It's Always Drizzling

Field of daffodils
About the time I'm tired of the constant drizzle of troubles, I am in a situation where I am prompted to think about the constant drizzle of blessings.

Our neighbor across the street came home, they decided she would recover better at home until the next procedure which I thought was today.  At 7:30 or so this morning there was a firetruck and ambulance across from our house, she was transported to another hospital because of some pains.  Later, backing into our garage after our class, I noticed their car drive past.  The Husband was able to chat for just a minute (since they were barely getting home from the hospital he didn't want to bother them too much) and see that she's ok for now.  She's the healthy one over there, and needs to be around and fit to take care of her husband.  It was a relief to me to see that they're home, their daughter is there to help and that things appear somewhat calm for the moment.  They are only a couple years older than we are.  It's worrisome.

We've had issues with the icemaker on the new fridge.  The repair guy says it is not the fridge, it's the reverse osmosis unit on the water supply to the fridge.  The RO repair guy says we have the wrong kind of water purifier (and it is, of course, way too old to salvage) and must be replaced.  The estimate was unclear and inconsistent with what we discussed in person.  And they have not responded to pleas for clarification.    So we made an executive decision.  We'll stick with the current RO unit, work with the icemakers in the fridge and just make do.  (At what point is someone going to decide that  am way too old and beyond salvaging and just get rid of me?)

Close-up of the daffodils
And there are lists of things to do.  As soon as I complete one or two, there are several new ones to add.  But,  tomorrow is the first day of spring.  I love spring in Utah.  I love the way things are rarely the same too many days in a row.  I love the sunshine that isn't too hot.  I love the grass greening, the trees budding and the flower bulbs popping.  We went to the temple the other day - I was astonished to see the daffodils blooming amongst the snow.  Somehow it caught me unaware. Then, walking to church yesterday I noticed these pretty purple crocus. We have a few bulbs coming up and the iris and the mums that I tried to overwinter again.  Not sure how many years I'll be successful at that, but it doesn't really hurt anything to try.

Pretty purple crocus
So the drizzle of blessings begins with an awareness of the beauty of the world in this new season.  I also feel blessed to be able to have these appliances that help make our home comfortable.  I'm grateful for the ability to pay for all of them.  I'm grateful that so far our neighbor is doing ok.  I dread the thought of yet another funeral. I'm grateful for a class to go to at a rec center that our insurance pays for, that I feel free to attend (or not) whenever I want.  I'm grateful for a friend that is comfortable enough with me to ask me to check on something at Costco for her (she doesn't have a membership) - that feels good to me.  And I want to always feel gratitude in my heart, hope in the future and have the Spirit of the Savior to guide my every action.  

Cute

 Was sitting in the den with The Husband on Sunday afternoon when there was a tap at the front door.  Our cute little neighbor was making a delivery to me from one of my ministering sisters.  How clever she is. I loved this.  (Of course, there were a couple more "coins" but we ate them.😋) Cute card bordered in green and all contained in a small green bag, so very fun.

It's nice to have a couple ministering sisters who actually act like I matter.  

Thought we were having a slower week this week, and I guess it is, marginally.  Today will be class at the rec center - my friend couldn't go on Monday so I'm taking this chance to see what the Wednesday class is like.  It'll be fun! Tomorrow they're coming to fix (theoretically) the ice maker in the freezer section of the fridge.  Fingers crossed for success.  Friday is haircuts, temple and out with our friends.  So grateful for them both!

I'm feeling anxious still about our taxes (hope we find out soon) though we managed to pay for the year's annual service on our trees.  It's so dang expensive I wonder every year if it's worth it.  The trees are aging and I think The Husband would like to take a couple of them out. But we love them.  The cost is daunting.  I'd rather be spending that money on a trip or some clothes or something else fun. 

Late last night we received a text informing us that our neighbor across the street was just then going in for heart bypass surgery.  We didn't even know she was having trouble. (Her husband is our ministering brother.) I am anxious to hear today  how things are.  I'm sure they're inundated with texts and phone calls.  His health is fragile and precarious, she's been the "do-er" in the family. I'm worried.

Grateful today to live in this little corner of the valley.  We rarely have those "wind events" that sometimes happen - and are predicted to hit the northern end of this metropolitan area tonight.  Grateful for a class to go to that will help me feel healthy.  So grateful that we have people to help us with things like our taxes, our home maintenance and our medical needs.  Today will be a day when I work hard to maintain a chipper, cheerful countenance.  Which means I'm grateful for every chance to repent and do better. 

End Of Week Thinking

It isn't often lately that I think about the week just ending with a sense of contentment.  Today I can say I do.  We had stuff going on every single day, but not overwhelmingly so, just the right amount of stuff.  

- We saw a movie.  Such fun to actually go to a theater, even if the movie was on the "odd" side.

- We actually managed to acquire all our tax documents and dropped them off to our CPA tax preparer.  We only see her once a year but it's always pleasant.  Her house is up the hill from the under construction temple, she has a lovely view.  Fingers are crossed and apprehension is marginally under control as I contemplate the huge sum I suspect we'll have to pay with our tax return.

Lindon Temple

- Saw one of our finance guys to get our RMD paper signed and all the little issues resolved.  I feel like we'll be getting a "raise" because some of the money will come in just at the right time for the property taxes, so I won't have to save so much through the year.  That's a sense of "burden slightly lifted".

- Went to a Senior Service Missionary Conference.  Pretty much what I expected as far as content.  But still, it probably is best for us to be obedient.

- Visited with our friend (after a Costco (yikes, expensive!) run) and had a lovely visit.  I might be assigned to be her ministering sister, but I'm the one that always comes away uplifted.

- Managed to get quite a few rows on the crocheted throw finished.  I hope she likes it.

- Received the money from our account so we can pay for our upcoming trip.  Another sigh of relief that the money will be enough.  

- The service on the circulating hot water pump appears to be successful and we weren't charged (and rightly so) for the fix.  Also got the lock on the front door (Thanks, My Love) fixed.  And finally (after about 2-3 years of looking) found a new pair of Sunday shoes. Those were little things that mostly are just annoying when they don't go right but engender such a feeling of relief when they do go right.

One of my long-time favorite hymns has been on my mind a lot lately.  The music is lovely, but more important to me are the lyrics.  I love them.  It is sort of a pledge to follow our Creator and try to please him with our desires and actions.  At our missionary conference the other night, it was the opening song.  Then Elder Clayton (Area Seventy) included the words in his remarks.  That was probably, for me, the validation that I was where I should be that night, particularly when I went with dragging feet and heart.

It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I’ll go where you want me to go.

[Chorus]

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.

Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand’rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I’ll say what you want me to say.

[Chorus]

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.

There’s surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth’s harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life’s short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I’ll be what you want me to be.

[Chorus]

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.

Today I'm grateful for a decently productive week.  For kind people at the storehouse who cheerfully encourage us to visit for a minute with family that dropped by.  For a new pair of shoes (yay for something new, it feels like it's been a long time since that happened!) 😊 I'm grateful for learning to lean into/enjoy/treasure a hug.  I wish I had had some hugs when I was growing up.  Grateful that the bright outside lights next door weren't on late last night (though I'm kinda certain they will be on tonight which will cause gratitude for our light blocking shades - again and always). And grateful for a heart that feels a bit more at ease than usual, it is tiring to feel stressed all the time.

Just a Few Things

 So, Saturday we were off to Arby's after our shift at the storehouse.  Had been advised to try their brown sugar bacon BLT on a King's Hawaiian roll.  So we did.  It was yummy!

We've had temps in the upper 50's even hitting 60 degrees yesterday.  This morning it was 31 degrees at 6:00.  And snow had dusted everything.  I've been taking note of all the bulbs sending up their experimental shoots to test the weather.  They're all snow covered and likely cold.  But I figure they'll just do their thing and bloom anyway. (Or maybe not.)

That crochet throw I'm doing for a friend?  I've been trying to find a bit of time most every day to spend on it.  It is not only therapy for my hands and heart, but also my head.  I feel better when I've managed to crochet a bit.  I hope she likes it when I finally finish and gift it to her.  It is definitely infused with love.

And I've been fussing about our passports.  We sent them in for renewal nearly six weeks ago.  Came home on Saturday to find the new ones delivered in our mail.  Yay! for getting that task (at times it felt overwhelming to me) complete.  Now:  for a trip!  Working on that.

Sunday morning we went for a walk.  (We try to make our Sunday walks more leisurely in keeping with the Sabbath rather than pressure to exercise.)  Just had to take this picture of the sun kissing the tops of the mountain range w-a-y over there, under the full moon.  It was a lovely morning.

They're here!! 
My turn at the organ in church is coming up in a bit over a week - since March has 5 Sundays, I'll be the one doing a double stint this time.  Doug picked a couple of less familiar hymns, so I'm trying to practice enough that my nerves won't take over and make things all messed up.  It feels good to sit at the piano for a few minutes each day.  

And I'm working hard at finding gratitude.  It feels like more often than not lately I'm kind of down.  Not a lot, just enough to bother me.  I dislike feeling that way.  The annual taxes (still waiting on some of our statements) are a heavy weight on me.  Because I have no control over when we receive the info, when we can get someone to do the preparation (hopefully our favorite tax preparer will still be able to do them for us this year) and how much we'll have to pay. Given how much we had to withdraw from our (what feels like meager) savings for the roof, fridge, water heaters and furnace repairs I figure we'll be in a whole worse tax bracket.  I guess I could always be grateful that we actually have money in savings.  And I always have been.  

Such a pretty view.

So, yeah, I'm grateful for some money tucked away to pay for stuff.  I hope we don't run out.  I'm grateful today for a bit of sunshine following the snow overnight.  Our weather here in Utah is pretty changeable - especially in late winter/early spring and those same shoulder months in the fall. I'm grateful for kind people who loan me good books to read.  For a friend.  How lovely to feel like I have one.  Relationships can be tricky and those who I thought might be lifetime friends - well, maybe I need to rethink that thought.  But it's fine, we're all in a growth process, and a personal one at that.  I'm grateful to have found a belt for my jeans that I think will work and didn't cost a fortune.  And grateful for a pair of arms that have always, always opened to welcome me in for a hug.  I couldn't exist without that.