years ahead of me. I love a good bento lunch box, and Innobaby sent me their newest one to try, Flexnlock. I like that it’s silicone, not plastic, and has a removable, washable separate tray that seals and is liquid safe! No more spills. Also new out by Innobaby: fij-its, and these bath toys. Upgrade your washcloth with the silicone version, which never molds! And I’m always so happy and proud to see companies working to develop products that foster inclusivity for atypical kids in the classroom and at home.
Food Huggers sent me these which are totally amazing. Reusable food storage in a variety of creative shapes and sizes (check out these made specifically for keeping cut avocados green!)
Stocked the Airbnb with my favorite restaurant quality kitchen towels.
TWO LEGACIES
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Gilbert LeRoy Sheffield
September 24th, 1929 - September 29th, 2021
Gilbert “Gil” LeRoy Sheffield passed away peacefully in Walnut Creek, California on September 29th, 2021. He lived to celebrate his 92nd birthday just five days earlier, and was able to be with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in his last days.
Gil, “Gramps”, was born on September 24th, 1929 in Oakland, California to Fred and Cornelia Sheffield (Wood). Their only child, he was grateful for their provision during the Great Depression, but would describe his childhood as lonely. He would go on to have four children, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, and his very favorite times in life were when his now enormous, loud, tight knit family gathered together, something he only dreamed of as a child.
A pep rally leader, Gramps studied business and pledged Pi Kappa Alpha at the University of California, Berkeley, where he met Barbara Larson and took her on their first date to a dance at his fraternity in 1948. She agreed to marry him in 1951, knowing he was about to be deployed to the Korean War. He tells the story with tears in his eyes and shaking his head, after all this time still in disbelief that she married him, knowing he was about to move across the world for an undetermined amount of time, not sure if he’d ever make it back. Their love was deep and true, and their story, one for the books.
One month after being deployed, Barbara would receive a telegram in the mail: “Your husband has been wounded.” She made a conscious decision not to worry, and gratefully welcomed Gil home (and in mostly one piece, except for part of one finger) in 1952. His valiant efforts commanding his platoon and serving as First Lieutenant earned him high praise along with both a Purple Heart and Silver Star. Even this year, he still talked with glassy eyes of how he wished he could thank his platoon for nominating him for such an honor. He was deeply proud of his country, and considered it an honor to have given his service.
He spent most of his work life as Executive VP at Pacific Telesis, now PacBell, where he became the first CEO to promote women. Visionary and esteemed by many, he was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan as the Director of Human Resources Department, now EDD, where he spent two years in Sacramento developing a program helping people acquire skills to reach gainful employment. Daily, he modeled his high regard for education and work, while also making sure his wife, children, and grandchildren knew that they were the most important things to him.
Faith was a pillar in his life, governing his steadfast values and everyday decisions. He was exceptionally generous with his time and resources, volunteering with Young Life, as well as serving on various boards and committees, including 5 years as Elder at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 7 years on the Gospel Light Board of Directors, 10 years as Director of Mount Hermon, and 15 years as Trustee of Westmont College.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Barbara (for two weeks), his children Gail, Mark, Todd, and Sally, grandchildren Allison, Abram, Madison, Jordan, Grace, Sadie, Ryley, Bodhi, and great grandchildren Trey, Ellie, and Blaire. He joins his parents, many of his friends, and his first grandchild, Elliott, in Heaven.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 6th at 11:00am at the Rossmoor Event Center, 1021 Stanley Dollar Drive. Kindly, masks preferred. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to two organizations meaningful to Gil, Young Life or Mount Hermon. A funeral will be held next spring in Washington, D.C., where Gil will be honored for his service and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Barbara Ruth Larson Sheffield
December 19th, 1927 - October 14th 2021
Barbara Ruth Sheffield passed away just as she would have wished, swiftly, (so like her!) holding the hands of her children and grandchildren, listening to “Amazing Grace” on October 14th, 2021 in Walnut Creek, California. Just two weeks prior, she lived to see the love of her life, Gil Sheffield, enter Heaven. We are so glad they weren’t apart for long, and we know they are rejoicing together.
Barbara, “Grammy,” was born on December 19th, 1927 to Roy and Ruth Larson (McGrath) in San Francisco. Like Gil, she was an only child growing up in the Great Depression, as were most of her friends. She would describe herself as a shy child, which we all find ironic and hilarious, as she turned out to be one of the most extroverted and outgoing people we know. Her mother nicknamed her “Bob,” for her tomboyish nature, since she was always out playing kick the can, football, and roller derby.
She outgrew her shyness during her college years, where she attended San Francisco City College and then the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in History, pledged Sigma Kappa and started dating Gil. She blossomed at Cal and became a social butterfly, actively engaged in her sorority, planning events, and her very favorite, attending football games, even the Rose Bowl in 1949. She married Gil on April 20th, 1951, in a borrowed wedding dress (ever the practical), and sent him off to the Korean War a year later. She took a job with Western Pacific Rail Road, where her father was VP, and then moved back in with her parents in San Francisco for a year. Daily, Gil and Barbara wrote letters to each other, which were recently found and are a family treasure, a window into their 23 and 25 year old selves. They talk of saving money and having a family one day, and are tangible evidence of their real life love story.
Gil returning from the war and starting his career at PacBell meant a move to Sacramento, followed by 13 consecutive moves in 13 years as Gil was being groomed for executive promotion. During that time they welcomed Gail, Mark, Todd, and 11 years later, Sally. They eventually settled in Lafayette for 35 wonderful years on Rose Court of raising kids, swimming in the pool, Young Life in their home, and an open door policy for everyone, many of whom also consider Barbara and Gil to be their second parents. Gil would jokingly yell, “Barbara, lock the refrigerator!” when the front door would open as they were often welcoming many growing high school boys. They truly loved those years and they are so representative of who they are.
In Lafayette Barbara joined everything: the Orinda Tennis Club, the PTA, Bible Study Fellowship Leader, Classroom Room Mother, Sunday School Teacher, City Impact Tutor, Celebrate Recovery Volunteer, and more. She was a force! Like Gil, she loved to give of her time and resources, and recognizing this, Gil gave her her own account to give from, which she used liberally and got so much joy out of.
Meaningful friendships and gathering people would turn out to be an overarching theme of Barbara’s life. Even with frequent moves in Gil’s early career days at PacBell, Barbara prioritized relationships, many of which she considered influential and instrumental in her faith, in particular moving next door to the Greigs in Glendale. Along with time with the Lord, exercising was central to her daily life, which mostly looked like walking the Lafayette Reservoir daily at 7:00am, hiking, golfing, playing tennis until age 86, and still kayaking at 93. She could run circles around all of us.
In 1999 Barbara and Gil purchased a house on Lake Almanor that needed some work, hoping to get five years out of it. They renovated and lived there for half the year, spending the other half in Borrego and occasionally in Walnut Creek, and twenty two years later, it has become home to the family’s annual 4th of July gathering, boat rides, lots of laughs, one grandchild’s wedding, and where Barbara requested to be buried, which the family is looking forward to honoring next Spring. It is everything she wanted: a place to gather together. She will be dearly missed by four children, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Donations can be made to two organizations Grammy was involved with: City Team Ministries, Oakland or the Salvation Army, Sacramento.
