Head Cold

I can't remember the last time I stayed at home for 3 solid days, didn't leave my home, never put on makeup, wore sweat shirts and PJ bottoms and only did my hair 1 day. I did shower every day thank goodness. Today I think I'll live. I tyred the Zicam pills, maybe I started too late, but NyQuil is great at night. Having that many days off, at home and getting nothing accomplished is really a drag.

I think I am finally ready for Christmas, but I am just waiting for a few more special delivery orders to come, and to make a few treats. I guess I still have all the neighbor gifts to do and the little things I'm doing for work people, so maybe I'm not really ready, but it did sound good.

But one thing I haven't done yet this year is watch "It's a wonderful Life" something I do, almost always alone, every year for as long as I can remember. There is just something about that movie that makes me tear up and feel emotional and thankful every time I watch it. So for me is just isn't Christmas with out seeing it at least once, so maybe tomorrow.

I am grateful for having a Wonderful Life and that friends and family and God really are what it's all about, not just Christmas but Life.

Front row groupies

Sat. night was so much fun. Kim and I went to the Gleen Beck Christmas show. He is such a great story teller,and that is pretty much what her did. It had no political stuff, just trying to find the true meaning of Christmas and the fun and crazy stories of families and traditions that every family have. I had no idea he was so funny. Our seats were great. We were center front row, and we didn't even have sore necks watching. There were however cameras everywhere, not just for the jumbo-trons but they were filming it also. The whole show lasted just under 4 hours.
The last hour or so was an extra. Desert Book had wanted him to tape his conversion story, so SLC was the place to do that. Then there were even more film cameras everywhere. He had a great story about how bad his life had been, the unbelievable amts. of money he was making and that he snorted it all and drank it all away. But he was never happy, and he kept thinking the next job, the next pay increase the next city, the next thing would make him happy, and after he hit rock bottom and I guess his wife left him and he had thought about suicide he meet a girl who wouldn't have anything to do with him unless he had some faith, or religion. So the two of them went on a religion hunt and eventually found the strange and true church. Any way you had to be there to truly appreciate how fun and the show was, and at times how spiritual it was. Something I am sure non LDS people maybe didn't enjoy or expect.
The weekend was busy as usual but well worth it. But today I had a much to do list a of all the things I needed to get done, and I woke up with a painful head cold, so part of the day was spent back in bed and the rest just dragging butt.
I did manage to get some presents wrapped, most of my vinyl projects done, only one load of wash done, there is a lot more waiting,(it's not going anywhere) no errands ran, my phone never seemed to stop ringing. But all is well and I took a sick day tomorrow, so I'll try and finish it up then and hopefully feel better.
I am grateful that head colds are temporary and that I understand that happiness doesn't come from stuff but from doing what our Father in Heaven asks us to do.

We need a little christmas NOW

So when we think about favorites this is one of mine. The movie Mame is actually where I heard it first. Whenever I hear the song I get a warm and fuzzy feeling and a big silly smile and people would probably wonder what my problem was. I can remember the show and the dancing and the feeling. I have one other favorite, but the video isn't as fun, so maybe I'll share it later. Enjoy.
After my Day from ---- at work this is exactly what I needed and I do feel better.
I am so grateful there are things in life that can make us smile and remember a better day.

#3 happened

On Sunday I mentioned that we had had 2 funerals in 2 weeks, well #3 happened. We had a still birth Mon. and they are having a grave side service,and a lunch after on Sat. So maybe we are done now for a few months. These kind of things are so difficult. Since I've been in the the RS presidency we have had 2 baby deaths. These kinds of things are hard to understand. Especially when you see mom's who really don't want and can't care for the ones they have.

Tonight after work the other counselor and I meet the Bishop at the DI for the bishops DI shopping night. We had 3 sisters who needed help for Christmas and so the Bishop gave them a dollar amt. and they can shop. There are a lot of totally new things, blankets, toys, bedding, coats, and odds and ends and then the normal DI stuff. They are so organized and ready for the shoppers. It is very very crowded, not just with the shoppers, but all the RS leaders and all the Bishops. Mostly we just stand around and wonder around looking at stuff, and telling each other "I could use this", and "I wish I could shop".
What amazed me the most is what they choose to buy. One women was totally practical. New coat, bedding, towels, game, a few VHS movies, pillows. Just stuff that seemed necessary, but not really fun. The other women did get her young son new boots, coat and snow pants, but the rest was just junk, really, junk. I'm not even sure what she planned to do with these things. They didn't seem to be gifts for anyone, just random stuff. I guess everyone has different needs.
So what would you buy at the DI, assuming most of you have been there before, if you were given $150.00? It really is a nice program and it lets the Welfare system shine and be put to good use.

I am so grateful that we have programs like this in the church that can help those who need help, and hopefully they are humbled and grateful for the blessings. I am of course grateful that I can contribute to the cause and that I do not have to take. Our family has been blessed through and through.

I think I'm back

When people say they are so busy, we all roll our eyes and say, silently of-course, "ya right, let me tell you about busy". Well I've been sooo busy.

Thanksgiving was great and it was even spent in a log cabin of sorts. Greg and Sally hosted the dinner and did a great job. It was her first time to cook, and everything turned out nice. We were only missing the youngest Hardcastle and family, Brooke was having a lot of labour pains and so she stayed home in bed, the baby is now due in 1 week.

I've gotten a good start on Christmas, not to compare with the younger girls who claim to have it all done, but I'm making some headway.

Our ward has had 2 funerals in the past 2 weeks so we're waiting for #3, it really does seem to happen that way. Lucky or unlucky for me they seem to fall on my days off, so I get to help for hours and hours in the kitchen and clean up.

I've cleaned and rearranged and got all the Christmas decorating done and so now I can enjoy the season a little bit more. We have had one sad Nativity incident so far this year. Last year I got the Boyds Bear set and Jodi wanted it displayed with honor, so I guess it was, and Simon, with honor, ate the Camel. It was cold outside so we let him in and I guess he was hungry. Jodi thinks "we" or in other words ME can save him. You decide.

My lesson is tomorrow in RS, and the only reason I'm writing tonight is because I finally got my notes together and I think I'm ready. My topic was picked months and months ago, and it really helped that Pres. Ewing gave a talk on the same subject in General conference, Remember, Remember and write it down. I really do try and think of things each day that I am thankful for and write them when I blog. 2 weeks ago I gave the sisters a card that said; I Am Thankful for: and 10 lines, with the hope that they will have written something or at least thought of things and will be able to share in my lesson. I learned from a wise instructor once that if you want your class to care and participate ,then make them part of the lesson and make them care. So that was my goal. I'll let you know how it went. But I took my own challenge and these are my 14 days worth of being grateful.

Sun. Sundays when I get to feed 8, and Sundays when I only feed 4

Mon. E-mail with friends, the amazing world of computers.

Tues. Old friends that still let you come visit, and seem to care about you. (VT in my old ward)

Wed. Being dependable and on time for work, and my children following that example.

Thurs. That my children are learning to be adults and had to bring a side dish to Thanksgiving dinner. And I didn't.

Fri. That at this point in my life I can shop for Christmas and other simple things without having panic attacks about money every step of the way.

Sat. Hot Hot Long Long showers and no one cares and we won't run out of hot water.

Sun. Slow relaxing Sundays as work when you can talk and make a few new friendships.

Mon. My collections of Nativity sets and being able to share with Jodi our love for them.

Tues. Internet shopping and the ease and gas saving, and time saving results.

Wed. Coming home to my family after one of the worst days ever at work.

Thurs. Having a hobby I enjoy and that can make a little money, and being so busy I can honestly say "I am behind on orders" but I'll get them done.

Fri. Finding a note from Matt that said, "Mom the house looks nice, Thanks"

Sat. Being busy from early till late, shopping, funeral, Kim's work party, family wedding reception in Sandy, working on lesson and blogging. But being able to do it all.

At the party a women whom we have know for years came as a newly retired employee, and she has end stage Cancer, she isn't much older than me, and I am grateful for everything I am and have, and for the things I don't have to endure.

The sweetest thing

Thursday at work we had the cutest little women, 92 yrs. old in a room close to the desk. Her husband looked to be the same age if not a little older. Both so cute and tiny and bent over, but at least still able to walk and get around. They live in an assisted living together, and I am sure they spend almost every waking moment together. He was with her most of the day and would go walking with her during her exercises, right by her side. Just that was a great sight, but 2 or 3 times during the day while she was up in the chair or in bed I would suddenly hear someone singing, and it was him. Just a sweet, soft, crackly voice. I couldn't really hear all the words or recognize the tunes, but he was singing, maybe to her, maybe to himself, but singing. We so often see very sad things, but this almost made me cry. Now my husband is great, but I can honestly say he has never sang to me, I'm not sure what I'd do or how I'd act, but I am sure I would laugh, and he even has a great voice

Depending on the events of your life, growing old may not be such a great blessing, in it's self, but what a blessing to have someone to grow old with. To still hold hands with and talk to and share the events of the day, or just hear a song or two.

Every couple have their own path to make. I am grateful for someone in my life that I can keep on the path with and hold hands.

It's up to you

That is what I kept hearing at the Dr.'s office. He explained what had happened to my knee and showed me on the tiny knee model, and then we talked and talked. Basically it doesn't heal it's self, but you do get used to the problem, and learn to live with the inconvenience of pain and popping, but if it is affecting my normal life, then it needs to be fixed, but it's up to me. I finally asked,"When would I stat to see some improvement?" "Well ,by now, so it's up to me what I what to do?" The scope and repair or just wait and see. He is so far booked out that it wouldn't be until Dec. 21st. Ya right I thought, so I'll schedule it after Christmas and if it's getting better then I'll cancel. That was easy, right?. So I guess I can make up my own mind. Does that sound right, what does everyone else think? (Just kidding).

Last night we had our recipe exchange for one of our little groups in RS, and we really had some great food. The theme was crock-pot cooking. It reminded me of a story many years back in the old ward. I was on the committee for the RS birthday and we all brought different soups for the food. At the end of the evening, we were cleaning up , and I realized my crock-pot insides were missing. My lid and electrical part were in the kitchen, but none of us could find the crock-pot. It never showed up, we announced it for 2 weeks in RS and still it never showed up. So either someone really needed it and it fit theirs or it went home by mistake and they were too embarrassed to bring it back, or they accidental broke it and never told any of us. But if you have a new and clever idea please share it. The best idea will win some great recipe ideas.

Today's thankful moment took some thought, but I and grateful for not having socialized medicine and truly being able to make my own decision, on my time frame.