The Library Book

 

I think  I would really enjoy going to a library like this!
Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash

Yesterday I went to the library with Dan.  I already have 3 audio books from the online library and several books here that I want to read but haven't, so naturally I came home with four books. (I know.  It's a bit ridiculous but I do love having piles of books around!)  I took one of them with  me when I went to an appointment with Kayli, but I failed to bring it home.  I did not want to turn around and go back to Springville to get it.  Thankfully, Kayli went back for me on her way home from work.  I am sure she would have preferred to come straight home and it was thoughtful of her to pick it up anyway.  I was and am really thankful for her thoughtfulness.  It was a bright spot in my day.

The Gift of a Song

I have always been very affected by music.  It can ease stress, help me feel calm, and bring the Spirit.  Today was a good day and I had a lot of "favorite" moments but I decided to go with this one because it was first, and it set a good tone for the day.  This morning right before 8 Trisa texted me the link to this song by Casting Crowns who is one of the Christian singing groups we enjoy.  I decided to share the words with you.  I hope you will love them too.

Photo by Ryan Hutton on Unsplash

Somewhere In Your Silent Night 

All is calm and all is bright

Everywhere but in your heart tonight

They're singing carols of joy and peace

But you feel too far gone and too far out of reach

Somewhere in your silent night

Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried

Hope is here, just lift your head

For love has come to find you

Somewhere in your silent night

From heaven's height to manger low

There is no distance the Prince of Peace won't go

From manger low to Calvary's hill

When your pain runs deep

His love runs deeper still

He has always loved you, child

And He always will

Somewhere in your silent night

Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried

Hope is here, just lift your head

For love has come to find you

Somewhere in your silent night

Lift your head

Lift your heart

Emmanuel will meet you where you are

He knows your hurt

He knows your name

And you're the very reason that He came

Somewhere in your silent night

Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried

Hope is here, just lift your head

For love has come to find you

Somewhere in your silent night

Love will find you

Ooh, love will find you

Love will find you

Written by:  Bernie Herms, Matthew West, and Mark Hall

The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer....

Pictures of cute puppies
might help Christmas cheer too!
Photo by Andrew Te on Unsplash

 ....is singing loud for all to hear! (Elf)  Today while cleaning the kitchen I had Christmas music playing and I was belting out all of the words I knew.  Dan was upstairs, Derek was downstairs, and Teddy didn't care if I was singing as long as I was also throwing his toy moose when he brought it to me, but it did raise my spirits and so I think that counts!

Deer, A Luxurious Shelf, Meditation, and Feeling Better

Today I wondered where the deer that have been regulars in our yard went.  As I walked Teddy I found a LOT of them.  The brave, bold mama deer who doesn't cower at all when Teddy lunges and growls and the other six deer run away.  The 4 point buck, and the 3 point buck along with a lot of other deer.  All seemed to be right there along the two blocks we walked.

Later I went into the laundry room where Derek and I put up a shelf on Saturday and put a couple of things on it.  It is the nicest laundry room I've ever had, and it's quite a luxury to have an entire shelf that I currently don't need.  All of the stuff is hidden away in the closet where it can have the door shut upon it.

Today I also tried out Sheng Zhen Meditation again.  It is kind of like a smiley Tai Chi with flowy movements.  Later I started listening to a book called Feel Better in 5 by Dr. Rangan Catterjee who is a Dr. from the UK.  It is an interesting book on its own, made better because he has a fun British accent.  I have read so many self help books at this point that I often hear the same ideas over and over (which is just fine).  This had some of those and some newer ones.  One thing he says is that health isn't a destination, it is something you do.  

He has 6 ideas to help.  I will just mention the first and the last.  The first is to start easy.  The easier the behavior the less motivation is needed (and motivation fluctuates).  His example was some guy who hated flossing his teeth so he decided he could floss one tooth after brushing his teeth.  Naturally eventually he has made the habit of flossing and does them all.

The last thing he mentioned in this particular area was to celebrate every time you make another step successfully.  If you exercise for 5 minutes congratulate yourself heartily:-).  The happier you feel after doing something healthy, the more likely you will want to do it again - so do lots of celebrating.

There were a lot of good things in this day and I am really thankful.  I know that I really need those days that I feel like I've managed to do a lot of good things!

To The Rescue!

 

Mike, Tia and Brigham
on the plane home from
Michigan

I'm sure that when Tia brought Brigham over to visit she didn't realize she was showing up just when I needed her to rescue me from my sad self.  (I discovered later that I forgot to take my pile of medicines this morning and so I'm now blaming the sads on that!) Anyhow, after I hugged Brigham and watched him play with the deer statues in our window, Derek took him out to play with Aunt Kayli. Tia hugged me and then stayed and talked to me for a while and it made a huge difference!  I am so glad she came.  

I was, of course, also super glad to see Brigham who really enjoyed playing with the Christmas decorations because those are more fun than toys!

Brigham is NOT sad here.  I pointed the camera at him.
He was frowning but saw the camera and gave me a smile.
Then the long lasting flash came on and so he hid his eyes
and that is what the camera caught.  He went right back to
playing with the nutcracker after that.

A Rest

We've had this chair for a very long time.  Derek got it for me when the girls were little.  Back then it didn't have a snake puppet along the back, or an electric blanket on it, but it was still a good chair!

Today I had a headache - again.  I'm rather tired of having headaches.  I haven't been as bothered by them lately, but the last week seems to be the exception.  Ugh.  I got up anyway and tried to make it go away.  I didn't notice that it worked much, but it's not like you can skip to the end of the day!  

I helped Derek put a shelf in the laundry room with a bar to hang clothes, and I went to my first gender reveal ever.  It was for Trevor and Mac (Amanda's brother and sister-in-law).  It's a boy!  Then I came home.  I had been kind of cold all day and so I left on my winter coat and hat and sat in my chair with the electric blanket on high and dozed off and on.  I was, and am, thankful that I finally did get warm, and I feel a bit better for having taken a rest.  Sometimes there just is no substitute for a good rest!

This really doesn't have much to do with my day.  This is what I am looking at as I get ready to turn out the light.  We had dinner and a movie at Connor and Amanda's tonight.  Their apartment is clean and festive and they are very welcoming.  It was a fun evening thanks, at least in part, to the fact that I got to fit a rest in!

A Day I'm Grateful For Included:

Christmas Decorations

Mike, Tia, and Brigham sending pictures and coming home

and

My Sister Tina's Birthday!

A picture in the dark -- but you can still see the ladder we haven't quite finished with!

The fireplace with all of the stockings except Brighams.  We put my nephew Bryce' stocking in his spot for now.

Another angle of the fireplace plus the entertainment center.

A gift from last year.  It's easier to see the picture in person I think.
I love it!

The entryway is ready to receive you if you come visit.
You can sign the guest book!

One of the piano room cabinets.

Don't look too closely at this one.  The tree is barely holding together
and I didn't work very hard at fixing the decorations that were still on from last year!

You can't have too many nativity scenes around the house!

Naturally I love this one.  This is Mike with Brigham.  They were getting ready to go out to find and cut down a Christmas tree.  They were in Michigan this morning.

This is Brigham at his Nana's house in Michigan.
He is feeding the dogs instead of himself in this picture.
I'm sure he's a favorite!

And last but not least my sister Tina!
Today is her birthday.
I stole this picture from Facebook because I don't take enough.
Tina is the best older sister ever.  I really enjoy spending time with her.
Lately when we are together people keep asking her if I'm her Mom!
That's what happens when you have short white hair and your sister has long not white hair.
Ha ha ha!  We just laugh and she calls me Mom occasionally just for fun.
I think Tina is pretty much good at everything and I love her.

People and Pie

I tried key lime pie for the first time today.  I believe that Leon made it.
This picture isn't the same pie, but the pie he made looked equally good!
Photo by Takuya Nagaoka on Unsplash

 Happy Thanksgiving!  This has been a most unusual Thanksgiving.  Tia, Mike and Brigham are in Michigan, Connor and Amanda were with some of her family, and Derek, Trisa, Kayli, Jake, Dan and I were here.  We didn't even have turkey!  We had roast beef instead.  Derek came up with a good thankful activity that I enjoyed and he helped a lot in the kitchen where I feel like I spent most of my day.

My favorite part of the day was when Derek's parents and various brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews came for pie.  We had so MUCH pie!!  It was all very good, but visiting with everyone was the best!  We have such terrific family members on both sides of the family and are thankful when we get a chance to visit with them.

Pie is good, but I love the people the most!

Quiet Moments

 

I need to take more pictures!
This is Brigham playing the piano
at his house.

Trisa was here today and we got a few minutes where it was just us home.  And the dogs.  She is a good listener and I love talking to her and listening to her.  

Then a friend called and had good news that eased some of my worry for her.  I was glad that she took the time to tell me how things were going.

Later a quiet, "Thank you Mama.  Thanks for taking care of me.", was one of those moments that make us Mamas really glad to be Mamas of really good kids.

A quiet moment with Derek eating too much sugar (on the day before we eat too much in general) and talking about places we'd like to go on vacation was good too.

And finally, as I boiled sweet potatoes, I heard Tia and Brigham in the background.  They had called Aunt Kayli and so I got to run over and say hello.  Apparently Brigham stood by himself today (without holding on to something).  Yay for our cute grandbaby and his parents!

Now for a good night's sleep and a day of giving thanks!

Something To Be Grateful For

Teddy on a snowier morning walk.

 This morning after going on a cold walk with Teddy I walked him into the backyard and let him off of his leash so he could run around and then I sat at the edge of the hill.  I was wearing snow pants because they are warm.  I was tired and not feeling particularly cheerful and Teddy, who would usually enjoy a jaunt around the hillside, just sat by me.  So I sat overlooking the canyon with my arm around my dog buddy and felt thankful for a peaceful moment.

I had strawberries, raspberries, syrup and whipped cream.  Yum!
Photo by Sheelah Brennan on Unsplash

Later, after a rough late morning, early afternoon (I was tired and therefore sad) I went to the temple to work in the office.  I was greeted with smiles and people who were happy to see me.  We were really busy and time went by quickly.  Afterwards I drove home and was met with a prepared dinner of bacon, eggs, and waffles with fruit.  It was really great and I was thankful for that too.

Always there is something to be grateful for!

Magical Monday Morning Mom

Me earlier this year.

Today was one of those Mondays where I got up early (for me) and quickly got dressed, made the bed, ate breakfast, made a grocery list, started the laundry, took Dan to seminary, went shopping, returned something at the UPS store, picked Dan up, and then had him drive me home.  After that I put away groceries, walked the dog, reviewed some notes, and contemplated my last three weeks while waiting for my counselor, and then had a chat with her.  By then I was hungry again and had lunch.  It felt like a really productive morning and I was able to pull out surprising amounts of energy.  It is nice to have a day now and then where I can feel like a super hero.  You know -- Magical Monday Morning Mom!

The afternoon was pretty good as I was with a friend and her children who love me.  That's good too.  Tonight I'm feeling a lot less magical and so I'd better get to bed to see if I can restore some of that energy.  I hope your Monday was Magical and you felt a bit like a super hero too!

Sunday. A Good Day

These pictures are probably more than a month old, but I don't have new ones and he's just so cute!

Our church starts at 8:30 a.m. and I am finding it really hard to stay awake for the whole first hour.  Even when the talks are interesting I struggle!  Thankfully it was Sunday School next and Derek and I teach a youth class that we really enjoy.  It's a LOT easier to stay awake when you are teaching!

At home I was working on a gift for a friend that is a creative project.  I really enjoyed doing that and as I was finishing Tia and Brigham came!  I was so  glad to see them.  I have wanted to see them all week.  I like to watch Aunt Kayli and Brigham.  He giggles a lot for her.  He also likes Grandpa who is always good with little people.  Teddy is a big favorite too.  Teddy doesn't quite know what to think of Brigham and usually ends up in his kennel, but then Brigham will go over and squeal with delight and reach in to beep Teddy's nose.  Teddy doesn't like it when Brigham crawls, or walks, or is flown around like an airplane, but somehow doesn't seem to be bothered by having his nose beeped!

There were other happy things in my day but I don't think you would enjoy reading about every little thing!  It is Thanksgiving week and I am feeling thankful for that.  A holiday that reminds us to notice how blessed we are and to be grateful is something to be thankful for! :-)

The Chosen

 

Picture from The Chosen Facebook page.
Those are the backs of the person who plays Matthew on the left,
and the one who plays Jesus on the right.

Last night before I wrote on my blog, I took a trip down a rabbit hole. A pretty deep one. By that I mean I lost myself for a bit in spiraling downward thoughts. I realized sometime today that I had forgotten to keep my focus on God, and had gotten stuck in my usual trap of focusing in the wrong direction - on me and what I could NOT do by myself, instead of what God can do with me and with all of those who love Him.

Not long after that Kayli texted to ask if I wanted to go to the theater and see the first couple of episodes of The Chosen Season 3 with her. YES! I really love The Chosen. We sometimes, at our house, refer to watching The Chosen as spending time with Jesus.  It is historical fiction that, in my opinion, shows very well the fact that Elder Holland mentioned in his talk "Lord, I Believe".  Elder Holland said,

Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with.

The Chosen portrays people who are real.  They have real problems, and real feelings, and are working very hard to have real faith in Jesus.  That describes me, and a lot of other people, really well.  We have real problems, and real feelings, and are working hard to believe Christ, and to have faith in Him.  Not just what He can do, but who He can help us to become.

Derek's patience and calm helped me out last night.  Watching The Chosen was good for my soul today.  I am thankful for the reminder to focus on Jesus, who saves.