The Perfect Storm/Packaging

It is true that chaos attracts more chaos. Remember that movie a few years ago about a big storm on the ocean or something (never saw it) where many different conditions came together to create that "perfect storm"? Well, the perfect storm arrived at our house this week. Remodeling, car issues, people moving, not moving, plumbing issues, painting, furniture delivery (fun, btw), YW, VT, etc. have made a happy chaos over in these parts. We are determined to keep our sense of humor and happy countenances though.

A lingering (and unrelated) issue with me is the innate inability I seem to have been born with to open things that are packaged. Even simple things like cereal boxes and cake mixes give me trouble. Even if I manage to get it open, chances are it is upside down. Yesterday I wanted to give my granddaughter a cheese stick and by the time I figured out how to peel it open, she wasn't interested any more. You know those bags that are sealed on top and then have zip locks for after you have opened it? Not my friends. Who invented "child-proof" lids, anyhow? It doesn't stop the kids, only me. I have to hand the bottle to the children to open it. And how about the lids that are put on at the factory by a big machine, and then they expect me to twist them off? Puh-leeeeeease. And how did my mirror arrive in the mail yesterday with the box so taped up that you would think the keys to the kingdom were inside, cushioned with half of the world's Styrofoam sheeting (which disintegrated into a hideous mess as I removed it), and the heavy wood frame was damaged/cracked/crushed. Was someone shipping an elephant in the box which happened to be on top of my mirror? The words "open here" are completely frustrating to me. It is just as hard "there" as anywhere else for me, but everyone around me zips the corner off and has the contents eaten before I find my scissors. I guess my husband's old saying "It's not what you want but what you get that makes you fat" could actually bless my life...I can't get the package open. I suppose I'll just maintain my friendship with my scissors and pocket knife and move on.

Changes

Wow, it seems like the only consistent thing in life is change!

A big change in my life was the death of my aunt this past week. She was my piano teacher for a while when I was in high school, and I'll always be grateful to her for teaching me some of the classics I still enjoy playing today (except I can't quite play them any more.) I will miss her, not that we really kept in touch, but I always knew she was there and that she was probably saying something really funny, 'cause she was like that. A change in routine for me was going to SLC to her funeral and spending some time with my awesome family. It was nice to re-c0nnect with everyone, even if it was for a short time. Miss you, guys! See you soon!

Another big change comin' up in my life is the state of our master bathroom. Come Thursday, the demolition crew will be here to transform its current hideous state into something lovely! It has been a long time comin'. Hooray!

Ripples going out from that change include painting the master bedroom. I meant to start that over the weekend. What happened? Perhaps a change of plans......?????

And a not-so-happy-for-me change occurred today as my beloved Beehive Counselor and Laurel Advisor became part of the new Stake YW Presidency. Hm. I will miss them like crazy. I guess I have to give them up for the greater good, but it is hard to imagine who needs them more than I do! I guess the silver lining in that dark cloud is that I will get to know some more fantastic women!

A change I'm looking forward to tomorrow is a haircut and color. Wahoo! I'm definitely looking forward to that one. Whaddaya think? Red? Blonde? Boring Brown? Highlights, no highlights, chunky or conservative? Hm. Guess we'll know by this time tomorrow!

I think I better change in to my pj's and contemplate some shut-eye. Maybe I'll change into a morning person. Wouldn't that be great?

This Guy

This guy is my favorite. He was born in a little town in Idaho on the very same day that I was being given a name and a blessing in a little church in Utah. We joke about that and say that I was REALLY blessed that day, but it is actually not a joke. I was. I am. And so are my kids. Happy Father's Day, baby. You are the best thing that ever happened to me.

This guy is my other favorite. He is the best dad a girl could ever have. I am so lucky. I can truly say I was born of goodly parents. Happy Father's Day, dad. I love you.

Mowing

I had the pleasure of mowing our lawn today. This is a chore usually assigned to Ryan these days, but his days have been very busy of late and it was more than a tad neglected. Since he gets up at the crack of the crack to work a landscaping job already, it is hard to face when he gets home. AND, when I got up this morning and walked outside and saw how overcast and cool it was for an Arizona morning in June, I knew I had to do something out there. Add to it the empty green barrel...need I say more? I just love how it looks when it is done, and I love mowing in patterns and trying to figure out the most efficient way to do it. It makes me feel like I went to the gym and worked out, only this is FUN working out. The only trouble is, it leads to weeding, trimming and pruning. Hm. All in all, it was a morning in heaven. Next step: fertilizer. Then I can mow green grass instead of brown, crunchy wannabe grass. I really hate having the worst looking lawn on the street. Definitely a downer.

Sandra

It is hard to quantify the things I've learned as a result of rubbing shoulders with Sandra. I love her like a sister. I'll always miss her. But I'm sure glad I got to live around her for a while and learn from her. She definitely left footprints in my heart.

Things I learned from Sandra:

People always matter more than programs or possessions.

Sometimes kids just need you to rub their ears.

Time is precious.

Being in nature helps us get closer to God.

We need time that isn't programmed to listen to the birds and watch the clouds.

Families are the glue that holds life together.

Little plants are like little souls. (We share a love of digging in the dirt.)

You need to deadhead your flowers. There is a quote by Sue Careless that always makes me think of Sandra..."You know you are one hard-core gardener if you deadhead flowers in other people's gardens." Sandra was a hard-core gardener.

Learn to serve.

Keep it simple.

Singing hymns brings the spirit. Kneeling prayer is powerful.

We learn to do by doing.

Sometimes we think too much.

Painting on cardboard is fun, whether it is with Beehives, Scouts, or any other group of kids. It is OK if it isn't perfect, and it is OK if it gets on the driveway. It comes out eventually.

Life is more fun when you laugh a lot. Presidency meetings are more fun when you laugh a lot.

Put one foot in front of the other even if it is hard. We can do hard things.

Some things are worth fighting for. Sometimes we need to assume the role of advocate.

Sometimes our role is submitting our will to God's will.

Life is good....the zinnias are blooming. (The last time Sandra was in my home, about two weeks ago, these were her parting words.)


I love you, my friend. I can't imagine life without you. Thank you for patiently teaching me.