Weekend

Someone asked me the other day what we were going to do with ourselves now that school is out.  I tried to be kind, but in my head I was frustrated.  She's a school teacher - retired really, but subbing on a regular basis. And she's only a year younger than me.  But all her kids live close (that means the grandkids, too)  and they all spend a fair amount of time together.   I later realized that her question was really a lead-in to what she really wanted to talk about and that was her plans with her family over the next little while. Lovely for her.  Not everyone has that privilege. 

Sundays are often hard for me.  I have welcomed what I perceive as a tiny shift in our Fast and Testimony meetings.  More witnessing of the Savior and his goodness and mercy and sacrifice.  And marginally less bragging about perfect families/lives.  It isn't a huge change but enough of a change that I notice.  And it's a good change, in my opinion.  (Though that sense I have of invisibility, irrelevancy, ignoring is still present.)

Walked out to the car after church with a friend who was in tears as she often is on Sundays.  She has zero family support  - most of them including her husband, have left the church - and I so wanted to just hug her.  (And I kinda-sorta did, even though that impulse is still hard for me to act on.) Even things like the decades long book group she attends (that I finally gave up on) have her feeling invisible and unwanted. I'm still thinking about how sad that makes me feel.

Then I came across this article this morning.  And I so related to what she said.  No, I haven't lost my husband to cancer.  But her perspective is applicable to many, many situations.  How grateful I am to have read this.  Feeling Alone

And I love this quote by C.S. Lewis:  

“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”

― C.S. Lewis

This morning on our walk The Husband spotted this dandelion.  I asked him if he'd like to go blow on it and spread the seeds everywhere.  :^)  Decided it looked kinda fun (yes, I'm aware it's a weed, also) in the midst of all those weeds.  So here's today's picture.

This is one of those mornings where I struggle to feel chipper.  I'm grateful for a decent washer and dryer that helps us to have clean clothes to wear.  I try to never complain about laundry, I do it with such ease.  Grateful again today, and every day that I see them, for flowers.  They truly are a gift. Right now all the peonies around are blooming and they are such happy blooms.  I'm grateful for food in the house and for the ability to just run to the store and buy whatever I need.  Again, a luxury for some people.  And I'm grateful for a loved ones birthday to celebrate in a couple weeks.  (Haven't any clue what to get him for his special day, but maybe I'll figure something out.) Heard on the news the other night that finding something to be grateful every single day is key to feeling hope and being mentally fit.  I'm working on that.