blessings...

A couple weeks ago I was walking down on main street with little ones in a double jogging stroller, when I realized the tires had deflated with the fresh cold air. I was dismayed of course, because while my walk had begun downhill with the wind at my back, the way home was uphill into the west wind! I stopped at the local hardware store to buy a bicycle tire pump, but couldn't fit the stroller through the doors. Imagine my relief when the store owner came outside with a state-of-the-art tire pump (that wasn't for sale), and knelt down on the sidewalk to pump my stroller tires! He took the time to do this helpful task well, then went back inside to carry on with his day's business. I felt like I was sailing as I walked the little ones home on the firm wheels. I thank Heaven for the pleasure and day-to-day joys of living here in this beautiful place. Yes, the wind blows like crazy- but things like that keep it small. I will brave the west wind as it rushes down out of the mou...

For years I've dreamed of being able to define myself as an early riser. A long time ago I read in one tiny chapter of a clever little book (called Don't Sweat The Small Stuff) the elemental idea, 'Become an Early Riser'. When my children were little, there was really no other option. They were, like many other small people, excited to be up and going and doing at each day's earliest opportunity. They had, as is common with the very young, absolutely no compunction about waking their parents well before the crack of dawn. And why not? We had only been up a few times in the night with them.   ;) When they went to junior high and high school this fall, I got 'refills'! I have four cute little one- and three-year old children who come to my dayhome on weekdays now! I love it, and rather than trying to motivate myself to hop up and hustle for a long school day alone, I now find pleasure in my 6 o'clock rise & shine time. warm water and bright lights ar...

I am thankful to live in a culture that celebrates gratitude! This weekend is overflowing with blessings- big ones... We met a couple dozen members of our extended family up at the Calgary Temple open house on Friday evening. It was so exquisitely beautiful, and what was most precious to me was seeing our teenage children embracing each other in the cold wind when we came back outside. Knowing that they had all really felt the beautiful, peaceful Spirit in there, and loved it. After a noisy and delicious dinner for the 30 of us in an Italian restaurant, over half of us came home here to our house to spend the weekend here watching General Conference together, listening to the inspired words of the prophets and apostles, and eating a great deal of yummy home cooking! Speaking of which, I am very thankful for clove and orange roasted ham.