30 Days of Gratitude Day 14 — Lunch with a Friend

Early last spring {I really want to say it was around my birthday or shortly after} I started having regular lunches with a friend.  At first it was absolutely thrilling to be doing something for me.  Without kids coming along.  Somewhere along the way I realized that it wasn’t as thrilling but it had become very important.  No matter how ugly of a week I’ve had {or am looking at depending on what’s going on} I have an hour each Wednesday that I don’t stress about anything and I almost always spend most of it laughing.  It keeps me grounded with my feet under me. I’ve been known to work Tuesday night and Wednesday night and interrupt my sleep for lunch because it’s become that important.

Since I’ve been back to work our lunch spot is the Little Brick House.  Wednesday is likely to find us sitting in a side booth eating soup in a bread bowl. {really the booth should be ours — someone else was sitting there today and it completely threw me for a loop, fortunately they left before DiAnna showed up.  I wonder if left a tiny sign saying “Reserved for Wednesday 11 am” if they’d move it or not}  Their sandwiches are the best in town too, but I absolutely love their soup.  I’ve not had a soup I don’t like from there.The bread bowls are heavenly, but require a creamy soup not broth based so I prefer to go on a day I know there is a creamy soup — either potato bacon or clam chowder are perfect.

This is definitely the wrong time of year, but warmer weather may find us sitting at a bench in the park.  Lunch out this year had kept me going — pulled me out of a funk multiple times during my LOA when there wasn’t much else I could do, makes me smile when it feels like I have nothing to smile about, and lately when things have been going well it’s just a great time. Days like today when on the way home from lunch I’m interrupted with a sick kiddo call from school it makes all the difference when the rest of my plans suddenly go awry.

Vein procedure, Day after

Wow, I don’t hurt today as much as I thought I would. Last night I was really sore, but part of that is the workouts we’ve been doing at work. Outsides of my legs/butt are sore, in a good way. Inside of my right leg is sore, much better when I keep it up and don’t move. Unfortunately moving it isn’t optional. Two 30 minutes walk each day and I’m not taking any time off. I plan on packing it in ice at work — I don’t have the ice packs with me here.

About 4 hours after my appt time I didn’t feel good at all.  Part of me blames the valium, but honestly I don’t think it was that.  Part of the ride home are foggy or missing from my memory {of course clear as day me getting dizzy and nauseated though} but the evening is bad.  Clearing everything out of my schedules on Tuesdays through Christmas.  Hopefully with my morning appts things will be a  little more normal by the time the kids come home from school.  Definitely a dinner in the crockpot kind of day though.

Over all, wasn’t too bad.  I did already put a run in the stockings and I think I’m just out of luck — fortunately it’s up high.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 13: Warmth

My heart is breaking into a million pieces for several friends this morning and I’m struggling to find the words. Every one of my friends who is hurting so acutely today has been there for me when I’ve needed someone. I can hear the hurt in all of their voices, I sat at work and had to take a moment to collect my thoughts together because of their pain.

Today I’m grateful for the warmth that they’ve brought into my life at various places, the times I’ve seen their number come up on my caller ID and I just knew that in a few seconds everything was going to start to seem a little better. The times they’ve seen right through “I’m okay for now, I can deal with this all later” knowing that I needed something right then. I could write a small book about the numerous times they’ve been there when I needed it.

I pray for each of them that today they can feel some of the warmth they’ve given to me. What I wouldn’t give to be able to wrap it up in a box and take it to their doors. I love you all, please know that I mean it when I say “please let me know if there is anything, no matter how small that I can do for you”

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 12 — Friends

The picture isn’t what I had wanted but I couldn’t find the ones I wanted and I didn’t have enough time to spend scanning things forever.

I’m beyond grateful for all the friends I have.  From the ones I had in elementary school and High School practical jokes to the ones now who somehow know a difference between when there’s time can we talk and I need someone to listen to me STAT even when the words I use are the same.  I have friends who have magically shown up as I was my last bit of patience to see if I wanted to go get a soda and go for a ride.  Friends who get excited with me over silly little things.  There is no way I could have made it through the last few years without the quality of friends I have who love me, flaws and all.

I’m also grateful for my kids’ friends and the people in their lives that have been there for them, whether they are aware of it or not.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 11 — Those Who Risk Their Life to Keep Me Safe

Sometimes a picture says more than any words I could add.  Once again, thanks Val for letting me share this with you.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 10 — General Conference

Twice a year we have the opportunity to be spiritually fed (or rehydrated, per Brother Huff)in a feast like no other. When I was a senior in high school we had the opportunity to go with Seminary Council and it was a great trip.

This year, very last minute I had the opportunity go in October, largely because we have some awesome coworkers. Not only was it Conference, it was a road trip in the motor home, wonderful experience I suggest everyone takes advantage of if they have the opportunity. My only regret is my kids couldn’t come {this time, I hope that this is a this time type story}  I slept through most of the other 3 sessions though, I am so excited that my copy of The Ensign came today so I can read them, study them, mark them.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 9 — Heritage

I’m grateful for my heritage. Whether stories of pioneers pulling handcarts across the plains to grandparents who helped teach me how to work, how to play, how to love I am grateful.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 8 — Faith

When I first started my 30 days this year I planned things out a little.  Right to vote on November 6th, Sundays I’d post about something belief based, each week I’d do one of the kids with a few other guidelines to keep me going.  Yesterday being my day off I went out to get a few pictures to have to work from on days I’m busy.  There was also a nice fall breeze with the sun shining — exactly what I wanted for Sunday’s post.  I didn’t realize I’d need it more now than on Sunday and really I try to live my beliefs 365 not just on Sundays so here it is.

Last year when I posted about faith I described the kind of faith that warms you from your head to your toes and makes you want to shout from rooftops.  This year I’m going to the other end of the spectrum and am very grateful for the quiet subtle faith that like the whisper of a breeze through grass lets you know that everything is going to be okay and you are just fine.  Look to the sun and feel the warmth on your face.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 7 — Fall Colors

The fall colors, muted earth tones signaling winters coming sleep, crunch of leaves beneath your feet.

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30 Days of Gratitude Day 6 — Right to Vote

Yes, yes I know.  Those of you who are my Facebook friends know that I am not into discussing politics at length in that forum.  You can also add in work, over a friendly lunch, school {unless it’s for Donna’s Politics and Policy class}  I have tried very hard to cut sources of contention out of my life and arguing over politics fits that category especially since I love to play Devil’s Advocate.  I doubt arguing and yelling has ever changed anyone’s opinion.

What I enjoy so much more than arguing over who should be president {really, I live in Utah — my presidential vote isn’t going to change anything} is local politics.  I went to the drug store today to pick up a couple of prescriptions and there was one of the candidates working behind the counter.  He called me by name, my needs and health (or current lack of) seemed to be most important to him right then.  I wished him luck today and he smiled and thanked me, mentioning he’ll be glad when today is over.  I’m not some prominent community member that everyone knows, and unless you frequent the local ICU chances are you don’t know who I am — but he does, by name.  Local politics is why I get out to vote.

I feel strongly that it’s important that everyone gets out and votes.  The political climate is becoming more volatile with each election cycle {yes, that’s just my perspective} and each opinion is important.  Let your opinion be heard by voting today.

Today, I am grateful for my right {and responsibility} to vote.

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