Date Night

This can't be us. It really can't. It isn't. But Costco has a great menu, right?

Still Here

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." ~Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Life has been busy and I don't mind admitting that I've felt a bit overwhelmed and maybe even a little bit discouraged lately. Primary is great -- but my 1st counselor Kristi just had a baby [yay!!] which is a happy thing, but with her torn muscle issues that came before the baby did, it has been a while since we've seen her and with a new baby in her life, it will be another while before she's back at Primary. Natalie, my 2nd counselor, just discovered that she is expecting #5 [gulp! -- she's superwoman!] and is sick, sick, sick. Candice, my secretary, messed up her back a while ago and is still dealing with that. So, Primary is mine. All mine. At least for a while. And I can do it - -but I miss my girls!

I'm still teaching the adult Institute-ish class on the Book of Mormon, and the prep for that has swallowed me whole. I love it and I really enjoy the study and prep, but it is hugely time-consuming if I want to do it right. And I do.

Then, yesterday morning, I had 2 dental implants placed and I can already tell that soreness is going to be an issue for a while. [I'm thankful that I got to sleep through the actual procedure!] It's nothing I can't handle and/or deal with, but it's definitely going to take some time to heal. And then, once the healing has happened, we move onto step 2. Sigh. More fun. But in the long run, it will all be good. I know it will.

So, instead of feeling sorry for myself and wishing things were different, I need to adjust my attitude and just do the best I can. As Archbishop Tutu says, my little bit of good, along with everyone else's, can overwhelm the world.

So I'm working on doing at least a little bit of good!

Parenting

"You can't teach children to be good. The best you can do for your child is to live a good life yourself. What a parent knows and believes, the child will lean on." ~Bruno Bettelheim

As I watch the raising of our grandkiddoes, I'm so grateful for the strong parents that they all have. Daniel and Ben are blessed to have Chris and Tara as their examples. Maya, Mason and Simon are blessed to have Chris and Natalie as their parents and examples.

And from my perspective, there really is nothing better than to watch your children do better than you did. I loved being a mama, but as I look back, I see so many things I could have done better and I love seeing our children doing just that. Better.

These 5 precious little ones have great examples to follow and are being raised with love and guidance, and that makes me happy. I love it that they are in such good hands.

The Season of Love

"There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God's finger on man's shoulder." ~Charles Morgan

It's the season! I've been thinking about what I can do for my loved ones to let them know how I feel about them and as I've thought, it hit me that love really is a magical surprise, isn't it? There is something special about loving someone and the magic that happens when that feeling is returned. It's safety, it's an uplift and a gift. Even more, it truly is God's finger on our shoulders.

Because I'm not so young anymore, I can look back and see the 'whys' that I couldn't see when I was in the midst of some difficult time period. As I do, I am filled with gratitude for the love with which God has filled my life. At every turn, there have been so many people to love and to love me back.

I have a wonderful husband, someone I met a long time ago, fell head over heels in love with and have been blessed to spend nearly 35 years with. [What??? How did that happen? Where did the time go?] But when I look at us now, I see some [OK, many!] wrinkles and gray hair [only on Mark -- my hairdresser takes care of mine for me!] and I can't comprehend who these old people are -- because we both still feel the same way inside as we did when we first met. There is comfort and security built into all the years we've spent together -- and when you combine those feelings with the love we started out with, it adds up to big magic.

My children? My nicest blessing is that they have now become my dearest, most cherished friends. I love them, I love spending time with them, and I am so thankful for each of them. My in-laws? Again, more love. Tara and Chris has been magic gifts to our family.

The love I feel for and from my grandkiddoes is nothing short of magical. There really is nothing better than to have a sweet 3 year-old throw his arms around you, squeeze you tight and whisper into your ear "I love my Grandma!" Because I know he means it with all his heart. And when a little face lights up because you walk into the room? Magic. Pure magic.

Friends? Oh, yes! I have friends that have truly become family to me. Why? Love. That's the bottom line. You know who you are. You are loved in the same way I love my family and I"m grateful for you in my life.

So happy Valentines Day! Take a moment, share your thoughts with your loved ones and spread some magic around.

Age

I've always wondered how much time I spend wandering around the house, standing in this room or that and wondering why I was there.

After seeing this, now I know.

Sad.

Twilight, Edward and True Love

I'm probably one of the very very few people in this world who have not read "Twilight" and/or any of the other books in the series. But I'm not blind or deaf, and am very aware of the phenomenon the books have become. I even know men who have read them.

At any rate -- this one spoke to me as I was working with my VT companion Wendy to try to set up appointments this month. If "Twilight" is the lesson, she will have to give it 'cause I"m uninformed.

I'm not sure she has read the books either. Oh, no!!

Picture via the 9th Ward

Prayer

"There come times when I have nothing more to tell God. If I were to continue to pray in words, I would have to repeat what I have already said. At such times it is wonderful to say to God, "May I be in Thy presence, Lord? I have nothing more to say to Thee, but I do love to be in Thy presence." ~O. Hallesby

I love the idea of being done with what I have to say in a prayer, but lingering just because I love to be in His presence. Because I do.

I'm going to try it.

No Squishy Arms for Me

My reason for loyalty to the elliptical machine.