Fall - Did I Miss It?

I never expect Halloween to be "good" weather. We generally have a freeze by the time Halloween comes around. So what is it with SEVEN inches of SNOW !!!!!!!!!!

I don't ever remember having such a snow storm as this so early in the year. I'm trying really hard to be optimistic that fall will return, that this is just a fluke or something. Much of it did melt this afternoon. The mountains are covered and we are hunkered in. How much did YOU get?

The Lord's "Autograph"

This evening I had the opportunity of listening to Brother Gerald Lund. He spoke to the youth of our community for their standards night. This was the "kick-off" event for youth conference this summer which will be a handcart trek from Bluff to San Juan Hill, a portion of the trail the Hole-In-The-Rock Company took. In his talk he spoke about and pointed to many instances in the lives of those who came to our area through the Hole-In-The-Rock. They were specific instances where the Lord brought circumstances to pass in the lives of these people that they would know without a doubt that His hand had been there. It was as if he were giving them His personal "autograph" saying, "I know you, I care for you, I hear and I answer your prayers." Brother Lund shared many other "autographs" for other people. One remarkable one was of a young Korean boy, adopted while only a few days old. Prior to leaving on his mission, he felt the great desire to go through the Salt Lake Temple. His mother went with him and she had occasion to sit where she could see her son. She smiled at him several times and was met with an odd, cold stare. When in the celestial room, she put out her arms to him and called his name, only to have him turn and go into the arms of another mother and be embraced. Her son then touched her shoulder and she realized that her adopted son had an identical twin of which they had never known. They met that day in the celestial room of the temple. Not too long after they were photographed together at "the map" in the MTC. What are the odds, that these two would be adopted by LDS parents, both live in Utah, and both attend the same session at the Salt Lake Temple on the same day? It certainly made me think of times in my life where I know the Lord prepared a way, that what some may call "luck" or "coincidence" were in fact my "autographs" from the Lord. Take a moment and reflect upon your life, find those times where the Lord has given you His "autograph." Thank Him.

I Don't Remember Growing Older . . . .

I really don't remember growing older. Lately, it seems everywhere I go, i'm looking around and suddenly it dawns on me . . . "I'm the OLDEST person in the room!" I take a minute, look in the mirror and ask myself, "Do I LOOK like the oldest person in the room? I certainly don't feel like it." People are discussing events, times, places and I chime in, "Oh yes, I remember that." Then comes back the kicker. "You do? I was only 2 years old, or I wasn't born yet." Wow, I don't feel ancient. But I must be getting there. The trick I guess is to just keep "thinking young!" I suppose if I do that, then every time I come upon a situation I will be surprised to be the "oldest in the room!" If I never allow myself to FEEL like the oldest person in the room, then it doesn't really matter what the calendar says. To be perfecly honest, I wouldn't want to go back and do it over again just to be younger! I'll remain, ever yours, the OLDEST person in the room!

Observations

Yesterday, a very long, long day, I flew from SLC to Austin, TX. I became very caught up in "observing" people. It made me think twice and thrice! Such as, do I do that in public? What impression am I giving people? Why do I do some of the things I do? On a flight that had several layovers and so many people are getting on and off the plan, these are some things I observed. First: How often are we "above the rules?" You know, the rules are for everyone else but me, because. . . .because why? Am I better than every one else? Do I know more than the people making the rules? Wow it was an eye opener to me. One individual sitting next to me refused to "turn off her electronic devices" with the statement, "It doesn't really matter if you turn them off, its such a pain to turn my phone off and on, I put it in my purse and they never know. And this is just an electronic book, what is it going to hurt?" Then slithers it down by her side as the flight attendant walks by and "pretends" to turn it off when they ask, 'Please turn off your electronic devices - again." Even though the overhead storage is for "larger carry on items - please stow purses, computers under the seat and reserve the overhead for larger items." Then I watch a dozen people put their purses, lap tops etc in the over-head and people with large cases are trying to find a spot to put their suitcases and a full flight. Are we just so self absorbed that the next person doesn't matter? Then there is the issue of how we dress. So many things have been said by our church leaders about the importance of dressing appropriately. I want to carry a sign which says, "PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHEST TO YOURSELF!" Way too much bending and reaching over and stooping on an airplane to be so clad! Add to this, the "I'm the only one on this plane who is interesting and so EVERYBODY should hear my conversation." I should probablyl be more kind, perhaps they were hard of hearing. The reverse side of the coin was some very kind, considerate, polite actions. A flight attendant who polietly smiled and said, "Honey, I'm so sorry we don't have milk, but the apple juice so so sweet!" An elderly gentleman gave up his seat and moved to another seat to accommodate a "newly wed" couple who were last to get on the full plane. I am going to act better.

Just A Little Thing

I'm driving to work.

I'm in a hurry.

Sitting at a stop sign.

I'm in a hurry.

Car rounds the corner.

Obviously lost!

Another traveler missed the turn at the light!

I'm in a hurry.

He rolls down his window.

I'm in a hurry.

"Baaaaank? Baaaank?"

Great, he doesn't speak English!

I'm in a hurry.

Go back to the light and turn right.

"Baaaaank? Baaaank?

Holds up a credit card.

I'm in a hurry.

Follow me, I wave my arm.

He follows me to the bank.

A huge - warm - smile!

"Thaaaaaanks!"

It was just a little thing!

Why was I in a hurry?

What a great day!

To Good To Be True?

What isn't red -

whealed up -

itching-

miserable?

ME!!!!!!

I have now gone for 2 weeks without hives! (After having hives every day for 9 1/2 months!) Thanks to the help of our local M.D. and an endocrinologist at the U of U - I have been hive free. I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it is! I will do thyroid tests again in about 3 weeks to see where my antibody level is. I feel so much better and am sooo greatful to be hive free. In the words of a song from Wicked, " I couldn't be happier, I couldn't feel humbler!" Now, if I can just start to lose some of the weight, then I can sing the rest of the song, "Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true!"

Humble Pie

HUMBLE PIE

Sometimes we all need a piece!

So, have you ever been sooooo right about something that you become so indignant and self righteous about "being in the right" that it blinds you to subsequent actions? Well, this lady has! When we let "being right" be more important than "being kind," "being diplomatic," "being a team player," etc - we find that we are really not a very nice person and then we find that "being right" did not even come close as a justification for our actions. I ate a big piece of humble pie today! It can be hard to find it, difficult to cut yourself the correct portion and almost impossible to eat - BUT once you do, you find it is the best pie you ever ate! (Ahhh that we didn't need Humble Pie - But certainly glad it is available!)