Good All Around

Payson Utah Temple

Today was a good day.  I don't want to pick just one thing and so here is a short summation of some of the good things.

1.  Dan had drivers ed AND seminary and so I dropped him off at 5:30 a.m. and didn't have to be back until 9:00 a.m.  Can anyone say nap?  I needed that sleep!  So did poor Dan who slept through a part of seminary by accident.

2.  Teddy is a cute dog and enjoyed riding to the school and back to get Dan.

3.  Dan and I went to the library.  I really like libraries!

4.  Tuesday is Temple day.  I work with such nice people and am able to help other people schedule important events.  I enjoy my work there.

5.  When I got home there was a waffle for me!  I had peanut butter, maple syrup, strawberries, and whipped cream.  It was a sweet dinner.                                                      Literally.

6.  I got to talk to my Mom and both of my sisters on the phone.  What a blessing!

7.  I got hugs from the people who live here before coming to bed where I am typing this before, hopefully, going immediately to sleep since the alarm will go off early!

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!

Keeping A Promise

 Quite a while back I promised to finish the pictures of our house by adding the upstairs.  It seemed a bit difficult since we live here and upstairs holds the children's (mostly grown up children) rooms.  I didn't think they'd appreciate me taking pictures without warning.  I finally got smart and had them take the pictures.  The upstairs bathroom and closets are still missing, but if you really want to see it then text me or come on over.

Kayli's Room

Jake's Room

Dan's Room

This one and the next two are the upstairs game room.

We have lived in our house almost a year now.  We love it.  There is always something beautiful to see!  We've been working really hard on the yard.  The front yard is almost done. It has been a lot of work!  We do miss seeing our friends and are still working on making new ones.  I hope all is well with you.

Am I Really Enough?

 

Teddy and me after one of our morning walks.

Have you ever had someone tell you that you are "enough" and immediately, inside your head, you hear, "They don't really know me", followed by all of the ways that they are wrong.  I have.  I know what they are trying to say, but I get this uncomfortable feeling as I list things in my head.  I am not patient enough or energetic enough.  I don't make dinner enough, or help others enough.  I don't spend enough time listening to my family and friends.  There are plenty of ways that I don't feel "enough" on any given day.  So it was with some relief that I heard Sadie Robertson Huff say in her audio book Live On Purpose, "I am enough because God is Enough".  

Trying to be "enough" on our own often looks like perfectionism.  We get it in our heads that we will be enough when .... and we work really hard at everything until we are too tired, or too discouraged and a little too convinced that there is no such thing as enough.  

I love my Savior and it is really only through Him that I am ever truly "enough".  He paid the price for every bout of impatience.  He paid the price for my sins.  He also experienced, through the Atonement, what it feels like to feel so very flawed.  He has compassion for me, and knows how to strengthen me, and help me to learn.

I am determined that next time I hear that I am enough, I will not list all of my flaws in my head.  Instead I will add that I am enough because of Jesus.

Marching Onward: The March Report

March had 2 words to contemplate.  Capable and Create.  My goal was to practice helping others -- and believing I am capable of helping.  I was to create time to serve others, and to spend time with God.  Create beauty, meals, fun.

Alas, April's goal would have worked better for March since it is to cultivate the skill of asking for help when it is needed.  Sigh.  In March I got Covid -- for 10 days!  Then I was depressed and had what I describe as a "zingy headache".  My wrist started hurting somewhere in there and eventually my thumb and the inside of my arm.  I went to Dr. Google and discovered that I have De Quervain's Tenosynovitis.  I acquired a brace to hold my thumb and wrist still on my right hand.  I am right handed!  Naturally my left thumb now hurts so I try to pretend it doesn't.  I'm not good at that kind of pretending.  I'm learning to hit the space bar exclusively with my left thumb though and doing that doesn't hurt.

With my headache, my heart was also often out of rhythm, but I did get a couple of day reprieve before it was time to prepare for my colonoscopy.  Ugh!  A gallon of disgusting drink to swallow while hanging out in or near the bathroom.  Luckily the nurse suggested I have a good tasting drink nearby to hurry and drink after a swallow of yuckiness.  I would not have been able to gag that down without some Ginger Ale.  I did get done a bit earlier than expected.  If I know I have to do something I don't like, I try to get it done as quickly as possible.  I went to bed and slept until my alarm went off and then went to the hospital with Derek.  All went well and I slept pretty much all of Friday.  It's a little freaky to not remember ever getting into a wheelchair or into the car -- or really into the house!

I don't think I practiced helping others much but my family helped me! I spent a lot of time talking to God in my head.  Probably some of it was whiny even though Jesus suffered way worse for me!  I doubt I created many meals, or much fun, but I did decorate the house for Easter -- with some help from Jake and Dan.  There were other good things strewn throughout March that helped me stay mostly ok.

The day after my colonoscopy I didn't feel great but Sunday was a good day.  Then .....  the flu.  At least the doctor who did my colonoscopy thought so when I called him.  Having a fever and achy joints and head is actually worse than drinking a gallon of yuckiness!  Today I finally feel fairly normal except for feeling a little weak and shaky.

So on to April.  I'm so done with March!

Imagine: February's Report

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

 You don't actually have to imagine what my February report is.  I'll give it to you.  Imagine was the word I was to contemplate in February.  My goal was to have activities at the ready (for when people come over) and to try at least 4 new ones.  I was to use my imagination to create solutions to problems, and to make plans (for the yard / garden / blog / family / etc.).   Hmmmm.  I was always an ambitious goal maker!  So the report will really be me looking back at my calendar to see what I actually did and to use my imagination to find ways I may have actually accomplished at least some of my goal!

First, I imagine I at least considered trying four new activities -- but I didn't actually try any of the games or other activities I thought I might.  I did try having a snack out for a friend who was coming to do a craft with me.  I felt like that was a hospitality success for me since I usually wouldn't have thought of that.  Or, I would have over thought it until I didn't do it!  This isn't a big thing.  But perhaps without studying up and thinking about hospitality I wouldn't have done it.

Next.  To imagine solutions to problems you must first have some.  I am not going to report that I didn't have any.  That would be false.  I just used my imagination to forget them I guess!!

February was the month of all of the medical check ups.  I only cried at one and I imagined I could say what I wanted to say without doing that.  Epic fail!  February was also a month where I finally got a man that worked at Agape to smile at me.  Of course Agape is closed down now but it made my day that he smiled at me after all of my efforts to smile and say hello every time I saw him.  I was helping him that day and working together can make a big difference in how someone sees you.

So that is the February report now that it is April!  February was a mostly lovely month!