What Have I Been Up To?

January always seems to be a very busy month for me - this one is no exception. Here is what I have been up to:
1. School Board - January is Utah State School Boards Association Annual Convention in SLC - takes a Thursday, Friday and Saturday of regular life! (Got to have lunch with Jackie at the Grand America and have to die for Bread pudding with rum sauce!). Ground breaking for Tsebiinidzigai Elementary School (Dare you to say that one!) in Monument Valley, Utah. It was a day which brought three first: my first Navajo Blessing of the Ground Ceremony - very impressive. my first Navajo Blessing (After the Blessing of the ground, all the "dignitaries" on the stand were asked to line up to the left of the Medicine Man and we were each blessed. It was a very humble experience. my first time to pick up hitch-hikers. On the way home from Monument Valley, I picked up two you bundled up back pack carrying hitch-hikers. They were two young people from France and Germany. We had a very interesting, information sharing trip from Mexican Hat to Blanding. Today was our monthly school board meeting.

2. Work - We have implented an electronic medical record program for use in our clinics. I have spent HUNDREDS of hours learning and working on this. I will spend THOUSANDS more until I have it down pat and can help the clinics take part of all the features. Everyone we talked to before purchasing the product said, "You will hate going to work every day for the next 6 - 9 months - and then one morning you will say, I can't believe we didn't do this years ago." - I am living for that day. I'm certainly in the "hate" part now! I'm trying to work less, as I'm only part time - but I've nearly been working full time without full time benefits for the past year.

3. Home - Is there a room in my house that is normal? NO!!!!! Is there a bed in my house that can be slept in besides my own? NO!!!!!!! Are there enough hours in the day to spend working on the house? NO!!!!!!! We have been sheet rocking, mudding - I think if I go back one year I said I would never do that again, do I have a good memory? NO!!!!!! We are wiring, knocking out parts of walls and on and on and on. Somewhere in all this you try to do the everyday things like cook, sort of clean house, laundry etc.

4. Snow Removal - that has become our part time job this winter. Today I see Snow as the prime example of "opposition in all things." It is the needed, desired, beautiful, fun for recreation item for which we fast and pray and give thanks - yet it is trying, miserable, frustrating, dangerous, exhausting stuff which we have had more of this year than any years since I have lived here! And the forecast? "Winter storm warning for 6:30 a.m. tomorrow until 6:30 pm the day after tomorrow! We truly are lucky! My back just doesn't know it!

5. Quilting - two babies on the way mean two baby quilts in the making. One is 2/3 finished, the other is "still in the bag" (literally! I have the fabric purchased and it is "still in the bag"). I love to quilt and have to limit myself to quilting only 1 hour a day.

6. Theater - So, I just don't have anything to do so I'll be in a play! Do I need my head examiend? Of course! Dinner theater is coming up for Valentines and EOTS so I said I would be in one of the one act plays. I should probably start memorizing my lines!

7. Church - Tuesdays is our temple night - our night of escape from the demands of the world. Our night to relax, enjoy, absorb, contemplate, serve, learn and love. Its really a great night for us. Being the "Provident Living Specialist" puts me in the hot seat to find a "hot deal" each month for the ward - not always easy down here! Got any ideas? Send them my way!

So, that should catch up on my life since my last blog! I think I'm tired now and will go to bed!