Post-Weekend

So, The Husband took Friday off to get some stuff done - and wow! did he ever accomplish stuff!

He hooked up the new modem (so we can quit paying rental on it to Comcast), repaired the humidifiers (we refused to pay the furnace guy another penny for something he could do himself), installed the weather station he received for Christmas (the snow has finally melted enough that he could get out and mount it), went out visiting with the full-time missionaries - and that's just the stuff I can remember off the top of my head.  We both loved having that extra day.

We saw a movie over the weekend:  Eddie The Eagle and it was delightful.  Nice to come away feeling upbeat and encouraged.

The biggest embarrassment of the weekend?  My lack of preparation for my Sunday School class. I arrived at church to find out I'd been misinformed (more than once) about not having class. Totally caught off guard, unprepared and not a little embarrassed, I forged ahead.  Consistency is important. It went ok, I have some wonderful class members who willingly pitched in for a good discussion.  I came away with a mighty big stress-headache and a big lesson learned.

Spring and hope:  a delightful combination!

I kept my eyes wide open on my morning walk.  The globe willows are no longer brown branch color.  They are tinged with green.  The creek was running free, no ice or snow and the ducks were quacking good morning to each other. I see bulbs coming up and trees with buds.  Spring is on its way. I love the hope that creates.  (Of course, I dread the following season of summer and its heat - but I'll enjoy the spring while it lasts!)

And the week stretches ahead.  There's no danger of running out of things to do - required or desired.

The nicest thing over the last several days?  I received a text the other night.  Someone telling me I "rock"!  An unexpected attaboy somehow carries a lot of weight.

I'm grateful today for church class members who rally around when I'm a flustered mess.  For unexpected attaboys.  For a husband who eats whatever I serve, even when it's prepared in a less than optimal manner (i.e. burned). For morning walks that feed my soul. For sweet hugs from fellow church members that make me feel more like a friend than an acquaintance.  And for kind words.

Did I? Or Didn't I?

You know it's going to be an interesting day when you can't remember stuff.  Important stuff.

• Was invited to provide some goodies for a meeting.  Sure!  I'll take the easy route:  packaged brownies with mint frosting.  Everyone likes those, right?  Grabbed a box of brownie mix off the shelf and got busy.  Remembering to follow the high altitude directions I pulled out the flour, measured the required 1/3 c.  And then - have no idea what happened to the flour.  Holding the liquid over the bowl to add to the dry ingredients I did a double take.  This doesn't look like there's any white flour amidst the chocolate mix.  I clearly remember measuring out the 1/3 cup.  What did I do with it?

Solution?  I added 1/3 c flour to the mix.  It's done baking now, and looks normal.  We'll see how it tastes.  If I measured out the flour then dumped it back in the container then it's gonna be a scary day - because I'll be second guessing every single action!

Yesterday morning's clouds.

• Update:  the furnaces seem to be working fine, especially nice now that the weather is turning warmer.  Yeah, I'm often "late to the party". (sarcasm intended.)

This a.m.'s setting moon.

• Have walked the trail the last two days.  Have loved it.  Woke up on Monday morning without the slightest desire to do anything other than roll over and snore some more.  That's strange for me.  I attribute that attitude to this silly sinus thing.  I have been frustrated in my efforts to feel well again. Until... I decided to take a radical approach.  Decided to try a sinus rinse.  Yes, it's weird.  Feels strange.  But I can say with full confidence that my sinuses are feeling better than they have in weeks. It isn't necessarily a pleasant routine, but I'm not taking any antihistamines or decongestants.  I've even slept better.  I'll keep up the experiment to see if I can't effect some permanent improvement.

• Sunday's lesson in S. S. went ok. (This particular calling weighs heavily on my mind all the time.) The Bishop decided to attend which really increased my anxiety. But all were kind and participated. I hope to improve at leading these weekly discussions as time goes on.

• I so loved this comic strip from today's paper.  We've all felt that way a time or two.

• We had a visit from our son & daughter-in-law and the grandboy.  It seems like a goal to make him laugh, he has such a cute giggle.  How delightful to spend some time with them, I'm grateful that they make the effort to keep in touch.

And I can't remember if I've shared this quote by Erma Bombeck.  I think there's a whole generation out there that doesn't even know who she is, but she was one of my favorite.  I'd like to think she's still creating laughter up in heaven.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'. Erma Bombeck

Today I'm grateful for clearer sinuses.  For the luxury of being at home with The Husband every day. For flowers.  And for things that touch my heart.

And Then Not So Warm

Today's expenditure.

Walked into the family room this morning to frigid feeling air.  Yep, the furnace wasn't working. Day before yesterday he was just here giving it a tune-up.  But the furnace hasn't run since.  It's been an expensive week for our furnaces.  (And I didn't even have a furnace fund!)

How kind...& nummy!

Today's mail included this little box.  Who is sending us what?  And why?  It's brownies!  As a thank you for spending The Husband's hard earned cash at their business.  That's quite a novelty for us. And yes, they were yummy!

I've been trying all day in the midst of the furnace chaos to hold on to the morning-sunrise-feelings. It's been a wee challenge. I'm not really great at handling all the stuff-that-goes-wrong, though I'm way better than I used to be.  (And I've kept busy:  washing, drying, folding and putting away all the laundry, vacuuming, taking care of the payday bills and stuff.)  So I appreciated these words:

Sunrise across the valley.

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.

Thich Nhat Hanh

I'm so grateful for The Husband's strong work ethic that keeps us solvent enough to pay for unexpectedness.  And for warmth - whether from the furnace or the February sunshine.

Keeping Warm

Our furnace room

So we had the furnace guy out yesterday.  I've been annoyed by a noise coming from that room in the basement.  Figured we'd just do a tune-up and be good.

Not so fast!

Wasn't cheap.

4 hours (and many $ spent later) the furnaces are good to go.  I'm not really complaining, we've done virtually nothing to our furnaces since we moved into the house nearly 15 years ago - other than to regularly/on schedule replace the filters.  I just hadn't planned on spending that much when we asked for the $29 tune-up special.

I hit the trail this morning, steeling myself against the wind, it was pretty fierce.  Even through the wind it was a beautiful sunrise.  Just now, though it's hailing like crazy! I'm so glad I managed to get in a lovely walk before the storm front arrived.  (And I'm beseeching The Husband to bring in the mail - he's sturdier than I am!)  :^)

Love this quote:

“To be cheerful when others are in despair, to keep the faith when others falter, to be true even when we feel forsaken—all of these are deeply desired outcomes during the deliberate, divine tutorials which God gives to us—because He loves us. These learning experiences must not be misread as divine indifference. Instead, such tutorials are a part of the divine unfolding.” 
― Neal A. Maxwell

I'm so grateful that we could have the furnaces tuned/fixed, and for coupons that saved us $304.  I'm grateful for my morning walk.  I'm grateful for a snug warm home.   I'm grateful for an endless supply of hugs. And for this beautiful world.

Vast Improvements!

Yesterday afternoon.

So, last week was a struggle for me:  fighting that nasty sinus infection, having to exercise inside because of the weather (whine, whine, whine) and the ugly valley air inversion.  We couldn't see even a block away the fog/smog was so dense.  You could taste it.  Ugh.

We made plans to drive up the canyon toward Park City to find some clear fresh air and warm sunshine.

Our beautimous trail.

We woke Monday morning to...a breeze!  I never thought I'd be so grateful for wind.  But it stirred the air and moved a lot of the muck out.  It was raining/snowing up the canyon so we decided to stay home.  By afternoon it was stunning outside!  So stunning we had to take a walk.  I couldn't stop marveling at the view across the valley, the feel of the sun on my face and the deep cleansing breaths. It was sheer heaven!

I noticed on Sunday at church most of the people I talked to had some kind of headcold or sinus thing going on.  I try to not complain about the weather, but it really felt like this particular inversion was bad and lasted longer than usual.

I could actually see Little Cottonwood Canyon this a.m.

This morning found me reveling in the sunrise as I walked along.  A stark example of opposition and how it provides the recognition of the good.

Sunday I taught my first Gospel Essentials class.  It was tough.  I wasn't in top physical form, the class was small and I was totally daunted by the responsibility to make the class time worthwhile for the attendees.  I've got another chance on Sunday, am working hard on improving those discussion-leader skills. Anxiety is a constant companion.

A neighbor recommended this little natural formula for my sinus issue.  We ran straight over to the health food store to acquire some.  And what do you know? I think it really helps.  I'm improved. Knocking on wood as I say that perhaps the worst is over and I've avoided the antibiotics on this one.

So: the air is improved.  Which improves my mental attitude.  The weather has (albeit temporarily) improved. My sinuses seem improved.  I've done a bit of a premature walk-about the front yard and yes! there are bulbs coming up! (And yes, I know what goes up must come down but in the meantime I'm going to completely and thoroughly enjoy the good that has come our way.)

I'm grateful today for easier breathing, for rays of sunshine.  For a husband who supports (and often joins me) in my adventures -cooking adventures (trying a new roast recipe today) reading adventures, sewing adventures, exploring adventures.  I'm grateful for family members who keep in touch with us - who seem to want to have a good relationship, and do their part to make it happen, who recognize that relationships are not a one-way street. And I'm also grateful for those who can fix things - we've got the furnace repair guy coming tomorrow.  I definitely have much to be grateful for.

It's Been Almost Exactly A Year

Since I had the absolute worst sinus infection I've ever had.  There aren't many small parts to my body.  But apparently my sinus cavity is small.  It requires constant monitoring.

It started with an upset tummy.  Symptoms then expanded to include that awful headache that felt like vise trying to crush my head.  And it just kept getting more painful.

Since it was the President's Day Holiday (and the consequent non-opening of the doctor's offices) we ended up at the emergency room (figuring quite wrongly that our out-of-state-limiting-us-which-medical-offices-they-cover-insurance company wouldn't cover an Insta-Care visit) where they pretty much treat everything like life/death or in actuality a real emergency.

Which meant they threw some really strong antibiotics at the infection.  Which I ran a reaction to. Resulting in an Insta-Care visit which finally got me well taken care of and I mended, in time.

This time around, I'm determined to avoid a full-on infection.  It started with dizziness.  (I quickly learned to move my head much more s-l-o-w-l-y.)  Then the upset tummy and the fullness in my ears, earaches and headache.

I jumped right on that with nasal spray, Claritin D and lots of sleeping.  Because...we're heading into the President's Day holiday weekend again.  Doctor's offices (if I could manage to get an appointment) are not open.  I am not spending $1,000 just to walk in the door of the emergency room.

The results of my ministrations are mixed at best.  Dizziness comes and goes as does the nausea. I can sleep for an hour at the drop of a hat (most unusual for me).  But the good news? It hasn't thus far, continued to progress.  Claritin D is expensive, but cheaper than the doctor.  And if I can manage to completely fend off a full-blown infection without antibiotics, so much the better.  Wish me well.

I was offered this little book to read.  I have the framed poster "The Rights Of The Reader" on a shelf in my room - which poster I've loved since I first saw it.  The book did not disappoint.  How delightful to find an articulate person who loves to read as much as I do.  What a gift it has been in my life.  I have learned, been uplifted, shared deep sorrows, found great joy and thoroughly thrived in an atmosphere of words.

How grateful I am to have learned to read, and learned to love to read.  My life has been enriched.

The dreaded valley inversion has settled into our area - it is deep and feels so unremitting.  The air is so awful it even tastes bad if you happen to open your mouth for a lungful.  It isn't pleasant or wise to be walking in it so I'm inside on my treadmill, with my iPad and my book and tv and the 60-80 minutes passes in a flash.  I am so grateful for the luxury of my treadmill.

Lunch Tuesday

Yes, I get to go out to lunch with a friend today!  Yay for me!

The weekend was interesting - I've a few thoughts to share.

• The other morning as we headed out there was a car we didn't recognize parked in front of our house.  (It was 7:15 - too early for visitors.) So we stopped next to it so I could ask if someone needed help.  And there was our neighbor who lives around the corner, sitting so still, head down, eyes closed. How lovely to see her praying.

• I received in the mail a sweet letter from my niece, it was both unexpected and warmth to my heart.

What a luxury!

• Substituted on the organ for Sacrament meeting.  A sister that I have never spoken to mentioned that she paid attention to the hymns I'd played for prelude, and that they spoke to her, thanks for choosing them.

• I received a box of my favorite chocolates.  These are filled with cherry fondant.  Now, I don't need these chocolates.(Quite probably the opposite.)  But the giver went out of his way to get them, knowing that my heart would be touched, how I'd savor each one (and quite probably share them with him, too!).  What a fun surprise.

• Yesterday I received a quick text from the R. S. president - telling me she'd heard some really nice things about me.

• I got over-eager to solve a problem, found out I'd over-stepped, sent out an apology and received in return extra kindness.

The reason I note all these different things?  I love that we can readily see the goodness in people around us.  People who take time to share the beauty in life, to create influential relationships, to be examples of the Savior's brand of kindness.

This quote that I saw just yesterday pretty much fits. Each of these people I mentioned (and likely many of those who inhabit this earth) carry that beauty (the love of our Savior) with them.

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm grateful for the Savior's example and sacrifice.

Sometimes I Feel Like Such A Doofus!

The other night I decided to emulate The Husband.  He has a trick of propping a glass under the water dispenser on the refrigerator and then multi-tasking while the glass fills.  Apparently I'm not so great at multi-tasking.  Roughly ten minutes later we re-discovered the glass, and the seemingly ginormous puddle of water on the floor.  I guess it was time to clean under/behind the fridge again.  (And I had a substantial load of wet rags to launder!)

That was one of those "don't get cocky, overly self-confident" moments that slaps me upside the head every once in a while - to keep me grounded.

And speaking of appliances - I fear this will be the year of replacements.  The washing machine not only makes disturbing noises, but now the "Max extract" setting emits that burning rubber smell that says "I'm not going to last much longer." Last week it was a completely dead tv - one that's been limping along for quite some time.  What a luxury to have those appliances to make life easier/more fun.

I've got a teensy bit of anxiousness going on - about teaching the Gospel Essentials class.  My first teaching experience keeps getting pushed further and further out, only intensifying my sense of inadequacy.  I had planned to start at the very beginning with the very first lesson in the manual.  I'm re-thinking that approach, since I have the latitude to choose.  Maybe I'll start with one of the later lessons?

Last Friday afternoon I tried my hand at the fudge.  The Husband has made two attempts.  We're apparently not great fudge makers.  And I really haven't the faintest idea why this idea of homemade fudge has so seized my attention.  I have never ever made fudge before.  It wasn't half-bad, even though I learned a lot for my next attempt.


Yesterday morning's walk was lovely.  The sunrise painted such pretty pictures on the mountains across the valley to the west.  The air was crisp and sweet, the horse actually ran to me for his carrots, I must have crossed paths with 15 dogs and every single one was on a leash! My foot didn't even really bother me. Yes, it was a great way to start the day.

I came across this quote the other day.  I love his idea of the sacred being a constant part of our every day.  Mr. Rogers was a true gem.

“I believe that appreciation is a holy thing--that when we look for what's best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does all the time. So in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something sacred.” --Fred Rogers.

And today I'm grateful.  For words that cause me to think, that cause me to change the course of unbecoming/unrighteous behavior, for words that promote/promise hope.  I'm grateful for the resources to replace those broken-down appliances.  For those moments that make me stop and live "in the moment" to pay attention to the here and now; to pay attention to those souls that are in my here and now.  And for those brief glimpses of heaven in my life.

Finished!

It took me nearly a year, but I completed it.  I requested (and received) this for Christmas 2014, because I wouldn't spend as much as this cost on something so luxurious. But I loved the design.  I started it just under a year ago.  I'd work on it for a while, then put it away for weeks at a time, coming back to it with a renewed energy.  I loved each and every stitch.  I'm trying not to think about how much the frame will be! (At 11" x 13", plus mats it definitely not be on the cheap end.)

We received this cutest card in the mail today.  How lovely to know that the handwritten note (as well as the formal thank-you) isn't completely dead yet. It was just perfect for this snowy Monday.

The Husband has spent a couple hours digging out our driveway today.  We are so grateful for the city snowplows that keep the roads clear.  It's not really possible for them to keep the snow from collecting at the driveway entrances, making it near impossible to get out onto the street.  I'm so pleased at The Husband's kind thoughtfulness in clearing the snow for the neighbors also, so that we can all come and go whenever we need.  He's a keeper! (And yes, I think those angels are keeping an eye on him, too!)

I went for a long long walk on Friday morning - back to my original route.  Did just fine.  Or so I thought.  Today I'm back in my compression socklet. It feels so much better with the sock.  I thought that six months after the injury would be plenty of healing time, but apparently not.

And I love this quote.  I love phrasing here:  "catching" excellence. (I've previously written my thoughts on perfection - it's overrated/impossible.)

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

Vince Lombardi

Today, I'm grateful for projects that are fun to do and just as fun to complete - on to the next one! I'm even grateful today for the snow.  It means the summer will be better all around. And this year we're planning on a garden.  It'll be great!