Last Week...

...was almost too busy.  We had something every single day/ night.  One night we even just skipped the event (a wedding reception where we only know one set of parents - not the bride or groom or anyone else) and sent a gift card instead.  It was a much needed night at home.  

We had our postponed Hale tickets - they did, as usual, a fabulous production of Beauty and The Beast- as well as a visit to a sister I minister to, The Husband's regular lunch with the old guys, and our Christmas concert downtown at Abravanel Hall.  (As a side note:  O Holy Night should never be done "jazz" style.  It was completely absent of any spiritual feeling.  And was the only religious song of the evening.  I admit to a bit of disappointment.  I kept thinking of all the people in the nearby  Conference Center being spiritually and musically and visually fed.  And I wasn't.  The music was ok, just not up to my expectations.  Yes, I know, I need to lower those expectations.)

To say that downtown Salt Lake City was crazy busy would be an understatement.  We planned ahead and took Trax which for once was a good choice, even though we ended up paying full fare rather than senior rates.  This was the first Christmas since the temple closed for renovation that Temple Square had lights - as much as they could.  And it was lovely.  What is it about the Christmas lights in the dark of night that feels so magical? 

The Bishop's storehouse on Saturday was as busy as expected.  By noon-thirty we'd done 100 food orders.  By the end of the day the storehouse had run out of several staples.  I am impressed every year by the sweet Bishops who come to pick up food for Christmas dinner for those under their stewardship.  💝 

All in all it was a bit of a rough week for me and an even rougher weekend.  I remind myself that we signed up for the storehouse.  That includes everything there, even adults who should know better than to be unkind/bossy/cliquey.  I also remind myself that I'm not there for them.  I'm there to serve Heavenly Father and those children of His who are in need.  (I will go next week and the weeks after with a renewed determination to just ignore the "drama" and do my best to serve our Father - that's the most important thing.) 

The Christmas program at church yesterday was nicely done, in spite of the feeling that it was a certain family's (and their close friends) production.  None of those programs are perfect and of course the result is the perspective and personality of the one putting together the program.   Looking back over the years I am a bit surprised at how many Christmases found me spending hours practicing the piano and doing my best to bring the Spirit.  Now that I'm old, and there's fresh (and better educated /more talented) members to do the accompanying, it's a different - sort of odd - feeling to be totally uninvolved.  I've begun to wonder if the calling of ward organist is now pretty much relegated to the old people.  I am firmly in that category.  

I read this article this morning - and I agree that we need to act now to be ready for when Jesus does come again.  Max Lucado / Ready for Christ

I'm beginning this new week with a resolve to avoid negativity (an almost daily resolve lately), to try to not be overwhelmed or stressed but calm in the face of those who cause pain.  I want this to be a week of peace, not only in our home, but also in my heart.  I'm grateful to look forward to Christmas day with hope that it will be a day for introspection at how blessed we are for the gift of the Savior. 

A Very Quick Thought

Yesterday morning we headed out for a walk.  It's quite dark for our morning sunrise-greet these days.  We took our longest route (my foot is definitely paying for that today!) and headed up a little incline when all of a sudden I hear The Husband say "deer".  What?  Standing dead still we watched 8 deer come up the side of the hill, cross the trail and congregate before a few of them slipped under the fence and disappeared. 

Draper Park

Then, as we walked we heard the owl.  I have been hearing them more and more lately.  I love how they sound.  Kind of a sweet, soft "foghorn" message:  all is well,  peaceful.  I never heard them growing up but they are distinctive.

This morning we headed (very slowly - dang foot!) over to take a book back to the library.  The library is right next to the park.  Draper city goes all out for the lights on the park trees.  Especially the big one that a lot of people affectionately call "the tree of life".  It has really pretty sparkle lights on it and the only one in the park that's all "white" or yellowy white.   My picture only captures a fraction of the trees and I was surprised that it turned out as well as it did considering the darkness of the morning.

I'm so grateful today for a kind person that invited me to lunch.  For hope that we can see our youngest grandchild next week, if only for an hour or so.  For the ability to walk in the early morning and mentally commit to being a kinder person, a better disciple of our Savior.  And for hearing that someone has prayed for me.  What a generous soul!

A Week Later

And I"m still plugging along.  We've had a visit to the ENT who probably was mentally shaking his head at us - he told us the very same thing a year ago when we were in his office.  But we got a nasal spray prescription for The Husband that I'm hoping will help.  Thank heavens vaseline is cheap and effective.  

We skipped the 1st annual "don't give neighbor gifts at Christmas, donate to the Utah Food Bank instead" mingle.  I didn't need the hot chocolate, or the cookies, or the being out at night in the cold, or even the sociality.  I simply couldn't.  It was lovely to stay at home.

The Husband had lunch out with friends two days in a row.  And we had an impromptu dinner with our favorite friends.  How fun it was to have them make time for us in the midst of their own busy, busy-ness.  Celebrating a birthday is always delightful. 

We headed up to the U of U for a granddaughter's BS of RN graduation.  She said it would be no longer than an hour.  50 minutes and we were done.  We noticed the vast majority of the audience was on their phones.  We saw games, texting and even a foot ball game on the small screens.  We are so pleased for our granddaughter and it was nice to be invited, we so rarely are.  How gratifying it was to make it up there and back and wind our way through campus without getting lost.  It's a maze up there for sure.

I've readied the few gifts we're giving.  Still a few left to get ready, but I'm feeling a tad less stressed.  We headed over to Sam's club for some pistachio's to give to our son in lieu of gifts.  (It is so difficult to not give gifts.)  I've practiced the hymns on the piano for my turn on the organ on Sunday.

I've been stressed, relaxed, slept well, slept not at all, walked outside in the morning and done my time on the treadmill.  It's been an interesting week.  Just when I thought next week was going to be quite calm, I looked at the calendar and got all tense again.  It'll not be quite so calm.  But it'll be fine.  🤞

I came across this article and enjoyed what she had to say about our church singing.  I wish more people understood the things she mentioned.  Our worship music (and indeed music as a whole) is a gift from our Creator.  It can pierce our very souls, warm our hearts and lift our spirits.  If given the chance.  

Power of Hymn Singing

Here it is Friday afternoon.  I've finally finished most of the errands for the week, even managed to steam the tile floors and vacuum the stairs.  Those are the chores I put off and put off.  It feels cleaner in the house just knowing the floors are in better shape.  I'm ready for a little time in a chair, resting my aching back, putting my sore foot up and just breathing.  

I'm grateful today for the real feeling that I can let go of some things and place them squarely on The Savior and let the atonement release me from pain. Grateful that our grandson was able to fix the internet last night - The Husband and I were both incapable and frustrated.  (A.I. that answered my phone call to Google, asked a couple questions and then just disappeared is beyond irritating.  It was downright awful!)I'm grateful for warmth in our home (not quite so grateful for the complete depletion of our bank account) and grateful to know that I can just stay home tonight.  I could even get my jammies on when it's past 6 p.m. and dark outside. And I'm also grateful for a proffered hug.  I am still running a hug deficit from all the ones I didn't get growing up.  

p.s.  it feels so odd to not have a picture to put on here. I'll work on that.😊

Looks Great and Warm

 "Hello there.  Do you need a leaf cleanup?"  That was the text we received from the guy who does our lawn through the summer.  We've only had him for this last season.  But are consistently impressed with his work ethic and thoroughness.  He comes when he says, notifies us when he isn't coming, does an outstanding job and - importantly -  is affordable for us. 

The Husband had been trying to do the leaf cleanup, did half of the front yard.  We decided jointly that the rest could wait and I would help.  His back is more and more an issue, even though he doesn't complain.  I can see it in his posture, walking and demeanor.  Of course, I worry about him.

This text felt like a gift.  The cost he quoted (having not seen how much there was to do) was within reason.  He came by on the appointed day and saw all the trucks and equipment from our furnace replacement project (that hadn't been in the plan when we arranged for the mower to come) and figured we were too busy.  I felt awful for not communicating with him.  (The biggest obstacle is the ongoing (in its fifth year) construction across the street.  Whenever the dumpster gets hauled away to be emptied, it is immediately replaced with a new one that sits there for months on end.  It's troublesome.) 

So, he came yesterday.  We watched in amazement.  Just like Santa, he turned to his work and in a twinkle of an eye, it seemed, he was finished.  The leaves (and annoying pine needles) are all gone, he did a final mow and was finished in about an hour. I asked him how many yards he does - his response was as many as he can.  We were the third yard he did yesterday and finished just as the darkness descended.

Looks beautiful!!

He has been a blessing to us.  As we age, we find more and more that even though our minds think we can still function as we did a decade (or more) ago, our bodies just aren't up for everything.  We try to stay active enough that we can handle daily life.  But the more strenuous things cause too much pain. It's discouraging.  But this last summer our yard has benefited from the mower's care and attention and I have felt like such a load of concern has been lifted from my spirits.

And last night?  We had heat in all parts of our house.  The "new equipment" smell is mostly dissipated and my fears of a gas explosion were unfulfilled.  We have mostly figured out the new thermostats.  The guys are here figuring out the last little issue.  The tech seemed a little dispirited last night when they left that they still have a bit of an issue with the last heat pump so they're working through that. (He said he's never ever had so many problems with a job.)  Hopefully they'll be done in time for us to complete our pressing and postponed errands before some later commitments.  But if not, we'll manage. 

I keep thinking about what the tech said yesterday.  I apologized for this job being so big and complicated.  He said, no worries.  He chose this career and likes that every day is different.  He wouldn't be happy sitting in a boring old office every single day.  How grateful I am not only for that attitude, but also for the fact that we are all different.  That way, pretty much all aspects of life have someone interested and capable of resolving the things we are not qualified to do on our own. 

So, our yard looks really wonderful.  The furnaces have been replaced, and are pretty much working.  We managed to both be in the bed last night and slept decently.  For right now, I'm mostly content. Relieved is an understatement.  And hopeful a longed for permanent state of mind.  

I'm so grateful for heat in our home.  For guys who can handle the mechanical stuff.  For a yard that looks and feels taken care of.  And for something fun to look forward to this evening.