Barncats in Ellensburg

The lesson in Relief Society Sunday was about gratitude. I think. At least that's what I got out of it. The story that stuck with me was one about a bishop and his wife who were hosting a general authority at their home when one of their dear friend's husband's died. Before they went to help and minister to her they knelt to pray for her, and before the bishop's wife began to pray the general authority suggested that instead of asking for anything she offer a prayer of gratitude, asking for nothing. The bishop admitted that he was confused, because he wanted so much to ask for peace and comfort for his newly widowed friend, but his wife followed the counsel and gave a prayer of gratitude, thanking Heavenly Father for our knowledge of the Atonement, for the great Comforter, the Holy Ghost. She thanked Him for the plan of salvation and the opportunity to live forever as families, and our great support system in the church to see each other through tough times.

The lesson was a great reminder for me of all the many amazing blessings we have to be grateful for. Last night as I knelt to pray before bed I tried a gratitude prayer and it was an amazing experience. Instead of asking Heavenly Father to get my kids to do certain things I simply thanked Him for strong, intelligent children and for free will. That sentence alone changed my attitude about certain situations I've been praying hard about. My children are very intelligent, very strong-willed, and they do have their own free will. Which they are adamantly exercising. The more I get out of their way the better off they will be. The moment I embraced that thought in my mind I felt the Spirit strongly impress on me that this was the answer I've been looking for. That the certain child I've been so worried about will find their way on their own if I get out of the way.

I thought I knew how to pray- and how to listen for answers. Imagine that—you can teach an old dog new tricks

Hope you had a great Christmas and you're still going strong on your resolutions. My big one for this year was to cut down on the DC and I'm still doing pretty well. I've cut down to one 12 oz can a day and am pretty much sticking to it. I also resolved to cut down on the migraines, which I've also been doing with the aid of some new drugs. And a neurologist convinced me that too many of the old ones were causing more headaches. He was right.

The best news of my year is that Dave got a job, though. Yep. WOOHOO! It's a freakin' miracle. Not a lot of construction guys are getting new jobs so we're feeling particularly blessed. For me that's proof that The Big Guy is looking out for us.

There's also this minute chance that Dave could get the opportunity to work in Liberia for a little while. Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa between Sierra Leone (Blood Diamond) and Côte d'Ivoire. If you do a Google search you'll find pictures of beautiful tropical beaches alongside utter devastation brought on by more than a decade of civil war that completely decimated the infrastructure of the country. The only electricity in the Capital city of Monrovia is provided by generators. If he goes he'll be employed by a Japanese? Lebanese? company, live in a compound and have a personal, unarmed bodyguard (because guns are illegal in all of Liberia- only the U.N. peacekeepers are armed).

Why on earth would he go there? Two and a half times his current pay, that's why. Plus, it'd be a grand adventure for him. As well as a humanitarian mission. He'd have the opportunity in the evenings and on weekends to go into nearby villages and help them rebuild their schools, homes and businesses. For $50 american he could deliver enough rice to feed an entire village for a week. With the construction skills he has he could really make a difference in their lives. Many of the remaining Liberians are unskilled and uneducated and he could teach them how to build, how to read and write.

Do I want him to leave me here to raise 3 teenagers and run the house while I also work full time? Nope. I'm not that crazy. But if the opportunity does come around I'll probably let him go. If that's what the Lord has in mind for us. And believe me, he won't go without absolute confirmation that it's what's supposed to happen. Can you imagine, though?

Seattle with snow and icy roads is not Utopia. Just sayin'. If I were trying to finish my Christmas shopping I'd be in a panic because of all this snow, beautiful snow, but I'm not, so I thoroughly enjoyed my snow day yesterday. There was no way I was getting to work by bus or car, so I stayed home and watched t.v. and sewed. I couldn't run errands either, so it was wonderful. About 5:00 p.m. I was especially glad I hadn't made it into work since the buses had quit running, cabs were non-existent and the news people were telling everyone to stay off the roads, and those stuck downtown to find 'alternate transportation.' Exactly what would that be? Snowmobile? Horse? Hovercraft? If you can't drive, ride the bus or take a cab, you're walking. Am I wrong? We have brilliant news people here.

Lack of any more paid time off forced me to risk life and limb to get to work today. Yes, I'm just being dramatic—it wasn't too bad. Here's hoping I can get home!

The tree is up. There are no decorations on it yet, but it is standing in my living room window. Don't you love those little switches you plug in then you only have to step on a button to turn the tree lights on? That was a great invention. If you drive by my house and only see the glow of the television and no Christmas tree lights that's because the tree puts a GLARE on the t.v. Heaven forbid.

And does anyone else feel like they're bleeding money? Decorations, presents, giftwrap. If I planned ahead maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Not yet anyway. See, there's all this kitchen construction still going on. Not that I'm upset about that in any way- the fact that it's happening makes me absolutely ecstatic. The mess however, does not. And the dog bed that the dumb dog never uses is totally in the way. And covered in dog hair. Ew.

I've got this tiny living room and too much furniture in it to fit a tree. I'm not sure what to do about it. The house is a split entry, and the stairs going up are twice as wide as your average stairs, which looks great when you walk in the front door, but it also makes the living room three feet narrower than it would've been.

Then there's the main reason there are no decorations up at my house. I'm just not feelin' it, and I'm too lazy to bring them up and do it. Okay, that's two reasons, but they're decidedly linked. I think I'm hoping that if I put it off long enough someone else will do it. Dave, that was a hint.

My favorite food is my mom's roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. Not turkey. Turkey's okay, but can't we have roast beef for just one Thanksgiving? It's easier- no fussing with stuffing, thawing, cleaning the bird.

Mainly I LOVE my mom's beef gravy. I would drink it if I could. Forget the meat and potatoes, make me some beef gravy and put it in a mug. This love of all things beef gravy is probably why I also LOVE French dip sandwiches. That savory beef flavor with LOTS OF SALT just makes me drool.

I didn't really have anything interesting to say. Happy Thanksgiving, and don't eat so much you get sick. It happens every year, no matter how much I tell myself I'm not going to do it.

Black Friday anyone? I don't think I have the energy to fight the crowds this year. It's been my my experience in the past that unless you're one of the first five in line it isn't worth it anyway. I do have to get up early and help my spa friends over at JoAnn Fabrics in Lynnwood. We're going to be treating people that are standing in the unholy line. Aren't we sweet? If you live up here come visit us. We'll be there at 6 a.m. (ergh).

Sometimes I'm forced to my knees. This is one of those times. We're here to be tested—to our limits. I think the Lord trusts me too much. On the other hand, He hasn't really left me out to dry all by myself. I have loving friends, a mom who never quits, a husband who loves me in spite of me and healthy kids. It's clear to me the lesson I need to learn now is endurance. I'm not sure how you train for something like that. Marathon runners train by pushing themselves a little further every day, but they can really only go the full 26.2 once every few months. Even the best-trained runner has to give their instrument a rest.

Was it really only a few months ago when I wrote that post about waiting for the other shoe to drop? At least I was realistic. The shoe has definitely dropped. In fact, I think it's still falling...