Pita Pizzas and a Puzzle

 

This is the puzzle we finished yesterday.  Today's puzzle is Noah's Ark.

This is Inigo Montoya and Wesley (The Dread Pirate Roberts)
Also known as Trisa and her friend Ashley

Happy Halloween!  Today started super early with a trip down the hill to the high school with Dan for his first drivers ed class.  So early!!!!  When I picked him up he talked and talked all about it all of the way home!  He seemed to have a good early morning.  This evening Dan answered the door for the trick or treaters which freed the rest of us to do what we wanted.  He likes handing out candy.

Out of the whole day, my favorite thing was Derek coming home early.  We made ourselves some pita pizza while silly Halloween specials were on television and Derek helped me start a puzzle I had found the edges for.  It is a puzzle we used to own but lost pieces to and so I got a "new" one at D.I.. It was a puzzle Derek liked better than most.  We are trying to see if this one happens to have all of the pieces.  I like doing things with Derek and I appreciated him working on the puzzle with me even though I know that doing puzzles isn't his favorite.  But I am!  

A Nap In The Sun

This is Trisa.  I'm pretty sure she was enjoying the sun and her doggy friend too!
You've got to love Chewy's contended look!

 I was really tired today.   I didn't get as much sleep last night as I wish I had.  Staying awake at church was SO difficult!  And the talks were good!  So I went home and laid down in a patch of sunshine, and Teddy came to lie down beside me.  I dozed off and on and felt thankful for the warmth of the sun and the warmth of my doggy friend.

Pausing to Appreciate

 This morning my sisters and Mom were still here along with Jake, Dan, Kayli and a nephew.  I was sitting on the beanbag in the sun and took a moment to appreciate the fact that the room was filled with the sound of various groups sitting together and talking.  It was the sound of a room full of people enjoying each other's company.  It is a sound I really enjoy hearing in my house.  I went to join a conversation after that but am glad that I took a moment to pause and appreciate a peaceful happy moment.

Of course I also appreciated seeing my sweet banana holding her monkey:-)

Love and Compassion

Photo by Fadi Xd
on Unsplash

 This weekend was my Ladies retreat -- which includes Sisters / Sisters-in-law plus Mom.  Everyone got to come this time which we are all glad about.  The retreat has not gone as planned due to the health of one of my ladies, but it has been a lesson in love and compassion as I have watched everyone try to help each other in any way possible.  I love these ladies who love so well through the things they say and do, and hope that they will remember some happy moments from the time they were here.

A Chat With A Friend

Brigham is 1 today!
This picture was last night when I was watching him
and he really wanted to open his Dad's
present.  Silly boy.  He had LOTS of his own!

 Today I got to go visit a friend that I haven't seen for a few months.  What a joy to have a good friend to talk to!  We talked about a few different things but always seemed to come back to the gift of a Savior who knows us and loves us.  We do not belong to the same church but many of our beliefs are the same since they are centered on Christ. This visit made for a beautiful morning / early afternoon and later today I will have the joy of visiting my Mom and Sisters at our second annual ladies retreat!  I am so glad they are all coming!  Having people in my life who love me and care about how I am doing and who even WANT to spend time with me is truly a gift!

The Best Kind of Surprise

Teddy and Me a different day

When my alarm went off this morning I did not want to get up.  I was sleepy - unlike the more magical morning before.  But no matter how tired I felt, even after having breakfast, I needed to take the much less sleepy Teddy out for his morning constitutional.  I hurt my knee  a while back and have only been walking a couple of blocks, but it was cold and my tired self decided one block would be sufficient.  

As I walk, I generally talk to Teddy, who I find amusing.  When we got halfway down the block I announced as I always do when we walk down that street, "That is my friend Jan's house, Hi Jan." and then there she was!  She was smiling and waving from the window.  I thought that was an awesome surprise on the cloudy cold morning, but then she did more!  She grabbed a sweater, which I'm sure was NOT sufficient to keep her warm and came outside to see how I was doing.  

I was cold, and tired, and my face probably did not reflect how thankful I was to see her and to have her come and say hello, but it really was the best kind of surprise!  I need to remember to show the joy I have in seeing people.  What a difference it makes when someone goes out of their way to be friendly and kind!

Calm

Photo by Marc Newberry on Unsplash

I have a clear cover on my phone that I can put any kind of picture or words under to make it like a new cover all of the time.  I am absolutely sure that some people would find this to be extremely bothersome, but I get a surprising amount of pleasure trying to come up with something that I will enjoy.  For the last couple of months the cover of my phone has been pictures of pumpkins with the word FALL to celebrate the season. But then it snowed.  

I go through old magazines and look for pictures I like that will fit, and today I chose snowflakes, since they were falling from the sky.  Instead of the word winter though, I chose the word calm.  Couldn't we all use a bit of calm?  I figured during the holiday hustle and bustle that is the last quarter of the year, it would be good to remember to stop sometimes and enjoy a few moments of calm.  To gather peace around me and remember to be grateful.  There is so much good if I look for it!  Recognizing the good, instead of focusing on the bad can help me to feel calm instead of anxious.

May you have a happy season full of calm moments!

I Like You Because......

 

Trisa and her birthday presents.  Brigham loved her cup!
I like Trisa and Brigham because they are both very loveable!

Today I headed off to the chiropractor so he could put my ribs back where they go and tweak my neck so it wouldn't hurt anymore (for now).  He often pushes really hard on some muscle with a knot in it and he was doing that today and said, "Is this awesome?"  I laughed and said, "If pain is awesome then YES!. "  He chuckled and said, "That's why I like you." and then proceeded to explain that he likes that I will joke with him and tease him for his torturous ways.  (Though he didn't actually describe what he was doing as torturous and he is very helpful).  As I left, I thought that it is good to be liked, and that it is also good to remember the power words have to make a difference in somebody's day!