They come, they eat, they leave*

(Seen at the store yesterday and struck me as funny. Idk maybe it's not to anyone else)

Yesterday I thought I had scratched my eye, it stung and I couldn’t keep it open when I was driving in to work because the sun was aggravating it.  I had to pull off the road and called my boss to tell her I would be late.  Then I went to the eye doctor to have it checked.  Turns out I have an infection, so I have drops for my eyes and have to wear my glasses until I purchase new contacts. 

I have decided two things.  The first – wearing glasses makes me feel like the awkward post 15 year old that I was and two – I have absolutely no depth perception.  I think I may injure myself before the new contacts arrive.

So last night was super crazy.  My home teachers (HT) were supposed to come at 5:30 and the missionaries at 5:45.  HT were going to teach us real quick and then join us for dinner.  Well, the HT were late and the missionaries were late too.  The Missionaries got there about 6 o’clock or so and said that they couldn’t stay long because they had another appointment (there day turned out to be super crazy).  Meanwhile, the HT call and say they are near a graveyard, where do they go from there? …you guessed right, they were lost.  So we help them, then we eat quickly with the missionaries.  They apologize a million times over and then go to their next appointment.  

Then some man comes to the door and asks if I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, “Yes, I have!” I told him.  He gave me a flyer with a website and we wished each other a good evening.  Then the HT show up and grab some food and sit down to teach us. They couldn’t stay long either (this is how I like things though).  So they leave and I talk to Caitlin for a bit before going to lay down while I wait for Matt to show up. Matt comes, we walk to the car and some truck stops and ask if so-and-so lives here.  I shook my head and he was like, “Do you know the people who adopt dogs?” Uh….nope (and my instinct tells me not to venture closer to the car).  He keeps going, “They said it was the fifth house on the right.” One. Two. Three. Four…I guess that’s me.  I try to help the guy but it’s just not happening, I’m useless.  He says he’ll drive to the end of the street – and I’m not sure how that will help but I hope it did. 

Matt and I get in the car and try to decide where to go and in the meantime we see our new friend in the truck again.  Then my neighbor comes and backs his truck up into his driveway at super lightening speeds and while that’s happening another truck (I live close to Ashland, the land of trucks and honey) goes to the drug dealers’ house (oh p.s. Caitlin and I think the house at the end of the street is occupied by drug dealers – possibly not, but we don’t like them either way – they have fights in the middle of the street…seriously).  Matt notices the guy there looks like he is trying to put his garbage in someone else’s trashcan (like I know Matt’s mom does because she drops trash off at my sister’s house all the time).  So we start watching the guy as he is crossing the street back to his house, garbage bag still in hand. He lifts the lid of his garbage can and puts it in, then tries to press down the lid with his hands. When that isn’t as effective as he would like, he proceeds to climb up on the garbage can and

 Jump

 On

 It!!

 I don’t know how many of you have dealt with a county provided garbage cans, they are sturdier than most – but not sturdy enough for this monkiery! (And yes – that’s a made up word).  We both watch…waiting for the man to fall off the trash can, or for the can to collapse in on itself or to tip over….SOMETHING catastrophic.  But alas, nothing happened.  The man dismounted with more grace than I could have imagined and went inside his house.  We were just sitting there in shock and Matt says, “I’ve never seen that before, I’ve never seen anybody drive their garbage down to the street and beat the heck out of it.”*  That’s a man after my own heart.  We started the car and drove to Barnes and Noble.

Gosh I love this street*

I've given up sugar, it was a crutch*

Captain Crunch is far too sweet.  I honestly never saw that one coming.

I am still doing the sugar only on Sundays thing. I've almost let myself eat some sugar if it's late enough on Saturday, but both times I chickened out and waited until Sunday.  It's been an interesting experiencing.  Last night, I couldn't finish a bowl of ice cream cause it was too sweet.  And...I've lost four pounds so yay.

My weekend was pretty good.  Friday night we had Chris' farewell dinner.  We went to Plaza Azteca, which I know made Christian pretty happy.  Then we hung out around the house.  We ended up reading some of the writings of Brother Ben - the first one being in Spanish so it wasn't too interesting for me.  I'm pretty sure I zoned out because I didn't know what was going on anyway.  But then there were some in English.  Ben was letting us read them because he wants to read some of my stuff.  He said I could critique his stuff but keep my thoughts to myself.  I thought that was pretty funny.  So - now I owe him some of my stuff.  I said 'goodbye' to Chris and made sure not to cry in front of him but I sure did in the car.  I'll miss him, he's a good friend (even though I didn't much like him when he first came here), I'll never forget how he (and all my boys) helped me through a tough time in my life.

Saturday was beautiful.  The last couple of days have been beautiful, it's felt like fall and though I know it can't last, I hope it does.  I love fall.  The weather lately makes me want to go in the attic and get out the Halloween decorations.  To enjoy the weather, Matt and I went to the park.  He had never been to Pump House park so that's where we went.

I like this park, it's small and most people don't know it exists.  But on Saturday there were plenty of people there, I'd say at least 10.  The buildings are beautiful, I wish we could go inside but I'm pretty sure I'd be creeped out anyway.

Lots of dogs too.  This little guy kept joining us while we sat on a bench.

 I named him Fizzgig, because if you have ever seen The Dark Crystal (and if you haven't then Netflix that baby) you would see the resemblance.

Do you see it??

This leaf certainly helped with the "It's Autumn!" feeling

 Sunday was meetings and church and family time as usual.  As always, I am reminded of what amazing friends I have.  Caitlin and AshG are so great at comforting me without me having to say I need comforting and AshB sent me this incredible e-mail saying things about me she is grateful for.

This weekend was perfect for me.  Last week had a lot of stressers (with tender mercies sprinkled throughout of course) and this weekend was just what I needed to recover and start a new week.  I went to bed super early (for me) last night and I had some really good sleep, I woke up at 6 am (like I have wanted to for years) and have already gotten a lot done today.  I am determined that no matter what stress comes my way this week, I will handle it better than I did last week. 

You are ugly, but you are beautiful*

First off - I realize that my last real post made things sound worse than they were.  I think I worried AshB and I didn't mean to, I was hoping to express how even though all these things were going wrong, I knew that the Lord was with me.

I was recently reminded of a talk from Sacrament meeting a few weeks ago, where our high councilman was talking about how we sometimes hold on to hard feelings from perceived wrong doings.  Yesterday, my best friend (without realizing it) kind of modified that, basically she just ripped out the "perceived" and while it injured my pride for a good 6 hours, I knew deep down she was right...I had just wanted her to take my side.  But that's karma cause I do the same thing to her and I think that's what makes a really good best friend.  Someone who doesn't let you sit there and feel sorry for yourself, but reminds you that it is up to you to make things better. 


So - I have this feeling of wrong doing, but I'm not completely innocent in the situation either, I just don't know how to make it right.  I have apologized for my part and I'm trying to pretend that I don't notice this person won't look at me or talk to me or wishes I weren't there.  Cause...it's obvious.  But Best Friend said to play ignorant, to still extend love, and that's what I will try to do, because I know she's right about this one.

I came across a quote:

We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us....

"We need to walk more resolutely and more charitably the path that Jesus has shown. We need to 'pause to help and lift another' and surely we will find 'strength beyond [our] own.' If we would do more to learn 'the healer's art,' there would be untold chances to use it, to touch the 'wounded and the weary' and show to all 'a gentle[r] heart' (Howard W. Hunter: A More Excellent Way Ensign, May 1992, 61).

At first, my selfish brain read it and was like, "Yeah, be nicer to me!" and then slowly my mind changed, I need to be kinder, I need to be more gentle and forgiving, slower to anger and more prompt to help.  I think it's funny how anything we have that can justify our anger also rebukes us for not being the bigger (wo)man.

You don't know true love until you wipe someone's butt*

Ok- I'm going to try this from my phone cause I'm having trouble with the computer. 

January - 4

February - 3

March - 4

April -2

May - 2 (+1)

June - 4

July - 4

Total = 24

Sarah by Orson Scott Card
I loved this the first time I read it but this time it was more meaningful. I think because I was/am doing the hand of The Lord exercise daily and the story of Sarah is about Abraham's Sarah...the one who didnt have a baby until was in her 90's. it is a good read either way, but I'd suggest looking for the hand of The Lord in your life each day while reading this one. 

The Other Side of Heaven by John H. Groberg

I can't figure out how to move the pics on the phone...so that's just how it is. I have seen the movie and enjoy it- I think the book was great, mostly broken down in to lessons learned.  He also share stories from his time spent in california (which the movie does not cover).  

Joseph Smith the Prophet by Truman Madsen

I'm really feeling the church history lately with institute and all (that's what we have been studying this summer). I just continue to be impressed by Joseph Smith and the early saints (and I live Truman Madsen - bonus!)

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

I had high hopes for this one...high hopes dashed. It was arduous to read. It was interesting a few pages in and then that interesting part got lost and mostly forgotten in a whole heap of BORING. I spent most of my time checking and rechecking how many pages to the end. Sorry, but that's the truth.