Gobble gobble...

Just finished a wonderful evening with the kids. When I say kids, I mean TJ and Randi. Brian and I are in the time of life where our kids are pretty much on their own and will usually come home for the holidays (except Randi of course, she still lives here.) We used to "get the kids" every other holiday, but now it's more like, "let us know what your plans are and we will work with them." Eric is in Georgia, finishing up his Army training - plus he's married and has other family plans with his new wife. Amber wanted to do a dinner with her friends and boy-friend - that no one really approves of. TJ and Randi spent last year with their Dad so they came over here. I'm glad too because when it's just Brian and I dinner is kind of quiet. Next year in fact, we might just go out to eat - depending on what any of the kids want to do, of course. At any rate, I am stuffed and my kitchen is no longer covered in dirty dishes. TJ is on his way back home, and we all had a great time with one another. I am blessed to have this gift of family.

Now that Thanksgiving is over though, I can start thinking about Christmas. We get TJ and Randi again for Christmas Eve. Haven't had them here for Christmas Eve in forever. It will be nice to have them here and do some of the things we used to do on that special night. I love Christmas Eve. I love Christmas. Of course it's the time of year that I try to focus everything on the Savior, but in reality I should do that all the time. I just love that most of the rest of the world is focusing on Him too. I hope my kids get that sense about me and how important Christmas and our Savior is. What an amazing thing His birth was. How very lucky we all are to have been given that gift! I love that we get to celebrate His birth every year by having Christmas.

I hope every one had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And that wherever you are, wherever your loved ones are, I hope you always remember how very blessed we are to have each other. Whether we are friends or family, distant or close, my life is forever changed by you being in it. God bless you always.

Sunday afternoon

While I was sharing my music with a soprano in choir practice today I was able to find every note I needed to sing. Did I mention the lady next to me was a soprano? Then when more people came to sing I had to share with another alto. After that I was hardly ever on the right note. Every time I sit next that particular alto she throws me off!!! I don't play the piano, or the organ, or anything that you need to be able to read music to play, so it's hard to know exactly what my note is. This lady is our ward organist and she sings flat, or the wrong note, yet when I sing with a soprano, I hit my note the way I should. I don't get it. We are singing some pretty tough songs for Christmas this year. I want to be able to sing them well and I don't think I am doing that.

Really had a wonderful weekend. It started with a session in the Provo Temple, with a really good friend of mine. It's nice to get in touch with the Spirit that I feel in there. It ended with a friends son's wedding reception last night with Randi. Actually had a really good time - I think Randi did too. She kind of connected with the little brother. I've been friends with the Mom for years. I watched her kids grow up. Her older daughters have kids of their own and they are adorable. I got a chance to hold their babies and visit with every one. It was fun to see them all again. Randi might have a new friend to "hang out with."

Sundays are very relaxing days for me. I get to sleep in most weeks and that feels good. Then I get to relax and read the scriptures for a while. It feels nice to get some balance in my life after a busy hectic week. Then I get to go and listen some pretty remarkable people teach the gospel and increase my understanding of the principles. My heavenly Father is good to me. He has blessed my life with abundance.

cloudy with a chance of snow

Just got back from a wonderful Temple session in the Provo Temple. It is really cool how the Temple continues to open my understanding and deepen my testimony of the gospel. I am so grateful that I was born to such wonderful parents! They taught me to love my Heavenly Father, and to believe in Christ. Because they taught me when I was young, I am able to take those teachings into my adult life and increase them. I think it's called synergy. The gospel is taught line upon line, precept upon precept and they all continue to increase in size. Today my spiritual eyes were open a little bit more to the concepts taught in the Temple. That is how I know that God loves us. He teaches us, patiently and with love. When I took my concerns with me into the Celestial room, He, once again, comforted me and let me know that all things will work out for good and that I must be patient and love unconditionally. That is also why I love to go to the Temple. I feel comfort and I feel all my worries fade away.

This morning was beautiful, with very little clouds. We have been expecting snow today. Now it's getting a little more blustery, and the sky is clouding up. But it is November and we have had some pretty nice weather up till now. It's about time the ski resorts get something to offer. At first, in September and October, I wasn't at all ready for cold weather. I think it will be okay now. I am looking forward to snowy days and some cold nights now. Next week is Thanksgiving, and I am looking forward to some time with my family around me. The smell of pumpkin pie and Grandma D's rolls will fill the house. I am looking forward to that too! (Randi actually said she is looking forward to helping me bake this year - I am REALLY looking forward to that too.)

Life is settling down this time of year and I am able to relax a little - knock on wood. I still need to shop for Christmas though, so stay tuned...

I can see clearly now

Had my two year check up after my Laser Eye Surgery. Still seeing 20/15 - yeah! Doctor said my eyes looked great. At my age thats really good news. Some times I worry that my eyes have changed and that I will need to go back to glasses. Never!!! But I do understand that our eyes change in different ways as we age and there is nothing that can be done about it. That I can live with. Any way, for now I am still seeing really well. A blessing I never thought I would have. Clear vision is so wonderful!
Later, I got my hair done. Had all the gray covered up! I love that we can do that. As you can tell I'm vain when it comes to my looks and in denial when it comes to my age. Hey, what can I say, I'm a female in her 40's, we are all pretty much the same.

Manic Monday!

This was another one of those crazy Mondays. Randi asked me to be her "guinea pig" for her class this morning. I had to be there at 8 which meant I would have to be late for work. It's starting into the Christmas season and we are getting busy - especially on Monday's. Really I was a little torn because I hate getting behind on orders, but I didn't want to let Randi down. A dilemma. I chose to help Randi. She had to do some teeth cleaning and other dental type stuff as practice. So she practiced on me. She did a darn good job too I might add.
When I got to work it was crazy! I had to enter 55 orders and do it before noon, while still answering the phone orders - which was also crazy. Needless to say, I finally got all my work done by 5. Which was good because that's when we close and go home. Tomorrow is going to be just as manic though I'm afraid.
I found out that I have an eye doctors appointment at 9 in Salt Lake, and a hair appointment at 1. Plus I have a bunch purchase orders to get out, so that we have stuff to sell for the Christmas rush...
Now I understand why my husbands favorite day of the year is December 26t! That's when we actually get to take a breath and relax. Being a retail store owner makes it kind of hard to enjoy the "peace on earth" during this time of year. I have a real challenge on my hands every year, but I love the holidays and will do everything I can to enjoy it this year too.
I actually cannot believe that next Thursday is Thanksgiving day! I need to go to the store and get all my baking stuff. I love a good pumpkin pie and so I plan to bake a couple of those. This year I've ordered a "free range turkey" for dinner. TJ and Randi will be here this year as well as Amber - I think. Not a ton to be cooking for, but enough. We will at least have some left over turkey anyway. This year - like every year - I feel I have a lot to be thankful for! But that is another post...

Sundays child

I usually like Sundays. Today was no exception. Our church meetings don't start until 1:00 in the afternoon. I really like that time - in the winter. I can sleep in, have a wonderful breakfast, and take my time getting ready for the day. However, after our block of meetings I still have choir practice and so by the time I get home the day is basically over. I eat dinner, watch a couple TV shows and go to bed. (In the summer months I like going to church early so that I can enjoy an afternoon or evening walk outside.) But I digress!
In Sacrament meeting this afternoon, we got to hear from a recently returned missionary, from our ward, and a High Councilman, from our ward as well. Both talks were really good - surprisingly so. Of course return missionaries always have great conversion stories, but the HC really gave a thought provoking talk about obedience. He used part of Elder Ukdorph's talk about the small light bulb that caused a huge airplane crash that killed over a hundred people. If we take notice of the small things that we are neglecting in our obedience we can prevent disastrous miss deeds that lead us away from Heavenly Father's plan. I liked they way he put things into perspective. His talk made me think about I am or am not doing in my own life to be obedient.
Then in Sunday School class we had a lesson on the missionary work done in the Spirit World and our responsibility to make sure we are doing Temple work for those who are accepting the gospel there. Again, I had to take stock of my life and decide if I need to be doing more. The answer is probably yes!
Then I got to go to my Young Women's class and listen to our Advisor, Liz Osipanko, give a great lesson on Time management. Do we use our time and our agency the way we should be? Am I using my time wisely? In other words am I taking the time to read the scriptures the way I should, pray as often as I should, live the gospel like I should or am I wasting my time on trivial things that won't bring me closer to my Heavenly Father? I really had to look at what I spend my time doing.
Like I said, I usually like Sundays. This was another good one! I feel very blessed to be a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love being able to serve and I love being able to be reminded once in a while that I need to do better at what I know I should be doing as a servant of the Lord.
With Christmas coming up and Thanksgiving just a couple weeks away, this is a good time for me to take stock of what can do to make some improvements in that area. I was reading in Mosiah chapter two this morning where King Benjamin stated that "when ye are in the service of your fellowmen, ye are only in the service of your God." King Benjamin was a very wise King.

Not really sure why, but here it is...

I'm somewhat of a techno-geek. I'm not very knowledgeable about technology, but I love that we have these little devices that we carry around in our pockets - cell phones. I love iPods, I love laptops, and I love gadgets with blinking lights and sounds of music. I love technology.

So, that being said, I have finally created my first blog account. I've known about this stuff for a while. Years in fact. I just never thought I would be a blogger, but now I am. I have come to the conclusion that my ideas need to be organized and written down. My personal journal has really gathered dust next to my bed, but I spend some time on the computer, so why not jot a few things down at the same time - here, on my blog. This is kind of exciting for me. I am finally entering into the world wide web!

See you in line...