Mid-Week

So, I've been thinking.  Wondering if I should switch over to a paper/pen journal and just jot down a couple or three things I'm grateful for every day.  It sounds like a good idea.  But then I wouldn't be able to include all the pictures that I take.  Still thinking on it.

And Women's Conference was really good.  In the past we've had several sessions where there was some extraordinary thought or story or experience that really tapped us upside the head. Not so this time.  We ended up staying in the Marriott Center the entire day and it was an interesting experience.  We walked laps around the building between sessions (so we could stay awake during them) - it was a beautiful day for it.  We felt w-a-y less tension about trying to get to another building and worrying that the class we wanted would be full.  So that was good.  I know there were some other sessions that we would have really loved.  But we both agreed that the day felt like one steady sense of encouragement and uplift.  So nothing extraordinary that leaped out at us, more of: keep on, you're doing fine, you're not forgotten, you have value.  And maybe that was enough to keep us going for the next year. It was enjoyable in any event. Some day I'm hoping it'll be three of us, our two daughters and me. 

Fruits of our planting.

Saturday evening was a wedding reception - so glad we went so I could have a hug from the brother of the bride (one of our YSA's from years past) who I haven't seen for a while.  He's looking really good.  And we ended up nearby at the BYU Creamery on Ninth for an ice cream treat.  Yumminess!

Monday morning after my walk I finally succumbed to the pleadings of The Husband and we planted the annuals:  the tomatoes, the geraniums and the alyssum.  It's only a week early and the weather is predicted to be above freezing at night so we should be ok.  I'm not much of a risk taker, but he was anxious.  After a couple hours bending over / on my knees I was ready for a wheelchair. My knees are still sore.  Not to mention that I then went to the grocery and did a bunch of laundry - more
knee-cersizing.  But so far, the plants are all still living so maybe we're good (the rain has been helpful there).  Fingers are crossed. The one good thing about yardwork:  results are pretty instantaneous.

The peas are looking great.

Yesterday and today (and predicted for tomorrow) it has rained.  And rained.  Reminds me of the guy we met on the way out of packaging cheese at the Church's dairy last week who said, "I'm tired of complaining about the rain.  I'm ready to complain about the heat."  We do need some sunshine.  Though I have noticed that there's w-a-y less cotton floating around the air (when it isn't raining).  Our cottonwood tree removal has definitely reduced that annoyance.

My favorite shirt - plumb wore out.

My eyes?  Not so great.  I finally had to dig out a couple previous pairs of glasses and try those for a few days. The irritation is gone, they feel much better.  But they are fairly red (someone at church asked my why my eyes are so red....sigh....) and are constantly draining. (Makes it hard to practice the piano for the sister I'm accompanying in a couple weeks at church.) I finally bought some waterproof eyeliner so I didn't feel so eye-naked.  I'm giving it a week to improve - then I'll be chatting directly with the dr.  And not only have I felt crummy in my eyes since Feb. in the last week we've spent $200 (that we hadn't planned on spending) on eyedrops.  Which I'd rather have spent on something fun. Anything fun.  Please, some fun. 

So, today, I guess I'm grateful that my eyes aren't so irritated feeling in spite of being irritated looking.  I'm grateful for a snug home where I can sit at the counter sipping a hot chocolate and not worry that the rain I'm hearing will leak inside (knock on wood).  I'm grateful that I'm managing to conquer the tough parts of the piano music and for online help with my next R.S. lesson. For nicely scented hand lotion for my ever-dry hands.  And for something good to read.