#55 The Sabbath

The Sabbath is a day of worship and rest for me.

A day to put the things of the world aside.

A day to reflect on those things of eternal importance.

A day to renew my covenants with the Lord.

A day to strengthen my faith.

A day to remember those who are alone or suffering.

A day to be home with family.

A day to bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Photo from here

#54 A Bowel of Cabbage Soup

A good friend of mine found out I have been sick

and brought me over a delicious bowel of cabbage soup.

I have never had cabbage soup.

It was wonderful, light and simple.

I kept thinking I needed to make dinner,

and would have to remind myself that soup was coming.

I am grateful for a hot bowel of soup from a thoughtful friend.

Thank you Sue.

Photo from here

#53 A Salon

Today Wind went to the salon!

In the past he has had me cut his hair only after

giving me lengthy, strict instructions on how to cut his hair, 

and still not feeling confident in my ability to complete the job to his satisfaction.

He would jurk his head away, and reafirm if I understood what he wanted me to do,

"Yes, I do"

"Are you sure?"

He would have me so upset by the time I was done, 

I would swear & vow I would never cut his hair again, only to be talked into again.

Today I did cut his hair, again.

He then made a mad dash to the salon at 5 p.m. to catch them before closing.

So grateful and relieved.

#52 Unexpected Arrivals

I had two wonderful surprises today.

(don't let their somber expressions fool you, they are glad to be home too)

 I have been suffering from a cold and feeling pathetic.

I gave Troy a call, like I do everyday. 

It always starts with, "Where are you?"

"I am driving down Samaria Lane."

"Really!"

He was just down the road from our home.

I wish I wasn't so sick and could greet him properly.

I know, I said "two surprises".

Troy was in and out bring things in from the car, and then

Wind walked in with him!

He is on his way to visit his Grandmother.

Whenever Wind comes home he heads straight to the frig.

While hanging is arm up and over the frig door, and 

peering into the frig says, "What is there to eat?"

It is so exciting to have unexpected arrivals, 

it makes my day.

#51 Extended Battery

Nothing more annoying than when I am trying to do my store call and the notebook shuts down on me. HUG!

I ordered a extended battery from tech. support last Friday,

 over night delivery.....hummm

It finally came today, 5 days later.

That isn't what I had in mind for "over night".

But I am just glad it is finally here.

I feel much more secure going out and completing my job.

Now I can stay in the store FOREVER maybe even over night.

#50 A Snowmobil Ride

My sons took my daughter-in-law and I for a ride up into the Targee National Forest up to a place called "Pennacle".  It was absolutely beautiful. I felt very fortunate for the opportunity to be up there, taking in the grandeur of the view.

#49 Cruise Control

Who would drive without cruise control?

Photo from here

#48 Automatic Car Wash

Winter roads can make a mess out my car,

but who wants to wash a car in freezing winter temperatures?

I sat in my car inside the automatic car wash while my car

was pelted with a series of different sprays.

Driving out with a fresh clean car with no effort on my part

made me smile. 

Later when I was looking for my car in the parking lot and found it I thought, "Is this my car?" and 

had to take a double look.

It looks so sparkly.

#47 Audio Books

 

I am traveling much more with my new job

and so I checked out a audio book from the library.

It sure makes a long trip bearable.

#46 A Beautiful Sight

This was my view driving home over the Malad Summit,

what a beautiful sight.

#45 A Walk With My Son

I completed my first store on my new job!

The best part, however, was coming home 

and going walking with my son.

The first 15 min. I just got a couple of grunts out him,

and then he started talking and caring a conversation with me.

#44 Dessert Shooter

I've been working all day on my new job in three different towns.

My boss took me to Applebee's for dinner.

I had a great dinner of Tilapia with Pico de gallo and lime and a double serving of broccoli.

The best part of course was the Dessert Shooter.

Oreo Chocolate Mouse.

It was the perfect amount of dark chocolate delightful bliss.

I love dark chocolate when I am tired.

#43 My Sweetheart

I love you forever!

#42 Valentine Treats

My sweet daughter-in-law sent us a little Valentine's Day.

After being out of town for a couple days we found a little package in the mail from Jessica.

She is very thoughtful. She always letting us know that she is thinking of us.

We love you Jessica

#41 Finding Something Lost

My son found my cell phone!

I still can hardly believe it. 

We were driving home from Utah when my cell phone (old one) was ringing and he was looking for it while I was driving.  I had my seat forward with the stirring wheel up against my chest while he dug around under my seat and says, "Holy, Guess what I found?"

I just screamed and kissed my phone.

I had drowned a cell phone in the toilet and had to buy a new one. I had it only a couple of months when I thought I lost it either on the road while delivering mail or in my mail car.

I refused to buy another phone, I still believed that it was somewhere to be found.

It is the best feeling to find something lost.

Photo from here

#40 Seeing Old Friends

It is exciting to see long time friends not seen for years,

to remember and laugh about long ago memories,

getting acquainted with one another's grown children,

share the struggles of life,

enjoy the humor of raising families and 

share the joys of common friendships.

Friendships are a blessing

#39 A Temple Wedding

It is a BEAUTIFUL, REVERENT and SACRED thing to attend a temple wedding, witnessing a couple coming to the temple to be sealed for time and eternity.

I am grateful for my temple wedding almost 26 years ago on November 21, 1984 in the Mesa Arizona Temple to my eternal companion.

To make covenants with the Lord together is a strength for us in our commitment to each other.

Go here to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saint's temple

Photo from here

#38 In-N-Out Burgers

Where do you go to eat when you are out of town, it's 10:30 p.m., every place is closed and your starving?

In-n-Out Burgers

This place was completely lit up and packed with college kids wearing In-n-Out hats like there was a party going on inside.

Blue, Sundi, my mother and I had just gotten our food when my mother said, "Look at the line." There was a line of kids going out the door. It was unbelievable!

When we left we saw a line of at least 15 cars lined up for the drive through.

That is one happening place.

Photo from here

#37 A Promise

"Though some of the sheep may wander,

the eye of the Shepherd is upon them,

and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles

of Divine Providence reaching out after them

and drawing them back to the fold"

"Pray for your careless and disobedient children;

hold on to them with your faith.  Hope on,

trust on, till you see the salvation of God."

Elder Orson F. Whitney

"Our Perfect Example"

Photo from here

#36 "I'm Listening"

My son will call me in the evenings while waiting for luggage. He  delivers luggage from the airport to their destinations in the evenings. Sometimes he has to wait for the flights to come in and while waiting will call me, his mom. He will tell me about his day at work or snowmobiling with his brother and how great the snow is for snowboarding. I will often take this opportunity to talk with him about "important" things; goals, eternal truths, Heavenly Father and His Son, plan of happiness, his plans for his future... The other night we were talking and there was a moment I paused and he says, "Go on, I am listening".  What a blessing to have children who still will listen to their parent's counsel, advice, testimony and I would like to think wisdom.

#35 Making It Home

It makes me nervous every time I have to deliver the rural route after or during a snow storm. I worry I am going to get stuck, slide off the road or into an oncoming vehicle. The snow plow trucks are the most frightening. Seeing them barreling down the road with a wall of snow flying out of their plow towards me  hoping there is room for both of us to pass is terrifying. 

People tend to drive more to the middle of the road in these conditions, so when coming around a corner or over a hill it can be a panicking surprise. I just hope that I manage to stay in control and not make any sudden moves of my car without running into them or off the road.  There is a strip of back road in Woodruff where I can hardly distinguish where the road is because everything is white. 

Last week a funny thing did happen, funny in that I was embarrassed. I noticed a jeep pass me, but a couple of miles down the road I could see that he had gone off the road and was stuck good. A truck was pulling him out. I missed some mail and decided to turn around to deliver it. I pulled a little too far off the edge of the road and the snow sucked my car right off the road, sinking me deep into the snow drift. The passenger side was so deep into the snow, I had to use my feet to push my door open to get out. I wasn't even a 1/2 mile from where the jeep was. I was grateful to know the people who pulled the jeep out. If I was going to get stuck I am glad I did it there. They had a chuckle and pulled me out.

#34 How Quickly We Forget

There are about 5 homes out in Daniels that takes me about 20-30 minutes to deliver mail too, so I have time to go into my thoughts. I was thinking about my children, which I do lot, and thinking how well they are doing at the moment. I realized that I wasn't even remembering all the pain, worry and anxiety that they have given me in the past. How nice it is to forget. I do realize it is important to remember the lessons learned but grateful to forget the agony and sorrow that parents experience from their children's wrong choices. It is amazing how the moment they make wiser choices for themselves, we are so pleased with them and the unpleasant memories are gone. We are filled with Joy.  It doesn't take much, does it?

#33 Love Story

I went walking with a friend and while we walked almost 4 miles she told me about the time she met her husband. It's a wonderful, sweet story. Her second husband had over dosed and died. Shortly after that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. While dealing going through her treatments her daughter was using Meth. Her daughter was living in a car with all her belongings. After loosing her hair to cemo and radiation she was introduced to a man who had been divorced for 10 years. He was a shy man and came from a very small town, he didn't like the big city, where she was. But with the persistence of two friends, she gave him a call and chatted for about an hour. On their first date she wore a wig, "I didn't want him to see me without my hair". The wig, however, was driving her crazy, itching so bad. At dinner she told him, "This wig is driving me nuts, it itches so bad" "Well take it off!" Right there at the table, she took it off, "Oh, that feels so much better"  "I think you look better without it!" She never wore her wig again. For their third date he went to visit her in the "city" for dinner at her place, salmon. The didn't have a chance to eat because her daughter called, she didn't know where she was and needed help. My friend told him that she had to go help her, "Ok, I will drive you"  They found her daughter and got her to the hospital. The Dr. said that her daughter was pregnant, at that point my friend broke down and sobbed, "I can't do this alone". This kind man says, "You are not going to do this alone" "I am not?" "No, because I am going to marry you!" 

She was given a blessing once where she was told that she would live to see her grandchildren and that a man was preparing himself for her. And now her cancer is gone and her daughter is living a clean, healthy life married with two beautiful children.  My friend is so happy and in love. She feels truly blessed by the Lord. Now that is a love story.

#32 Sewing Machine

My mother gave this Kenmore sewing machine to me years ago.

I really enjoy sewing. 

I have sewn cloths for my children when they were little, 

sewn decorations for our home, crafts and

now my new thing is aprons, 

probably have made just over 30.

I am getting a little tired of those.

I want to try sewing a cute bag for my scriptures.

Thanks mom for the machine.

#31 Feeling Warm Inside

I have the opportunity to serve the little 8-9 year old girls in my church. I have them over to my home twice a month. I had the girls serve others in our community today. They delivered "Heart Attack" and cookies. Heart Attacks is where the front door of the recipients home is attacked with cut-out hearts that say XOXO's, Happy Valentines Day, I love you, You are Awesome, We Appreciation You and whatever the girls want to say. After secretly plastering the hearts all over the door and leaving the plate of cookies they ring the door bell and run. They had so much fun. Fae, who we attacked, has very little mobility because of strokes. We went into her home and left the hearts on the inside of her door and gave her the cookies. The girls enjoyed meeting Fae's "4-legged children", seeing her art work, getting her laundry, folding and putting it away for her. Fae enjoyed having the girls over to see her and help her. They were so sweet, telling Fae her art was beautiful and they loved her cats. On the drive home I asked the girls how they felt about helping Fae? "It made me feel warm inside".

#30 Ensign

The Ensign is a monthly magazine that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints can subscribe to. I have a subscription to this magazine and I look forward to it coming in the mail every month.  This magazine is chuck full of wonderful articles that are helpful to an individual in all areas of their lives; socially, mentally, physically, economically as well as spiritually. It is a great source of learning and strength to me. Personal stories are published, messages from church leaders, church in the news, articles on preparedness, personal finances, improving marriages, raising children and messages that help us to draw closer to the Lord in our own personal worship.  This magazine has provided me with many teaching opportunities with my children.  This is the best magazine out their for the strengthening of individuals and families.

If you would like a subscription to the Ensign go here

If you would like to view and read from an online Ensign go here

Photo from here

#29 Family Home Evening

In our home we have Family Home Evening every Monday evening.  Sometimes it will last a 1/2 hr sometimes a couple of hours (not very often though, we are lucky to get Blue to participate for more than an hour). During this time my husband, Troy and son, Blue and I will have a family activity like: hiking, walking, swimming, bowling, movie, visit someone, work, eat out, play a game to name a few, or we have a lesson on many subjects often spiritual. This gives us a great opportunity to teach our children about their Heavenly Father and their relationship to Him, His love for them and the importance to love Him.  We always have an opening prayer and closing prayer. I am so grateful for this time with my family.

Photo from here

#28 New Opportunities

I have been offered a new job with Acosta in retail merchandising. I am so excited to get started! I originally was looking for a part time job that would work around my Post Office job,  but as time went on I realized that  I didn't want to stay with the post office.  Delivering "City" mail  is too physically demanding.  I am grateful for all of the jobs that I have had and the opportunies they have given me to learn new skills. I have also met many new people.  I look forward to this new experience.  Today I had my first real hard FALL on a solid slab of ice. As I laid  there with my scattered mail all about me, I thought, as I felt like crying, "I HATE THIS JOB"  ( I don't really, but at that moment I did).  I guess it is too much to ask to leave the job without, at least, one good fall.  I don't know how the post office rates me as a "mail deliver/carrier". I have hit my share of mail boxes, some clean off their stand; I have ran over a brick flower bed, having to pay the customer $55; miss delivered a lot of mail; even bumped a customer's parked car; had a few near misses with cattle, snow plows and semis and not so near misses with 3 pheasants. They nick named me "Crash" in the office. 

 Photo from here