Check up / Belief in Magic

Our first roses of the season.

Began this Friday morning with dental check-ups for the both of us. We're good to go! Immediately we headed home for some breakfast.

Read an article the other day that reached down and grabbed my heart.  The things the woman was writing were totally thoughts I've had.  She was writing about her parents and their less-than-enjoyable relationship and while hers wasn't quite the scenario for me, there have been relationships in my life that have fit her description perfectly.  That have caused me to struggle.

She wrote:  "I kept showing up, time after time, expecting different people to magically appear. I kept expecting that they would change."

I think I've been guilty of believing in magic. Believing that the people that I love/enjoy/work with/crave-to-be-around would magically reciprocate.  I kept expecting they would change - that I would finally be enough, or wouldn't be an embarrassment to them, or wouldn't be...less than/ the worst.

So I hoped, and tried, and gave, and gave some more.  Results were mixed.

This woman's view was a mini-revelation.  Something my head has always known - and perhaps even voiced - but my heart has been off somewhere else. It isn't my place to change them.  Or even point out their flaws.  (Having been the recipient of this kind of "love" I fully understand what I shouldn't do.)

That doesn't mean I don't miss someone's friendship or wish I had a better relationship with so and so.  I do.  If that can happen while allowing them to be who they are - flaws and all - so much the better.  I'm responsible for me.

As she said, "Accept and allow."  I expect there'll be some comfort in that practice.

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/secret-to-getting-along-with-your-parents/

It's Thursday Already?

Funny how a Monday holiday upsets the cosmic balance of things.

It's a pretty valley, even when it's cloudy.

Took advantage of calm winds this morning (after finding refuge in the air conditioning yesterday - it's been a slightly debilitating allergy season) to head out on the trail on my bike.  The hills still seem like work, and the downgrades are still fun - nothing's changed there.  Managed to make it all the way out, and up all the hills, without having to get off and walk my bike.  Even though the day started out gray and overcast we are all now soaking in the lovely sun.  That's ok as long as it doesn't get too hot!

Apparently I'm now involved in a Single Adult fireside on Sunday evening.  We'll see how that goes.

And I learned a few things about driving while I was out today.  (And no, they're not real things, just things people do because-they-want-to-not-because-it's-right.)
1.  Turn signals / blinkers are totally optional.  Even though you've known for 12 blocks when you're going to turn, there's no sense letting the whole world know your intentions.  There's such a thing as privacy after all.

2.  Left-turn arrows don't mean anything.  Even when you're honked at from the long line of cars behind you also waiting to turn left.  It's perfectly acceptable to sit and hold back the left-turners until the light turns yellow and then go.  That way only you get to go through the light and the rest all have to wait through another cycle.

3.  Four way stops mean that it's just fine to sit there, not even looking at the road, and not take your turn.  Cars behind you? No problem.  Just sit.  Pretty soon it is really a 3/way stop with no one giving any heed to the person refusing to go through the intersection.  This one might be a long time becoming the norm.

4.  The person waiting at a stop sign must yield the right of way to those who don't have any such sign.  (That part is really true!)  Now it seems the new rule is that it's ok to just stop in the middle of the street (remember that right of way thing?  Just toss that concept right out the window) and wait for the person at the stop sign to go in front of you.  Be mindful, though, that your stopping in the middle of the street doesn't cause some unsuspecting driver to rear-end you - because after all, if a car is in the middle of the street the expectation is that it is going to be moving.

And all of this occurred within about a mile of travel.

And just going to go on the record here about a couple of my personal attitudes:

1.  I dislike talking on the phone.  And pretty much refuse to do it when driving.

2.  Our local Costco is insanity.  Haven't been there in months without coming out totally frazzled - too many people, too much stuff....  What on earth are they all buying?  Decided I don't want one of their blue "Buy In Bulk, Sandy Costco" t-shirts.  I can live without that particular item.

3.  It is often work to be cheerful.  But that work can turn into a self-fulfilling cheerfulness.

4.  The Husband often recites this philosophy:  "It is always good to be generous."  (or a frequent variation:  "we can afford to be generous.")  Does this mean it's ok to be generous with my impatience?  My grumpiness?  I was pretty generous with both of those when I was driving earlier.  Hmmm,  better re-think this.

Today I'm grateful for insurance that pays for routine preventive care such as mammograms.  I'd find it difficult to go in for that painful process if I had to pay out of pocket for it.  I want to be healthy for whatever time I have left on this earth.  Healthy, productive, generous, unselfish, good natured...working on it.  Every single day.

Whew!

This morning started off with a bang!  By 10:30 this morning:

I so love our peonies!

• The Husband had been up to the DMV twice!  First time for the appointment for renewing his driver's license.  Second time to take up the required documentation - the new laws require more documentation that who you say you are, you actually are.  (Discovered the name on his birth certificate is spelled wrong.  After all these decades, really?)  More forms to fill out, more documentation for them to scan.

• Had several calls from (and visited)  a lending institution - switching credit cards (don't like spending $95 / year for the privilege of using the current one.) More forms, more documentation.  The upside?  Both of our credit ratings are within 14 points of the maximum.  So glad we've been so careful all these years. Hope we receive as high scores from the personal references.

• Been for a walk with a friend, been downstairs several times (yes, that's a rarity for me), done several loads of laundry, dispensed the necessary anti-stress hug (there are more where that came from), made an appointment for an oil change in the Charger, called about the broken window.

• Hoping now for a bit of a calmer rest of the day.  We felt behind and we didn't even go anywhere over the weekend!  Though the end of the day will include attending Hale for our play.  I hope it makes me laugh.

Feeling gratitude for not having to "storage dive" for the requisite documents - knew right where they were, and they were where they should be.  And by the end of the afternoon I'll be grateful for the air conditioning that we enjoy.

Long Weekend

I have a natural tendency to pessimism.  Try as I might, I generally end up looking on the "dark" side of things rather than the bright side of things.  Read an article the other day regarding the downside of being negative.  Sigh...I fear they were talking about me.

So, I'll try to re-cap the last few days with a positive spin on things.

The good thing about the rain the other day (and I really do like the rain) was that The Husband couldn't mow the lawn.  So we got to go to two (yes, two) movies.  Neither was my favorite genre, but now that I've seen them, we can pick a different kind of movie next time.

Our favorite!

Tried a new Italian Ice / frozen custard place (Rita's) the other day on a neighbor's glowing recommendation. The good thing was we were with some friends. And now I know how to rate things based on the neighbor's glowing recommendation - we clearly have different taste.

The good thing about having only a couple Ace Hardware in the valley:  they are both far away.  The closest one necessitates a stop at our favorite frozen custard shop.  And it's w-a-y cheaper than Rita's.

I try to never tell anyone "no" when they ask for my help.  Subbed on the organ again yesterday.  Only made one glaring mistake.  It's always good when I don't embarrass myself too badly.

Saw a guy making good use of his sun-roof the other day.  Had a tree as his passenger with the top sticking through to the sky.  (The picture didn't turn out so well.  But, trust me, it would bring a smile.)

Love, love, love having a library near.  Have managed to go through several books lately that simply weren't worth the time to read them.  Thankfully I didn't pay cover price for them, but checked them out from the library.  I will never begrudge that part of my property taxes, it's money well spent.

One of my freshly blooming orchids was broken the other day.  This one popped into bloom just in time.  I love fresh flowers.

The good thing about having a broken window is that we know who to call to fix it.

It is a wonderful world.

And it is time for my annual picture of the beauty outside our stairwell.  I've snapped one every day for the last little while trying to catch just the right view.  No matter what angle, the house shows through, or I get a glare in the window.  The camera just does not do justice to the stunning color of our trees. We so love them.

In spite of my tendency toward the pessimistic, I try to always have a heart full of gratitude.  I'm grateful for people who reach out, who don't ignore me/us.  I'm grateful for those who are kind to my children.  I'm grateful for the freedoms we still enjoy in this country and for those who aren't afraid to stand up for what is right.

And I'm grateful for my prescription sunglasses.

Wise Advice

Great Book!

I recently finished reading this book by Dave Ramsey and his daughter.  A great book with some great philosophies and great practical advice.  Can't think of anyone I wouldn't recommend this to.  I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Contentment.  A concept of which I'm a great fan.  Mentioned to a couple friends of mine if I could have that particular chapter in a booklet form, I'd buy them by the grundles and gift them to just about everyone I know.

Reading this book has made me aware of how many of his principles we have already managed to learn on our own and incorporate into our lives.  We don't believe in debt, we do believe in giving / tithing, we do believe in saving.  I'm grateful we managed to learn most of that early on.  I also love the perspective that everything we have is really our Heavenly Father's and we are the stewards.

I decided that much of what he addresses in this book result from an abundance of selfishness - debt, lack of giving, lack of generosity - a lot of that really is because of someone thinking pretty much only of themselves, putting their own immediate desires before everything else.  Still refining my thoughts on this one.  But definitely is something worth thinking about.

Driving home from lunch today was shocked into open-mouth astonishment.  The wind had picked up a woman's skirt (she looked to be in her late 20's)  and flung it skyward.  I so wish that people didn't treat underwear as optional.  It wasn't pretty (I'm not fond of being mooned) and I was completely embarrassed for her - and ashamed.  I don't think she actually even noticed or cared.  Makes me sad.

The Husband and I went to lunch with a friend.  We enjoy his company.  The Husband, particularly, was in the mood for the friend's own special kind of humor.  I think we both came home feeling a bit more chipper.  I'm grateful for kind people.

Plants...and Deadline

Incredibly soft new growth.

This is the season I wander around feeling the needles on the evergreen trees.  This particular spruce is the one we planted the fall we moved into this house.  That winter the wind howled and blew and pretty much every single needle on this tree disappeared.  It was only about 6 feet tall then, has nearly tripled in height and is a favorite of mine!

Love these peonies.

These lovely peonies were in a yard we were in this morning.  Love the stunning color.  Mine will be popping into bloom soon.  And it's nearly time for my annual picture through our stair window. The tri-color beech is nearing its peak of color - and it's a beauty!

Cameras all aimed at one can feel intimidating.

Today was the deadline for filing the testimony with the PSC.  The hearing will be later in the summer to determine whether or not Rocky Mtn. Power will be allowed to tack an additional fee onto the net metering customers (of which we are one).  The Husband is fighting this additional charge.  This morning found him speaking at a press conference in the yard of another man with solar panels.  3 of the local tv stations had news cameras there, as well as reporters from a couple newspapers.  It was an interesting experience.  I think The Husband was a teensy bit nervous with that row of cameras aimed at him.

Today I'm grateful for an awareness of the beauty of this world.  We must be very loved by our Creator.

Unique

Just had to take a picture of this car.  The hood appears to have been painted with that chalkboard paint (or something like it).  I'm pretty sure it was parked in front of the mexican restaurant it was advertising.  Someone is clever.  (Not my strong suit.)

Today I'm grateful for those times I'm not quite so clumsy.  Clumsiness often results in pain.  I am in pain, therefore I must have been clumsy.

A Day of Fives

I'm still astounded how "behind" I feel after having been gone for only 6 days.  I've played catch-up the entire day.  My progress seems tiny.  However, I did manage to:  get in a 5 + mile walk, do 5 loads of laundry (washed, dried, folded and put away, though the ironing will have to wait), run 5 errands, do the bills, vacuum, sift through the day's mail and kiss The Husband at least 5 times.

My walk's route this morning was over toward the high school.  Ended up walking with a fine young man on his way there.  He is the one who greeted me, waited for me to catch up (although at 6+ feet tall his stride was w-a-y longer than mine and I had to set a brisk pace) and carried on a reasonably interesting conversation.  I learned quite a bit about him, just not his name.  At a corner, he made noises that this was where he turned.  I mentioned I was going the same way, but, "if you'd rather not be seen walking with an old lady, feel free to go on ahead." (This was said with a smile.) What a cute response I received.  "It is always good to respect your elders," he said.  Also with a smile.  I'm quite befuddled as to why he wanted to share his walk to school - it was deliberate.  But based on his words and general attitude, his parents should be very pleased.  He is a credit to them.

Came home from my walk with goat slobber on my palm.  Remembered to take some carrots (they're the itty bitty kind).  The carrots were consumed with such rapidity I was amazed.  The greedy little guy (and his pen-mate, the mini horse) were visibly disappointed I had no more.  I'll have to walk that way again - with more carrots next time.

The real thing doesn't sit still long enough for me to get a pic.

The Orioles are back!  For a number of years we've eagerly anticipated the return of the orioles.  This picture doesn't even begin to do justice to the vivid color they are.  The male and female come and we suspect they nest and have a few babies before they head back to wherever they're from.  I've wondered if they accompany the hummingbirds since they seem to arrive at the same time each year.  What a delight they are to see!

And now for paragraph five:  I'm grateful today for working washing and drying machines, for good books to read, for people who have learned to be kind even at a young age, for lunch invitations (two in one week - wow!) for the sun that shines on my heart, for birthdays to celebrate and thoughtful gifts that are sent my way.

My Week In Aspen

One of the nicer mailboxes

(That title reminds me of that wonderful TV show out of England with Judi Dench (As Times Goes By) where her friend/husband was on book tour for a book he'd written titled "My Life In Kenya".)

The Husband's conference in Aspen, a place we'd never been, prompted a road trip.  Discovered later on that we could have flown into Aspen itself (who knew!) but our drive in the Charger was so nice.  It was a different - but enjoyable - kind of trip for me.  A few observations:

I know where all the books are!

• You can't trust the weather predictions in Aspen any more than here in Utah.  And the weather patterns seem to be the same:  if you don't like the weather, wait a half hour (or 10 minutes), and the weather will be different.  May is a particularly changeable time of year.

• Morning walks are wonderful no matter where I am.  The trail closest to the hotel was the Rio Grande trail which followed the Roaring Forks river, no matter which direction; it was my delight to traverse this trail most mornings.

• I've parsed things out and finally settled on the reason I don't like to hike.  Sounds too much like work.  I love to walk and can do that hours at a time.  That is fun.  Hike somehow = work.  Walk = fun.

Chocolate Cereal?

• I loved all the houses in the town.  Reminiscent of Park City, though perhaps a bit more spread out.  Lovely varied styles of architecture, colors, lot sizes - no developments there - lending a fun character.  The odd thing that struck me was the yard art.  No matter how upscale the house (even the multi-million dollar ones along the river) there was yard art.  Much of it quite kitschy. As if the houses themselves weren't quite enough at expressing the owners' individuality.

• May is also a month when half the eateries are closed for the season.  Thus our pool of places to eat was smaller than expected.  Even smaller when I dug in my heels and refused to pay $15 for a hamburger. (Rumor had it the one McDonald's in town - the only fast food chain - has $3 items on its dollar menu. Couldn't say for sure, we never went there.)  I was so daunted by the food prices (and gas was $5 / gallon) that I daren't set foot in even one of the other stores (save the grocery and the drugstore - and even they were outrageous!) A simple bowl of soup was $10.

Just loved this sky!

Clearly we're not the right demographic for the area:  trendy / label wearing / private bank clientele / rich / famous / powerful / you name it, we're not it.  And I'm so very grateful.  It must be exhausting.

Our view the first morning.

• Decided they must have different birds at that lofty altitude.  Their songs seemed so different from the ones I normally hear.  It was lovely in a way to have left my iPod at home and only had the songs of the birds, the rushing of the river to fill my ears as I walked mile after mile in that beautiful setting.

On the way to the river trail.

Roaring Forks River.

• I still love to see the wildlife, particularly the deer.  One leapt the trail just in front of me one morning.  And  late one evening on the way back to the room after a meeting The Husband saw 5 of them nesting down for the night in the brush field between buildings.  Somehow they represent hope to me.

• The Husband spent every day at classes, I spent the mornings walking and exploring, and the afternoons in the room - resting my feet, avoiding impending rain, stitching, reading.  It's hard to relax day after day.

• My very first destination was the public library.  What a lovely library, even though I inadvertently tried to walk out the door with a book.  It's second nature to me to pick up whatever book is at hand, I seem to always have to leave the library with one.  And apparently it happens a lot - the staff didn't even look up when I set off the alarm.  (And it wasn't even a book I'd looked at or would check out - it was simply there on the table when I walked off!)  Decided that I'm a compulsive reader.  I even read all the literature in the hotel room including the information cards hanging on hooks everywhere.  I'm likely the only one who does.

Stunning vista in Utah on the way home.

• I tried to take note during the week of things I wanted to mention here.  I've forgotten most of them.  But the bottom line is:  it's lovely to take a trip, to get away from the every-day / mundane.  And best of all, it's even lovelier to return home to my own bed whose sheets stay tucked in on the sides,  our soft water, my blooming orchids (just as pretty as the wildflowers!), non-restaurant food (we got so weary of eating out) and yes, even the laundry.  There is absolutely no place like home.  My favorite place to be.

Another Mother's Day

Thoughtful gift.

Heard a sweet sister this afternoon in church say that a great gift for Moms on Mother's Day would be to cancel church altogether!  Ha ha, somebody's thinking....

Another sweet friend we know had to come and show us one of her gifts.  I so loved this.  Her husband's father was a painter (in fact one of his paintings hangs (or used to anyway) in the chapel of the church building I attended growing up).  They took a picture of one of his paintings - a mother and child - and had it made into this lovely necklace - just for her.  What a treasure!  Her face just shone as she shared it with us!

Loved this card I got.

Answered a phone call I'm still puzzling over.  Someone needed a favor.  But..."I've asked a couple other people and they haven't gotten back to me yet."  Either I'm on stand-by till someone else steps up, or she's covering her bases in case no one does or (and this is for me, the true message) I really want someone else to do it but if no one can I'll settle for what you can manage, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here.  This was the only instance I can recall that I was perfectly comfortable saying, sorry, I'm not going to be able to help.  Frankly, I try to never tell anyone no. And can't recall doing so if it was at all possible to say yes.  This time, though....

Received a couple comments on the music at the funeral yesterday.  I seriously just try to bring the Spirit.  I want the family (and of course, primarily Heavenly Father) to be pleased.  How kind people are to mention that they enjoyed it.

Today I'm grateful for people who remember me and what is going on in my life, who wish me well in my endeavors, who notice me.  And for children who express love.

Relief / Gratitude for Angels

Volunteer strawberries in our yard.

My relief is evident.  I am so grateful for the angels who sat on my fingers as I played at the funeral and kept them mostly on the right keys.  I was quite keyed up over this particular funeral - as was obvious by my icy hands and my trembling body (through to my very core).  I never want to be in the spotlight, only want to be a means to lift another, to bring Heavenly Father's Spirit to the meeting, to be a conduit for thoughts directed heavenward.  (And I never ever want to disappoint Him.)

I did make a couple mistakes.  The worrisome trouble spot was conquered, the other note that would have been wrong had I played it was dismissed / rejected.  Hopefully my other mistake wasn't too evident / distracting.  I could never have done it without the multiple hours spent at the piano the last two days.  How grateful I am for our piano, and for the patience of The Husband as he learns each note with me through auditory means.

I witnessed something today that was a lesson for me.  Saw a man I have little respect for.  I know him, and about him.  Watched a leader in our church get up from his seat, walk down to this man and give him one of those three-back-slaps manly embraces.  Real affection was obvious.  I'm guessing this leader knows as much, likely more, about this man than I do.  What he demonstrated, though, was friendship.  Not judgement.  Kindness, not reproof.  Acceptance, not rejection.  After all, it isn't our place to judge, reprove or reject.  He clearly is leaving those responsibilities to a higher power.  I need to remember this little lesson in behavior.  And use it.

And now, having done as best I could, I hope it was acceptable.

Funeral, Again

We must have been thinking alike...

Tuesday night I received a phone call from The Bishop who asked me to lead the music for the funeral on Saturday.  I was ok with that.  This morning has been a flurry of phone calls.  As of this moment, I will be playing a solo (I think), accompanying a singer (maybe two) and leading no songs.  We'll see what the rest of the day brings.  I am always happy to help.  Particularly when the askee/mourning survivors are people I care about.  Why is it that it's so much easier to help someone you love?  (I guess I should love everyone and then it would always be easy.)

Picked up my partner to go visiting teaching this morning - and WOW - we were dressed pretty much exactly alike.  We even have fairly similarly shaped (old lady round) bodies.  Just had to take this picture.

Starting to feel jittery.  Or is it a tad stressed?  Worried about playing for the funeral, getting stuff done for Sunday and preparing for an upcoming trip.  However will I keep my sanity?  Oh, yeah, right.  That left a long time ago.  :^)

Update:  further phone calls, songs changed, re-decided, purchased and I have two new songs to learn/polish for Saturday.  Practicing (and anxiety)

Perfect cake for today - & tomorrow!

has commenced and will continue till the very walls (and hopefully my fingers) are permeated with the notes.

The Husband brought me a treat.  He knows how much I love these cake-letts.  He made a special effort to acquire them sans frosting.  What a delight he is!

Good News (mostly)

Hawthorne in our yard.

Finally was able to get in to see my dentist for that broken crown.  Have fretted and dreaded and fussed - I have such a dentist/dental-work phobia.

Came away so very relieved.  He smoothed off the sharp edge and said I could just go on my merry way (being careful of course, of eating hard things on that tooth).  So for today, it's good.  It will, eventually, require replacement. But until then I can relax a bit.  That was a good way to start a Tuesday.

Celebrated a grandson's 14th birthday.  We've all noticed his voice deepening over the last month or so.  He's growing up - like the rest of them.  How we love our grandchildren! Also saw a few of the other grandchildren and received hugs and smiles and conversation all around. 'Twas good for our hearts and souls.  We're so glad Heavenly Father created grandchilluns!

Heard a comment the other day that someone "always disappoints."  Made me sad...sad that someone is viewed that way, that it's noticed, that it could be true.  Made me more determined than ever to do my best - for He who matters the most.

We planted this tree a few days before my Mom passed.  I always think of her when I see it.  And while she fell short as a mother in so many, many ways, I understand that those are my judgements of her.  As I have experienced more years in my life I have come to believe / acknowledge she did the best she could. And recognize that Heavenly Father sent me to be mothered by her for fulfillment of His plan.

I am grateful for prayers that are answered - even when the prayer is for something relatively insignificant in the whole scheme of things (or very specific for one situation, one person, one time).  It prompts enhanced confidence (and a greater awareness) of the blessings we constantly receive.  I love that we can pray and have faith that our prayer will be heard and answered.

Ordinary

Our beautiful hawthorne.

I am surrounded by greatness.  By high-powered, well-educated, brilliant, successful, famous, (or at least well-known) individuals who gravitate towards others of their status.  Money is evident.  Names are often dropped.  Places visited are mostly exotic.

Why then, am I here?  Is there a place in this world for an ordinary homemaker, married young, without higher education, fame, money?  What causes people to take the path to greatness while others simply trod along, trying their best? And frankly, is one path better than the other?

We were (sort of) discussing this at Women's Conference after listening to a wholly enriching and uplifting talk by a woman, who though she wanted, has never married or had children of her own. Would she have been so inspiring (the question was posed) had her life taken that traditional marriage/family route?

I often wonder if Heavenly Father is disappointed in me that I'm just an ordinary soul.  I will eventually depart this world leaving barely a ripple in my wake.  Having accomplished little in regards to earthly rewards.

If I leave any sort of legacy, I hope it will be remembered that I did my best.  It might not measure up to someone else's best, only my own.  I hope kindness will be remembered.  And that I loved deeply.

Came across this quote the other day and loved it. I think he's right.  Hopefully my life's actions reflect this - at least in some small part. Even though I'm just an ordinary person.

“The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no thirdclass carriages, and one soul is as good as another.”

― George Bernard Shaw, Pygmalion & My Fair Lady

Missed (And Seized) Opportunity

Seized the opportunity to attend BYU Women's Conference yesterday.  After skipping lots of years attending, I went last year (for only 1 of 2 days) with a couple cousins - and loved it. I so enjoyed yesterday's sessions!  It watered parts of my soul that I didn't even know were parched and thirsting for such moisture.

Folded, worn class list.

I did, though, repent (and ask forgiveness) in my prayers for a couple of small infractions.  Yes, in the overall scheme of things they are so minor it isn't almost worth mentioning (like walking against the light - and yes, I was the perpetrator and yes, we did get yelled at for it).  I believe, though, that attention to the small things is critical.  If left unchecked, the small things can add up to large things / downfall.  Want to avoid that dismal place. (I fear I will forever be best friends with repentance.)

I'm still mourning my ignored opportunity to be kind.  To be fair, I wasn't totally unkind, just unthinking and a bit careless.  A sister there at the conference was alone, she walked with us over to breakfast.  We did chat on the way, but I could have been kinder - asked her her name, invited her to eat with us, included her a bit more (in spite of her seeming reluctance to be an active participant). Instead, when I saw my cousin I just left - and basically forgot about her.  I should have been more aware of another.  

And I confess to some envy.  I have always so admired those who can speak well.  A neighbor from a previous house is a frequent presenter at this conference as well as other functions.  Others I know have the talent to convey with beauty and interest the concepts that uplift and enrich our earthly experience. Sheri Dew is one such woman. If I had only been able to hear her speak yesterday it would have been well worth attending.

Spending the day with people I love, hearing gospel concepts that can be implemented in my life if I but try - yes, that was the best.  I'm grateful for the gift of yesterday.