Sometimes My Life Is Odd

And I know that I'm a fairly independent thinker, am generally quite reluctant to follow the crowd. Still, you'd think I'd "fit in" better than I do.

Was at Target.  Wanted to make a purchase.  It rang up regular price.  The sign on the rack said 40% off.  When questioned, the employee said, oh that's 40% off when you use the Cartwheel app on your phone.  Mentally I'm saying, oh crap - the world doesn't revolve around our phones quite yet.  Or does it?  Out loud I said, oh, I don't have that app.  She did her best to convince me it's easy to install (of course it is) and they don't send any info or anything like that, it's just coupons. Yeah, I'm sure.

So, I paid full price and am grumpy about it.  I don't want ten million apps on my phone.  (Don'tcha know your phone is meant to be lived on, accessed every single second of your life, saves you tons of money?) I guess that means I'm mentally old. I try to be current on stuff.  But seriously, is there no limit?

Love those clouds.

(And I try really hard to be positive here with my thoughts.  But sometimes a woman just has to have her say!)

And speaking of phones, I made another stop.  To purchase something.  I walked in, stood there.  And stood there.  And stood there.  Finally I pulled my phone from my pocket and called the number of the establishment.  Sure enough, the manager came hotfooting it over.  I told him it was me calling, that I figured that way they'd see I could use some help.  He apologized.  And was kind.  I think it's kind of funny.  And actually am a teensy mite pleased at myself for figuring out how to get some help without shouting out loud to the whole world that I needed it.

And the skies / clouds this morning?  Yes, absolutely beautiful.  The best part is I've had the trail almost completely to myself the last few mornings.  And it is fabulous.

Today I'm grateful that I've got some Christmas wrapping done.  That I can stay home all day tomorrow and work on my lesson.  That dinner is in the crockpot (my favorite kind of meal).  That I have a phone I can carry with me everywhere.  And I'm grateful that Christmas (at least that gifting thing that is becoming such a challenge for me) will soon arrive.  Hopefully the recipients of our fussing and worrying will be pleased.

Tuesday and I'm Pedaling As Fast As I Can

This morning's view to the east.

How are we so busy at this time of our lives?

• I'm so enjoying the new window in the bathroom.  The replacement was installed last Friday and it's nice to be able to see clearly the view unobstructed by the condensation between the panes of glass.  Yes, it's a blessing to be able to take care of our surroundings.

• So Saturday, 5:00 pm, I received a call from a sister in the ward.  She had been asked to sing (with her sister) in R. S. the next day.  At the last minute, the song had been changed and her previously invited accompanist had begged off, she needed more time to practice.  Would I consider playing for her?  She has two versions of the accompaniment, one harder than the other.  Sure, I said, I'll give it a shot.  It's been a number of years since I played "O Holy Night" but I think I can manage.  After picking up the music and choosing the version to play I spent a half hour or so practicing on my own before heading over to her home for a rehearsal.

And the view to the west--clear across the valley..

And came home discouraged.  This woman has always intimidated me.  I have a very small fraction of the music training that she's had.  I overshadow her in experience, but that's only by virtue of my age. But the thing I do have is a willing heart.

So I spent an hour or so practicing that evening and then as much time as I could manage Sunday morning before church.

How did it go? Well...ok.  I made a few mistakes, but tried to not stumble with them. The tricky parts that had been a concern were better than expected.  Whenever I play in public I always always pray for angels to guide my fingers to the right keys so as to help me do my best.  I always want to bring the Spirit.

I must have passed the "audition" well enough.  This sister is singing the same song (solo) in Sacrament meeting on Christmas morning.  She asked if I'd play for her then.  So apparently my efforts made her comfortable enough to invite me back.  That's a good thing.  I'll work on not being so intimidated in the meantime.

Now I'm off to the grocery for some supplies.  I've got a full day with laundry and lesson planning and interrupted vacuuming to complete.

And in the midst of that I'm practicing my gratitude.  For sufficient funds for food and shelter and Christmas.  And for a husband who happily works hard to provide those things.  For lunches out with good friends.  For knowledge of Heavenly Father's plan and the companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide my words and actions.  I hope to always listen to those promptings.  I'm grateful to be able to look forward to an evening out with some friends in the next week or so.  And for hope.  Always for hope.

A Wonderful Few Days

It all started with the Relief Society Christmas social Thursday evening.  I rarely attend these things, being the anti-social anti-social-skilled person that I am.  Surprisingly I enjoyed it.  The walk home in the crisp air was further balm to my soul.

Saturday morning was the Ward Christmas party - another event I try to avoid.  Really, I'm lacking in the social graces that help lubricate personal interaction.  But, it was lovely.  The planners(and those who executed those plans) did a wonderful job without going overboard as is often the tendency.  The decorations were simple, the menu just right and the people kind.  Really, it was lovely.

Sunday's Fast and Testimony meeting was one of the best we've had in this year-old ward. My heart was touched.  I was the recipient of an unusually heart-warming prayer and hug from a class member in Sunday School and Relief Society was truly touching as a loved sister related her journey through a trial that was manageable because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Fabulous Seats!

Right after Sacrament meeting, The Husband was given 6 tickets to the Christmas Devotional down at the Conference Center.  Wow - what a treasure. We took our daughter and grandson and the other two tickets went to a friend and her daughter.  We all sat together down on Row F - six rows from the podium.  It was simply awesome.  Truly.  Awesome.  The choir sang like angels. (We watch the broadcast every Sunday and I often remark that I wish they'd sing some softer, gentler songs - they seem to do much more of the large, big finish music.  Last night, the songs were all of the softer gentler delivery - again, warmth to my soul.) The talks were inspiring and touching.

Sunday was one of those rare days that fill your spirit.  The ones that seem to come along just when you really need them.  The ones that help you stand against the darker more challenging ones.  I so needed these last fews days.

And along the way we survived a trip to Costco in spite of the massive crowds, we have several more boxes of stuff to donate to Deseret Industries, bought a birthday gift, shared conversation with our favorite people from the ward we no longer belong to and generally tried to de-stress.  Frankly, I can't remember when a few days have left me so uplifted.

The downside is that I know at some point the difficulties/moods/challenges will creep in.  Hopefully I'll be armed with the strength to be steadfast against them.

I'm so grateful for the tender mercies that help us know our Heavenly Father is truly watching out for us - for His Hand that is evident in our lives.  I'm grateful for kindness, I need it so much from others, and am so grateful when it is so generously given.  I'm grateful for texts from loved ones.

Restless

I should be working on my Sunday School lesson.  And I was.  But I'm restless.  I'm rarely - if ever - bored.  But I do have times when I just don't want to do what I should be doing.  It makes me restless for something different.  Today's different:  staying home all day.  And therein probably is the problem.  I've had somewhere to go every day this week.  Was determined to stay at home today. And wouldn't you know?  I'm restless to go somewhere.

It's cold and wet way back there.

I've a growing stack of books from the library to be read - ones that have to be read in the original check-out period since they're new acquisitions that can't be renewed.  I've a teensy bit of Christmas wrapping that could be done. There's a Sunday School lesson to prepare/refine.  I've a note to write. Stitching to do and there's always vacuuming.  But I just plain don't want to do any of it.   So I'll sit here at my computer instead.

Pretty blue lights.

The last two mornings have found me out on the trail for my morning walk.  (There's no way on earth that what I do could be described as a workout.  But for me, well, it is what passes for exercise. Moving my body for an hour or so at a time is about as good as it gets for this 65 year old.)  The best thing about those walks has been the solitary nature of them.  Yesterday I only saw one person. Today, only 2 (a couple guys manly enough to brave the cold and dark to be out).  I loved being out there alone.

Not so blurry.

I narrowed today's camera work down to two shots - one of the misty clouds deep in the canyons over the mountain tops making it snow.  Yes, it looked cold.  A starkly beautiful cold.  The other is one of the lighted trees over in the park.  As I walked through the park one by one, the sensors (or timers, whatever it is) on the trees would trigger the lights to turn off.  This tree was the only one still glowing in that corner. I love love love the blue lights.  (And the red ones, and the green ones and the - well, you get the drift.) And I just now added a different picture of the same tree, one from nearly underneath because I guess I twitched - didn't realize that first picture was so blurry, maybe this one will be sharper.

I'm still whining about missing the newspaper.  And no, won't be subscribing again.  It's just that the iPad / computer isn't the same as reading the physical paper.  I've been reading it for decades, it'll take a long mourning period.

And in my reading this morning, this particular quote was in a columnist I really enjoy.  I wasn't quite so taken with another few sentences quoted by this person, but yes, I was reached by this one.

“The answer must be, I think, that beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there.”

― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

So today, I'm grateful for words that are powerful in our lives.  Especially ones like "thank you". Ones that convey attention to you and that you matter.  And particularly - I love you.  I'm grateful for lots of good stuff to read that doesn't require me to filter out profanity.  I'm grateful for the ability to choose what I want to do at any given moment.  For chocolate milk (for my bones, you know) and for grace, I love the concept.