Lots to Remember So I Won't Forget

Cute Case!

 It was quite the weekend.  One of the best birthdays in memory.  There were quite a few highlights over a couple days.

Went for lunch - satisfied my craving for a BLT sandwich.  Sure, coulda made it at home, if I'd had all the ingredients.  Tasted wonderful.  The Husband made sure to tell George (our friend the eatery owner) it was my birthday.  Pretty soon over he comes with some fresh churros and caramel dipping sauce.  That was after I'd declined his offer of ice cream or shake or whatever.  So kind.  The best part of that memory was when we stopped to make sure he had our thanks for the free dessert and we chatted for a minute.  He asked how long we'd been married.  55 years this month.  Without hesitation, but with sincerity, he said:  "I want that! I truly want that!"  Warmed my heart.

Standing in Kohl's chatting with a friend (whose birthday is the day after mine) some stranger came up and asked if I wanted her 15% off coupon.  She wasn't going to use it.  She gets them when she returns Amazon stuff at Kohl's and wasn't going to use this one.  So her routine is to walk around the store until she finds someone and offers them the coupon.  I had $23 left to spend (from the shoes - cash that The Husband so thoughtfully and generously gave me for my birthday, to spend on whatever I wanted😍) and with her discount I spent $22 and some odd cents.  Couldn't have worked out better.

Cute Sheep!

I have two extraordinary daughters.  They see me.  They listen and pay attention.  I received this darling phone case from one.  I've often lamented that I would love a cute, feminine case but just could never spend the money on one.  I go practical.  (Pretty much always.) So my case has been just as armored as I can make my phone.  Not really cute at all.  This one makes me smile every time I pull out my phone.  The other daughter knows how much I love sheep.  Silly, dumb, adorable sheep.  Made me the cutest punchneedle sheep that proudly adorns our mantle.  

I heard from 9 of our 10 grandchildren on my birthday.  One son that lives further away texted me first thing in the morning.  😍-again.  The other son and his wife actually stopped by. 😍 I've received flowers, and gift cards (food gift cards are always among the very most welcome) and other thoughtful gifts accompanied by cards that touch my heart, personal visits - and in general I felt totally cared for.  That's not all that common for me. It was a lovely day -topped with ice cream.  

Pretty moon.

I joked with a friend that in another year I'll be 3/4 of a century old.  Sheesh.  

Yesterday it was mostly back to reality.  Fast Sundays are hard for this sympathetic cryer. I was already emotional from the previous day's festivities.  Sacrament meeting was (mostly) good, lots of good words about doing our best and gratitude for the Atonement of our Savior.  (Except for the one stand-out that was all about her and her new calling and how special she is because she comes from a family that have all held important callings and now she does, also.  It felt a bit "different"- I'm so glad we heard other solid testimonies filled with gratitude and determination to do one's best.) Received a welcome and kind, much needed Priesthood blessing. Been a long time since I received a blessing, something I realized lately I was sorely lacking.  

This morning we headed out and on a whim I took this picture of the moon, figuring it wouldn't turn out at all.  Was pleasantly surprised.  I noticed when I snapped the picture (just before six a.m. so still pretty dark) there was that green spot, I'm guessing an odd reflection of some sort.  Since I don't know how to fix it, I'll just ignore it because the moon and clouds are so pretty.

Grateful today for kind people.  Sat down in Sunday School and realized it was freezing in the room, which I mentioned to the woman sitting next to me.  Without a beat, she unwrapped her shawl from her shoulders, spread it out to cover the both of us all the way around our shoulders and shared her warmth.  Totally unselfish.  Again, it startled my heart to find someone so instantly anxious to share. 

I'm grateful for new shoes.  For new recipes to try, for gift cards and for pretty much everything.  Even for another  "year around the sun" as my sweet grandson said.  For a husband who continues to care for me in spite of all my flaws.  I'm grateful for hope today.  I cling to that hope, to the desire that my life (thoughts, actions and everything that I am) will someday be acceptable to our Heavenly Father.